Fundamental 12: Stay connected.

12) Stay connected. Maintain contact with other consumers in similar positions for purposes of support and information sharing.

It is inevitable that consumers will face many practical and philosophical challenges in their leadership roles. They can seek solutions from books, from their colleagues, and from their friends and families. The most potent source of help, however, is other consumers. Find ways to stay in touch with each other, to learn from each other, to listen to each other, and to problem-solve together.

For Example...
Shawnell is the Coordinator for Family Involvement at the state health department. She has been in her job for five years and over time has acquired more and more responsibility. In addition to recruiting, training, and supervising 20 parents who work in health clinics around the state, she also serves on the senior management team in the Family Services Division. Shawnell has a good relationship with her professional colleagues, but she is the only consumer working at the senior management level.

Last year Shawnell established a consumer leadership group to hash out problems and share concerns. There are three other consumers in the group — Margaret is the director of the Family Resource Center at the local hospital, Joel is co-chair of the Ryan White Planning Council, and Felicity coordinates a family-to-family support and information network. The group meets monthly, sometimes face-to-face and sometimes by phone. Each member of the group has 15 minutes to present a concern or problem they are struggling with in their work. It might be an employee-related concern, an ethical dilemma, or a management issue. The group members help generate solutions and offer support and encouragement to one another. Shawnell has found the leadership group to be an invaluable resource. It has helped her resolve many difficult issues and it has given her a peer group which is missing in her daily work environment.

Staying connected to other consumers will minimize the isolation that sometimes comes with a leadership role. It will also help in making good decisions when you are confronted with difficult or murky issues. Consumers' collective experience and wisdom are a great resource. Seek them often, use them wisely.