http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/ View from the Hill Description en jnaclia@aceleaders.ca Copyright 2010 2010-06-22T17:55:53+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_6/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_6/#When:16:55:53Z A great woman once said: “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” Summer is upon us and so too is the last session of “Becoming a Community Builder”. In this sixth and final session, Ian will explore “Building Communities Through Effective Planning”. The community development approach to planning has proven to be the most effective in creating great plans that have stakeholder buy-in and actually produce meaningful solutions to real problems. So if we want to be a Community Builder, we better know how to be a catalyst and convener for effective planning to occur. Join us and enhance this much needed tool in your tool kit! LEARNING OUTCOMES: ·      Participants will learn practical and actionable insight on how to ignite the planning process ·      Participants will gain insight into planning approaches that ensure that our stakeholders influence decisions that affect them ·      Participants will leave the session with practical steps to get a planning process started for the bottom up —- So this is the end… kinda.  Because, really, just because Ian’s webcast series has been completed, that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t work to be done.  The final step in the process seems to be effective planning. I should, however, stop using words like ‘the end’ or ‘final’.  One thing that I will take away from this experience is that, when it comes to community building, there is no end.  There are no final steps.  If we are going to become effective leaders and successful community builders, the process must be ongoing. Just because we are making the plan doesn’t mean that we have stopped the engagement of others.  We still need to advocate for our cause and commit to continual improvement… for ourselves and for our communities.  The six competencies for community leadership is not a checklist, it is a continuing, evolving circle. I believe a successful plan had the stamp, the flavour, of many people and many diverse ideas.  It needs to be owned by the community it is affecting – much in the way we must own our own journey to becoming a better community leader. So I would like to thank all of those who taken this journey with ACE, Ian, and myself.  I feel comforted that there are others who are working alongside us, in different parts of the world, striving to make this world a better place.  Because, in the end, we are all interconnected and everyone is ultimately only as strong as the neighbour beside them. I commit to bettering both my community and myself and I have faith that you will as well. So good luck and let us know how you journey is progressing. 2010-06-22T16:55:53+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_5/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_5/#When:02:06:50Z Well it’s that time of year…Holiday weekend wrapping up, summer in view, Recreation and Parks month just a little while away…And also time for the 5th Session in Becoming a Community Builder. In this session, we will discuss Quality of Life Advocacy- the ability to work proactively to promote what you do as services that deliver essential benefits to the community. We will learn ways to shape policy, influence those in positions that drive policy decisions and explore proven strategies for advocating the quality of life sector and its value.  Don’t forget to make sure you watch all the videos from previous sessions to get the full effect!  Click here for our video archive: http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/archive/ LEARNING OUTCOMES: ·      Participants will be able to better understand advocacy and how to do it with limited resources . ·      Participants will be to use multiple communications tools to “brand” the quality of life sector as essential. ·      Participants will leave with a better understanding of how to make the “linearly logical and ecstatically pleasing” case for the essential nature of the Quality of Life sector using the many tools that ACE has to offer. Let’s build community together! Ian Hill—- I’m in the midst of writing a letter.  It’s a letter of support targeted at my local MLA regarding a music center in my neighborhood.  This music/arts center has been in the hot seat as of late as someone tried to shut it down based on the ‘undesirables’ (read: youth and musicians) that it was attracting. Imagine that: musicians going to a music center.  Unheard of….. And so, I am attempting to lobby for the improvement of the quality of life in my neighborhood by supporting the arts.  Good thing I attended Ian’s webcast on Friday on just how to be an effective advocate. So as I read over my first draft, these are the points that I will make sure that I address: 1) Is my argument for the existence of this music/arts center both logically linear AND aesthetically pleasing (in ode to the ancient, Roman debate strategy that Ian mentioned)? 2) Can my argument offer effective solutions to real world problems?  In this case, for example, can the debated music center provide youth with a safe and creative place to hang out at after school? 3) Is my letter non-judgmental and approachable?  Does it encourage the reader (as in my MLA) to feel compelled by my argument as opposed to feeling like his ankle is being bitten? 