Bushel of Apples

There are times when I feel like a bushel of apples. All the parts are neatly packed within the bushel. Suddenly, the bushel is tipped upside down and parts of me fall, spill and bounce out. At first I feel completely out of control and scattered about. Then I slowly look around and realize that everything I still need is still there, although strewn all over.

As I gather myself together, I notice: parts are bruised and I set them aside to heal; parts contain worms and are thrown away; parts of me are not yet ready to be in the bushel and are set on a window sill for the sun to nurture. The most select, complete and healthy apples are then chosen to fill the bushel and make me whole again.

If the bushel hadn't tipped, the bruised apples would have festered, the worms would have multiplied eating the immature apples. Eventually the healthy ripe apples would have rotted or been eaten.

To be a whole healthy bushel of apples, sometimes I need to upset the basket to sort out the bad apples, before they consume me.

About this poem -

I wrote this poem many years ago and still find in it an important reminder to tip the apple cart every now and then. I was honored the first time it was performed on stage by a brilliant artist, Ms. Diane Hill, during her one woman show "In Light We Grow." Now go out there and upset your cart.
Kathy

Abundance Prayer

I have found this poem to be a source of comfort and inspiration:

From The Light of God that I Am.
From The Love of God that I Am.From The Power of God that I Am.From The Heart of God that I Am.


I decree:


I dwell in the midst of infinite abundance. The abundance of God is my infinite source.The river of life never stops flowing. It flows through me into lavish expression. Good comes to me through unexpected avenues and God works in a myriad of ways to bless me. I now open my mind to receive my good. Nothing is too good to be true. Nothing is too wonderful to have happen. With God as my source, nothing amazes me. I am not burdened by thoughts of past or future. One is gone. The other is yet to come. By the power of my belief, coupled with my purposeful, fearless actions and my deep rapport with God, my future is created and my abundance made manifest. I ask and accept that I am lifted in this and every moment into higher truth.My mind is quiet. From this day forward I give freely and fearlessly into life and life gives back to me with magnificent increase. Blessings come in expected and unexpected ways. God provides for me in wondrous ways. 

I AM indeed grateful. And I let it be so.
I wish the same for the goodness of all. 
- Author unknown

Many thanks to Positively Pamela for posting this and helping me find it again. I first ran across this poem/prayer many years ago and have found it to be a source of comfort in every day life.

Give the Gift of Confidence

When I am wavering in my confidence, a
change in perspective usually helps.
Here I am testing my confidence 300 feet
in the air on a rope bridge.

I have been working with a lot of people lately who are high achievers, amazing people and truly gifted and creative - and yet, they all suffer from the same affliction...ebbs and flows in their confidence.

It really is the human condition to be rolling along doing well and then wham! get hit over the head with a bout of second guessing, a trigger that takes our breath away or simply a moment when it is just hard to make a decision about what to wear. These lulls in confidence happen to all of us. The more prepared we are with a plan when we are confronted with low self-confidence, the faster we can get on with our lives.

Now, don't get me wrong, there may be a few individuals who are out there who don't ever struggle with a lag in confidence, but I haven't met them yet. It may just look a little different than second guessing, or apologizing for everything you say and do or crawling into your bed and remaining under your covers for an entire day.

Low moments in confidence can be reflected in angry conversations, withdrawal from situations or body language - we all have our various ways of revealing to the world that we ay not be feeling the best about ourselves in this moment.

The great news about this situation is that it is temporary and there are a wide variety of strategies for moving out of a low confidence experience...my book Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence is filled with practical everyday strategies to find your personal power...and it makes a great gift for graduates, employees and friends who are going through  a life transition.

Here's a strategy that will be included in the next edition - so have fun and try these 3 simple strategies when you are feeling a little low.

Feeling a little out of sorts?

Three simple strategies to boost your confidence:

1. Walk yourself to a mirror and repeat 3 affirmations or kind things you have said to others today. Repeat the affirmations while looking at yourself in your eyes and tell yourself that you mean what you are saying.
2. Act as if: The final chapter in Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence When There is None To Be Found shares strategies to "Fake It Until You Make It" and if you are struggling to believe yourself as you repeat these affirmation, you will need to just act as if you mean it.
3. If you have not said 3 affirmations to others or kind words today - get out there and make that so immediately. Once you have completed that task - look yourself in the mirror and repeat Step #1.

Simple practical strategies to help you move forward. I look forward to hearing from you about what works for you - fill out the comment below or send me an e-mail. Let's share the gift of confidence with each other and brighten your day.


