Orange County, CA: Sun, Surf & Servant Leadership

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1 Orange County, CA: Sun, Surf & Servant Leadership About Orange County Orange County s 3 million residents enjoy a nearly perfect climate, with miles of beaches, and world famous tourist attractions (Disneyland). Orange County also boasts a thriving business economy and a well-educated work force. We are also known for our declaration of bankruptcy in 1994, from which we have emerged a stronger, more efficient organization. The County of Orange is a regional services provider and planning agency whose core businesses include public safety, public health, environmental protection, regional planning, public assistance, social services and aviation. Our over 16,000 employees strive to provide high quality services to the citizens of Orange County. Servant Leadership as Our Management Philosophy in the County of Orange We are seeking to implement Servant Leadership as the primary management philosophy here in the County of Orange. Typically, the CEO or other high ranking executive is the driving force behind bringing Servant Leadership to an organization. Our experience is different since we are seeking to make this change as a grassroots movement. Our Journey Orange County Leadership Academy (OCLA) was established in 2004, with then CEO Jim Ruth as the initiator. Two classes are held each year. 19 OCLA classes have been conducted to date, showing the County s continued commitment over a nine and a half year period. (Looking forward to celebrating OCLA 19 in Fall 2013!) The OCLA curriculum was created by Dr. Mark Maier and Lori Zucchino, operating as Leadership Development Associates (see contact information below), and is centered on the Servant Leadership philosophy. Each session consists of presentation of content using videos, discussions, exercises, self-assessments, and some lectures. Session topics include: 1. Kick-Off: The Leadership Challenge 2. Leading as a Way of Serving 3. Leading Teams 4. Communicating as a Leader 5. Leading with Integrity 6. Leading Through Chand and Transition Leadership, and 1

2 7. Vision Program Application & Integration Chapman University hosts OCLA for us. The school s guiding spirit is Albert Schweitzer who lived a life of service. The following quote is just one example: I do not know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be truly happy will be those who have sought and found how to serve. OCLA Alumni were called upon to take Servant Leadership beyond the classroom and into the workplace. In order to do this, the Alumni created a structure which includes OCLA Alumni Steering Committee Volunteers serve on this committee to help plan and coordinate activities and projects. Members include chairpersons of subcommittees Communications, Orange County Leadership Lessons Facilitators, Community Outreach, Champions of Servant Leadership, Lunch & Learns, and David Kurtz Servant Leadership Award Committee. OC Leadership Lessons (OCLL) Program developed to bring the message of servant leadership to a broader County audience, beyond those selected to attend OCLA. OCLL I: Leading As a Way of Serving focuses on the concepts of servant leadership through instructional videos (produced in-house), table group discussions, and exercises. Participants also view and discuss a commercially produced video, It s So Simple! that tells the story of a servant led organization, Southwest Airlines. OCLL II: Leading in Teams: Communication, Collaboration and Integrity takes servant leadership from theory into practice. Participants complete self-assessments, view and discuss commercially produced videos on emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. The Integrity session centers on County of Orange case studies. OCLL I and II classes are facilitated by volunteer OCLA Alumni and a few County professional trainers. Volunteer facilitators attend a Facilitator Training session, receive a Facilitator s Guide, and then observe a class. Facilitator pairs typically consist of a male-female team from different County agencies/departments. To date, 125 facilitators have been trained and approximately 3,000 County staff have attended OCLL I, and over 1,000 staff have attended the second class in 2

3 the series. The program relies upon partnerships between Alumni, the Human Resources Department s Training & Organizational Development manager, and the CEO s Office whose staff handle logistics. Annual Leadership Conference and other learning events OCLA Alumni recently held their 8 th Annual Conference, with this year s theme Integrity in Action. Each year, a theme is chosen based on current challenges and events. Workshops are held periodically. Among these workshops was a session that included a presentation by Dr. Kent Keith, CEO, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership Asia. We also formed a special relationship with Col. Tom Magness, US Army, Retired. Tom was in charge of the Army Corps of Engineers, LA District, and also was responsible for infrastructure and nation building projects in Afghanistan. As a guest speaker at several annual conferences and lunch and learn events, Tom Magness talked about Leader Business (also the name of his book and blog) and its relationship to servant leadership. Lunch and Learn events are also made available to OCLA Alumni and OCLL graduates to reinforce the servant leadership message. Topics have included change, strengths, and the generations at work. We are always sure to link the topic of the day back to Servant Leadership. The Champions of Servant Leadership We set up this group to champion the concept of servant leadership in individual agencies and share information and resources across agencies. Ideally, we are looking for a representative from each County agency to participate in this subcommittee, but haven t achieved that to date. Projects or programs set up by Champions include: Servant Work an agency s OCLA Alumni who meet regularly, take on projects for the Director, write articles for the agency newsletter focused on servant leadership, etc. Meeting with current OCLA attendee an individual agency/department s Alumni meet with the current OCLA attendee to discuss his/her experience, and how that particular class relates to their department; serves to keep all Alumni connected to OCLA concepts and applications. Conduct in-house Lunch and Learns, facilitated by OCLA Alumni to give more staff exposure to servant leadership concepts, and to encourage attendance at OCLL. 3

