JAMES M. KOUZES | BARRY Z.

POS N E R EDITED BY ELAINE BIECH

THE

LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
activities book

THE

LEA D E RSH I P C H A LLE N G E ACTIVITIES BOOK

ABOUT THIS BOOK

WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT?
The Leadership Challenge focuses on how to be a successful leader. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership present ve practices that individuals can put into action to bring out the best in themselves and those they lead. Authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have also identied Ten Commitments of Leadership that correspond to The Five Practices. This book is important because it provides experiential learning activities that allow individuals to practice the skills related to The Five Practices and The Ten Commitments.

WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE WITH THIS BOOK?

The book offers you a selection of 107 creative activities that address The Five Practices. The key purpose of this book is to provide trainers, consultants, facilitators, instructors, coaches, and others working with The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership a grand selection of activities that can be used with your clients, participants, and students. Although the activities have been primarily designed for training sessions, they can easily be adapted for one-on-one coaching

About this Book

situations or for educational classroom settings. You can draw on the expertise of our seasoned contributors to enhance your next training sessions.

HOW IS THIS BOOK ORGANIZED?

The book includes ten chapters. The rst chapter presents an overview of the elements of The Leadership Challenge, explains why this book is important, and reviews how to use the book and select activities. Chapter Two reminds the trainers of key aspects to ensure an excellent training. This chapter also provides tips for facilitating activities and ideas for forming small groups. The next ve chapters present activities that address each of The Five Practices: Model the Way; Inspire a Shared Vision; Challenge the Process; Enable Others to Act; and Encourage the Heart. Some of the activities that were submitted addressed all of the practices, and you will nd those overarching activities in Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine shares tools that are required of a leader, but are not a part of the Kouzes/Posner model. It also presents activities that can be used in scenarios other than a classroom or in unusual circumstances. Finally, Chapter Ten describes next steps for the reader and discusses other growth opportunities.

K P

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THE

LEA D E RSH I P C H A LLE N G E ACTIVITIES BOOK

JA M E S M . KO U Z E S A N D B A R RY Z . P O S N E R
WITH ELAINE BIECH

Copyright 2010 by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. All Rights Reserved. Published by Pfeiffer An Imprint of Wiley 989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741 www.pfeiffer.com Except as specically noted below, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright .com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax 201-748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or tness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of prot or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Readers should be aware that Internet websites offered as citations and/or sources for further information may have changed or disappeared between the time this was written and when it is read. The materials on the accompanying website are designed for use in a group setting and may be customized and reproduced for educational/training purposes. The reproducible pages are designated by the appearance of the following copyright notice at the foot of each page: The Leadership Challenge Activities Book Copyright 2010 by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. www.pfeiffer.com. This notice may not be changed or deleted and it must appear on all reproductions as printed. This free permission is restricted to limited customization of the website materials for your organization and the paper reproduction of the materials for educational/training events. It does not allow for systematic or large-scale reproduction, distribution (more than 100 copies per page, per year), transmission, electronic reproduction or inclusion in any publications offered for sale or used for commercial purposesnone of which may be done without prior written permission of the Publisher. For additional copies/bulk purchases of this book in the U.S. please contact 800-274-4434. Pfeiffer books and products are available through most bookstores. To contact Pfeiffer directly call our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-274-4434, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3985, fax 317-572-4002, or visit www.pfeiffer.com. Pfeiffer also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kouzes, James M. The leadership challenge activities book / James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner with Elaine Biech. p. cm. ISBN 978-0-470-47713-7 (pbk.) 1. Leadership. I. Posner, Barry Z. II. Biech, Elaine. III. Title. HD57.7.K6814 2010 658.4'092dc22 Acquiring Editor: Lisa Shannon/Marisa Kelley Development Editor: Susan Rachmeler Editor: Rebecca Taff Design: Riezeboz Holzbaur Group Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2010005202 Director of Development: Kathleen Dolan Davies Production Editor: Dawn Kilgore Manufacturing Supervisor: Becky Morgan Printed in the United States of America

CO N T E N T S
About the Website Chapter One: Leadership and the Challenge to Make it Work Chapter Two: For a Dynamic Delivery Chapter Three: Model the Way Anatomy of Power
Teri-E Belf

xvii 1 11 33 37 45 47 50 54 58

Values from the Movie Gandhi

Lily Cheng

Shared Values: Drive-By Conversations

Kim Chesky

Toothpick Activity
Mary Cooper and Debbie Zmorenski

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Cher Holton

A Leadership Point of View

Edith Katz

vii

Co n te n t s

Its All in a Name

Jan Miller and Denise Knight

61 64 69 77 80 94 97 101 107 111 114 118 127 130

Leadership in Context
Mohandas Nair

Cultural Artifacts
Anne Reilly and Homer Johnson

Setting an Example to Mirror Is Not Enough

Cheryl L. Rude

Ethics for the 21st Century

Charlotte S. Waisman and Linda Bedinger

Model Behavior
Devora Zack

Chapter Four: Inspire a Shared Vision Inspiration Becomes a Reality

Jean Barbazette

Inspiring a Shared Vision Mingle

Daren Blonski

Show Me the Mission

Angie Chaplin

Ensuring Sponsor Commitment to Change

Daryl R. Conner

Can You Picture This?

