practice.
practice.
practice.

a goalkeeper approach

During planning processes, we often act as if we can think and write our way to achieving innovative solutions to complex, uncertain and interconnected challenges.In doing so, we often miss a key ingredient to collaborative problem solving - practice.That's why I encourage leaders to approach collaborative planning processes like a goalkeeper.As a goalkeeper, perfection is impossible but consistency and commitment are key when a single save can make or break a 90 minute game.As a former Division I soccer goalkeeper, I trained over and over to catch the ball in the exact same way.The purpose of this practice was to develop “muscle memory,” or to train your mind and body to catch a ball cleanly so during a high-stakes game, your body will instinctively react and catch a much more difficult save in the same way.

building "muscle memory" for collaboration

In parallel, I ask organizations, coalitions, and leaders to go beyond having a strategic plan (ex: an organizational plan, an engagement plan, a transition plan, etc.) and to practice and learn during the planning process.To develop capacity to transform systems, we must go beyond designing a road map to follow - we must do the messy work of creating things together, trying things together, and sometimes failing and re-trying things together.We must practice, practice, practice being in community and collaborating together.Practice is challenging - it creates tension.But with tension comes growth.

- Rachel

Rachel Huff-Doria, Owner / Director
RHD LLC

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