The Paradoxes of Leading Community Engagement

Abstract

We bring to community conservation a wonderful, essential passion for 'what' we want to achieve.

This presentation invites us to pause and consider 'how' we lead in this space of community-based engagement around conservation. What does it take to engage and grow the leadership of 'the many' around shared vision. mission and values? What might we need to let go of in terms of our ideas about what 'good' leadership is, to work within this context?

A number of paradoxes will be explored, for example the tensions between leading out front with your vision; from behind with the messy, self-organising energy of communities ; and somewhere in the middle. shaping a shared vision together. Principles. qualities. competencies and practices that help us work with the paradoxes. uncertainties and complexities of community engagement will be offered as a way of thinking. acting and leading with communities.