4) Does my genuine concern and passion for the topic come through?  I am a huge supporter of the arts with an artist husband and I most definitely feel that artistic activity in my neighborhood only makes it more interesting and compelling.  Does that manifest in the letter? 5) Has my point come across in clear and concise verbiage?  Say I only did have 30 seconds to convey my point, would the reader get the importance of what I am trying to advocate for? Now having gone through the exercise of actually writing these points down, I will now return to my letter of support for my local music center.  Because, as an advocate for the quality of life sector, it is truly my responsibility that I do my job right. What have you advocated for recently? Janet Naclia 2010-05-25T02:06:50+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_4/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_4/#When:14:53:42Z Spring is upon us and we are all getting ready for all that it means in the Recreation and Parks/Quality of Life Sector.  Join us on Friday for part four in the series “Becoming a Community Builder ”. In this upcoming webcast, we will discuss how to become a catalyst for citizen responsibility. We will be discussing how to motivate and create buy-in in others and how to use that buy-in to get things done.  Stayed tuned for this webcast on Friday, April 30th at 10:00 am.  Just click on this link to join the webcast: http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/ Don’t forget to get the most from the program, make sure you watch all the videos from previous sessions!  See this link for the video archive: http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/archive/ LEARNING OUTCOMES: ·    Participants will be able to identify the steps to effective engagement. ·    Participants will better understand how to develop and apply strategies for generating buy-in from stakeholders they work with and serve. ·    Participants will learn motivational techniques that assist others in taking ownership and giving their best. See you then! Ian Hill —- I think I have found my happy place – I am a catalyst for citizen responsibility!  Yeah… I am celebrating this because I struggled last month.  I admit it.  I’m not exactly the best when it comes to big picture thinking – the third ACE competency for being a community builder.  I know that I often do get tangled in the trees.  I love to take action, hit the ground running, and get others involved.  These are all good things but not the best for evaluating the big picture. When I took the competency test this month, however, I realized that it was now my time to shine.  As outlined by the indicators, I too fully believe that people have both the right and the responsibility to shape their community.  I love hearing diverse opinions and viewpoints.  And I truly love to connect people with others and to resources.  In fact, this is exactly what I do at ACE Communities as the Creative Cultural Liaison.  We are a perfect fit. Now this is not to say that I can’t greatly improve.  I’ve had many discussions with Ian about the value of being a good listener.  Not a passive listener or a kinda-listening-but really-wanting-to-speak listener, but an active and engaged one. In a recent conversation I had with Jennifer Peddlesden, a community leader in Chestermere, she commented on the slippery role that communication has played in her community.  It is something, she acknowledged, that has either rallied or splintered Chestermere… she has seen it.  And I believe her.  Communication is a powerful thing – for good or for evil. So that is my commitment to improvement this month.  I am going to learn how to not only truly listen but to really hear what people are saying – not what I WANT them to be saying.  I’m going to investigate people’s listening types (as in whether they are an emotional based or value based listener, ect.) and how that affects me as a catalyst for social responsibility. I’ll report back soon!  You listening out there? Janet—- Listening to people is complicated.  One thing that I will always remember from my chats with Ian is that people are complicated too.  So, if you really want to make an impact on someone, you really need to know their communication style. Some people, he says, are fact-based listeners.  They hear the facts and make up their minds up about your position based on that.  Others are emotional listeners so their ability to listen to you can swing with the emotional tides.  Others are value-based listeners…. Then you can be active or an inactive listener… or a too busy to listen listener.  Oh – the list goes on. Like I said, listening to people is complicated. At the moment, I think I might be the dreaded ‘Too busy to listen” listener.  I admit it, I have purposely typed harder and faster whenever my husband pops his head into my office for his dreaded update on the Maple Leafs (but can you blame me?).  I’ve multi-tasked during conference calls and wore my headset to chat with my mom as I fold the laundry at night.  I wonder now at the little nuances I have missed by keeping my hands and parts of my brain engaged with something else. And so the inactive listening must end if I am going to be able to train myself to be better community leader. What I need to try and be is a compassionate listener.  That is my goal.  