April 12 , 2005 - The Power of One
MM Final Assignment
Building capacity. What does building capacity mean? I'm not really sure. If I build capacity into a plan, I think that means that I allow for the plan to grow and enlarge. Perhaps it means flexibility. If I follow along these lines, building capacity in others means helping them to develop the skill of growth and flexibility. How would you do that? Is mentoring the same as building capacity in others. Do I look at others and determine their potential and assist them in developing that potential? By looking at the potential of my group and identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and barriers, can I help them become better? The OMET program is designed to help each one of us become a better “me.” It doesn't necessarily teach us new skills. Rather, it helps to develop and bring out what is already inside each of us. Is this building capacity. How can I best bring out what is inside those I work with? Perhaps the best way to build capacity is to spend time reflecting on my actions and the groups reaction. Reflection is such a powerful force because it causes us to pause and thing. It allows for an opportunity to take time to smell the roses. Often we are so busy moving from task to task, project to project, that we miss the little things that can make a difference. Like the brief conversation that you had with a colleague where they told you how much it would mean to them to feel they “belong.” Just sending me a card on my birthday would make me feel like I was part of something. This brief interaction would have been completely missed were it not for reflection. We could think of reflection as a form of mindful learning—attending to the events in a meaningful way and turning them about in your mind. Dr. Kimberly says it this way, “I needed to wrap my mind around it.” Reflection takes time and new ideas also take time to form. Our minds become intrigued by something that occurs to us when we take the time to reflect on actions and events. It latches onto things and churns them around. This I believe is wrapping your mind around something or reflecting. I can not build the capacity of others without spending the time reflecting on them, the actions, the events, etc that are occurring. I must look at the total picture to determine what route to take.
Am I a risk-taker? Yes, I believe I am, however, that does not necessarily mean that it is commonplace for me. If you think about the two themes that I've been talking about, reflection and capacity-building, you begin to understand that in order to do either of these you need to be a bit of a risk taker. It is risky to look inward, it is risky to engage with others, it is risky trying to move forward. To be a leader means that you must be willing to take risks, to reflect on those risks, and to have the insight to see the capacity that is inside others. They are related--they are cyclic--they are part of the "dance."