Workplace-based BL Circles

1. What is the purpose of creating a Bridging Leadership Circle at the workplace?

A Bridging Leadership Circle at the workplace supports the development of leadership skills at the workplace by creating a space for learning about concepts and techniques of bridging leadership. It also provides an opportunity for participants to sharing of knowledge and experiences across offices and generations. This can help to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, and drive the development of effective solutions to common challenges.

2. How does a Bridging Leadership Circle support the learning goals of participants?

BL Circles can help to build stronger relationships and foster a sense of community, co-ownership, and co-creation among members, while also promoting the development of new and innovative approaches to problem-solving. It allows participants to sharpen their leadership skills including dialogue, facilitation, diagnostic skills, and intervention techniques.  

3. How is a Bridging Leadership Circle organized? 

BL Circle meetings are initiated by 1-2 experienced members from an upline BL Circle. Meetings usually last 90 minutes and allow participants to discuss different concepts and techniques in Bridging Leadership.  See Frequently Asked Questions on BL Circles.

4. Is the BL Circle meeting a time for project management, coordination, supervision, or operational agenda?

No. The BL Circle's primary purpose is to enhance the bridging leadership skills of participants. It is a time to get move away from the dancefloor, and get on the balcony to understand the adaptive work that needs to be done on oneself and on the system. 

There will be times when participants in the BL Circle end up brainstorming/co-creating ideas for projects within the BL Circle meeting. This is alright. Once the initiative is to be managed as a project, the project management meetings should be separated from the BL Circle meeting, even if you have the same attendees.

Project meetings may be held before the BL Circle meeting. The BL Circle meeting then follows and can be used to get on the balcony to analyze and interpret the social and organizational dynamics in the project meeting. 

6. Who can be invited to be part of a BL Circle?

Anyone who is interested can be invited to join. BL Circles should strive to meet at a regular time and place. It is better if a BL Circle is composed of members who belong to different offices rather than a single office, so that office dynamics are not replicated within the BL Circle.  

7. How can participating in Bridging Leadership Circles strengthen program management and leadership skills of public servants?

Participating in Bridging Leadership Circles can help to strengthen program management and leadership skills of public servants in several ways:

• Networking: Bridging Leadership Circles provide an opportunity for public servants to network with other leaders and professionals, both within and outside their organization. This can help to build new relationships and expand their professional networks, which can be valuable in their future work.

• Collaboration: Through their participation in Bridging Leadership Circles, public servants can learn how to work effectively with others to achieve common goals. They can also develop the skills they need to lead and participate in cross-functional teams, which can be critical in the public sector where many challenges require the input and collaboration of multiple departments and agencies.

• Problem-solving: Bridging Leadership Circles can provide public servants with the opportunity to work on real-world challenges and develop new solutions. This can help to build their problem-solving skills, and give them exposure to new approaches and best practices in program management and leadership.

• Leadership development: By participating in Bridging Leadership Circles, public servants can learn from experienced leaders and gain exposure to new leadership styles and approaches. This can help to build their own leadership skills, and provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need to lead effectively in their own organizations.

8. Are the formal positions and authority roles at work in effect during BL Circles?

No. The BL Circle is a learning and social space among equals, similar to Rotary/Kiwanis clubs, prayer groups, or high school reunions. The bosses at work are not bosses in the BL Circle. This climate of equality makes it easier for participants to learn about leadership and authority as part of roles, rather than intrinsic to individuals. 

9. How can Bridging Leadership Circles facilitate co-creation of new partnership arrangements within government and between public and private sectors?

Bridging Leadership Circles can facilitate the co-creation of new institutional arrangements within government and between the public and private sectors in several ways:

• Bringing together diverse perspectives: Bridging Leadership Circles can bring together leaders and stakeholders from different sectors and perspectives, including government, business, and civil society. This diversity of perspectives can help to ensure that new institutional arrangements are more inclusive and better reflect the needs and priorities of all stakeholders.

• Building trust: Through their participation in Bridging Leadership Circles, leaders and stakeholders can build trust and establish relationships with one another. This can help to create a more supportive and collaborative environment for co-creating new institutional arrangements.

• Facilitating collaboration: Bridging Leadership Circles can provide a forum for leaders and stakeholders to work together on common challenges and opportunities. This can help to build consensus and facilitate the co-creation of new institutional arrangements that are more effective and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.

• Encouraging innovation: Bridging Leadership Circles can help to foster a culture of innovation, by providing a space for leaders and stakeholders to experiment with new approaches and test new ideas. This can help to ensure that new institutional arrangements are more adaptive and responsive to changing circumstances.

• Enhancing accountability: Bridging Leadership Circles can help to ensure that new institutional arrangements are more accountable, by providing a platform for leaders and stakeholders to engage in open and transparent discussions and to share information and updates.

