Inspiring Diverse Teams

Chris Ernst and Donna Chrobot Mason's book 'Boundary Spanning Leadership' is based on the feedback accumulated in two Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) research projects: Leadership Across Differences, which involved 2,800 survey responses from 6 world regions and Leadership at the Peak, which collected survey data from nearly 300 senior executives participating in leadership programs across 11 countries. The premise of their work is described in the extract below

In navigating today's unfamiliar terrain, we are all challenged to think and act beyond the current borders that confine us, our teams and our organisations as a whole. Developing innovative solutions requires reaching beyond present boundaries and seeking new frontiers at the nexus where groups collide, intersect and link.

In our research and practice at the Centre for Creative Leadership, we define leadership in terms of accomplishing three outcomes:

1. Direction: a shared understanding of common goals and strategy
2. Alignment: the joint coordination of resources and activities
3. Commitment: a commitment to collective success that is equal to or above the commitment to the unique success[…]”

Boundary spanning leadership is the ability to create direction, alignment and commitment across boundaries in service of a higher vision or goal. 

While there are many definitions for leadership around the world, what's striking about the one used by the CCL is how closely it aligns with 3 of FranklinCovey's 4 imperatives of Great Leaders - Clarify Purpose, Align Systems, Unleash Talent. (The 4th imperative Inspire Trust, sits at the heart of the other 3, and acts as an 'accelerator' for them). 

Having worked with 10,000s work teams around the world, our experience is similar to that of the authors - that leaders who create a clear and compelling sense of purpose, who align resources behind it  and who unleash the resourcefulness and initiative of their people, are best placed to thrive in the face of the boundaries and barriers they encounter. Having identified the 'what' they need to do, the focus for FranklinCovey is to then provide very tangible 'how to's within each imperative that leaders can take back and apply within their organisations.