Edward Hiler\u27s leadership journey through a series of major administrative positions at Texas A&M is a story of collective leadership, as told by Hiler himself, and framed by organizational and leadership strategist Steve Bosserman. This brief, highly readable, and provocative book illustrates the philosophical and operational essences of collective leadership. The shifting demographic, economic, ecological, and sociopolitical realities of Texas and the Great Plains called for optimizing the contributions of Texas A&M and other institutions of higher education in addressing critical issues. Hiler, ever the visionary, saw the power of an inclusive, egalitarian, shared leadership style that allowed diverse constituencies to take ownership of both issues and proposed solutions. The import of Hiler\u27s work, however, ranges far beyond the Great Plains; it applies to strengthening organizational development and leadership in land-grant universities and higher education nationally

Alter, Theodore R.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnGreat Plains Research: A Journal of Natural andSocial Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center forFall 2012Review of Together We Can: Pathways to CollectiveLeadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M. By EdwardA. Hiler and Steven L. Bosserman.Theodore R. AlterThe Pennsylvania State University, talter@psu.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearchPart of the American Studies Commons, and the Geography CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Ithas been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator ofDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Alter, Theodore R., "Review of Together We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M. By Edward A. Hiler andSteven L. Bosserman." (2012). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 1247.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/1247Book Reviews                                      217   ROBERT R. PREUHS Department of Political Science Metropolitan State University of Denver Together We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M. By Edward A. Hiler and Steven L. Bosserman. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2011. xii + 105 pp. Illustrations, notes, index. $25.00 cloth. Leadership is about people and their interdependence in groups, organizations, and communities. More specifically, it is about understanding and working with the individual and collective psychology of people and groups. The rhetoric of leadership is much more than what leaders say; it is fundamen-tally what leaders do, and what their behavior signals regarding institutional values, goals, and commitments. In colleges of agriculture, land-grant universities, and higher education more generally, the need for people-centered, collective leadership is dire. Leadership is not a mechanical enterprise that treats people as inputs into some organizational production function depicted in shifting organizational charts. It embraces change, not the status quo, and recognizes that change is grounded in the thinking of individuals and groups; leadership involves connecting with people's hearts and minds in a process of cocreating vision, process, action, and commu-nity. This necessitates treating people with respect and valuing their expertise, experience, and wisdom in a process of mu-tuallearning over time. Leadership is a dynamic, evolutionary process of finding the nexus between conflict and cooperation within groups, organizations, and communities, as well as with external collaborators and interests, all in service to larger so-cial and institutional goals. Edward Hiler's leadership journey through a series of major administrative positions at Texas A&M is a story of collective leadership, as told by Hiler himself, and framed by organiza-tional and leadership strategist Steve Bosserman. This brief, e 2012 Center for Great Plains Studies. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 218 highly readable, and provocative book illustrates the philo-sophical and operational essences of collective leadership. The shifting demographic, economic, ecological, and sociopolitical realities of Texas and the Great Plains called for optimizing the contributions of Texas A&M and other institutions of higher education in addressing critical issues. Hiler, ever the visionary, saw the power of an inclusive, egalitarian, shared leadership style that allowed diverse constituencies to take ownership of both issues and proposed solutions. The import of Hiler's work, however, ranges far beyond the Great Plains; it applies to strengthening organizational development and leadership in land-grant universities and higher education nationally. Hiler and Bosserman artfully weave together several es-sential themes in organizational development and collective leadership that emphasize the critical importance of collabo-ration and collective engagement, rather than competition, as the vehicle for individual and institutional growth, develop-ment, and effectiveness. To this end, formal and informal conversations have an equally important role. Hiler sought to create spaces in which informal exchanges could flourish: opening his home, for example, to colleagues and students in an effort to develop sensitivity to and respect for both profes-sional and personal goals and motivations. In both formal and informal contexts, Hiler prioritized opportunities for open dialogues in which participants could forward ideas and raise concerns as individuals rather than as institutional af-filiates as a means offostering innovation. He also developed transparent and extensive channels and networks of commu-e 2012 Center for Greot Ploins Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Great Plains Research Vol. 22 No.2, 2012 nication that allowed internal and external partners to share, discuss, and access available ideas and information. By forg-ing individual relationships centered on integrity, trust, and a willingness to share power and influence, Hiler modeled a form of leadership that came to characterize the institutional culture. Hiler's personal narrative is interspersed with Bosser-man's metaframes detailing organizational development and collective leadership philosophy and principles. This structure contributes immeasurably to conveying the powerful messages stemming from Hiler's experience. In a writing style reflecting many of the qualities of his fruitful collective leadership ap-proach, he highlights and honors the critical roles of wisdom of his institutional colleagues and fellow citizens in shaping his understanding of the processes and values of partnering at all levels. And Bosserman deftly distills critical collective leader-ship philosophy and principles from Hiler's work. Together We Can provides valuable insight for current and aspiring leaders and professionals in land-grant universities, higher education in general, and the nonprofit sector more broadly. THEODORE R. ALTER Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, and the Center for Economic and Community Development Penn State University 

Review of \u3ci\u3eTogether We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in
Agriculture at Texas A&M.\u3c/i\u3e By Edward A. Hiler and Steven
L. Bosserman.

