What IF…Leadership Was a Shared Practice?
Five Collaborative Leadership Principles
Dear Friends,
Presidents’ Day invites us to remember individuals — names etched into history, decisions that shaped our nation, moments that required courage. From George Washington relinquishing power, to Abraham Lincoln holding together a divided country, to Eleanor Roosevelt modeling moral leadership during national and global upheaval.
What IF…leadership was never meant to be singular? What IF…Presidents’ Day reminded us that democracy depends not only on who leads — but how we lead together?
At the Interactivity Foundation, we abbreviate our name as IF to signal democratic possibility. “What IF…” is our foundational question that opens imagination and invites experimentation. Each Wednesday, we offer a new topic and bold question designed to expand collective possibility through our What IF Wednesday newsletter.
Keep reading to learn more about how we are advancing Collaborative Leadership as a shared discipline grounded in five vital behaviors. If you haven’t already, we invite you to subscribe to What IF Wednesday—and share it with a friend.
Five Collaborative Leadership Principles
1. Intentional
Collaborative leaders clarify the work before they enter the room. At IF, we practice this through co-created meeting agendas and training materials, shared in advance so that all participants have the opportunity to show up feeling prepared and ready to engage. Think flipped classroom for the workplace.
2. Interactive
Collaborative leaders ensure every voice matters. At IF, we practice this through rotating facilitation responsibilities and framing agenda items as questions. We invite curiosity over certainty and discussion over presentation. We try to build on the ideas of others rather than defending positions.
3. Recorded
Collaborative leaders understand that memory builds trust — and that accountability strengthens democracy. At IF, we are experimenting with different ways to make thinking visible. Internally, we have “living agendas” that conclude with specific action items. We always debrief after events and share back notes with participants. Ideally, discussions are recorded on flip charts or shared documents so that participants can see that their ideas have been heard and captured correctly.
4. Sustained
Collaborative leaders cultivate endurance — the long arc of shared work. One thing that distinguishes IF’s approach is our commitment to sustained discussion. All of our facilitation plans are intentionally designed with a narrative arc and to be discussed across a minimum of three events. While this may seem laborious, it’s important to make space for slow discussion—the development of ideas, opportunity to take in the perspective of others, and time to change your own mind—if so persuaded. Imagine trying to make decisions or build trust in a one-off discussion. Our theory of change requires slow, intentional, deliberative processes.
5. Inclusive
Collaborative leaders understand that democracy thrives when people feel welcomed into the conversation. Creating discussion or work environments that center belonging, psychological safety, and connection are essential for bringing out the creativity and best ideas in others.
Collaborative Discussion Fellowship 2026
Our new Collaborative Discussion Fellows, introduced in our last newsletter, are putting these principles into practice in classrooms, communities, and workplaces. They are modeling collaborative leadership by designing structured discussions, cultivating curiosity across difference, and strengthening the civic habits that democracy requires.
Presidents may symbolize leadership, but democracy survives through collaborative leadership — practiced by citizens willing to listen, reflect, and build together.
Each week we will feature the work of a new fellow. Check out Don Waisanen and his work to advance democracy through creativity.
What IF…this Presidents’ Day we recommitted not just to honoring past leaders, but to becoming the kind of leaders democracy now needs?
If you are interested in learning more about collaborative leadership…
Register for one of our webinars to learn more about our free facilitation plans, discussion guides, innovative tool, and collaborative discussion toolkit! You can use these resources to start practicing and leading democratic discussions.
Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST
Friday, Apr. 10, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM EST
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST
Register to become a Certified Collaborative Discussion Coach. This 15-hour training introduces collaborative discussion concepts and offers a deep dive into how to facilitate activities from the collaborative discussion toolkit. This is a highly interactive training. Space is limited to ten people. Register now!
June 1 - June 5, 2026 | 12:00–3:00 PM EST, Virtual
July 13 - July 17, 2026 | 12:00–3:00 PM EST, Virtual
Click to learn what our certified coaches are saying about our trainings.
We would love to learn more about what you are doing and how you are advancing collaborative leadership. Connect with us!
Shannon Wheatley Hartman, President of the Interactivity Foundation