MichelleHettmann:LDRS2014PosterPaperhttps://thisibelieve.

org/essay/12851/

InspireaSharedVision:Havingaclearsenseofgoals,lookingtowardsthefuture
Leaderspassionatelybelievethattheycanmakeadifference.Theyenvisionthefuture,
creatinganidealanduniqueimageofwhattheorganizationcanbecome.Throughtheir
magnetismandquietpersuasion,leadersenlistothersintheirdreams.Theybreathelifeintotheir

visionsandgetpeopletoseeexcitingpossibilitiesfortheirfuture.

Inspiringasharedvisionisimportantinleadershipbecauseleadershipisallabout
community,inclusion,andtheonenessofthegroup.Sharingresponsibilitiesisone
characteristicofasuccessfulandthrivingcommunity.Similartoenablingotherstoact,leaders
thatareabletoallowotherstoperformtasksanddesignprogrammingarecreatingsustainable
organizations,ratherthanorganizationsthatwillfallofforfallapartwhenthatspecificleader
leaves.Creatingasharedvisionisthefirststeptocreatinganorganizationlikethat.
Ibelieveinlaugher,especiallywhenyoucanlaughatyourself.
NotonlydidKellyclearlystatehergoal,sheelaborates,sayingthatlaughingatyourself
isevenbetterthanjustgeneralizedlaughter.Kellybeginswiththisstatement,grabbingthe
readersattentionandturningtheirthoughtstothefeeling,emotions,andsocietallyconstructed
expectationsthatcomewithlaughinginpublic.Kellyissharinghervision.Sheisbold,looking
towardsthefuture,knowingthatifshesharesherstoryshewilllikelyimpactsomeoneelseand
thewaytheylivetheirlife.Kellysgoalistobringotherpeopleintothischangeoflifestylethat

shehasexperiencedandthathasbeensoimpactfultoherasaperson.
ModelTheWay:Givingpeopleanexampleandvisiontofollow
Leadersestablishprinciplesconcerningthewaypeopleshouldbetreatedandtheway
goalsshouldbepursued.Theycreatestandardsofexcellenceandthensetanexampleforothers
tofollow.Becausetheprospectofcomplexchangecanoverwhelmpeopleandstifleaction,they
setinterimgoalssothatpeoplecanachievesmallwinsastheyworktowardlargerobjectives.
Theyunravelbureaucracywhenitimpedesaction;theyputupsignpostswhenpeopleareunsure
ofwheretogoorhowtogetthere;andtheycreateopportunitiesforvictory.
Modelingthewayisimperativeforleaderstoshowothershowtheinspiredvisioncanbe
livedout.Leaderscreatestandardsandgoalsforthefuture,confidentthattheirorganizationswill
beabletoreachthesewiththeirguidance.Theseleadersneedtosettheexampleforothersto
follow.Respectforleaderscanbegainedandcreatedbylivinguptohighmoralvaluesand
standards.Leadersmayhavetosacrificesomethingsinordertoliveuptothesestandards.
Leadersneedtorealizethattheirpositionputstheminadifferentsituationthantheirpeers
withoutanyresponsibilities.
AndthenithappenedIstartedtolaugh...uncontrollably.Ibasicallyhavenotstoppedsince.
Kellymodelsthewaybybeingopenandvulnerableaboutanexperienceshehadthatwas
embarrassing.Kellytrippedinfrontofalargegroupofpeople,butratherthangettingupsetand
dwellingonthesituation,shelaughedaboutit.
ChallengetheProcess:Searchingfornewopportunitiesbygrowing,changingand

