AROUND THE CENTER
Leaders' Links Guides Local Explorer on a Worthy Adventure
This article features City Year Regional Director Chris Larson discussing his experiences in Leaders' Links with his Link facilitator, Michele Murphy. Leaders' Links and Leaders' Networks are peer-to-peer learning programs offered by the Mandel Center, and are based on facilitated discussions within small groups (6-7) of nonprofit executive leaders. Using an action learning process, each group member supports other members' learning and provides immediate feedback that is applicable to professional, personal or organizational life.
If City Year Regional Director Chris Larson had lived in an earlier time, he might very well have been an explorer given his penchant for pursuing uncharted territory. This modern Magellan surprises only himself, and not those who know him - especially his fellow Executive Directors in Leaders' Links.
Larson vividly remembers the day he was recruited for Leaders' Links. "I had just spoken with John Yankey, who was interviewing nonprofit execs as part of a project for another organization. My main headline to him was, 'EDs in the nonprofit sector have no means of connecting or taking advantage of networking.' "
He continues, "The call to join Leaders' Links was serendipitous. The Leaders' Links concept seemed to address the very issue I had raised about what was missing for EDs."
Larson joined Leaders' Links 4. He remembers being immediately impressed with the group. "I thought what a great group of people; what amazing experience they bring to any discussion."
Members included: Allison Wallace, Neighborhood Centers Assn (until recently with Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center). Donna Asnani, New Life Community; Val McCormack, Shoes and Clothes for Kids; and Joy Banish, RSVP. Two other original members dropped out of the Link - one due to a family emergency and the other for a job change out of the nonprofit sector. Mike Matoney, New Directions, joined the Link a bit later.
Nearly three years later, Larson talks easily about the important niche Links fills for his organization and his own professional and personal development. "Because the Link process isn't overly structured, we were able to build an esprit de corps quickly. This allowed us to bring substantive issues to the table fast."
And Larson, for one, is glad about that. Last year, City Year gave him an opportunity to do something unique for the 17-year-old national organization. "The idea of becoming City's Year's 'Regional Director in the Field' intrigued me. It was unprecedented and I knew I needed to set it up well in order to succeed."
Larson turned to his Link. "For months, I asked many questions about hiring a new ED - my replacement. What would my role be with this person? Where would I locate my new office? So many of my decisions needed to consider the impact on the new ED and how and when to step out of the way."
He also recalls discussing an issue of great personal and professional concern. "As I moved to the Regional Director role, I worried about the relationship between City Year and the Board. Most of all, I wanted to maintain the great relationship I had developed with my Board Chair. The Link gave me great feedback to help me decide how to handle this best for me and for my organization. It was invaluable."
In the midst of this career shift, Larson and his entire family were making plans to consolidate four generations and households into one. Again, he turned to the Link to help him think though the process. "It was a natural place to discuss change, both organizational and personal, and I never hesitated to bring things up that were affecting my career and my life. By then, I had developed friendships with members of my Link and I valued their input and perspective."
After successfully uniting the large brood, Larson hosted a Link session at his home. "It made sense. It was so helpful to have the other EDs to use as resources as my family and I went through the move. I wanted them to share in what we had accomplished."
As for his Link experience, Larson is enthusiastic. "I can't think of one session that didn't result in some learning for me. It's not theory; it's practical application."
"It's really as simple as this: In the thick of managing an organization and all the million things an ED has to do, you can lose perspective. But when someone asks you a really great question, which is the Link process, it forces you to pull back and think. That is when you get that all-important new perspective. No one needs to tell you what to do or offer advice. They ask you a question to help you discover your own answer."
"There's nothing out there like Leaders' Links," he concludes.
Coming from someone who has no fear of venturing into uncharted territory, that's something.
For more information about the Mandel Center's peer-to-peer learning programs, visit our website at: http://www.case.edu/mandelcenter/professionaldev/peertopeer/