I would love to hear any of your suggestions, tips and ideas that have worked for you to help boost your confidence!

I haven't met a problem that I can't assemble a team to resolve

Comprehensive, custom tailored solutions for your company’s unique needs...here's what that looks like:

Complex problems can benefit from a
30,000 foot perspective 

 An employer contracted with me to resolve their daily 18% absenteeism rate related to child care issues. As the project leader of the team which I assembled to resolve this crisis, we were able to reduce the daily absenteeism rate related to child care to zero within 7 months. That problem remains non-existent several years later. The employer’s problem was also a community problem and I brought together resources to match needs, developed a common vision and shared language around the issue and influenced changes to statewide policy and legislation to create a solution for all involved. The project has received state and national acclaim and is considered a model of community responsiveness, a promising practice for working with urgent employer needs and was presented numerous awards for working with diverse populations.

Investing for Impact - Start by Building Capacity

Developing relationships is a critical component
in capacity building and poverty alleviation

 This week’s Social Impact Lab created a great deal of spirited discussion prior, during and after our class meeting.  We have been working on this new method of working in the world in a more sustainable, and impacting manner for seven years and our lab group is made up of people who have varying perspectives, experiences and length of time within the think tank – so we are well-rounded and all have opinions. As well, we are willing to listen to what is being said and what is not being said because despite our variation in perspectives, we are all grounded in the vision.

The vision has shifted and changed as we have grown, learned and experienced over the years, adding partnerships, knowledge and resources. This week’s lab class gave us a framework around which to articulate some of the shifts as we shared our ideas, insights, and frustrations with charting all of the impact and outcomes that we have seen and captured. And interestingly enough it was the model case of d.light.com that brought much of the discussion to a head, and got me to my ah-ha moment.

This reflection is my own, although I have shared it with the group for feedback and clarity, and I think I am onto a critical understanding of how to articulate our greatest struggle – what are we really trying to do – what is our real impact?

It is so easy to start calculating the social impact of our investments in the roads and bridges, schools and books, water delivery systems and health centers and that is exactly what we did not want to do – invest in a top-down, project-driven, imposition of our own strategic priorities. Yet, every time we look at what is happening in the community in which we are actively engaged, we start problem solving about using those successes (outputs) to tell our story.

The leadership of El Corozo prepares for a community meeting

So backing up from the roads and bridges is the real story – how did the community get to the point where THEY were empowered to organize their community; developing their own strategic plans, building capacity to train others, learning about choices and options so that they could identify and select those choices which would most closely align with their vision. And probably most importantly develop enough confidence in their competence that they could collectively as an organized community say no to aid offered which did not fit their strategic plan (despite the good it could provide.)

In a recent response about developing capacity, there was a question related to “people development” and Acumen’s response alluded to people development not being a strategy to alleviate poverty and I had a physical reaction as did several others in the think tank with whom I am working. That response stirred me to finally be able to articulate exactly why capacity development is the most critical component to sustainable poverty alleviation strategies.

Without empowered leadership within the organization, community or group with whom you are trying to alleviate poverty, the projects (regardless of the financial return on investment) will be an imposition of someone else’s strategic priorities. Projects don’t eradicate poverty. In a recent TEDx, TEDxHoracePark, I outlined this very problem and some solutions. You can view my opinions about this by clicking here:  Kathy Stutzman - TEDxHoracePark

 Creating the environment where a community is organized, empowered and has confidence in their own competence – that is capacity building – that creates opportunities for choices and options to be identified and selected – that is where we will see a more efficient and greater return on our investment. That part of social impact investing is critical, expensive and time-consuming and that is what we are working to develop, evaluate and replicate. For purposes of this study, I am going to call this a Tier 1 Impact.

Here is my synopsis of my ah-ha moment from Lab 2 of the +Acumen Course of Investing for Social Impact:

The Assumption:

We (District 5960 Rotarians and friends) will explore and develop a process through which we could engage in creating sustainable choices and options for economic well being in a poverty-stricken community in Nicaragua, with whom we had no prior existing relationship.