improving
Leaderssearchforopportunitiestochangethestatusquo.Theylookforinnovativeways
toimprovetheorganization.Theylookforinnovativewaystoimprovetheorganization.In
doingso,theyexperimentandtakerisks.Andbecauseleadersknowthatrisktakinginvolves
mistakesandfailures,theyaccepttheinevitabledisappointmentsaslearningopportunities.
Challengetheprocessisawayforleaderstobeunwillingtobecomecomfortableand
requiresleaderstobeunwillingtoacceptanythinglessthanthrivingandvibrantcommunities.
Manyleadersareworriedtochallengetheprocessbecausetheyareconcernedaboutupsetting
theircommunitymembersandpeers,buttheymustbewillingtosearchforandimplementthese
ideasandopportunitiesinordertocontinuetogrowandexpand.Leaderswithstrengthssuchas
futuristicandrestorativeareespeciallygreatforthispurpose.
Manypeoplefeelthatklutzinessissomethingyougrowoutofwithage.Well,Iamstillwaiting
forthattohappen.
Kellychallengestheprocessbypointingoutwhatthemajorityofpeopledointhe
situationofbeingembarrassedandwhatneedstobedoneinthissituation.Kellysuggeststhat
insteadofpeopleexpectingyoutogrowoutofklutzinessthatyoucanrathergrowintoanew
approachofdealingwithit.Theresponsetosituationsratherthanthepreventioniskeyto
understandingthistheory.Kellypointsoutthattheproblemisnotpeoplesageoractions,but
rathertheirfeelingsandactionstowardsthesituation.
EnableOthertoAct:Providingpeoplewiththeresourcesandsupporttheyneed

Leadersfostercollaborationandbuildspiritedteams.Theyactivelyinvolveothers.
Leadersunderstandthatmutualrespectiswhatsustainsextraordinaryefforts;theystriveto
createanatmosphereoftrustandhumandignity.Theystrengthenothers,makingeachperson
feelcapableandpowerful.
Enablingotherstoactisimportantbothforselfcareoftheleaderandcommunity
memberslatchingonandowningtheorganizationastheirown.Manyleaderstakeontoomany
responsibilities,unabletofulfillallofthemtothehigheststandardpossible.Manystudentsask
forwaystohelpandaredeniedtheabilitybecausetheleadersareunwillingtoreleasecontrol.
Communitymembersshouldbegivenopportunitiestoleadwithoutfeelingcontrolledor
restricted.Theyshouldbegivensmalleropportunitiestobegin,workingtheirwayupto
acceptinglargerpositionsoncetheyfeelequipped.Studentsshouldbementoredbyleaderswho
believethattheyhavetheabilitytofilltheseleadershiproles.
Allowingotherpeopletobeinvolvedintheplanningandexecutingeventsisavery
positivething.Trustingothersisakeycomponenttoenablingotherstoact.Accordingto
Newton,trustisthecentralissueinhumanrelationshipswithinandoutsideorganizations,andit
isessentialforgettingthingsdone(170).Empowermentwithsupportisalsooneofthebestways
youcanenableothersinyourorganizationtoact.Cooperationandrelationshipbuildingarekey
inthismodel.
Sothenexttimeyoudosomethingembarrassing...justlaugh.
Kellyenablesotherstoactbyprovidingresourcesandsupportinthesenseoftellingthe
readerwhattheycandoincertainsituations.Thisadvice,providedinawhathappenswhen...

modelislikeahowtoguidetodealingwiththesesituationsofembarrassment.Kellyprovides
peoplewiththesocialmotivationofnotfeelingaloneinthislaughingtheologyandtheabilityto
approachsituationswithalighterheart.
EncouragetheHeart:Recognizingcontributionsandshowingappreciationforindividual
excellence
Accomplishingextraordinarythingsinorganizationsishardwork.Tokeephopeand
determinationalive,leadersrecognizecontributionsthatindividualsmake.Ineverywinning
team,themembersneedtoshareintherewardsoftheirefforts,soleaderscelebrate
accomplishments.Theymakepeoplefeellikeheroes.
Thebestwaytoencouragetheheartisthroughpersonalencouragementandaffirmation.
Whilethistechniquecanseemlikeitisenablingorbeingsoftwithpeople,affirmationina
positiveandupliftingwayisimportantforleadershipdevelopment.Bothpersonalandgroup
encouragementcanbemeaningfulforacommunity.Recognizingcontributionsthatindividuals
makecanmakeahugedifferenceintheirfeelingstowardstheorganizationandtowardsyouasa
leader.Inordertomakeapersonfeelrecognized,you'llhavetogettoknow"whotheyare,how
theyfeel,andwhattheythink(Kouzes226)."
Anotherwaytoencouragetheheartistocreateaspiritofcommunity.Kouzessays,
"whensocialconnectionsarestrongandnumerousthere'smoretrust,informationflowsfreely,
peoplehelpeachotherout,theyworktogether,andthey'rehappiest(237)."Encouragementcan
comeinmanyforms.Theseformsmayincludewrittenaffirmation,verbalaffirmation,
occasionalgroupspeeches,teammeetingsorrecognitiondinners,ormanyotherformsof

