Humility Through Service

I love this photo taken the last time I was in Ghana. We were piloting a tying class, learning how to tie head scarfs, how to tie the fabric to carry babies on our backs and how to wrap the fabric that we put on top of our heads to carry water. This class was a lot of fun - but it was also serious business!

I want to tell you a little bit about what this photo represents to me. I love this photo - it signifies humility and makes me humble just to think about how many girls it took to  get that bucket of water on my head. And then they had to walk next to me to ensure that I did not spill that precious resource being carried on my head!

It was a great honor to attempt to walk in their sandals even for a moment and it was such a privilege to be invited in. And, the honor of being asked to write the amazing stories of the street children impacted by Street Girls AID​ is equally humbling. Each day as I complete one more story, put voice to their hopes and dreams - all I want to do is share these stories with others. I can't wait to get this book to publication!!

The re-launched Kickstarter is focused on getting the book to the girls who shared their stories. We have simplified the request and eliminated a few components to get the budget to the current goal of $3,450. Please help me honor the girls who shared their stories by supporting this Kickstarter and showing them how much their voices matter. Stories From The Streets

Six Questions To Ask & Answer Before Conducting An Impact Evaluation

Six Questions To Ask & Answer Before Conducting An Impact Evaluation

Rotary District 5960 Impact Evaluation Summary

By Kathy Stutzman, M.A., M.A.

Rotary District 5960 is developing a relevant impact evaluation; including why and when impact evaluation is important and what we hope to accomplish through an impact evaluation.  In this particular initiative, Rotary District 5960 was conducting a pilot project, developing new methodologies and conducting new research about delivering services in the world in different ways. This executive summary reviews six questions that are critical to ask and answer before conducting an impact evaluation.

Impact Evaluation Summary

When conducting an “evaluation” the groups involved need to be clear about the following questions prior to beginning:

• What are we evaluating?
• Why are we evaluating?
• When are we evaluating (timeframe)?
• Who is conducting the evaluation, and who is being surveyed?
• What instruments are being used? Why? Standardized? Ease of collation, accessibility?
•  What are we going to do with the data?

These questions MUST be answered before you begin developing any type of evaluation. Clarity and understanding of what you hope to accomplish is critical to the fidelity of the evaluation.

In any research or pilot project there are many levels of evaluation used, as knowledge and information evolves and as lessons learned require modification of direction or process. As part of this effort we studied a presentation by Jacqueline Novogratz of the Acumen Fund about new techniques that Acumen has been exploring in order to evaluate social impact. This is a brief summary:

  

1.      Pioneer Capital Evaluation is measuring lessons learned, inspiration and replicability. This evaluation is a longitudinal study.  This is being done through reviewing original goals, objectives and hypothesis and charting them against lessons learned and the replicability of the overall Initiative. Funding, volunteer engagement and resources leveraged are part of the data being analyzed. The Simple Poverty Scorecard for Nicaragua developed by Microfinance Risk Management, L.L.C. is one of the measurement tools utilized in this evaluation.

2.      Growth Capital Evaluation is measuring increased capacity, leadership and project planning.

a.       The first evaluation instrument used was a “Community Assessment Survey” administered by the community itself and the local NGO, to the entire subject community.  This survey was a valuable resource in determining demonstrated readiness and viability of project planning as well as indicators of community leadership and increased capacity. In the future it is recommended  the survey questions become more standardized, the baseline questions from the Poverty Index be included and the data is analyzed using a statistical computing program.  However, for purposes of this evaluation, the information that was extrapolated from the survey was useful in determining impact.

b.      A Process and Relationship Assessment” was conducted in person amongst a delegation from D-5960, the local NGO, and community members. The survey consists of a questionnaire which uses standardized questions to measure relationships, leadership and capacity. Also included were questions to gather antidotal information in order to inspire improvements and opportunities for growth.

c.       Relationships are an instrumental part of the Initiative, and there needs to be effort taken to include relationship questions during the pioneer capital stage of the development.

d.      Additional measurements of impact of growth capital include the increased social ties and leveraged resources and funding for identified plans – demonstrating the fidelity and increased capacity, leadership and project planning.