The Compassionate Listener stops whatever he or she is doing, turns, faces the communicator and gives that person complete attention. The Compassionate Listener watches both verbal and nonverbal messages to understand what the speaker is saying beyond the words. This person rarely turns away from a speaker and rarely talks about him or herself. If you’ve experienced a Compassionate Listener, you know that you walk away from the experience feeling heard, respected and energized. This is my goal.  No more multitasking for me… its engagement all the way.  Now where did I put my headset? For more listening styles see this great article by Joan Curtis: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/What_is_Your_Listening_Style.html 2010-04-26T14:53:42+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_3/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_3/#When:03:29:52Z Becoming a Community Builder, “Big Picture Thinking” is the third of six webcasts based on community leadership competencies. It will be delivered by Ian Hill on Friday, March 26th at 10:00 am and is free as the result of funding from Rural Alberta’s Development Fund, EnCana, Cenvous and Canwest. For leaders to be effective today, they need to “shift their thinking from parts to whole, from things to relationships, from structures to processes, from hierarchies to networks, from the rational to the intuitive, from analysis to creation. In this broadcast, Ian will explore the importance of a proactive, system thinking/ holistic approach and how to establish it as a pillar of your leadership style, as you strive to become better community builder! . Participants will learn: – What systems thinking is and how it can make you more effective today – How to generate creative and innovative ideas through an “outside the box” planning/problem solving approach – A proven “system” for the implementation of organizational change If you missed the previous two webcasts, you can find them archived at http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/archive/. To participate in the next live webcast, simply visit http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/ on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. The remaining webcasts are scheduled for the last Friday of each month at 10:00 am April 30, May 28, and June 25th. —- And, fellow leadership webcast participants, here is your homework for this month: -Compete your ‘Big Picture Thinking’ Competency Survey -Laminate the 5 new steps of ‘Out-of-the-box’ thinking into cards and apply these statements to your next decision making opportunity -Complete your Commitment Action Plan -Watch the Supplemental Video on Big Picture Thinking Good luck!  —- It seems that I am a bit late on my blogging this month.  My apologies!  Part of the problem, it seems, is that I have been caught up in the little details of life in general lately and lost my glimpse of the big picture.  Very apropos for a month dedicated to connecting with big picture thinking.  This disconnect with the big picture seems to happen, I notice, sometimes as we rush from meeting to meeting from deadline to deadline and from place to place.  It is great to be reminded that there is, in fact, a larger plan out there and that successful leaders know not only how to tap into but how to cultivate these systems for the implementation of organizational change. I had the distinct pleasure of spending some quality time with Brenda Herchmer, the Director of ACE Communities, last week.  We were recently together in Hobbema presenting a community building workshop.  It was here that she touched based on the idea that some of us are forest people and that some of us are trees.  This metaphor falls in line with the idea that some of us can see the forest (the big picture) for what it is while some us excel as trees - the detail people.  While I am quite happily a tree person, I now wonder if I need to spend some more time with my head poking out of the proverbial foliage. So, in the spirit of the third competency for an effective community leader, I commit to spending the next month treading where I might not naturally go.  The first step: my competency survey to see how far this journey towards big picture thinking must take me. More on those results soon…. Janet 2010-03-26T03:29:52+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/march_webcast-big_picture_thinking/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/march_webcast-big_picture_thinking/#When:02:19:24Z Becoming a Community Builder, “Big Picture Thinking”. Capra said that for leaders to be effective today, they needed to shift their thinking “from parts to whole”, from things to relationships, from structures to processes, from hierarchies to networks, from the rational to the intuitive, from analysis to creation” . In this broadcast I will explore the importance of a proactive, system thinking/ holistic approach and how to establish it as a pillar of your leadership style, as you strive to better Become a Community Builder!                            . Participants will learn • What systems thinking is and how it can make you more effective today                 • How to generate creative and innovative ideas through an “outside the box” planning/problem solving approach. • A proven “system” for the implementation of organizational change. 2010-03-26T02:19:24+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_2/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_2/#When:18:58:40Z We all have heard about continuous improvement and know that if we want to be our best we must continuously improve.  