Timothy Ewest

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Leonard D. Goodstein

Another Leaders Dream

Donna Goss and Don Robertson

viii

Co n te n t s

What Does Success Look Like?

Amanda Crowell Itliong

142 146 150 153 155 159 165 172 175 183 188 195 205 208

Blindfold Square
Jean Lee

The Perfect PlaceHeaven on Earth

Jan Miller and Denise Knight

Modeling the Future

Linda S. Eck Mills

Dening a Vision That Others Will Follow

Nanette Miner and Lynn Little

The Spiritual Leader

Mohandas Nair

Dene Your Values Through a Vision Statement

Steve A. Rainey

Lights, Camera, Action!

Devora Zack

Claiming a Breakthrough
Sherene Zolno

Chapter Five: Challenge the Process Game of the Generals

Elisa May Arboleda-Cuevas and Audie Bautista Masigan

Take Off the Blindfolds

Douglas Austrom

The Giant Skip

Peter Cheng

Change: Feel the Pain, See the Gain

Daryl R. Conner

ix

Co n te n t s

Gordons Knot
Ricky Foo

214 217

Take a Risk!
Dennis E. Gilbert

When Questions Are the Answer Challenging the Process

Barbara Pate Glacel

228 239 243 246 249 252 257 275 280 290 295

Toss It Around
Ann Hermann-Nehdi

Challenge Think Tank

Amanda Crowell Itliong

Cash Flow Exercise

Edith Katz

Change Project Summary

Edith Katz

Constructing a Global Team Communications Device

John Lybarger

Identify Perceived Causes of Resistance

Consuelo Meux

In-Basket Exercise
Alan Richter

Challenge the Process in Real Time

L.J. Rose

Overcoming Barriers
Darryl Sink

You Be the Judge!

Karen Travis

Co n te n t s

Assumption Reframe
Devora Zack

307

Chapter Six: Enable Others to Act What Would YOU Do in My Shoes?

Geoff Bellman

311 315 318 332 337 345 349

Enabling Cross-Functional Leadership

Christopher Chaves

Building Resilience for Change

Daryl R. Conner

Enabling with Style

Ann Hermann-Nehdi

Currency Exchange
Cindy Huggett

Team Competency Development Plan

Edith Katz

Career Conversations: Cues for Developing Others

Beverly Kaye

352 359 368 372 379

Double Overlapping Strategic Cross

Sharon Landes

What Makes You Trust Someone?

Sherri Dosher

Trust-Building Discussion
Doug Leigh

Human Trust Knot

Jan Miller and Denise Knight

xi

Co n te n t s

Trust and Communication

Jan Miller and Denise Knight

382 385 388 396 402 405 409

Share Fair
Marilyn Myers

No Easy Way Out

Mona Lee Pearl

Coaching Versus Telling

Lou Russell

Empowerment Force Field Analysis

Cindy Taylor

Inated Actions
Lorraine Ukens

Activate to Motivate
Devora Zack

Chapter Seven: Encourage the Heart Accelerating Change-Readiness

Herb Cohen and Bruce Fern

413 417 428 431 434 437

Thank You Card

Ricky Foo

Complimentary Closer
Michael Gerlach

Positive Bombing
Jonas Hansson

Conundra
Brian Jackson

xii

Co n te n t s

Writing and Receiving Class Affirmations

Edith Katz

449 456 459 462 465 471 481

A Rewarding Activity
Lorraine Kohart

Youre Making Me Blush!

Jan Miller and Denise Knight

Hip-Hip-Hooray
Jan Miller and Denise Knight

Creating Your Teams Celebratory Crest

Anne Reilly and Homer Johnson

Gifts
Kris Taylor

Refreshing Frescos
Devora Zack

Chapter Eight: Overarching Activities Dinosaurs

Douglas R. Bender, Sr.

485 488 492 500 503 509

A Night at the Oscars

Michelle Poch Flaherty

Conrmation Cards
Beth High

Winning
Steve Houchin

Exemplary Leadership Practices Pictionary

Andy Jefferson and Cal Wick

xiii

Co n te n t s

Who Are Your Favorite Leaders?

