Transforming Cross-Sector Collaboration

Transformative learning is the process whereby adults consciously shed some of the values and assumptions they inherited from others, and, through reflection and experience, deeply shift their thought processes, values and frameworks.

Leaders are confronted with tough, complex, and interconnected problems across the global business landscape today, most of which are unprecedented in size, scope, and breadth. The challenges these issues present are immense, from climate change and over-consumption (energy, water, food, etc.) to poverty, overpopulation, and starvation — to name just a few.

Obvious conclusion: These challenges can’t be met by one person, company, or country — or any single entity of any size. Instead, our most vexing issues today present leaders in all sectors with powerful opportunities to collaborate with each other to co-create new business practices and innovative thinking.

One such area of innovation and new methodology is found in cross-sector collaboration, and, specifically, transforming the leaders of such collaborations. Collaboration takes place at two levels: organizational and individual. What I'd like to focus on here is the individual.

Cross-sector collaboration is tricky at best, given its inherent complexity and the new ground that will need to be covered. It takes more than buy-in at the top of the house: e.g., a CEO, state senator, and executive director having the willingness to work collaboratively (although that helps). Other conditions must be in place — including the right attitudes, clearly defined processes, broad stakeholder involvement, incentive to collaborate, and the capacity to maintain whatever is started over time. Easier said than done, perhaps, but the key is to invest time and effort up front to check assumptions and clarify processes. Failure to do so increases the risk of foundering down the road in the conflicting cultural norms, values, and assumptions each sector brings to the table. After the initial burst of enthusiasm in breaking new ground, these issues tend to surface and create obstacles.

Once the environmental conditions are addressed (which could be a whole book unto itself), the success of the collaboration will depend on the individuals navigating the waters of "the other sector" — a challenge made dramatically easier for leaders possessing the critical skills necessary for success. Leaders looking to succeed at cross-sector collaboration need to: (1) be trustworthy, (2) understand the strengths and needs of each sector; and (3) appreciate the culture and values of each sector and organization.

Transformation and Collaboration
How do leaders from corporations, NGOs, government and academia develop the skills and competencies needed to lead the organizations of the future? What is required to really transform is — not surprisingly — a transformational experience: something that speaks to mind, heart and gut. The promise of transformational learning is that a person can engage in a natural or structured experience that fundamentally alters the way she or he perceives an issue, his/her physical body, the natural world, and other perceptions. If you think about a significant or transformational moment in your life that fundamentally shifted your thinking or feelings, it was likely powerful, emotional, and out of your ordinary daily routine.

Lots of research shows the power of such disorienting experiences to transform, primarily from the field of education. Transformative learning is the process whereby adults consciously shed some of the values and assumptions they inherited from others, and, through reflection and experience, deeply shift their thought processes, values, and frameworks. It is a proven theory of change and one highly relevant to leaders looking to break down boundaries to stimulate change in the world.

Transformational experiences can take the form of action learning experiences to produce change at the leadership level. A unique opportunity exists if that experience is engaged in with cross-sector partners. Think about it: not only will everyone have a common skill set and language for tackling the thorniest of problems, but they will share a deep sense of trust and a roadmap for moving forward.

The experience can take many forms. It could be a powerful retreat, a workshop developing new lenses and skills, an immersion in a new location, a business simulation…or some combination of the above. The Accelerator Expedition [4]is one such powerful transformative experience. It combines an immersion experience in the Ecuadorian rain forest with development of and practice in cutting-edge leadership behaviors, tools, and skills.

Special October Cross-Sector Experience in Ecuador
Interaction Associates is excited to be a co-sponsor of The Greater Than Conference [5], a national conference on cross-sector collaboration, in Portland, ME, July 26-28, 2009. In addition to presenting there, we and our partner, the Pachamama Alliance, will announce an exclusive transformational experience for leaders involved in cross-sector collaboration.

We are making available, at cost, a transformational immersion experience for cross-sector leaders focused on sustainability (lasting economic, environmental, and social well being). This experience, called the Accelerator Expedition, will take place in the rain forest of Ecuador. Why Ecuador? Because there is great transformational power that happens again and again on Pachamama Alliance trips in the rain forest. It's an amazing learning environment in one of the world's last pristine ecosystems, offers indigenous wisdom from the Achuar Tribe, and provides first-hand interaction with cross-sector partners working to preserve the Ecuadorian rain forest. Learn more here. [4]