So if we have all HEARD it and all KNOW it, why is it that many individuals, departments and even communities are still doing things as they have always done and don’t seem to improve? Join us as we explore the second competency for being a Community Builder - a “Commitment to Continuous Improvement”. It will help us establish a vision for our legacy, create a code of conduct to help that vision become a reality and provide tools to help us follow through on the commitments we have made to improve ourselves. All combining to help us be our best, as we do the important work of Community Building. Already following along with the workshop exercises?  Then your tasks for this month: 1) Obituary Exercise 2) How do you spend your time? 3) Commitment to Action Plan See you next month when we explore the third competency for being a community builder - “Big Picture Thinking”. Ian Hill —- The idea of continuous improvement is an interesting thing.  And let’s be frank - an exhausting one!  How much easier would it be just to sit back on our laurels… to coast… to just do enough to get by.  Continuous improvement implies continuous work and that is not always fun nor is it easy.  But the one message that I did receive loud and clear from the latest video installment of the ACE “Community Builder Series” with Ian Hill (see http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/archive/) is that the hard work will be worth it.  Why?  Because this is the kind of hard work that changes our communities for the better.  Imagine this - what if we all took Ian’s challenge and tried to just be a little bit better tomorrow than we were yesterday?  Imagine if my neighbours, the mayor, my family, their friends, all rose up and took the same challenge.  If I was a better spouse, if my friends were better parents, if our elected leaders became better listeners… even if by a little bit… imagine how much our communities would approve. And imagine then if we all committed to continuous change… to be a little bit better than we were yesterday month after month after month.  Our lives and our communities would change for the better exponentially .  And so, I’m going to do it.  I am going to continue to rise to the challenge and become a better leader because I care about the world we live in.  My question is - do you?  And if so… what are you going to do about it? Next blog…. my obituary.  Morbid yes.. insightful?  I can only imagine! —— Here it is!  The long awaited obituary.  I must admit, writing this was a bit odd.  How do I really want to be remembered?  What is my impact in our world?  One thing that did become quite clear as I wrote this is that I’m one big ham!  Big surprise… I can’t help it… there is much in this world that we take way too seriously to the detriment of our creative sides and to our youthful spirit.  And I really do like funny, insightful people.  They make the hard tasks more manageable and learning fun.  These are traits, I believe, of an effective leader… I did realize, however, that when it comes to my inner sphere, I am right down to business.  No funny stuff here!  I care for and will fight for the well being of my family and my friends.  This I see as a great beginning for me because, as a community builder, our strength is in our family.  I now need to take this fighting spirit outside of my comfort zone and make a larger impact in the world itself. But until then: the Obituary of one Janet Naclia (as written by herself) There are many here who will dearly miss Janet Naclia.  She was a rose amongst the daisies, a petunia amongst the thorns.  Many here would say that it is her wit, her boisterous Naclia laugh, and her ability to see the humour in most situations that we will all miss the most. This is not to say that Janet wasn’t a serious person.  She was seriously committed to the care of her family and to her friends.  It broke her heart to ever see them suffer and took it upon herself to comfort them in their time of need and help them kick butt when deemed necessary.  To her, the butt kicking was the most effective comfort of all. While Janet didn’t have any children, she had have her basset hounds.  Many, in fact – but not enough for her to have been a hoarder because that’s just wrong.  Janet did love those funny, squishy, short-legged little basset beasties and they loved her.  She contributed tirelessly to basset hound rescue and felt great satisfaction in helping those without voices of their own.  Everyone must choose some sort of gap to stand in and defend.  Animal rights was her cause to fight for. Like many of us, Janet believed that the best leaders were those who led by example.  Who walked their own talk and expected others to do the same.  So she got stuck in the mud, fell on her face, rose to challenges, and failed with some measure of grace.  Life was an ongoing adventure for Janet, filled with new ideas to explore, new people to learn from and new places to visit. She always had time, though, for a good bar of chocolate and an old Star Trek rerun.  To Janet, life was a balance of what needed to be done and what needed to be celebrated. 