Sherri Dosher

513 518 523 526 528 533 537 542 545 548

Skit in a Box
John Lybarger and William P. van Bark

Engagement and Risk

Andy Meyer

Hit the Deck

Janet Morano

Leadership in Action
Travis L. Russ

The Leadership Challenge Workshop Follow-Up

Charles Stump

The Leadership Race

Richard T. Whelan

Leadership Questions
Valarie Willis

The Five Practice Drill Down

Valarie Willis

The Five Practices: I Know em When I See em

Donna Yurdin

Chapter Nine: Leadership Tools and Other Times and Other Places Leadership Tools Leading from a Distance: How to Conduct an Effective Virtual Meeting
Debra A. Dinnocenzo

559

562

xiv

Co n te n t s

Measure Your Networking Quotient

Michael Dulworth

574 586 593 596 606 609 621 624 634

The Leadership Perspective Model

Peter R. Garber

Cross Your Arms

Jonas Hansson

Beat the Clock: Make Delegation Work for You!

Deborah Spring Laurel

Building Leadership
Linda S. Eck Mills

Emotional Intelligence for Exemplary Leadership

Dominique Parrish

Using the Mind Screen Technique for Focus

Carole E. Pearce

Listening Deeply as a Leader

Mary Stelletello

My Way or the Highway

Joanne G. Sujansky

Challenge Leadership Through Structured Reection Interviews

Gary Wagenheim

638

Other Times and Other Places What Leaders Do to Inspire (or Uninspire) Followers
Michael Kroth and Martha Yopp

643 649

Walking the Talk

Nancy Lowery

xv

Co n te n t s

The Roving Lunch

Anntoinette Toni Lucia

652 656 659 663

This Would Really Help Me

Robert Morris

Chapter Ten: Where to Go Next About the Editors The Five Practices and Ten Commitments of Exemplary Leadership

671

xvi

ABOUT THE WEBSITE

Reproducible materials from this book are available for free online. URL: www.leadershipchallenge.com/go/tlcactivitybook Username: tlcactivity Password: leadership The following activities and their handout materials can be found on the website: Chapter Three: Model the Way Anatomy of Power by Teri-E Belf Leadership in Context by Mohandas Nair Ethics for the 21st Century by Charlotte S. Waisman and Linda Bedinger Chapter Four: Inspire a Shared Vision Inspiration Becomes a Reality by Jean Barbazette Can You Picture This? by Timothy Ewest Another Leaders Dream by Donna Goss and Don Robertson The Spiritual Leader by Mohandas Nair Dene Your Values Through a Vision Statement by Steve A. Rainey Claiming a Breakthrough by Sherene Zolno xvii

A b o u t t h e We b s i te

Chapter Five: Challenge the Process Game of the Generals by Elisa May Arboleda-Cuevas and Audie Bautista Masigan Take Off the Blindfolds by Douglas Austrom Change: Feel the Pain, See the Gain by Daryl R. Conner Take a Risk! by Dennis E. Gilbert When Questions Are the AnswerChallenging the Process by Barbara Pate Glacel Change Project Summary by Edith Katz Constructing a Global Team Communications Device by John Lybarger Identify Perceived Causes of Resistance by Consuelo Meux In-Basket Exercise by Alan Richter Challenge the Process in Real Time by L.J. Rose You Be the Judge! by Karen Travis Chapter Six: Enable Others to Act Enabling Cross-Functional Leadership by Christopher Chaves Building Resilience for Change by Daryl R. Conner Enabling with Style by Ann Hermann-Nehdi Team Competency Development Plan by Edith Katz Double Overlapping Strategic Cross by Sharon Landes What Makes You Trust Someone? by Sherri Dosher No Easy Way Out by Mona Lee Pearl Coaching Versus Telling by Lou Russell

Chapter Seven: Encourage the Heart Accelerating Change-Readiness by Herb Cohen and Bruce Fern Conundra by Brian Jackson Writing and Receiving Class Afrmations by Edith Katz xviii

 Creating Your Teams Celebratory Crest by Anne Reilly and Homer Johnson Gifts by Kris Taylor Chapter Eight: Overarching Activities A Night at the Oscars by Michelle Poch Flaherty Winning by Steve Houchin Who Are Your Favorite Leaders? by Sherri Dosher Engagement and Risk by Andy Meyer Leadership in Action by Travis L. Russ The Leadership Challenge Workshop Follow-Up by Charles Stump The Five Practices: I Know em When I See em by Donna Yurdin

Chapter Nine: Leadership Tools and Other Times and Other Places Leading from a Distance: How to Conduct an Effective Virtual Meeting by Debra A. Dinnocenzo Measure Your Networking Quotient by Michael Dulworth The Leadership Perspective Model by Peter R. Garber Beat the Clock: Make Delegation Work for You! by Deborah Spring Laurel Emotional Intelligence for Exemplary Leadership by Dominique Parrish Listening Deeply as a Leader by Mary Stelletello My Way or the Highway by Joanne G. Sujansky Challenge Leadership Through Structured Reection Interviews by Gary Wagenheim What Leaders Do to Inspire (or Uninspire) Followers by Michael Kroth and Martha Yopp

xix