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Unit 2 – Values-Based Leadership

Overview

When we are working with organizational values, it starts and ends with us as individual climate adaptation practitioners and leaders. According to Sipe and Frick (2009), “We behave the way we do because of our values, which in turn are based on even deeper beliefs. For permanent, even joyful, changes in behavior, successful companies link changes to widely held values and beliefs” (p. 182). How we show up in our organizations; the conversations we have; the issues that prompt our passion; and the perpetual conflicts we can’t seem to shake contribute to defining the “values in operation” we experience and participate in co-creating. A potential influence of the Indigenous and multicultural leadership literature on leadership is the seven-generation rule. As Bordas (2012) pointed out, “It is the solemn responsibility of leaders to ensure that children have the resources and preparation to live a good long life” (p. 56). Imagine what might be possible for leaders if we incorporated the seven-generation rule as a foundational element of our leadership and decision-making process. As part of this unit, participants will complete a personal values assessment and have an opportunity to explore in dialogue with each other what core values are informing their climate adaptation and change leadership practice. To use values as guiding principles in climate adaptation and change offers each of us the opportunity to release the hero in everyone around us, including ourselves.

Activities & Assessment

Activity 2: Experiencing Appreciative Inquiry through Engaging in a Paired Appreciative Interview

As we continue to build the relational web between us and among us as a community, this week is an opportunity to connect with one other fabulous human in our class cohort for two purposes.

First, this is an opportunity to experience an Appreciative Inquiry interview. The second positive unintended outcome will be getting to know another member of the cohort through a synchronous opportunity to connect.

My invitation is to connect and pair up. Where possible, identify someone you haven’t worked together with and schedule a mutually agreeable time to connect and interview each other. You will be relying on the four generic questions found on page 155-156 of the following text as the guide for your interview.

see: Watkins, J. M., Mohr, B. J., & Kelly, R. (2011). from the Unit 1 readings

Your task is to each member of the pair, post a reflection in the same discussion thread, following completion of your Appreciative interview, to share:

Your experience of the AI interview

  • What did you notice?
  • What surprised you?
  • What different and shared values were represented in your dialogue? 
  • What impact did this dialogue have on you?
  • How would you describe your experience as the interviewee?
  • How would you describe your experience when you were the interviewer?

What potential application are you now considering as part of your climate action leadership practice?

Please share your reflection by Saturday. This activity contributes to class contribution and participation.

Guest speakers

In this session, Drs. Vanessa Daether and Catherine Etmanski will offer insights and activities to explore links between the climate crisis and global food systems.

To support your reflections on this topic before class, please review the following links in advance.

We also welcome students prior learning and experience with this topic.

About the guest speakers:

Vanessa (she/her) is a scholar-practitioner who lives and works in the Snuneymuxw and Stz’uminus territories of eastern Vancouver Island. A recent graduate of Royal Roads University’s Doctor of Social Sciences program, Vanessa enjoys working across academic, community and business sectors to support resilient and just food systems. From organizing regional seed sovereignty initiatives to conducting applied research for small-scale food producers and processors, Vanessa is passionate about local food and her community. Follow this link to read Vanessa’s 2021 RRU doctoral dissertation.

Catherine (she/her) is a professor and the director of RRU’s School of Leadership Studies. You can learn more about Catherine’s work here. Her 2017 book is titled, Leadership and Adult Learning for Global Food Systems Transformation and is available to download.