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An invitation to collaborate can yield myriad challenges REFERENCES
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essential skill for leaders in today’s organizations. In addition in work in 2020. Inc. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/larry-
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Senge, Hamilton, and Kania (2015) identifed three core Senge, P., Hamilton, H., & Kania, J. (2015). Te dawn of system
capabilities that systems leaders demonstrate to facilitate leadership. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter Edition.
collaborative leadership: ability to see the larger system,
fostering refection and generative conversations, and shifing Vaill, P. (1989). Managing as a performing art: New ideas for a
the collective focus from reactive problem solving to co- world of chaotic change. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
creating the future. Authors and scholars across leadership Wheatley, M. (2006). Leadership and the new science: Discovering
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engaging the power of our shared wisdom, of inviting one Koehler Publishers.
another into authentic conversations, of designing and co-
creating solutions to our most complex problems. Te leaders
who can answer this charge not only have strong technical Amy Bosley is proud to work at the Aspen-prize
and discipline-specifc knowledge and expertise but also winning Valencia College where she has served
manifest these qualities and skills by thoughtfully designing students in a variety of capacities. Early in her
conversations and processes to ensure all voices are heard, new career, she began teaching as an adjunct and
and discordant ideas are pursued, and momentum toward the dual enrollment instructor in the East Campus
mission is sustained. Communications Department. After moving to a
Senge et al. (2015) suggest, “With the right shifs in attention, full-time teaching position, Amy earned tenure in
networks of collaboration commensurate with the complexity 2003 and developed myriad teaching modalities and strategies for
of the problems being addressed emerge, and previously increasing student access and student success in the basic public
intractable situations begin to unfreeze.” Collaboration by speaking course. Amy served as the president of the college-wide
design is more than a tool or strategy. It is a way of thinking faculty association and was awarded the Sue Luzadder Endowed
about inclusion, innovation, perspective, and engagement. Chair in Communication to advance her work in online learning. She
Leaders who can design and sustain collaboration as an completed her doctorate in Organizational Leadership and developed
element of organizational culture have a signifcant impact on the Office for Organizational Communication and Development. Most
organizational health, vitality, and viability. As we seek new recently, Amy is serving as the Vice President of Organizational
ways of developing elegant solutions to the complex problems Development and Human Resources where her goal is to impact
in our future, we must also seek and develop leaders who can student success through Valencia’s excellent faculty and staff.
fully engage the wisdom of faculty, staf, students, partners, and
the community through thoughtfully designed collaboration.

LEADERSHIP Vol. 22.1 Spring/Summer 2016 25

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