Transformational Highlights from the 6/10 Transformational Leaders Circle (TLC)

Photo Credit: Craig Neal

---

Inclusive Leadership: Why Company Culture and Men Matter with Results of the 2015 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership

by Patricia Neal

At our conference we were able to speak with transformational leaders Dr. Sylvia Bartley, Medtronic Inc.• Dr. Rebecca Hawthorne, St. Catherine University and co-author of The Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership • Dr. Deborah Koland, EdD, MBA • Doug Baker of True North Groups Institute.

Each conversation starter briefed attendees on inclusion, equity, innovation and impact. Deborah and Rebecca offered research data and case studies, and a preview of what is possible in bringing women to the leadership table.

Key questions highlighted at the session included: 

• What is the value add of having diverse voices in your company's leadership?
• What role does company culture play in shaping women’s leadership opportunities and trajectories? 
• Why are we still having this conversation in 2016?
• During the "Big Q" question time, some compelling questions came forward [partial list]:
• What is the one thing we can all do in our individual roles to impart this issue?
• What are the practical proven best practices of changing corporate cultures so women and people of color are retained and thus represented more equitably at the leadership level in the next 5 years- not 100!
• Do women really want the C Suite positions?
• The are so many values they seem to have to give up to hold these spots. What can we do as individuals to change our company’s corporate culture? More here

As the session progressed our large group split up into small group "Conversation Cafés" in which thought leaders from around the area expressed and discussed the importance of company culture, the integration of more female leadership and how men can support and enable the process. 

Conversation Café Thought Leaders: • Eric Ahlness, Cargill Inc. • Heather Faulkner, Kris Petersen, think2perform • Lynn Nelson, LIN PR • Sam Paske, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services • Don Thomas, Nan Langevin, Stephanie Reem, BWBR Architects, Inc. • Lisa Walker, Logic PD • Lori Crever, Wells Fargo International Group

Concluding remarks:

"Women leaning in is not the ultimate solution for more leadership diversity. According to many studies, there is evidence that gender diversity in executive teams is connected to company earnings."

Heartland would like to extend a huge Thank you to all of our speakers, attendees and wonderful convening conversations we had at this TLC. If you may have missed our June TLC, check out our updated LinkedIn page full of helpful tips to master the Art of Convening Check out photos from the event here.

! Are you wanting to collaborate with more productivity within your organization and enable more diversity amongst your leaders? Call us at 612.920.3029 to schedule your next consult. Were you unable to attend the June Transformational Leaders Circle? Here are some highlights from our session!

Session Archives

---

Leader as Convener: The Power of Intelligent Community

Photo credit: Craig neal

---

The question is: “Who you gonna be while you do what you do?" –song by Barbara McAfee

---

Craig was joined by 2 other unforgettable leaders, Pablo Gaito, Cargill Corporation and Michael Trebony, Best Buy Corporation, April 3 at the Twin Cities TLG. Craig's life work has in large part been influenced by the concept of "Leader as Convener" and his remarks brilliantly outlined the tenets, practices and principles of this concept. Then it was brought into sharp focus for us when Pablo and Michael shared their very different paths, but very similar principles in leadership with the group.  This is what Thought Leader Gatherings are about.

Which brings us to another question:

Why are we still here?

For 11 years the Thought Leader Gatherings has convened over 1800 leaders in Minnesota and the Bay Area to explore and practice what it means to be an authentic leader.

We get to be the leaders and we get to convene. It doesn’t mean you are a leader with a big title. It is the relationships that we have. No matter where we are, we find that a lot of what we do is based on principles—core principles. When those principles are enacted and community is enacted, we see what is present is our own choice. People feel they have a choice. There is wonder. It isn’t just for children.

There is trust and faith, and understanding and safety. How do we feel safe in this community? The underlying principles that we use. We deeply listen to one another. We use inquiry and questions and the ability to look beyond.

Reflection: a leadership quality of reflection, to deeply reflect about who we are and who we’re going to be; allowing collective wisdom to surface; realization of our interdependence. The success of each of us as individuals is connected to the success of us all. One is based on the other. We create communities of success and intelligence.

Listening, speaking from their own experience, allowing pauses, suspending certainty, and allowing space for differences. These principles carried the day and brought enthusiastic participation within the gathering of about 60.

Patricia filled the role of convener this time, with Wendy Morris assisting. They set the conversation that day to one of "power rather than predictability" and clearly held us all in their hands. Patricia took her role to heart and when Craig, who is usually the main Convener of the TLGs, began to advise, she simply said "Who's the convener?" We all knew.

Barbara McAfee, singer, musician, poet, speaker, muse and much more, closed the gathering with a performance of her song that says it all: "Who You Gonna Be While You Do What You Do?" Watch the video here.

---

Moral Intelligence

photo credit: craig neal

---

Integrity - Responsibility - Compassion - Forgiveness
An amazing in-depth conversation with Fred Kiel, co-author Moral Intelligence. Moral intelligence as a distinct intelligence is new to the playing field and is unfolding to be a vast subject. Moral intelligence is our mental capacity to determine how universal human principles - like those embodied by the 'golden rule' - should be applied to our personal values, goals, and actions. "MI" focuses on four principles that are vital for sustained personal and organization success:
reflecting the head: Integrity - Responsibility
reflecting the heart: Compassion - Forgiveness.

• Why is this important in our work and lives? what are the implications?...
• New Directions from Fred and Doug - exciting new website...

More on Fred Kiel...

The big decisions that face us all globally are probably in the hands of the leaders of large business organizations.
-Integrity: if these leaders want a workforce that trust them, integrity must be present.
-Responsibility: they might also want a workforce that is inspired to take personal responsibility for themselves and, possibly, the larger world.
-Forgiveness: if you want a creative workforce, you must have forgiveness.
-Compassion: if you want to retain your workforce, you must have compassion.

There seem to be areas of the brain dedicated to moral reasoning: We are born to be moral. if parenting/support is good enough, people will grow up to have the natural capacity to be moral.

Questions discussed: How were the four universal principles chosen? What is the organizational impact of grounding the culture and leadership with the four universal principles? Is there any real evidence that “character based” businesses do better than ones that aren’t? (THE ANSWER IS YES!!)

http://www.moralcompass.com—online as of 9/15
2nd Book coming from Fred and Doug: "What CEOs Believe and the Impact on the Bottom Line"

---