Learning Objectives:
Identify actionable practices from different employee ownership structures (ESOPs, cooperatives, EOTs, DSOs) that you can adapt to strengthen participatory decision-making at your company
Apply strategies to increase worker voice and engagement in decision-making processes, tailored to your company's size and structure
Develop solutions to overcome specific barriers to participatory decision-making you're currently facing, with peer input and proven approaches
Identify the various hats you and/or your board members wear when approaching your responsibilities as members of the board of directors.
Understand the impact on board effectiveness, personal/professional liability, interpersonal relationships, and legal liability when directors confuse their roles.
Learn what actions will cause you to "cross the line," and acquire tools to help you focus on staying in "role" as a member of the board of directors.
Understand how growth shapes leadership needs over time. Learn how different types of growth—strategic expansion, generational transitions and ESOP maturity—create evolving leadership demands, and why long-term development strategies are essential to meet them.
Evaluate approaches for aligning growth strategies and leadership development. Learn how to align leadership initiatives with strategy, ensuring that as your company grows, its leadership system grows with it—balancing short- and long-term capability
Recognize the connection between ownership culture and leadership continuity. Appreciate how employee ownership values—shared accountability, transparency and stewardship—can be leveraged to strengthen leadership pipelines and ensure leaders emerge who embody those values.
Identify when to initiate crucial conversations by recognizing signs that conflict needs to be addressed, including unresolved resentment, stalled progress on goals, or conversations happening behind closed doors.
Apply the STATE Your Path framework to structure difficult conversations by sharing facts and intentions, asking for others' perspectives, and collaboratively exploring solutions.
Recognize and respond to emotional escalation by identifying flight and fight behaviors in themselves and others, then using de-escalation techniques to restore safety and keep conversations productive.
