Bridging Differences

Module

Building leadership

bridges in the context of global leadership and

diversity © 2003 Center for Creative Leadership. All Rights Reserved. 1.0—MDT1103

222In an increasingly interdependent and diverse world

a major leadership challenge is the need for shared direction, alignment, and commitment

across groups of people with very different histories, perspectives, values, and cultures.

150Within this context, CCL’s core philosophy around self-awareness includes and transcends leadership styles, values, & behaviors

to also include an understanding of one’s social identity -

our membership in social groups based on differences in gender, religion, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social economic status, nationality, and beyond.

038To address this need, the Bridging Differences module provides a series of interactive activities in a secure, learning environment

to allow participants to build new awareness necessary to understanding the multiple identities of self and other

and to build bridges and find common ground across those differences.

143The module is organized into 3 sections.

It is designed for a heterogeneous, mixed identity audience.

Section I asks participants to explore the nature of complex challenges associated with globalization and diversity.

136Section II invites participants to complete a map of their Multiple Identities

and to reflect upon what aspects of their identity help them to build bridges and find common ground

in the face of their organization’s complex challenges.

146

Finally, Section III is based on the belief that although we, in our leadership roles, have the intention of building bridges and strengthening our common ground

we sometimes find things getting in our way.

010In this final section, participants use a CCL innovation called Visual Explorer to create metaphors and images to illustrate those times in which we fall short of our higher intentions

and we are not able to get to our destination

and we feel stuck.

158The module concludes by debriefing the participants’ experience with dialogue through imagery

and asks participants to identity an insight they have gained and an action step they can take

to bridge differences in either their professional or personal lives.

152Depending on client context and need

additional content available includes self-assessments

or a section on role playing the dialogue techniques of active listening, reflecting content, reflecting feelings, asking clarifying questions, and positive assertion.

167Further, while the module was developed initially to address the challenges of global leadership and diversity

it can be adapted to address a number of leadership challenges

associated with the complexity of spanning social, organizational, and societal boundaries.

051

Thank you for your interest.

For more information contact:

Lad@leaders.ccl.org

© 2003 Center for Creative Leadership. All Rights Reserved. 1.0—MDT1103