Creating Momentum for Service Coordination

Strategies for starting or jump-starting

your Linkages program

September 16, 2009Leslie Ann Hay, MSW

Hay Consulting

Learning objectives Learn strategies for how to:

Maintain interest and commitment Take action to reach full integration Sustain momentum while facing

competing priorities & demands Build leadership support

Creating momentum for Linkages

What are the challenges in advancing & sustaining

Linkages?

Factors to consider in sustaining Linkages…

Stage of development of your Linkages program

Leadership support & attention Visibility of Linkages beyond staff who

are directly connected to the program Other factors that compete or conflict

with the philosophy & goals of Linkages

Organizational Lifecycle

Stage 1: Start-up Find the pattern

Fold

Shock

Grow

Wall Stage 3: Re-invention Find new pattern

Stage 2: Sustaining Repeat the pattern

Organizational Lifecycle: Stage 1

Stage 1 thinking: Entrepreneurial Personal

responsibility Stakeholder-

driven Take risks Do what it takes Find the pattern

Stage 1: Start-up Find the pattern

Fold

Shock

Grow

Wall Stage 3: Re-invention Find new pattern

Stage 2: Sustaining Repeat the pattern

Organizational Lifecycle: Stage 2

Stage 2 thinking: Repeat the

pattern Put in rules,

regulations Internal focus Movement is

hindered

Stage 1: Start-up Find the pattern

Fold

Shock

Grow

Wall Stage 3: Re-invention Find new pattern

Stage 2: Sustaining Repeat the pattern

Organizational Lifecycle: Stage 3

Stage 3 thinking: Find new pattern Take risks, be fluid Responsive to

service demands & client focused

Personal responsibility

Opportunity focused

Accept change as continual

Stage 1: Start-up Find the pattern

Fold

Shock

Grow

Wall Stage 3: Re-invention Find new pattern

Stage 2: Sustaining Repeat the pattern

Where is your agency?

Stage 1: Start-up Find the pattern

Fold

Shock

Grow

Wall Stage 3: Re-invention Find new pattern

Stage 2: Sustaining Repeat the pattern

Addressing 3 key barriers Institutionalizing

Linkages as a way of doing business

Making sure decision-makers know it works and is here to stay

Going beyond the tip of the iceberg.

Sustaining momentum while facing competing priorities & demands

Maintaining interest & commitment

Taking action to reach full integration

Sustaining momentum

Reinforce the integrative power of Linkages

Connect milestones and successes of Linkages to goals of other priorities

Stay focused on what matters most Let go of what doesn’t matter Form alliances across organizational

boundaries

Maintaining interest and commitment

Communicate successes

Increase the “emotional quotient”

Advocate, inquire and repeat as needed

Build trust across functions

Set the bar high in public view

Taking action to reach full integration

Appreciate the “implementation dip” Utilize informal networks Pace the process for faster results Coping with the challenge of diffusion

Build coaching capacity Promote permeable boundaries Information infrastructure Establish a learning culture

Building leadership support Gaining the attention of leadership to

become Linkages champions Make a connection between Linkages

and goals of other county initiatives How does Linkages solve an existing

problem in your county? Make the collaboration visible Focus on outcomes to “make the case” Show cost savings

Closing Thought

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

Marian Wright Edelman