The Tier 1 Impact:

Empowered, focused leadership within the community will be active and instrumental in organizing, and directing the community to discover and explore new opportunities and options and work with partners to articulate the community’s choices, not simply accepting someone else’s strategic priorities imposed upon them. (Demonstrated Readiness)

As a Result:

The community will efficiently and sustainably incorporate, and implement appropriate economic initiatives and will actively participate and be vested in the investments chosen. (Higher and more efficient returns on investments)

How we are accomplishing this is another chapter, however, as a demonstration of the impact of building capacity please view this video which was recently produced by our local NGO partners and features the leaders of the community of El Corozo. Capacity Building and Leadership in El Corozo Nicaragua

For more information about the work of our think tank, please feel free to contact me, or any of the members of our group.

The Power and Responsibility of One

Here's my TEDx HoracePark talk - enjoy!
To View The Power and Responsibility of One at TEDxHoracePark Click Here

TEDx HoracePark, March 1, 2014

The Power and Responsibility of One.

Why patience is the most critical component in successful, sustainable poverty eradication efforts.

By Kathy Stutzman

Before I share with you a new paradigm for eradicating poverty I have a few questions for you…

I’d like you to take a moment to think of a pivotal time in your life, think about the person involved and the essence of what that person said or did that made it a pivotal moment…most people remember a time when someone believed in you more than you believed in yourself…Now I am going to ask you to think about the last time you were that person for someone else…

This new paradigm which was informed and inspired by a think tank I am part of…this new paradigm…gives us plenty of opportunities to believe in someone before they yet believe in themselves.

Now I know we all like to get big returns on our investments, so I am wondering why when we invest in poverty eradication efforts we are so willing to invest in projects instead of people? Why are we so willing to invest in building buildings instead of building skills? This new paradigm offers a sustainable method of investing our capital, our abundant wealth that will yield immeasurable returns.

Lest you think I am not talking to you, let me be clear…I am…the wealth wherever you are, is abundant. When investing our capital, I am talking about more than money; I am talking about developing and maintaining relationships while sharing resources – that’s our social capital. So how do we leverage that social capital, that abundant wealth that you have, that I have…to make a difference in the world?

I was in Ghana, West Africa recently helping to build the capacity of Street Girls Aid, an organization working with the 61,000 street children living, working and sleeping in the streets of Accra. 61,000 street children. That could be pretty overwhelming and instead we leveraged social capital in a way that is making a sustainable difference in the world, making a difference for those children…

I’m also working on a poverty eradication effort in Nicaragua, inspired by economist Jeffrey Sachs who in 2006 challenged us with this - “We are the first generation that not only has the capacity but the responsibility to end extreme poverty”.  Now that’s a challenge that I can get into especially knowing that 43% of the population in Nicaragua lives on less than $2/day. Of course I want to invest in eradicating poverty, but only if I know that my investment will make a meaningful difference…

And that’s where this gets tricky…of course I want to make a difference…but this new model of investing social capital in poverty eradication requires us to be bold and be patient – kind of like hurry up and wait…

I work with a lot of type A people…I might even be one myself…fixers, kind do-gooders who haven’t seen a problem that we can’t fix or solve, and we can McGyver our way out of any situation, sometimes even creating new problems to match our solutions…

And when faced with overwhelming challenges like 61,000 children living in the streets, or half of a country in poverty…it feels much better to be able to see immediate results - we dig wells, we build roads and homes because we can quickly see and measure the outcome of our actions…but to what end our investment?

Be bold... let’s hurry up and make a difference!! Be patient...STOP let’s think about how to do this right…let’s take the time to build relationships and invest in people and that all takes time…why does it take so much time?

Investing in people and relationships is not easy, nor is it a quick fix…actively believing in someone who does not yet believe in themselves takes patience, creating confidence takes practice, and dreaming about the possible infinite opportunities is NOT about fixing,  or problem-solving, or telling, it is about patiently listening and connecting.

In “Bridging the Class Divide” author Linda Stout suggests that people born into generational poverty have limited exposure to options outside of their experience…so when we work to create a framework for visioning, we have to believe in the capacity of all, understanding that not all been exposed to the same opportunities to articulate their dreams, or think about the future…and that takes time…

Last year I was facilitating a focus group in the US with parents in poverty with young children and reached the final question “do you have anything else that you would like to add…” and a young mom in the back jumped up and said “I want everyone to know that just because I am poor does not mean I am stupid”

I keep that mom’s lesson in forefront of my mind at all times. When working to eradicate poverty, we need to humbly remember that the people with whom we are working are the experts, they know best…they are the experts of their realities and so who are we…who am I to impose my own strategic priorities on others???

All we are as investors of social capital are conduits, sharing resources, connecting people, providing opportunities to try and practice new skills and tools and then… we need to get out of the way and let the magic happen …without us.

