Extension is expanding its online education and resources while in-person events and classes are canceled.
Learning virtually, leading actively: Resources for community leaders
Join Extension's leadership and civic engagement team to explore topics that will help community leaders navigate this unprecedented time. This is a free online series, open to anyone who wants to learn and connect with others across Minnesota to talk about the challenges and opportunities that exist in their work and communities.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore a weekly topic through videos, articles, podcasts and — most important — conversation. You’ll come away with new information, everyday tips, and practical tools that can help you make a difference during this challenging and uncertain time.
Weekly topics
There are no upcoming discussions in this online series. Please check the past conversation section for more details on topics.
Past conversations
Did you miss or unable to attend a discussion? Find information below about the week's conversation and resources shared.
What can you do to help others make choices that help them thrive, today and tomorrow?
You have the power to choose, although it may not always feel that way. Uncertainty about your choices is more difficult during a time of stress and unknowns. This week, we’ll focus on making choices that feel good to you and improve your well-being — choices that help you thrive as a member of your family, organization, and community. We’ll share practices that will help you reflect and focus on what is possible as you live and lead with intention.
Presenting educators: Lori Rothstein and Denise Stromme
Activity guide
Review the below for information on topics covered for week two.
Join us online
Watch an on-demand recording of this week's online conversation. We appreciate you filling out the short evaluation form before viewing it.
Dig in on your own
How can we meet online, be more productive and maybe even have fun?
With online courses, in-home offices, and community groups finding new ways to connect, conducting meetings online is definitely a necessity. How to do it well — now that's the trick! Join us to grow your skills and confidence for leading and following in meetings online.
Presenting educators: Lisa Hinz, Christy Kallevig and Catie Rasmussen
Activity guide
Review the below for information on topics covered for week three.
Moving beyond the mute button: Leading and following in virtual space
Welcome to week three! Online meetings have quickly become part of our daily life. This week we will focus on helping you think about the meetings that you're having and strategic ways you can work to improve the flow, the dynamics, and the fun.
Join us online
Watch an on-demand recording of this week's online conversation. We appreciate you filling out the short evaluation form before viewing it.
Learning Fun — Learn with Virtual Meeting BINGO
Your Virtual Meeting BINGO card is full of opportunities to learn. Here is how you can use it to improve your online meeting skills:
- Complete the activities listed.
- Click the links to visit articles, videos, or podcasts to help you understand the topics.
Virtual Meeting Bingo
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create a list of things that you have not been happy with in your online meetings. | Watch on-demand version of week three's conversation to see meeting tips put to practice. | Followership is important in person and online. Read more about what makes a good follower. | Groups move through stages of development. Learn more in this article and video. | Games can help you lead. Listen to this podcast to learn more. |
| Read this article giving you 4 tips to improve your meetings. | Build a list of go-to check in questions you can use during your next meeting to build trust in your team. | Improve your active participation in meetings by using some of these ideas. | What stage(s) of Tuckman's model apply to your online group? | Learn new games and how to facilitate them during this webinar. |
| What tip could be used to fix a problem that you have identified? | Read this article to learn about building trust in virtual teams. | FREE |
Name the behaviors team members are showing. Reflect on why these are appearing now. | Get ideas for fun poll questions by reading this article. |
| Practice one tip during an online meeting. | Build trust by being actively present during an online meeting this week. | Followers can provide crucial feedback — or feedforward. Learn how in this podcast. | Identify strategies that you have learned that could help your group be more effective. | Create your own "have you ever..." game to use during your next virtual meeting. |
| Enjoy a laugh by watching this bad virtual meeting. | Share a tip or recording of today's Zoom conversation with a friend or colleague. | Reach out to someone whose followership has made a meeting better and thank them. | Even Lord of the Rings offers us a way to learn about Tuckman's Model. | Lead a better debrief using one of these activities. |
How do we at this time of physical distancing pay more attention to social connections?
To what degree do you feel socially connected while being physically distant? There is power in social connections, the relationships we have with people around us physically and virtually, in times of stress and uncertainty. Those relationships whether family, friends, co-workers or others involves a feeling of being connected to a larger community.
This week we will focus on exploring numerous strategies and tools for connecting with others that result in meaningful relationships where we feel loved, cared for, and valued.
Presenting educators: Jody Horntvedt and Toby Spanier
Activity guide
Review the below for information on topics covered for week four.
Tools for social connection
How do we at this time of physical distancing pay more attention to social connections?
Welcome to week four. There is power in social connections, the relationships we have with people around us physically and virtually, especially in times of stress and uncertainty. Those relationships whether family, friends, co-workers or others involves a feeling of being connected to a larger community. This week we will focus on exploring numerous strategies and tools for connecting with others that result in meaningful relationships where we feel loved, cared for, and valued.
Join us online
Watch an on-demand recording of this week's online conversation. We appreciate you filling out the short evaluation form before viewing it.
Dig in on your own
Opportunities to learn about social connections
- Explore new social tools
- Social Capital publication
- Watch a video: Susan Pinker — connections help you live longer
- Share your ideas and learn from others
- Read more about developing positive relationships
- Take Action! Build or strengthen social connections
- Watch a video: Emma Seppälä — importance of compassion
- Explore the concept of social capital
How can leaders and citizens separate truth and fact from misinformation, disinformation or mal-information in the age of an ‘infodemic’
With the staggering amount of information being created and shared today, how can leaders and citizens separate truth and fact from misinformation, disinformation or mal-information? With information changing so quickly, we need to be able to make decisions based on the most accurate and trusted sources we have at the time.
This week, we will discuss the challenges of leading ourselves and others through an ‘infodemic’, and consider practices to improve our information literacy.
Presenting educator: Brian Fredrickson
Activity guide
Review the below for information on topics covered for week five.
Critical Thinking & Evaluating Information
How can leaders and citizens separate truth and fact from misinformation, disinformation or mal-information in the age of an 'infodemic?'
Welcome to week five. With the staggering amount of information being created and shared today, how can leaders and citizens separate truth and fact from misinformation, disinformation or mal-information? Information is changing quickly, we need to be able to make decisions based on the most accurate and trusted sources we have at the time. This week, we will discuss the challenges of leading ourselves and others through an ‘infodemic’, and consider practices to improve our information literacy.
Join us online
Watch an on-demand recording of this week's online conversation. We appreciate you filling out the short evaluation form before viewing it.
Dig in on your own
The Covid-19 experience is affecting people and communities in different ways. Being able to recognize, name, and understand emotional responses in yourself and in others is critical to recovery and resilience during this time. In this webinar, we will share a community crisis recovery model and tools you can use to lead with emotional intelligence.
Presenting educators: Lori Rothstein and Catie Rasmussen
Activity guide
Review the below for information on topics covered for week six.
Join us online
Watch an on-demand recording of this week's online conversation. We appreciate you filling out the short evaluation form before viewing it.
Further practice
- Atlas of emotions. Build your emotional vocabulary. Gain control over your triggers and response.
- Podcast. Listen to Unlocking Us hosted by Brene Brown with guest Marc Brackett.
- Video. Watch a five-minute video on emotional intelligence with Daniel Goleman.
- Book. Read about the community trauma model and public health responses.
Connect with us
- Do a deeper dive workshop with your team and take the EQi 2.0 assessment.
- Lori Rothstein and Catie Rasmussen