“We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.”
- Jean Houston

Effective groups

Leadership

As we move towards increased interdependence and collaboration, how we conceptualize leadership also needs to shift.

Boards of directors top^

Being a Governor: A Process for Board Development

A toolkit for developing the capacity of board governors, including checklists and questionnaires.
Seel & Iffrig, Mt Royal College, Institute for Nonprofit Studies (2006), linked 08/10
http://www.mtroyal.ca/wcm/groups/public/documents/pdf/npr07_goverguide.pdf

Free Complete Toolkit for Boards

An excellent set of tools for Boards that apply to for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Free Management Library, linked 08/10
http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/boards.htm#anchor264782

How Boards Work

Self-paced 2-hour online course; $127 for 3 months access.
Charity Village Campus, linked 08/10
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/learn/cvcboards.html

Sample Policy on Zero Tolerance for Harassment

A sample policy that covers, and includes definitions of, discrimination, personal harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, abuse of authority, and poisoning a work place.
Dorothy Riddle, Service-Growth Consultants Inc. (2008), linked 09/10
http://www.servicegrowth.net/documents/Sample Policy on Harassment.org.pdf

Writing Effective Policies and Procedures

Self-paced 2-hour online course; $127 for 3 months access.
Charity Village Campus, linked 08/10
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/learn/cvcpandp.html

Leadership styles top^

Applying Facilitative Leadership

Principles for facilitation. (4th file in list)
Wichita University, linked 08/10
http://www.ccsr.wichita.edu/knowledgebase/index.php?tpid=9&stpid=12

Art of Harvesting

Describes the work of the facilitator or host as engaging everyone to speak "their truth," listen openly, and try to understand differing views; by contrast, the work of the "harvesters" is to capture the wisdom, see patterns, make meaning – and then make this meaning "visible" and available.
The Art of Hosting, linked 08/10
http://www.artofhosting.org/thepractice/artofharvesting/

Authentic Leadership in Action Institute

Based in Halifax, NS, Canada, the approach combines the Buddhist and Shambala traditions of mindfulness and authentic presence with the new-paradigm thinking from complexity theory, chaordic design, Theory U, social networking theory, and strength-based community development.
ALIA website, linked 09/10
http://www.aliainstitute.org/institute/home.html

Effective Leadership

A brochure with two templates (Organizational Leadership and Personal Leadership) to help you assess the effectiveness of the leadership in your organization —a 'starter set' to help you take a quick pulse check and map a plan for action.
Conference Board of Canada website, linked 09/10
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?DID=342

Five Principles to Improve Your Leadership Skills

The article looks briefly at five principles - self-esteem, planning, motivation, delegation, and empowerment - that will improve leadership skills, especially when coupled with the way you recognize your organization's needs and how you can adapt your leadership style to those needs.
Articlesbase website, Abbas Abedi, linked 09/10
http://www.articlesbase.com/goal-setting-articles/five-principles-to-improve-your-leadership-skills-45020.html

Guide to Leadership

Ten steps to becoming a more effective leader.
Business.com website, George F Franks III, linked 09/10
http://www.business.com/guides/leadership-3152/

Habits of Spiritually Grounded Leaders

An article that looks at the discipline and persistence needed to exercise mindfulness and be a spiritually grounded leader. Includes a related article: Humility in leadership.
bnet website, Scott Thompson, linked 09/10
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_10_62/ai_n15966448/?tag=content;col1

How You Can Be an Effective Leader

A Factsheet that takes a close look at the concept of leadership and provides a number of guidelines for leaders who volunteered, were elected or appointed to help them effectively lead their groups.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture website, Kim DeKlein & Meg Penstone, linked 09/10
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/94-081.htm

International Leadership Programme

A 12-day intensive training where participants from many different cultures, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds come together to form an international learning community.
Wyse Website, linked 09/10
http://www.wyse-ngo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=38

Leader to Leader Institute

An institute that helps social sector organizations achieve excellence in performance and community building.
Website, linked 09/10
http://www.leadertoleader.org/

Roles for Effective Leadership

A description of five key leadership roles.
Dorothy Riddle, Service-Growth Consultants Inc., Copyright 2008, linked 08/10
http://www.servicegrowth.net/documents/Roles for Effective Leadership.net.pdf

Rotational Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Suggestions for success when leadership or management positions are shared in rotation.
Dorothy Riddle, Service-Growth Consultants Inc., Copyright 2008, linked 08/10
http://www.servicegrowth.net/documents/Rotational Responsibilities and Accountabilities.net.pdf

Situational Leadership

Provides a good synopsis of the model underlying situational leadership that allows you to analyze the needs of the situation you're dealing with and then adopt the most appropriate leadership style.
From Blanchard & Hersey, Chimaera Consulting, linked 08/10
http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/sitleader.htm

Spiritual Leaders

A brief article describing emotionally mature leaders as those who have examined their life's journey and think in terms of "the better good".
Financial Post, Mary Pearson, April 19, 2006, linked 09/10
http://www.spiritualityandtheworkplace.ca/downloads/media_inner_self.pdf

Service Growth

Support for Spiritual Development