3.      Project or Impact Evaluation: Projects will have their own inherent evaluations and those evaluations may be funder driven, goal and objective driven or be determined by community demographics. To measure the effectiveness of the impact of the Initiative on the overall economic well-being of a community, the measurements will come from funder, or project driven evaluations, baseline data collected in the “Community Assessment” and a pre-and post-test of the Simple Poverty Scorecard for Nicaragua. An additional matrix has been developed to collate relevant pieces of data across the spectrum of project related evaluations.

Before any group begins dedicating resources to “impact evaluation” please answer the first six questions listed above. Once you are clear about the how, why and whens, carefully consider who will be spearheading the evaluation process and how much of your resources you are going to dedicate to the evaluation process. Begin your evaluation conversation informed and by sharing a common language about what you hope to accomplish in your impact evaluation. It is through those conversations that each organization can answer the “impact evaluation” question in a manner that works best for your own group.

Respectfully Submitted, Kathy Stutzman, M.A., M.A. kastutzm@smig.net (507) 219-0912 http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathystutzman or www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com

This initiative and resulting evaluations are the collective work of countless people.  This executive summary is an excerpt from a larger body of work that an evaluation committee is developing to measure impact within the Rotary District 5960’s poverty eradication initiative in Nicaragua. We are currently in the early stages of disseminating information from evaluations and progress made over the past seven years. This summary is submitted solely by the author, who is a member of the Initiative’s Steering Committee and the evaluation subcommittee.  To learn more about Rotary District 5960’s work on this impact evaluation, you may contact the author.

This article was written as a reply to Quentin Wodon's question posed on Linkedin and on Rotarian Economist asking if impact evaluations are important in Rotary click on this link to read that article: Impact Evaluations: Do We Need Them in Rotary

Kathy Stutzman has been a Rotarian in the Austin Rotary Club for 24 years and has been a member of Rotary District 5960’s Fast For Hope Committee since 2007 when the group began exploring new ways to serve as Rotarians in the world. As a result of her experience within Rotary and the Fast For Hope Committee specifically, she was asked to speak at TEDxHoracePark in March of 2014 http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/The-Power-Responsibility-of-One  and her work with a team of women in Ghana was featured in The Rotarian Magazine in August 2014, http://therotarianmagazine.com/out-of-chaos  As a consultant she has been conducting evaluations for businesses and organizations since 1999. An author and facilitator, Ms. Stutzman loves creating connections and then “watching the magic happen.”

Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence Available In Print Now

In Print Now! Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence When There is None To Be Found

Just in time for the new year - get a great start and 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.

The Characters Were Joining Me In The Workshop

Grant Blackwood,
#1 New York Times Best Selling Author

Writing can often be a lonely and crazy-making job, albeit, always interesting. The words come and go when I send the finished piece of work to its next destination, especially when working on projects that are 2,000 words or less; a blog article, an evaluation, proposal, report or short story for someone else.

When I afford myself the luxury of working on my own writing, the words stay with me a little longer as they percolate, get re-written and morph into an article, story or book. I become immersed in what I am writing and perhaps that is what has kept me from setting aside time to work on a suspense novel that has been sitting in my "idea pile" for several years. And now, thanks to #1 New York Times Best Selling Author Grant Blackwood  I can no longer ignore the thriller that is screaming to be written, for some of the characters began coming to life during a writer's workshop I attended taught by Grant.

"Out of Chaos" a Thank You

How many people does it take?

The Rotarian Magazine article is now available..."Out of Chaos. How do you help girls in Ghana escape poverty? You listen." - from the August 2014 edition by Diana Schoberg.

Today is about gratitude. Last week while I was riding my bicycle across the State of Iowa at RAGBRAI (the Register's Great Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa) The Rotarian Magazine published Out of Chaos an article about the work I have been engaged in with a cadre of people in Ghana with Street Girls Aid.

