The circular model builds community in which all people are invited to be part of a living system that allows and enables their full participation interacting independently in carrying out the shared dream. Participants value enlightenment more than conflict, and engage fully in co-creating life-giving structures that affirm community.

Living systems are in constant process of discovery and creating new ideas, new opportunities and new relationships. Living systems enhance the individual's participation by affirming their skills, talents and gifts and by providing opportunities to try new leadership roles seeking out the best of what is and what might become. Positive images of shared leadership, a spiritual depth of personal sharing, and a sense of play allows everyone to feel valued and to explore the impossible, expanding the collective imagination. All experience is seen as a source of knowledge and personal storytelling is the authentic voice. Appreciate Inquiry, a dialogue that focuses on the positive, allows for full potential of all individuals to co-create a desired future and to make the dream come true.

The circular model is as old as the hills and as new as the 21^st century. The following examples are a means to show differences between the hierarchical and the circular leadership models of community organizing.

The transition from the hierarchy to a circular model in existing organizations is not easy because the resistance to change is present at all levels. Individuals at the top are afraid they will loose power and control. People in the middle fear they will no longer have a role to play, and individuals at the bottom of the structure have lost faith in their superiors in looking out for their best interest or involvement. Most people in top-down organizations have not had many experiences that confirm their trust in the circular model, or have had pseudo-experiences in which the words and the behaviors did not match. Fear of the unknown and lack of trust are also present in creating new structures. It takes time and patience to transform fears into mutual support and trust. The Seven Principles of the Circular Model provide the steps needed for the new leadership in designing and carrying out highly successful events.

Seven Guiding Principle to Create and Sustain the Circular Model of Leadership

Sacred Space: Create sacred space in all setting so that spirituality is the focus. Help create a place where the Holy Spirit guides who we are and who we are to become. Arrange seating in a circle, or in a series of circles in a large gathering. Provide rituals, centering music, prayers, meditations and community celebrations that enable everyone to fully engage in the process from beginning to end. Provide a ritual that discharges negative energy and allows the group to move forward. This can be as simple as asking everyone to write down on a piece of paper any negative thoughts that they have brought to this gathering, acknowledging that we all bring baggage that can be left behind. The papers are then thrown away or burned.

Shared Leadership: Share the leadership. Each person is equally valued for her- or himself and equally shares the power within the community. Decisions are made by consensus and all information and resources are shared. Individual talents, skills and gifts are recognized and empowered. Power is derived from the consent of others and leaders act as facilitators, modeling power-with and not power-over. Mutual support and trust by every person insures a healthy and highly productive living system.

Vision: Create a vision together. When we dream it together, then it happens. A shared vision owned and articulated by everyone guarantees excellence in leadership. The vision becomes the navigational chart for sailing into the unknown waters of the future. The future promises to be as unpredictable as the weather, constantly changing, but with a clear vision that the organization will stay on course - a divine path.

Norms: Establish working norms together - standards of behavior agreed upon be the group or organization. They are reflective of the group's values, beliefs and ethics. Norms invite members to share the responsibility for developing relationships of mutual support and trust that build community and foster circular leadership. Norms shape the way a group makes decisions and solves problems. Norms are constantly reviewed and updated. Staying in the circle in times of conflict, and using assertiveness skills along with compassion, provide the emotional atmosphere needed for a healthy and productive organization.

Accountability: Everyone is accountable to the vision, the shared leadership, and to all the tasks. Accountability is two-way and circular in structure. "First among equals" means that the organization has an elected or appointed head who relates to outside structures and entities and has oversight for the entire operation. This person, or persons, such as with co-chairs, are empowered by the organization to act on its behalf, honoring the consensus model of decision making. All task-related groups also designate a head who reports out and receives information. Mutual accountability to one another is very important so that the quality of the interactions remains positive and creative solutions to problems are found.

Theological Reflection, Evaluation, Celebration: Theological reflection, evaluation and celebration are done at all gatherings and meetings. What is working? What needs to be done? What are we called to be? to do? The process is the means and the ends, and is held in trust by all the members of the organization. Reflection provides the illumination needed to stay on the course. Assertive skills in giving and receiving positive and critical feedback along with active listening assures that the integrity of individuals remains congruant with the circular model.

Creativity: Creativity comes from God and resides within everyone. As co-creators with God, everyone receives the power and the authority to carry out the vision. The creative arts - art, dance, writing, poetry, music, drawing with the non-dominant hand, drama, meditation, role playing, shower of ideas and listening in new ways - bring out the divine spark of creativity. Creativity brings new thinking and new behaviors that transform established organizations and develop new structures that constantly change in relationship to the divine plan.

© 2001, Diocese of Oregon
updated 05/03/2003 16:26
contact: kylew@diocese-oregon.org