10. What is a university-based Social Lab or Co-creation Lab? (click here and here for examples)

A university-based social lab is a type of innovation space that is hosted by a university and focuses on addressing social challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, co-creation, and experimentation. Social labs are typically cross-functional teams that bring together experts from various disciplines, including academics, government, business, and civil society, to work on complex social challenges in a collaborative and participatory manner.

The goal of a university-based social lab is to create solutions that are more effective, sustainable, and inclusive than those developed through traditional approaches. To achieve this, social labs use a range of tools and methodologies, including design thinking, systems thinking, and participatory action research, to engage stakeholders, generate new ideas, and test and refine solutions.

Social labs can focus on a wide range of social challenges, including poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, health, education, and governance. By hosting social labs, universities can provide a space for students, faculty, staff, and external partners to engage in real-world problem-solving, co-create innovative solutions, and to gain exposure to new approaches and methodologies for addressing social challenges. Additionally, social labs can help to build bridges between the university and the community, and to create new partnerships between academia, government, business, and civil society.

11. How can Bridging Leadership Circles cultivate the innovation ecosystem in partnership with university-hosted social labs and teams?

Bridging Leadership Circles can cultivate the innovation ecosystem in partnership with university-hosted social labs and teams by leveraging the strengths and resources of both organizations. By partnering with university-hosted social labs, bridging leadership circles can tap into the expertise and resources of the academic community, including cutting-edge research and innovative thinking. At the same time, Bridging Leadership Circles can bring real-world experience and practical perspectives to the table, helping to ensure that new ideas and solutions are grounded in the needs and realities of the stakeholders they are meant to serve.

Together, bridging leadership circles and university-hosted social labs can work to create an environment that is conducive to innovation, collaboration, and learning. This can include initiatives such as joint research projects, cross-disciplinary workshops, and mentorship programs that bring together leaders from both organizations to exchange ideas and collaborate on new solutions.

By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, bridging leadership circles and university-hosted social labs can work together to drive positive change and solve complex social and environmental challenges. Additionally, by partnering with each other, they can help to build the capacity of their respective communities, promoting the development of new leaders and new solutions that will help to shape the future.

2. How can Bridging Leadership Circles facilitate program convergence and co-creation across provincial and municipal programs?

Bridging Leadership Circles create a space for regular communication and collaboration between different levels of government. By bringing together leaders and representatives from both the provincial and municipal levels, bridging leadership circles can help to break down silos and foster a culture of cooperation and collaboration.

One key way that BL Circles can facilitate program internal convergence is by promoting the sharing of ideas, best practices, and resources between different offices of an LGU. External convergence, on the other hand, can be done when LGUs co-create with communities and private sector partners. These can help to build a common understanding of challenges and opportunities, and encourage the development of new approaches to problem-solving that draw on the strengths and resources of both the provincial and municipal levels.

Additionally, BL Circles can provide opportunities for co-creation, where leaders from both levels of government work together to develop new programs and initiatives. This can include co-design processes, where leaders from both levels of government are involved in the development of new initiatives from the outset, and co-delivery models, where programs are jointly implemented by both the provincial and municipal levels.

3. How can youth leaders benefit from participating in Bridging Leadership Circles?

• Professional development: Participating in a Bridging Leadership Circle provides young adults with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and abilities, as they are exposed to new perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. They can also network with established leaders and gain insight into different careers and industries.

• Community building: Bridging Leadership Circles provide a space for young adults to connect with others who share similar interests and passions, helping to build a sense of community and a shared sense of purpose.

• Personal growth: Through participation in Bridging Leadership Circles, young adults can gain new insights into their own strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to collaborate effectively with others. This can help to foster personal growth and self-awareness, and build resilience and emotional intelligence.

• Opportunities for impact: Bridging Leadership Circles provide young adults with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their communities and the world at large. By working with established leaders and contributing their unique perspectives and ideas, young adults can help to drive positive change and create solutions to complex challenges.

4. How can students and young adults benefit from participating in social labs that focus on tourism, livelihood, universal health care, education innovation, and local governance?

• Career development: By participating in social labs that focus on these areas, students and young adults can gain hands-on experience and build their skills in areas that are directly relevant to their careers. They can also network with established professionals and gain insight into different career paths.

• Civic engagement: Through their participation in social labs, students and young adults can become more engaged in their communities and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing their communities. They can also contribute their unique perspectives and ideas to help create solutions to these challenges.

• Personal growth: Social labs provide students and young adults with opportunities to learn from others and to put their own skills and abilities to the test. Through this process of discovery, they can gain new insights into their own strengths and weaknesses, and develop new skills and abilities.

• Making a difference: By participating in social labs, students and young adults have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their communities and the world at large. They can collaborate with established leaders and contribute their unique perspectives and ideas to help create solutions to complex challenges in areas such as tourism, livelihood, universal health care, education innovation, and local governance.