RAISING THE HEAT A Resource for Intervening Skillfully Created by Kansas Leadership Center Alumni
Making progress on what we care about often requires “raising the heat” to get ourselves and others to do difficult work. This resource is designed to help you engage in civic leadership more effectively. It is based on experiences shared by KLC alumni in a June 14, 2011 On the Balcony conference call, hosted by Ed O’Malley.
HOW DO YOU RAISE THE HEAT? I Use silence. Don’t jump in and answer the question for others. Let them
do the work. I Allow more time. Tough issues will surface and progress will be made
if you allocate enough time to let a group stew. I Grab the bull by the horns and declare a way forward after receiving input
from others. Movement often raises the heat and gets people to engage more fully. I Lay out the consequences of inaction. I Define the roles of individuals and organizations, thus formally
placing responsibility where it is needed most. I Use humor. I Provide an external reality check on the situation. I Identify the elephant in the room. I Ask open-ended questions. CONSEQUENCES OF RAISING THE
RAISING THE HEAT HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO RAISE THE HEAT? I If you are the only one doing the work
and things are going slowly. I When time pressures are requiring action. I When people are bringing “elephant in the
room” type issues to your attention outside the main group meeting time. I When you aren’t feeling satisfied with
the amount of progress. I If you aren’t doing any of the work.
WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF RAISING THE HEAT? I You provide an example for others and create
a culture that raises the heat when necessary. I The result is always better than you imagine.
It’s always easier than you imagined, too. I It can reveal what is on people’s minds and
put others things to rest. I It creates new energy and the opportunity
for alliances. I It can catalyze self-discovery.
I When you feel burning questions inside
of you that aren’t being addressed. (It was noted that it may NOT be time to raise the heat when you have severely entrenched opposing views.)
© Kansas Leadership Center 2011