Desiree Akhavan shares new insights on the connections between vision, leadership, unity and capacity building.

1. How Do I Achieve My Vision?
Raising capacity beyond its limits
keynote
with Desiree Akhavan
#BuildingCapacity | an ebbf international learning event
understanding and developing the latent talent
in people and organizations
to enable adaptive and meaningful workplaces fit for the 21st century

2. Vision
is the art of seeing what is invisible to others
Jonathan Swift
“Vision without action is just a dream.
Action without vision just passes the time.
Vision with action can change the world.”
Joel A. Barker

3. Leadership
is the capacity to translate vision into
reality
Warren G. Bennis

4. Role of Leadership
Envision
Empower
Inspire

5. UNITY OF VISION
Leadership must create an environment in
which unity of Vision can be achieved
– Define the vision
– Communicate the vision (internally,
externally)
– Establish a metric for success
– Facilitate universal participation in defining
and re-defining the path.

6. The Path
…a path invites participation, it beckons to new horizons, it
demands effort and movement, it accommodates different paces
and strides, it is structured and defined. A path can be
experienced and known, not only by one or two but by scores
upon scores; it belongs to the community. To walk a path is a
concept equally expressive. It requires of the individual volition
and choice; it calls for a set of skills and abilities but also elicits
certain qualities and attitudes; it necessitates a logical
progression but admits, when needed, related lines of
exploration; it may seem easy at the outset but becomes more
challenging further along. And crucially, one walks the path in
the company of others.
The Universal House of Justice
12 December 2011
To all National Spiritual Assemblies

7. CAPACITY
Understanding

8. “How much more infinite a sea is man? Be not so
childish as to measure him from head to foot and
think you have found his borders.”
Mikhail Naimy
“Not one of us knows what we can do, until one fine
day, we stand up and do it.”
H.P. Wood
Is Capacity Limited?

9. Capacity
Building
• to make by putting
together parts or
materials
• to increase the amount of
• to develop according to a
systematic plan, by a
definite process, or on a
particular base
Releasing
• to set free from restraint,
confinement, or servitude
• to relieve from something
that confines, burdens, or
oppresses

10. THE INDIVIDUAL
Protagonist #1

11. Identify and Assess Capacities
of the Individual
• Define the requisite capacities
• Are there individuals who exhibit these
capacities?
• Are there individuals who lack these
capacities?

12. “Building capacity dissolves differences.
It irons out inequalities.”
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Why Raise Individual Capacity?

13. • “It is in the context of raising the level of human capacity
through the expansion of knowledge at all levels that the
economic issues facing humankind need to be addressed. As
the experience of recent decades has demonstrated, material
benefits and endeavors cannot be regarded as ends in
themselves. Their value consists not only in providing for
humanity’s basic needs in housing, food, health care, and the
like, but in extending the reach of human abilities. The most
important role that economic efforts must play in
development lies, therefore, in equipping people and
institutions with the means through which they can achieve
the real purpose of development: that is, laying foundations
for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless
potentialities latent in human consciousness.”
March 1995,
“The Prosperity of Humankind”
Baha’i International Community Office of Public Information
Why Raise Individual Capacity?

14. Raising Individual Capacity
Building
• Leadership gives the right
tools to strengthen (or
acquire) the right
capacity
• Examples
– Accurate accounting:
business analyst is given
training on how to use
Excel
– Management courses
Releasing
• Leadership gives the right
opportunity to exercise the
right capacity
• Leadership accompanies the
individual
• Examples
- Opportunity to lead a team
- Switching functions/
business units

15. And then what…?
“The attainment of any object is conditioned
upon knowledge, VOLITION and action. Unless
these three conditions are forthcoming there is
no execution or accomplishment. In the erection
of a house it is first necessary to know the
ground and design the house suitable for it;
second, to obtain the means or funds necessary
for the construction; third, to actually build it.”
Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity

16. Volition
• How can Leadership inspire volition?
– Live and breathe the vision
“Vision is a picture of the future
that produces passion.”
Bill Hybels
– Facilitate universal participation

17. Accompaniment
Of course, it is not the provision of training by
itself that brings about progress. Efforts to build
capacity fall short if arrangements are not
swiftly made to accompany individuals into the
arena of service.[…]Hesitation recedes and
capacity develops to the point where an
individual can carry out activities independently
and, in turn, accompany others on the same
path.
The Universal House of Justice
29 December 2015
To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors

18. THE ORGANIZATION
Protagonist #2

19. Why Raise Organizational Capacity?
• To support the increase of Individual
capacity
• To strengthen resilience in the face of
increased complexity

20. Identify and Assess the Capacity
of the Organization
• What is the capacity of the organization?
– Has capacity been reached? Or is it underutilized?
• What capacity does the organization lack?
• Examples:
– Human Capital
– Infrastructure
– $
– Goodwill
– Strategy/decision-making
– Structure
– Policies

21. Raising Organizational Capacity
Releasing
• Leadership re-allocates
resources in order to create
harmony between capacity
and volition
• Leadership puts systems and
processes in place to
encourage universal
participation
• Example
-Re-allocating human capital
-Change in management
structure
Building
• Leadership puts systems and
processes in place to
effectively build individual
capacity
• Leadership partners with
external organizations
• Examples
– Human Capital: Hiring &
Retention
– $: Investor Relations
– Strategy/decision-making:
Consultation
– Infrastructure: risk management

22. #BUILDINGCAPACITY
Continuing the conversation

23. Learning in Action
• The mode of operation adopted in the area of social and
economic development, in common with other areas of
Bahá’í activity, is one of learning in action. When efforts
are carried out in a learning mode—characterized by
constant action, reflection, consultation, and study—
visions and strategies are re-examined time and again.
As tasks are accomplished, obstacles removed, resources
multiplied, and lessons learned, modifications are made in
goals and methods. The learning process, which is given
direction through appropriate institutional arrangements,
unfolds in a way that resembles the growth and
differentiation of a living organism. Haphazard change is
avoided, and continuity of action maintained.
The Universal House of Justice
26 November 2012
To all National Spiritual Assemblies

24. ACTION
Vision
Capacity
Building/
Releasing
Accompan
iment
Reflection
Culture
Volition
Organization
Community

25. Capacity Building
• Planned development of (or increase in) knowledge,
output rate, management, skills, and other capabilities of
an organization through acquisition, incentives,
technology, and/or training. www.businessdictionary.com
• Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and
future sustainability of a nonprofit. www.councilofnonprofits.org
• Importance is given to defining country needs and priorities
in sustainable development through an ongoing participatory
process and, in so doing, to strengthening human resource
and institutional capabilities. United Nations
• The creation of an enabling environment with appropriate
policy and legal frameworks; institutional development,
including community participation (of women in particular);
human resources development and strengthening of
managerial systems. UNDP