2010-02-22T18:58:40+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/becoming_a_community_builder_part_1/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/becoming_a_community_builder_part_1/#When:05:16:52Z We have now officially kicked off our six-month professional development series: “Becoming a Community Builder”. Check out this video explaining our comprehensive personal development model: http://www.viddler.com/explore/aceleader/videos/23/ I think that one of the main realizations that I want participants to come away with is that the only way to build an ACE community is to have ACE minded leaders.  In order to build the thriving communities that we all seek today, community leaders must exemplify the six ACE leadership competencies.  However, in most instances, (like my own) we must hone our leadership style for the new context in which we operate in today.  This means that we MUST change! This series will do just that, it will help a person become an ACE leader, in practice not in theory!  It will provide participants with real, practical, doable steps. See this link for the first video in the series: (http://acecommunities.ca/community-builder/). Pretty cool huh! So just click on this link and start the journey. Make sure to also check out the resource link beneath the webcast to get the handouts and to also watch the support videos. For those of you who have already started the program, here are a few mile markers to help keep you on track: ·      By February 26th Watch all three videos( total time 1 hour 24 minutes) Complete the leadership history survey Send out your 3 question personal performance feedback survey Explore the change continuum and begin to identify an area that you would like to apply the continuum Post your thoughts on the comments section of the BACB web page. For us to build ACE communities, we must have ACE minded and ACE performing leaders.  Macro change must first happen on a micro level. I know that you have what it takes to make a difference and I know together we can build the communities that we would all want to live in. Ian Hill ——- I first met Ian while road tripping together across Alberta on the ACE Communities Ignite Tour in December.  I remember admiring his strong belief that we all have the capacity to be better human beings.  Not only that, I was struck by his belief that not only could we be better people, we could be better leaders.  We the people… the dentists, the artists, the grocery clerks, the stay-at-home moms… could and will have a positive influence on the communities that we live in. When I heard that he was hosting the ACE Communities “Becoming a Community Builder” series, I thought – hey… here is the perfect opportunity for me to really practice what I preach.  As part of the ACE Team, I work with communities to help build their leadership capacity and now, I thought to myself, it’s time that I take the same approach with myself. So, I’m going to do it! I’m committing myself to the program. I’m going to watch the webcasts, check out the support videos, and go through the worksheets.  And then…. lucky you, fine readers…. I’m going to blog about it.  Anyone see Julie & Julia?  It’ll be like that but without the cooking.  I don’t like to cook. So check back here weekly for the good, the bad, the ugly, and the inspirations.  This will be an ongoing blog following me on my journey to become a better leader. Change is the air and I know I want to be a part of it… so join me as I walk the path of community building alongside you. More soon…. Janet —— Task 1 - 3 question personal performance feedback survey Well, I have finally made some moves on my leadership course.  I have watched the videos - quite like the Change Continuum - and have briefly looked at the leadership survey.  Not gonna lie… that looked daunting so I took the easy way out.  I sent out the 3 question personal performance feedback survey to my current work colleagues.  And all it took was the click of a button. The feedback has been interesting so far as most initial responses complimented me purely on my initiative.  I guess it takes a bit of bravery to put yourself out there and ask for honest feedback - good and bad.  Personally, I have always encouraged those working with me to comment on my performance because how else can you improve!  There is no denying, though, that self-reflection doesn’t always necessarily dig as deep as it should.  So bring it on - I told all of them.  I really wanted to know the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Unfortunately, my work crew have been out of town a lot as of late (ACE is a busy organization) so I have only received one survey back.  This came from our gentle Rose who had naught but good things to say.  She did, however, comment on the need for me to keep a well balanced life in mind.  We must work like we play, she said, and care for our co-workers like we do for our family.  Our Rose is a very wise lady so on that note…. I’m signing off.  It’s the long weekend after all and I have my cross-country skis calling me.  Next… the leadership survey! —- Task 2 - The Leadership Survey Taking a look back at your mentors is truly an interesting exercise.  It really does make you take stock of who you are as a leader.  One thing I realized is that I have had the lucky experience of having been influenced by strong female bosses.  In fact, all of my positive experiences have been due to these women and I am currently, once again, in an organization dominated by strong, female leaders.  In summary, I’m an Amazon and I LOVE IT!  And not only were these mentors strong, they were (and are) colourful, outspoken, fearless, and die hard professionals who have demanded the most of me and always celebrated my successes.  