Thank you

So many people made this possible that there is no way to individually recognize everyone and so I feel compelled to share an umbrella thank you for absolutely everyone who has listened to the stories, heard about the processes, purchased goods, supported the process by donating material goods, funds, prayers, well-wishes, advise, a shoulder to lean on, a word of encouragement, to those who listened patiently and questioned to help develop a stronger process, and to those who will continue to develop and encourage and support - thank you, thank you, thank you.

To those known and unknown supporters, an important understanding in the indicators of success in capacity building is knowing that we must be detached from the outcome, because the impact and ripple effect of an individual's impact is so much greater than anything anyone of us can envision and hold on to. See my TEDx talk about capacity building for more information.  Know that your personal investment in this process has played an important role in this story.

There are a few people whose sacrifices and passion require a "shout-out" related to this article and I will gladly recognize:

Get Focused and Make an Impact

This relevant, timely and thought-provoking class offered me an opportunity to relate social impact investing to much of the work I am engaged in. My classmates were innovative and passionate about alleviating poverty and our project focused on articulating the model of poverty alleviation we have developed and measuring the impact of our work.

No small task, but this group is up to the challenge. Seven years later, it is important for us to stay focused and select the variables for the matrix carefully and intentionally otherwise we will overwhelm and be overwhelmed with data and outcomes. I am pretty excited at being this close to being able to tell the story and begin replicating the model.


Want to know more? Contact me via e-mail at kastutzm@smig.net, via Twitter @KathyStutzman or visit me on Facebook or LinkedIn and we will set up a time to connect. I am available to come to your organization or conference and present or conduct workshops. Get focused today and see what kind of impact you can be making in the world.

Up and Over; Boost Your Confidence When None is to be Found

Give the gift of confidence...

Struggling with confidence? Tired of self-defeating thoughts taking over every cell of your being? In a slump looking for a boost to get you back on track? We’ve all been there so know that you are in good company. No matter the origins of the loss of self-esteem or confidence, stress or case of the blahs it is critical to take charge to move up and over through a difficult time. While it would be great to think about someone else coming in and saving the day, helping you feel better, make you feel worthy, this boost to your confidence starts with you. And you can do it. This book is filled with strategies to help you do just that, boost your confidence when none is to be found. Purchase your copy today!





Up and Over; Boost Your Confidence When None is to be Found on Smashwords

Up and Over: Boost Your Confidence When None is to be Found on Amazon

Getting Our Arms Around Social Impact Investing

Introduction

I have been a member of a volunteer Think Tank since 2007 that is wrestling with a lot of complex issues related to exploring new methods of delivering service through Rotary in a meaningful and sustainable manner with the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty. I recently spoke at Kathy Stutzman at TEDxHoracePark about some of my experiences related to our work.

A statement which I wrote at the beginning of my involvement in this was “Think Big, Stay Focused” since we were dreaming of changing/impacting the world. Since then several sayings that have been helpful to me are to remember also include: “You eat an elephant one bite at a time”, and “Pick the low hanging fruit.”

I am currently in the process of writing a “Lessons Learned” book which will describe many of the experiences and lessons that we encountered during this process, and there are many articles and presentations written about the work we are doing that I will reference as we go along.

The purpose of this particular series of articles is to process and interconnect the work of the Think Tank and a class that some of us from the group are taking from Acumen Acumen called “Making Sense of Social Impact: Acumen’s Building Blocks for Impact Analysis.” There are nine of us taking the class as a cohort, each week; we get our lessons and study materials from Acumen, work on our own to prepare for the class doing homework and then we meet weekly for four weeks. At the end of each lab or cohort class, we write a report and submit that report to +Acumen so that we can receive our certificate at the end of the class.

As I was writing my report I realized that many of the concepts and thoughts I was reflecting on and writing about relate directly to the work that I am doing in my professional life and so will post my reports and thoughts about Social Impact here. Enjoy, ask questions, and send feedback. I invite vibrant discussion!