This may well be the most difficult part for us in this new paradigm of eradicating poverty, yet until we are willing to be detached from the outcome, our efforts will not be sustainable.

It is a beautiful moment - when people gain confidence in their competence, are vested in their work and are realizing their dreams. I have seen it happen time and time again when it all comes together and a community says - we’ve got this, we can do this, we can make this happen…

People, relationships and dreams – that’s the new paradigm.

People, relationships, and dreams – that is where our sustainable investments lie.

As philanthropists with abundant wealth, with tons of social capital at our fingertips…we have within us the power to change the world.  We can invest in building relationships and capacity, we can create opportunities for others to dream and confidently move forward, or we can invest in others who will willingly put their sandals on the streets. The power and responsibility of changing the world lies in our hands…I know how I am investing my social capital…I invite you to consider investing your abundant wealth in people, relationships and dreams. Thank you.

Citations:

“The End of Poverty”, by Jeffrey Sachs

“Bridging the Class Divide”, by Linda Stout

“Census on Street Children in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana” Ghana 2011

“The Community Leadership Handbook” James Krile with Gordon Curphy and Duane R. Lund

The WHO data bank for Nicaragua

Random House Dictionary of the English Language (1981)

Resources:

www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com

www.csksghana.blogspot.com

Kathy Stutzman TEDx HoraceAustin

BIO

Kathy Stutzman is a world citizen who is passionate about creatively connecting people around the globe. A consummate traveler, she has actively sought to build relationships and connect people around the world and within the United States.  After working in the non-profit sector for more than 25 years she now uses her experience in her consulting practice to build capacity within communities, organizations and businesses facilitating strategic planning and resource and skill development.  Her recent work in Nicaragua and Ghana informs much of her current practice.

An author, she has published 2 e-books; “One Hundred Days of Giving” and “From The Eye of The Hurricane”, publishes several blogs: www.MamaCarusoCooks.blogspot.com, a food and travel site, www.csksghana.blogspot.com, a site about her recent work in Ghana, www.onehundreddaysofgiving.blogspot.com and her professional site: www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com.

Kathy recently hosted a series of public television shows for KSMQ TV, On Q Latitudes celebrating the cultures, tradition and heritage of people from other countries who live in our communities. Co-owner of Words Unlimited, a professional writing business, Kathy has authored countless articles, grants, and published works. Look for some of her more popular pieces at www.kathystutzman.blogspot.com.

A Rotarian for 23 years and an active community volunteer Kathy has a legacy of making connections, listening and helping make magic as she demonstrates the practice of her talk today. Be bold, be patient and believe in the capacity of others.

Ms. Stutzman received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, she has a Master’s Degree in Health and Human Services Administration from St. Mary’s University and a second Master’s degree in Management also from St. Mary’s.

Kathy currently resides in rural Minnesota and is proud of the contributions of her family within the world, her husband, Stan, daughters Alison and Shannon, son-in-law Ben and grandchildren Trillian and Harkr. You can learn more about Kathy’s passions, or to contact her to work with your group or organization visit www.kathystutzman.blogspot.com, on Twitter at @KathyStutzman, e-mail kastutzm@smig.net or find her on Facebook or LinkedIN - she’d love to hear from you.

Celebrating cultures, traditions and hopes & dreams

Yesenia, Laura and Kathy on the set of
On Q Latitudes

 On Q Latitudes airs on Friday nights in January at 8:00 pm Central time. Join me, your host as we explore and celebrate cultures, traditions and stories from people who are from other countries and are now living in our communities. Learn about their hope and dreams, their struggles and opportunities, and what brought their families to the United States. Each show is 30 minutes and features my guests, my guest co-hosts along with photos, factoids, music, food and even questions asked by our viewing audience. Come and celebrate the culture and traditions and heritage of our neighbors, friends and families on On Q Latitudes beginning Friday January 3rd at 8:00 pm Central time. For those of you out of our viewing range, the series will be available on-line, for more viewing onformation go to: http://www.ksmq.org/ or join the conversation at:   KSMQ Public TV Facebook

Luke, Ernie and Kathy on the set of On Q Latitudes

January 31, 2014 Join me, your host on Friday night for On Q Latitudes on KSMQ Public Television and we explore the incredible journey that our featured guest, Ernesto Rodriguez Ruiz, faced as he left his native country of Cuba to find a new home with hopes and dreams here in the United States. It is a fascinating story. Luke Sperduto joins me as guest co-host as we learn about some of the heritage, traditions and taking a leap of faith from Cuba. This Friday night at 8:00 central time on KSMQ Public Television.