Looking back even further, I realize that I have adopted my own mother’s leadership style.  This style is based on the premise that you just need to get in there and get your feet wet.  Work hard and tirelessly and always care for animals.  My mother is the only person I know who ONLY cries at the movies where its Bambi or Wilbur suffering injustices. That is my mother’s model (which quite possibly explains my basset hound obsession).  She is all about getting the job done and making sure it is done right - a trait I always chaulked up to Old World Ukrainian stoicism.  So that is it… my leadership style is pure Amazon with a bit of Bambi thrown in.  It does make me wonder what I would have been like if roles were reversed and my path was less dominated by this female spirit.  Definitely food for thought…..!   2010-02-07T05:16:52+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/principles_for_ensuring_community_change_personal_journey/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/principles_for_ensuring_community_change_personal_journey/#When:20:04:48Z Over the past 18 months I have been directly involved in community change projects in some 50 Canadian Communities . As I worked with these communities to help them mobilize the change required for them to be more active, creative and engaged, there have been many things I have learned. Over the coming weeks I would like to share those learning’s that I have gleaned and the observations I have made (and the bumps and bruises) and what they have taught along the way.( Side-note- I would like to thank Brenda Herchmer for helping to organize my thoughts and getting them to paper… or huh, web or whatever). First a quick overview to set the stage… Over the coming weeks, I will “unpack” these in more detail. Despite the complexity of what is required and the variety of stakeholders that need to be involved, the change itself is shaped by only a few key principles. The first is that for communities to embrace change, I’ve learned that the change must be grounded in authenticity and be grassroots driven if it is to speak to those who will ultimately be responsible for its implementation. Additionally, the change must be shaped by clearly defined outcomes that capture both the heads and the hearts of the community, the issue needs to be real and the approach needs to be solution focused. For people within the community to step up to the plate and accept the challenge of getting involved in solutions, their invitation must clearly definite the length of their involvement as generally there are many who are leery about never-ending commitments. In other words, there must be a sunrise and sunset to the activity. As well, what we are asking of them must be clearly defined…managing expectations is key as is fulfilling their needs. The change must begin with a clear, defining moment that conveys the idea that something different and special is about to happen. In the case of ACE Communities, rather than waiting for the crisis that is often the impetus for uniting and mobilizing the community, it begins instead with something that will ignite the community. From that defining moment, the change must be supported but also be allowed to grow organically as the relationships and trust grow within the community and they take projects and initiatives where they need to go. Locally the change must have at minimum, one passionate leader with a burning fire in their belly who believes that things in their community can and will be better. Lastly, it’s important to ensure each initiative is celebrated as it is completed within the community. Those involved in driving the initiative to completion must be the same ones to identify and value the feeling of community that is the result of working together. It will be up to them to ask, “What’s next”? And so the circle of change will continue.    Blogging 2009-10-22T20:04:48+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/kassi_and_track/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/kassi_and_track/#When:16:45:22Z When asked about his daughter, actor John Malkovich replied, “ I only have two rules for my newly born daughter: she will dress well and never have sex.”  Sounds good to me. I personally would also like to confess to another rule or perhaps it might be better described as an aspiration.  Deep down, I’ve always hoped that one of my three daughters would follow in my footsteps and take up track.  While I may not have been the world’s greatest sprinter, I did have wheels and I like to think I’ve passed on some of those genes to my offspring. Consequently, I could hardly contain my glee when at the age of my twelve my daughter Kassi decided she wanted to be a hurdler. As a former high school and college track coach, I was even more pleased when she asked me to help her.  Apparently Kassi was having trouble with her pacing and couldn’t seem to get past the third hurdle.  