How Do I Achieve My Vision?Raising capacity beyond its limits

keynote

with Desiree Akhavan

#BuildingCapacity | an ebbf international learning event

understanding and developing the latent talent in people and organizations

to enable adaptive and meaningful workplaces fit for the 21st century

Vision

is the art of seeing what is invisible to others

Jonathan Swift

“Vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

Joel A. Barker

Leadership

is the capacity to translate vision into reality

Warren G. Bennis

Role of Leadership

Envision

Empower

Inspire

UNITY OF VISION

Leadership must create an environment in which unity of Vision can be achieved – Define the vision – Communicate the vision (internally,

externally) – Establish a metric for success – Facilitate universal participation in defining

and re-defining the path.

The Path

…a path invites participation, it beckons to new horizons, it demands effort and movement, it accommodates different paces and strides, it is structured and defined. A path can be experienced and known, not only by one or two but by scores upon scores; it belongs to the community. To walk a path is a concept equally expressive. It requires of the individual volition and choice; it calls for a set of skills and abilities but also elicits certain qualities and attitudes; it necessitates a logical progression but admits, when needed, related lines of exploration; it may seem easy at the outset but becomes more challenging further along. And crucially, one walks the path in the company of others.

The Universal House of Justice 12 December 2011

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

CAPACITYUnderstanding

“How much more infinite a sea is man? Be not so childish as to measure him from head to foot and think you have found his borders.” 

Mikhail Naimy

“Not one of us knows what we can do, until one fine day, we stand up and do it.”

H.P. Wood

Is Capacity Limited?

Capacity

Building • to make by putting

together parts or materials

• to increase the amount of

• to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base

Releasing• to set free from restraint,

confinement, or servitude

• to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses 

THE INDIVIDUALProtagonist #1

Identify and Assess Capacities of the Individual

• Define the requisite capacities

• Are there individuals who exhibit these capacities?

• Are there individuals who lack these capacities?

“Building capacity dissolves differences. It irons out inequalities.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Why Raise Individual Capacity?

• “It is in the context of raising the level of human capacity through the expansion of knowledge at all levels that the economic issues facing humankind need to be addressed. As the experience of recent decades has demonstrated, material benefits and endeavors cannot be regarded as ends in themselves. Their value consists not only in providing for humanity’s basic needs in housing, food, health care, and the like, but in extending the reach of human abilities. The most important role that economic efforts must play in development lies, therefore, in equipping people and institutions with the means through which they can achieve the real purpose of development: that is, laying foundations for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.”

March 1995, “The Prosperity of Humankind”

Baha’i International Community Office of Public Information

Why Raise Individual Capacity?

Raising Individual Capacity

Building• Leadership gives the right

tools to strengthen (or acquire) the right capacity

• Examples – Accurate accounting:

business analyst is given training on how to use Excel

– Management courses

Releasing• Leadership gives the right

opportunity to exercise the right capacity

• Leadership accompanies the individual

• Examples - Opportunity to lead a team - Switching functions/

business units

And then what…?

“The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, VOLITION and action. Unless these three conditions are forthcoming there is no execution or accomplishment. In the erection of a house it is first necessary to know the ground and design the house suitable for it; second, to obtain the means or funds necessary for the construction; third, to actually build it.” 

Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity

Volition

• How can Leadership inspire volition? – Live and breathe the vision

“Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.”

Bill Hybels

– Facilitate universal participation

Accompaniment

Of course, it is not the provision of training by itself that brings about progress. Efforts to build capacity fall short if arrangements are not swiftly made to accompany individuals into the arena of service.[…]Hesitation recedes and capacity develops to the point where an individual can carry out activities independently and, in turn, accompany others on the same path.

The Universal House of Justice 29 December 2015

To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors

THE ORGANIZATIONProtagonist #2

Why Raise Organizational Capacity?

• To support the increase of Individual capacity

• To strengthen resilience in the face of increased complexity

Identify and Assess the Capacity of the Organization

• What is the capacity of the organization? – Has capacity been reached? Or is it underutilized?

• What capacity does the organization lack?

• Examples: – Human Capital – Infrastructure – $ – Goodwill – Strategy/decision-making – Structure – Policies

Raising Organizational Capacity

Releasing• Leadership re-allocates

resources in order to create harmony between capacity and volition

• Leadership puts systems and processes in place to encourage universal participation

• Example -Re-allocating human capital -Change in management structure

Building• Leadership puts systems and

processes in place to effectively build individual capacity

• Leadership partners with external organizations

• Examples – Human Capital: Hiring &

Retention – $: Investor Relations – Strategy/decision-making:

Consultation – Infrastructure: risk management

#BUILDINGCAPACITYContinuing the conversation

Learning in Action

• The mode of operation adopted in the area of social and economic development, in common with other areas of Bahá’í activity, is one of learning in action. When efforts are carried out in a learning mode—characterized by constant action, reflection, consultation, and study—visions and strategies are re-examined time and again. As tasks are accomplished, obstacles removed, resources multiplied, and lessons learned, modifications are made in goals and methods. The learning process, which is given direction through appropriate institutional arrangements, unfolds in a way that resembles the growth and differentiation of a living organism. Haphazard change is avoided, and continuity of action maintained. 

The Universal House of Justice 26 November 2012

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

ACTION

VisionCapacity Building/Releasing

Accompaniment Reflection

Culture

Volit

ion

Organization

Community

Capacity Building

• Planned development of (or increase in) knowledge, output rate, management, skills, and other capabilities of an organization through acquisition, incentives, technology, and/or training. www.businessdictionary.com

• Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit. www.councilofnonprofits.org

• Importance is given to defining country needs and priorities in sustainable development through an ongoing participatory process and, in so doing, to strengthening human resource and institutional capabilities. United Nations

• The creation of an enabling environment with appropriate policy and legal frameworks; institutional development, including community participation (of women in particular); human resources development and strengthening of managerial systems. UNDP