Tim, Alisa and Kathy on the set of On Q Latitudes

January 24, 2014 Join me on Friday night January 24th at 8:00 pm Central time on KSMQ Public Television with my guest co-host Tim Ruzek and featured guest Alisa Rudiger as we learn about the culture, heritage and traditions of Germany on On Q Latitudes. Learn about health care, food and family and what it is like to grow up in Germany several generations after World War II - the answers to these questions and more during this week's episode of On Q Latitudes.Tim, Alisa and I share stories and talk about what it is like to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Join us on Friday night at 8:00 central time, join the conversation on Facebook, or check back for a link to the show if you are out of the viewing region.

Yesenia and Laura

January 17, 2014 features Laura Lee who shares with us the deep and rich traditions of the Hmong Culture. Join me and my guest co-host Yesenia Mendoza as we learn about how the Hmong people relocated to the United States, the importance of stories, family and traditions. How does a first generation Hmong woman honor the culture of her family and find a place for her family? What sacrifices were made by the Hmong people as they sought communities in which to raise their children? Why did the Hmong people relocate to Minnesota? Learn about the answers to these questions and more during this week's episode of On Q Latitudes.Yesenia and Laura share some great stories and connections in this episode of On Q Latitudes. Join us on Friday night at 8:00 central time, join the conversation on Facebook, or check back for a link to the show if you are out of the viewing region.

Yesenia, Vandana and Kathy on the set
On Q Latitudes, KSMQ TV

Vandana and her family 

January 10, 2014 features the country of India, with my guest Vandana Tripathi. Join me and my guest co-host, Yesenia Mendoza as we learn about the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of India. I first met Vandana at a cooking class that she was teaching and have since enjoyed her cooking several times. She makes her own paneer and I am looking forward to having her as a guest cook on my Mama Caruso Cooks You-tube channel - stay posted for an announcement about that, along with some great Indian recipes and cooking tips for successful spicy meals. Yesenia and Vandana share some great stories and connections in this episode of On Q Latitudes. Join us on Friday night at 8:00 central time, join the conversation on Facebook, or check back for a link to the show if you are out of the viewing region.  

Luke, Sabrina and Eddie on the set of
 On Q Latitudes

Luke, Sabrina, Eddie and Kathy
on the set at On Q Latitudes

January 3, 2014 features the country of Togo with my guests Eddie and Sabrina Devine. Join me and my guest co-host, Luke Sperduto as we learn about the cultures and traditions of this exotic West African country. I have been to Togo twice and think fondly of the people and the hospitality. I have enjoyed some of the best food ever in the capital city of Lome and some of the more adventuresome food in Apatakme, located in the central part of the country. I hope you enjoy learning more about this country from our guests and the stories that they share.

Sweat the Small Stuff: Drilling Down on Effective Strategies for Collaboration

Bell, coffee cup and juggling cube
handy tools for facilitation

My philosophy around facilitation and building collaboratives is strength-based, asset-focused and grounded in appreciative inquiry - I focus on the positive, the possibilities and opportunities and incorporate five strategies for effective collaboration. This article drills-down on one of those strategies: # 4 Sweat The Small Stuff complete with pointers and implementation strategies so that you can successfully support your collaborative, develop team work, demonstrate respect for all participants and have fun while working together. That is the bottom line, right? We meet in collaboratives because we need to accomplish a common goal, we have a common purpose, but there is no reason we can’t have fun while accomplishing the mission of the group. If you use these pointers to Sweat The Small Stuff you can ensure that members of your collaborative will feel valued, respected and as a result, more engaged.