Making Sense of Social Impact Report from Lab 1

Our group is a volunteer, committed, think tank that has been working on new models of delivering service through Rotary in a meaningful and sustainable manner following emerging concepts and ideas resulting from the introduction of “The End of Poverty, the UN Millennium Project and then subsequent study, activities and research.

We know very clearly what we do not want, after seeing years of our strategic priorities imposed upon others, “doing” project to others, and not engaging the community on which we were focusing in the planning, implementation and evaluation. We have seen millions of dollars thrown at projects that made us feel good when we created them, but ultimately, were not grounded in true sustainability. What we don’t want is often used as a baseline to describe what we are doing although we have created a vision and goals; they are ever evolving as we learn more and engage new partnerships complete with new sets of lessons learned.

1.       One of the first lessons learned is to develop a common set of definitions to describe our visions, dreams and ideas and that is one of the goals for this class: our group will work to develop some common definitions to better describe the breadth, depth and focus of the work in which we are engaged and the concepts we will define include:

·         Capacity Building

·         Sustainable

And then – what are we evaluating (evaluation measures) when looking at:

·         Breadth of Impact;

·         Scope of Impact and

·         Focus of Impact

Several aha’s from the class this week included:

2.       Each “partner/group” needs to come to the table with their own set of goals and visions and then work together to explore and define the intersection of those visions on which they will move forward together. Developing a common set of goals where within the intersection does not mean letting go of each individual set of goals, but enhances and strengthens the partners’ goals.

3.       Each individual brings to the table their own perspective and frame about how we are measuring success and all are important and need to be acknowledged and captured; understanding that some successes support the individual partners’ goals and some demonstrate successes of the intersection.

4.       Capacity building is the foundation of sustainability. We need to get very clear about the components of capacity building that are driving the sustainability of the project because both concepts are often mis-represented and mis-used.

5.       Several of the key components of capacity building include:

·         Being detached to outcome;

·         Supporting resources, tools and skill development for empowerment of the focus community;

·         Patience to give time and opportunities for the focus community to learn, develop and practice new skills for empowerment and sustainability;

·         Creating choices and opportunities in a manner that supports dignity, and does not undermine established empowerment;

·         Developing relationships by being present;

·         Coming to agreement as a group about timelines and evaluation measures;

·         Delivering, engaging in and creating resources, skills and tools that can be left behind and continue after the interventionists are gone.

6.       This is complex and difficult work and there are no easy fixes; even listing the components implies simplicity, which would not be accurate – each component is a study within itself.

7.       We are on the right track, there are huge successes and extremely important lessons learned that we have captured, now the task is sifting through the seven years of work and sharing the stories in ways that are meaningful, replicable and sustainable.

8.       There is much left to be done. Just because we are seven years down the road and have achieved a high level of success, this is our time to continue to press forward and this class provides a great foundation to do just that.

As a group we came to consensus about tabling what to “name” ourselves. The initiative with which we have been engaged needs a more clear identity and it is hoped that through the course of this study we will be able to determine a name that best describes our work.

No big conclusion here, lots of work left to be done and yet, there are many committed, talented people prepared and ready to do so – can’t wait for next week.

Useful Group Exercise

After our lab class watched the video of Sasha Dichter http://youtu.be/KzdrRqXswas about Acumen’s investment model, our group was asked to share a little about what social impact meant to us and when we had experienced/learned about it. We are a diverse group with a broad perspective of life and educational experiences and although we are all focused on the topic that drew us together, we each described our first experiences of observing social impact. Interestingly, our perspectives covered the gamut of the 3 parts of social impact; breadth, depth and focus.

From storytelling, school-based learning and the beginning stages of volunteer engagement – all of us shared what social impact meant to us and how we learned about it. I can’t wait to plot each of the experiences and stories into a chart of the 3 parts and start looking at that (I am a visual learner).

