Group XIII – Leadership in Community Context Seminar

THANKS to Seminar Chairs:
Gerry Campbell, Emeritus Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW-Madison & Center for Community and Economic Development, UW Extension
Randy Stoecker, Associate Professor, Department of Rural Sociology, UW-Madison & Center for Community and Economic Development, UW-Extension

Article written by Linda George, Group XIII Fellow, Program Director for Birchwood School District

January 6-9, 2009, Tomahawk

Let’s Stop and Listen

Leadership Wisconsin’s Group XIII spent three days near Tomahawk at Treehaven in early January. Treehaven is a residential natural resources education and conference facility owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and is situated on 1,400 acres. The session’s theme was “Leadership in Community Context”. You may be wondering what the heck that means. In a nutshell, we discussed listening skills, conflict management, and the relationship of individuals and communities.

I have found, and I venture to guess many of the others in the group also have found, that some of our sessions are about self-exploration and understanding and prove to be the most valuable. This was such a session. I find it difficult to explain to others just what was “learned” because for each of the 27 of us it was different and very personal.

Two metaphors have stuck with me regarding conflict resolution and perception. One is this perception that people in England drive on the “wrong” side of the road. This insinuates that there is a “correct” side of the road and they aren’t on it but we are. We all have differences, and who’s to say what’s “right” and “wrong”.

The other metaphor is regarding an orange and two people who want it. Most of us would instantly try to solve the problem by splitting the orange in half or suggest a competition with the “winner” receiving the orange. But, if we stop and take the time to listen we would find out that one is hungry and the other wants the peel as an air freshener. Many conflicts could be easily resolved if we would simply just listen to what the other truly wants or is feeling.

What’s my take away from this session?

Slow down, listen, clarify, and
I’ll say it again slow down