• Plan, plan, plan: for every hour that your collaborative meets, an equal amount of time needs to be dedicated to planning the meeting. Review notes from the last meeting, contact any person who is making a report, organize the necessary supplies, equipment and technology, ensure that the content for the meeting is relevant and consistent with the collaborative’s requests and needs.
• Prepare an agenda: The agenda should include the date, objective of the meeting, each item that will be covered during the meeting, who will be presenting the topic and a time limit for each item on the agenda. Review the agenda at the beginning of the meeting and come to agreement about the items on the agenda and the time frame allotted. A new business and unfinished business line can handle items that come up during discussions. Despite a growing move toward paperless meetings, I highly suggest that you bring a printed copy for each person attending the meeting. The printed copy serves several purposes: it serves as a contract, an agreement is made when everyone affirms the agenda and a printed copy can be used as a tool to focus the discussion and attention of the group, it also provides a space for people to take notes and write ideas.
• Stick to Your Agenda and Timelines: Of all of the pointers this is the most critical and so it bears repeating - start on time, end on time and move through the agenda using the timeline established and agreed upon by all. Start on time, end on time. Just because an item is listed on the agenda or there are issues open for discussion, the group does not need to come to consensus or agreement about anything until the time is right. Creating opportunities for a topic or issue to be intentionally and thoughtfully revisited gives people room to process information between meetings, creates opportunities for new information to be presented at future meetings and gives space for people to “sit” on an idea or concept. If you have listed 15 minutes (20 is my recommended maximum for one topic at a meeting) call the question at 15 minutes and stay on time. I have a timer and a bell that I use to signify that time is finished for the discussion on any item. If you begin your meetings on time, end them on time and stick to the timeline listed in the agenda - people will attend your meetings. This pointer is all about respect and honoring the time of your participants is the most tangible method of demonstrating your respect for them.
• Set The Stage for Success: Set up the room so it is conducive for your groups’ meeting style, a big circle or U-shaped for highly interactive, round tables for small group discussion, or in a classroom style if there is to be a lot of presentation/lectures. Place name tags, pens, paper and agendas at each seat, and the technology and equipment all in place and ready to go (I use a list of supplies needed so I can check them off before I leave for the meeting). Be ready so you can be on time. I like to feed people, which is a component of setting the stage for success - if people are willing to give you their time freely, the least you can do to thank them is to provide them with a little snack, or lunch if you have the budget; lunch will increase attendance. A little bowl of goodies can go a long way to say thank you.
• Create Opportunities for All to be Heard: It is vital to the health and well being of a collaborative that everyone who takes the time to attend the meeting has an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas. Realize that people process their thoughts at different speeds means creating alternative options for engaging; have participants write down their thoughts on paper and collect them, have small group discussions and request that they report a common theme to the entire group, assign a writing exercise to be completed by the next meeting - be creative and be certain that everyone has an opportunity to be heard. Creating opportunities for people to be heard is an example of sweating the small stuff, facilitating around difficult people requires different skills and will be the topic of a future article.
• Be Relevant: Placing the objectives or goals of the meeting on the agenda will help keep the group focused. If participants stray from the topic and goals, they need to be re-focused so that the conversation and content remains relevant. Often an issue will arise that is completely off-topic and it can be swiftly moved to new items on the agenda or to a parking lot for future discussion. Staying relevant is important for the participants who came to the meeting to discuss the advertised topic…another respect issue.
• Follow-up and Follow-through: Do what you say you are going to do and hold members of your collaborative to the same expectation. Write down any assignments or expectations that people agree to take on and record those assignments in the meeting minutes, include those assignments in the agenda under reports with the person’s name attached. Send minutes out shortly after the meeting and agendas just before so that each person will have a reminder of what they committed to doing. Conduct orientations for new members of the collaborative and review the minutes and agendas as resources to get newbies up to speed, so when they attend a meeting, they are ready to engage.

Sweating the small stuff in any meeting, but especially when working within collaboratives will ensure that participants will be prepared, feel respected, heard, valued and important. Each strategy builds upon the other and while simple is very effective. So whether you are a facilitator or a participant in a collaborative, bring these pointers to your group, review them and come to consensus about who is going to do what and then enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your collaborative will come alive and be very productive…and you might even have some fun while you are at it.

Healthy, vital collaboratives can solve any problem if you sweat the small stuff and set the stage for success. Collaboratives can gain information and ideas from a well-balanced group of people who bring to the forefront new context, a difference frame from which to look at an issue and can help to get clear about the real problem. Asking the right question to the right group of people in a setting where everyone has a voice.

Do you sweat the small stuff when working with groups of people? Do you have some strategies or pointers to add? I would love to hear about what is working for you!

Kathy Stutzman is a facilitator, trainer and evaluator working with groups and organizations to move ideas, visions and concepts forward. If you would like to contact her to discuss developing a strong collaborative with your group, contact her at kastutzm@smig.net, call at (507) 219-0912, on Twitter at @KathyStutzman or www.kathystutzman.blogspot.com

For a one page “Quick Tips” on effective collaboration visit www.kathystutzman.blogspot.com and request a copy, or send an e-mail to kastutzm@smig.net and put Collaboration Quick Tips in the subject header.