Women Managing the

FarmManaging Self and Exercising Leadership in Challenging Times

Patty Clark, Kansas Leadership Center

Kansas Leadership Center

Non-Profit 501-c-3 established as a school/educational institution

Founded in 2007 with a grant from Kansas Health Foundation

Dedicated to improving the health of Kansas through enhanced civic

leadership

Leadership Framework – Adaptive vs. Technical

Leadership Competencies

Manage Self

Diagnose Situation

Intervene Skillfully

Energize Others

Adaptive vs. Technical –

Stakes are high – and there are no easy answers

It’s messy with lots of complexity

It can’t be solved by one “expert”

The problem and the solution require learning

Adaptive challenges must be addressed by the very

people affected by the problem

Adaptive challenges require a lot of curiosity and

patience

Managing Self

Self-awareness and a willingness to do things

differently are at the core of Manage Self.

It's about making progress that requires taking

risks and stepping outside your comfort zone for

the sake of something you care about

Getting Used to Uncertainty and Conflict

Stakes are high

Unknowns outnumber knowns

That causes discomfort and the perception of future loss

We tend to settle things quickly just to get away from the

uncertainty and the conflict

How Do You Handle Uncertainty

Stay grounded in your purpose

Treat every situation as an opportunity to learn

Acknowledge risks

Don’t put a time stamp on progress

Be smart about what you ask of others

How Do I Engage Conflict?

If something is on your mind, say it

Resist the urge to keep everyone happy

Resist the urge to play the peacemaker

If you feel yourself taking something personally, don’t

Get really curious about other points of view

Reflect On These Questions

What will be difficult?

What support do I need?

Who will be disappointed?

How will I keep from taking things personally?

What makes it worth it?

What are values?

And what does it look like

when they compete?

How Do I Choose Between Competing

Values?

Choose consciously

Articulate the values at play

Once in awhile, acknowledge that your own values may be

in conflict

Embrace your contradictions

How Can We Be More Conscious?

Reflect in writing

Ask yourself – “Why did I think I did what I just did?”

For 10 days – log how you spend your time

Ask someone who works with you