So, off we went to the local track. Just as were pulling the car up, Kassi spotted a number of boys on the track. Suddenly her total demeanor changed and she snapped, “No Dad, I don’t want to go out there!” Trying to be understanding, I asked her, “What are you intimidated by? Are you afraid they’ll pick on you? Make fun of you?” She replied, “I know, I know…I just don’t want to.” At that point, beginning to lose my patience, I dug in my heels, and said, “Well we’re not leaving until you get out of the car and at least try this!” By then she was really mad and said “You don’t understand Dad, and besides, you’re not taking into account my feelings!” Agreeing she had a point I backed down and had actually started to drive away before I turned to her and said, “No! I will not let you be intimidated by those boys, we’ll work through this together!” Now very upset, she turned to me and spit out through clenched teeth, “I hate you”. But…. she did get out of the car. After that Kodak moment, I proceeded as if nothing had happened and began to show her fence drills, skipping drills, the basic motions, and rhythm drills. At this point, she lightened up somewhat even managing to ignore the boys who were by now running around the track. Although she appeared to be gaining more confidence, I could still sense her fear. Rather than risk having her fail, I decided to turn the hurdles upside down and had her simply concentrate on running the full set of hurdles a number of times. Here she met with success. Seeing we were making progress, I suggested we put the hurdles up and then try the real thing.  Kassi blasted out, hit the first two hurdles, got to the third, and was stopped in her tracks by fear. She turned back and tried again, and again, and then finally made it through the full set. As she made it across the final hurdle, a huge grin split across her face as the others on the track, having watched her struggle and ultimately succeed, broke into spontaneous applause. Kassi walked over to me, grinned and said, “I don’t hate you”. I said, “I know”, gave her a hug, and proceeded to tell her how proud I was that she had tackled the course despite being afraid of banged up shins and boys who would make fun of her. Thinking about it afterward, I thought that her experience on that track was much like life. How often do we compromise our own values, dreams, and hopes because we’re afraid?  How often do we stop pursuing our desires because its easier to go along with others?  Life really is just a series of hurdles that are often made more challenging because of the push and pull of desire and fear. While in Kassi’s case it was the fear of falling down and the fear of the boys, for others it may be other more or less complex issues.  But, just as it was in Kassi’s case, it really is just about having a vision for what you want to do and pursuing it, one step at a time…hurdle by hurdle, banged shins and all.  Unbeknownst to me, Kassi’s coach had also suggested that if she couldn’t get past her fear, perhaps she needed to think about another activity. That made her victory even more impressive. Was it worth the struggle?  Judging by Kassi’s beautiful smile and the light in her eyes, oh yea it was definitely worth the struggle!  2009-08-27T16:45:22+00:00 http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/comments/leadership_for_changing_times/ http://www.ltbk.ca/kids/index.php/site/leadership_for_changing_times/#When:20:35:20Z Now, unlike ever before, grassroots leaders—people like you and I—have the power to make an impact. Thanks to the internet and the growing popularity of social media, the world is smaller than it’s ever been and some of the procedures we’ve known and trusted no longer apply. People’s attitudes towards leadership are shifting. Change is coming, but it’s not trickling down from shadowy figures in an ivory tower. It’s coming from the bottom up, from community leaders who recognize they have the power to change the world. Regular people like you and I are becoming ACE leaders—Active, Creative and Engaged. ACE leaders are those who have the vision, energy and skill to build healthy communities. These are the six competencies that a leader today—an ACE leader—needs to demonstrate. ACE leaders are agents of change. You have a great message, but if nobody hears it, nothing will happen. Finding likeminded people and building relationships is the key to progress. ACE leaders have a commitment to continuous improvement. Sure, the status quo works, but is there a better way? Is there a way that’s better for the environment and our communities? ACE leaders constantly reevaluate their methods. ACE leaders apply big picture thinking. Just as every part inside a computer has an important function, so does each member, organization and business within a community. All need to live up to their potential and work collectively to address the broader community. ACE leaders are catalysts for citizen responsibility. They inspire others to take ownership of their community. ACE leaders are quality of life advocates. They understand that recreation, parks, sports, arts, culture and heritage are essential elements of a community. ACE leaders are community development planners. They don’t say all the right words and then wait for others to do the grunt work. ACE leaders take initiative and work with others to proactively apply innovative solutions. Leadership today is no longer about a title—it’s about the capacity to get things done by engaging others. The days of the individual on the white horse swooping into town to save the day are gone. Today, it takes someone with the ability to build partnerships and build consensus. It takes someone with the ability to inspire, to move others towards a shared goal. It takes an ACE leader. Are you an ACE leader? Find out with our Leadership Self-Assessment quiz at http://acecommunities.ca/downloads/. News 2009-06-29T20:35:20+00:00