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and
Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for
Fall 2012
Review of Together We Can: Pathways to Collective
Leadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M. By Edward
A. Hiler and Steven L. Bosserman.
Theodore R. Alter
The Pennsylvania State University, talter@psu.edu
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch
Part of the American Studies Commons, and the Geography Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It
has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Alter, Theodore R., "Review of Together We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M. By Edward A. Hiler and
Steven L. Bosserman." (2012). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 1247.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/1247
Book Reviews 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
217 
 
 
ROBERT R. PREUHS 
Department of Political Science 
Metropolitan State University of Denver 
Together We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in 
Agriculture at Texas A&M. By Edward A. Hiler and Steven 
L. Bosserman. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 
2011. xii + 105 pp. Illustrations, notes, index. $25.00 cloth. 
Leadership is about people and their interdependence in 
groups, organizations, and communities. More specifically, it 
is about understanding and working with the individual and 
collective psychology of people and groups. The rhetoric of 
leadership is much more than what leaders say; it is fundamen-
tally what leaders do, and what their behavior signals regarding 
institutional values, goals, and commitments. 
In colleges of agriculture, land-grant universities, and 
higher education more generally, the need for people-centered, 
collective leadership is dire. Leadership is not a mechanical 
enterprise that treats people as inputs into some organizational 
production function depicted in shifting organizational charts. 
It embraces change, not the status quo, and recognizes that 
change is grounded in the thinking of individuals and groups; 
leadership involves connecting with people's hearts and minds 
in a process of cocreating vision, process, action, and commu-
nity. This necessitates treating people with respect and valuing 
their expertise, experience, and wisdom in a process of mu-
tuallearning over time. Leadership is a dynamic, evolutionary 
process of finding the nexus between conflict and cooperation 
within groups, organizations, and communities, as well as with 
external collaborators and interests, all in service to larger so-
cial and institutional goals. 
Edward Hiler's leadership journey through a series of major 
administrative positions at Texas A&M is a story of collective 
leadership, as told by Hiler himself, and framed by organiza-
tional and leadership strategist Steve Bosserman. This brief, 
e 2012 Center for Great Plains Studies. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
218 
highly readable, and provocative book illustrates the philo-
sophical and operational essences of collective leadership. The 
shifting demographic, economic, ecological, and sociopolitical 
realities of Texas and the Great Plains called for optimizing the 
contributions of Texas A&M and other institutions of higher 
education in addressing critical issues. Hiler, ever the visionary, 
saw the power of an inclusive, egalitarian, shared leadership 
style that allowed diverse constituencies to take ownership 
of both issues and proposed solutions. The import of Hiler's 
work, however, ranges far beyond the Great Plains; it applies 
to strengthening organizational development and leadership in 
land-grant universities and higher education nationally. 
Hiler and Bosserman artfully weave together several es-
sential themes in organizational development and collective 
leadership that emphasize the critical importance of collabo-
ration and collective engagement, rather than competition, as 
the vehicle for individual and institutional growth, develop-
ment, and effectiveness. To this end, formal and informal 
conversations have an equally important role. Hiler sought 
to create spaces in which informal exchanges could flourish: 
opening his home, for example, to colleagues and students in 
an effort to develop sensitivity to and respect for both profes-
sional and personal goals and motivations. In both formal 
and informal contexts, Hiler prioritized opportunities for 
open dialogues in which participants could forward ideas and 
raise concerns as individuals rather than as institutional af-
filiates as a means offostering innovation. He also developed 
transparent and extensive channels and networks of commu-
e 2012 Center for Greot Ploins Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Great Plains Research Vol. 22 No.2, 2012 
nication that allowed internal and external partners to share, 
discuss, and access available ideas and information. By forg-
ing individual relationships centered on integrity, trust, and 
a willingness to share power and influence, Hiler modeled a 
form of leadership that came to characterize the institutional 
culture. 
Hiler's personal narrative is interspersed with Bosser-
man's metaframes detailing organizational development and 
collective leadership philosophy and principles. This structure 
contributes immeasurably to conveying the powerful messages 
stemming from Hiler's experience. In a writing style reflecting 
many of the qualities of his fruitful collective leadership ap-
proach, he highlights and honors the critical roles of wisdom of 
his institutional colleagues and fellow citizens in shaping his 
understanding of the processes and values of partnering at all 
levels. And Bosserman deftly distills critical collective leader-
ship philosophy and principles from Hiler's work. 
Together We Can provides valuable insight for current and 
aspiring leaders and professionals in land-grant universities, 
higher education in general, and the nonprofit sector more 
broadly. 
THEODORE R. ALTER 
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and 
Education, and the Center for Economic and Community 
Development 
Penn State University 


https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2242&amp;context=greatplainsresearch

Review of \u3ci\u3eTogether We Can: Pathways to Collective Leadership in Agriculture at Texas A&M.\u3c/i\u3e By Edward A. Hiler and Steven L. Bosserman.

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