Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership

One of the hottest topics on leadership in nonprofits, philanthropy, and business is something that is not on most people’s radar – “shared leadership.” “Shared leadership” takes the historical model of organizations and leadership and turns it on its head. On its way out is the rigid, top-down, vertical command-and-control hierarchy with a sole “heroic” leader at the helm. Shared leadership is a leadership style that broadly distributes leadership responsibility, so that people within a team and organization lead each other. It is a horizontal model of co-leadership and team decision-making. The traditional Western model of organizational structure and leadership is so ingrained in our psyches that it’s hard to be open to alternatives. But social scientists have spent the last few decades toying with this formerly “unthinkable” notion, whether it’s called “shared,” or “distributive,” or “co” leadership. There is a strong consensus emerging that the old hierarchical model is “unsustainable,” out of step with modern thinking, and not very effective. Come to this workshop to learn more about a new leadership model/vision that is more democratic, inclusive, and equitable, and invites the perspectives, skills, experience, and wisdom of the entire team to benefit and strengthen the entire organization.