4 David Kurtz Servant Leadership Award This award was established in memory of an OCLA Alumni and County manager who died unexpectedly. We encourage nominations from all departments, and present the award at our Annual Conference. Nominees are considered in light of the characteristics of servant leadership demonstrated by David Kurtz listening, conceptualization, foresight, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. This award has been given for four consecutive years, and a display case in the Hall of Administration highlights the current recipient, and explains servant leadership. This award is the only countywide award presented to an employee in the County of Orange. Community Outreach This committee shares information re: community events such as walks for autism, cancer, our local children s hospital, and the like. We have also organized events like Paint Your Heart Out, where an OCLA class painted the house of a senior citizen who was receiving citations for code violations. We also build in a service project to our various events such as food bank donations, school supplies for homeless children, comfort kits for the homeless (socks, personal hygiene items), and Christmas gifts for children and seniors. Challenges Unlike many organizations where the CEO is driving the organization s move to a servant-led organization, the OCLA Alumni are looking to promote the change to this way of leading. There are challenges inherent in this effort. Obtaining a commitment to serve from OCLA Alumni Although each graduating class is presented with volunteer opportunities at their commencement, not everyone follows through. We are challenged with getting full participation in the Champions of Servant Leadership group. Perception that there is not full commitment from the top There have been leadership changes at the top. The CEO who first established OCLA is no longer with the County; in fact, for most of the 10 years our efforts to establish a Servant Leadership culture have been ongoing, his successor CEO 4

5 was in place. Now, a new CEO is now in place, and we are hoping to have his support. The County structure of 24 agencies/departments and the resulting independence or autonomy makes a unified move to a culture of service challenging. Some department heads are enthusiastic; some are neutral; others (luckily a small number) are openly antagonistic. Not all agencies/departments take advantage of the opportunity to nominate someone for the David Kurtz Servant Leadership Award. A political environment that is not always consistent with the servant leadership philosophy and practices Elected officials may not buy into servant leadership, and their actions prompt questions from County staff about the County s true commitment to a culture of service. Workshop Discussions At this workshop held at the Greenleaf Center s International Conference held June 12-4, 2013, attendees offered helpful suggestions for how OCLA Alumni can address the challenges listed above. Several attendees felt that it was essential for us to obtain a commitment from the top levels of the organization, including the CEO and a member of the Board of Supervisors. Other suggestions included building a business case for Servant Leadership, and integrating Servant Leadership into other training programs. Materials available through the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership are valuable resources for us as we continue our journey. Resources Dr. Mark Maier and Lori Zucchino As Leadership Development Associates, creators and facilitators of OCLA; also created the OCLL program, and our Facilitator Guide; partner with OCLA Alumni on projects such as the annual conference. Mark is also an Associate Professor, Director, Leadership Studies program at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Can be contacted by at lorizucchino@gmail.com and mmaier@chapman.edu. Darren Smith Current Chair of the OCLA Alumni Steering Committee. Darren has a strong personal commitment to service, as demonstrated by his participation in local boards, community fundraising events such as the CHOC Walk, Autism Speaks, and 5

6 many more, and as an Orange County Sheriff Department Reserve Deputy. Darren can be reached by at or by phone at Barbara Mizerek Workshop presenter, and current member of the OCLA Steering Committee, and Chair of the OCLL Facilitators Committee. As a founding member of the OCLA group, Barbara has seen just what a small group of concerned citizens can accomplish, to paraphrase Margaret mead s famous quote. Barbara can be reached by at Barbara.Mizerek@ocgov.com or by phone at She can also be reached at her personal at Barbara@Mizerek.com. 6