For organizations and groups that are beginning to talk about social impact; the lives reached, jobs created, the impact on the lives being served, and increases in well-being – a great “get-to-know-you” exercise is to watch the Acumen video http://youtu.be/KzdrRqXswas , reflect and then share your experiences. This exercise helped me understand the framework from which each participant drew upon. Of course, the best thing you could do is to register for the class the next time it is offered, but until then – enjoy the lessons learned of those of us who are currently participating.

For me this contributed to the greatest ah-ha moment: an understanding about why it is so hard to capture the impact in one or two sentences – there are so many measures (successes) within each of the components of social impact, that coming to a common understanding and definition of the components of the framework and then charting those successes within the framework – will create a broader impact understanding; first among our group, and then the greater community.

Respectfully submitted – Kathy Stutzman, M.A., M.A.

What do you do when the going gets tough?

This reminder to breathe hangs in my office...
along with a little note from one of my daughters...thanks Shannon!

I am working on a fun project right now and would love to know what you do when the going gets tough? This picture reminds me to breathe and hangs in my office...and is my first go to strategy when things get tough...what is your go-to strategy? Comment below or e-mail me or post your strategy on @KathyStutzman. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Start Your Strategic Planning Today

Kathy Stutzman, M.A., M.A. Consulting Presents

Strategic Planning Workshops

Need to take your organization to a new level, figure out direction or renewal, or looking for a way to start moving forward? These customized workshops will respond to your unique needs and help get you going in the right direction.

Workshops are customized based on:

·         Structure of the business

·         Mission or purpose of your group

·         Size: staffing/budget/clientele

·         Unique needs of your organization

·         Position in the lifecycle of an organization

Choose from 3 Strategic Planning Packages:

·         Basic

·         Expanded

·         Comprehensive

Start somewhere, set up a consultation, pick the strategic planning package that best fits your needs and get your organization moving forward today.

Kathy Stutzman, M.A., M.A. Consulting                                             

(507) 219-0912, kastutzm@smig.net www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com @KathyStutzman

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.

Let me introduce you to just a few of my mentors...

This word buffet is helping to inform several of my latest projects: a book proposal, a keynote speech, a workshop, implementation of a major international project and a few articles about sustainable community/international development...stay tuned for information and locations near you.

Until then...to whom do you turn when you need advice, a sounding board, a new and or challenging idea?

How Do You Let Yourself Know You Believe in You?

Oprah said it so well during her recent interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live! When asked what her "ah ha" moment was, she talked about having to use the skills she had been promoting and sharing with all of us for so long...when she was being assailed by the media because OWN was not doing as well as she expected. When the rubber hits the road and things get tough - that is the time it takes work and digging deep to believe in yourself when it feels like no one else does...how do you "support" yourself, let yourself know that your believe in yourself when things get tough? I would love to know...

The world awaits...Kathy in Cambodia

Facilitation Dilemma - Over-talkers...Strategies for Responding...

I'm listening...

I am currently working on a series of articles on tips and strategies for facilitators and would love to get feedback and ideas from you. Whether you are a trained facilitator, or have been in a group where a facilitator used a skill or tool to create a change in the dynamics - I would love to know. I am interested in hearing it all - the good, the bad and the ugly so that we can all learn to connect more effectively and cooperatively.So the facilitation/group dilemma of the week is: "over-talkers" or long-talkers...you know, the people who believe that they know it all and want to share, and share, and share...

• How have you or have you observed a facilitator effectively put a stop, or halt the person who is prolifically sharing?
• What was effective about the intervention?
• what did you appreciate or not appreciate about how the intervention was carried out?

I have a special thank you gift to the person who submits the most interesting/new strategy for effectively working with over-talkers in groups. Please submit your comment by August 30th to be eligible for the thank you gift. You may submit your comment by:

• adding your comment below: www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com 
• sending me an e-mail at kastutzm@smig.net
• messaging me on Facebook at: kathy.stutzman.9@facebook.com
• or on Twitter: @KathyStutzman

Be certain to include "Over-talkers" in your subject heading or text and to be included in the contest for the thank you gift, leave your name and contact information

If you want to follow the discussion, please subscribe to this blog and you will get up-to-the-minute updates.

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.