affirmation.Encouragementandaffirmationhavebeenproventoincreasegroupmoraleand
createamorehealthyworkenvironmentforbothleadersandcommunitymembers.
Trustme,itwillwork.
Kellyusesencouragetheheartastheclosingofheressay.Herencouragementissimple,
yetbold.Trustme,shesays.Trustissomethingthatiscreatedthroughotherexemplary
leadershippractices,includinginspireasharedvision,modeltheway,andenableotherstoact.
Encouragetheheartwasagreatchoicetoendtheessaywithbecauseitleavespeoplewondering
andthinking,butalsoleavespeopleencouraged.
Toshowunderstandingoftheconceptsandknowledgegainedfromthisexercise,Ihave
writtenmyownThisIBelieveexcerpt,includingeachofthefiveleadershippracticesas
highlightedaccordingtothecodebelow.
Red:Challengetheprocess
Purple:Enableotherstoact
Green:Modeltheway
Blue:Encouragetheheart
Orange:Inspireasharedvision

Ibelieveininclusion.Itssomethingwestrivefor.Itssomethingwelongfor.Itssomethingwe
oftenfallshortof.Itssomethingweoftenmisinterpret,misunderstand,andmisrepresent.
Whatdoesitmeantobeincluded?

Manypeoplesaythatbeingincludedishavingacommunitytosaythatyoubelongto.Iagree,
butthisisntgoodenough.Sooftenwemakeexcusesforthelackofinclusionandunderstanding
ofothersinourworld.Itsnotokay.Wearecalledtobeagentsofchange.Weneedtoreachout,
reachwide,reachin.
WhenIcametocollege,IknewIwantedtogetinvolvedwithacampusministry.Itriedseveral,
findingonethatImostcloselybelievedinandalignedwiththeirtheology.Ijoinedthechoir
becausethatwasanopportunitythatisanopportunityIneverhadbeforecollege.Iwouldgoto
choirrehearsaleveryTuesdaynight,beingintentionalabouttryingtobeapartofthecommunity
andtofeelincluded.Unfortunately,Ifeltanythingbutincluded.Iwouldwalkinandstandbythe
door,ignoredbythepeoplearoundme.Iwasdiscouraged,butratherthanwalkingaway,I
respondedthroughaction.
Thenextyear,Ifocusedonoutreach,bothinsideandoutsideofthecampusministrycommunity
thatwasalreadypresent.Isatonthecouchinthelobbyofthebuildingandsaidhitoevery
singlepersonwhowalkedthroughthedoors.Italkedtopeopleaboutwhatwecouldimprove
andhowwecanchangethecultureofinclusionaroundthecommunity.Iaskedpeoplewhatthey
thoughttheycoulddotocontributetothisnewspiritofinclusivity.Peoplelistenedandjoinedin
thecause.Iallowedotherpeopletobeinvolvedinprogramming,bothintentionallyplannedand
organicallycreated,inordertocontinueonwiththisnewculture.
Thingschanged.Peoplefeltincluded.Thebarcontinuedtobesethigherandhigher,refusingto
settlewithanythinglessthanatrulyinviting,welcoming,intentional,sacredcommunity,opento
anyoneandeveryone.

Wecontinuetoworktogether,lookingtowardsthefutureandhowwecanreachevenfurther.
Affirmationandencouragementsurroundtheprocess,ensuringthatpeoplearerecognizedfor
theireffortsandhaveadesiretocontinueon.
Trueinclusionispowerful.Beapartofthismovement.Believeininclusion.Beanincluder.
Reachout,reachfar,reachwide,reachoften.