Despite current ads and slogans, the world doesn’t change one person at a time. It changes when networks of relationships form among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible. This is good news for those of us intent on creating a positive future. Rather than worry about critical mass, our work … Continue reading The World Doesn’t Change One Person at a Time Meg Wheatley
I have long argued, and repeated ad nauseam that in complexity we start journeys with a sense of direction we don’t try and achieve goals. We remain open to the evolutionary opportunities of the here and now, the present and the adjacent future states. Credit: Dave Snowden Source: On craft in strategy by Dave SnowdenPosts … Continue reading In Complexity We Start Journeys with a Sense of Direction Dave Snowden
A culture is emergent and is the result of millions of interactions, behaviours, artifacts and stories that people build up over time. It is unpredictable and results in surprise. The idea that a “culture change initiative” can be rolled out from the top of an organization is not only a myth, it’s a hidden form … Continue reading Culture Is Emergent Chris Corrigan
Changing the interactions between people is both more effective in achieving change and more ethical; telling people what sort of people you think they should be is a paternalistic form of neo-colonialism. Credit: Dave Snowden Posts where this quotation is embedded A Brief History of Knowledge 200,000 years of history A Knowledge Café in English, French and … Continue reading Changing the Interactions Between People Dave Snowden
Stop the paternalistic attempt to define how people think and engineer a XYZ culture and instead focus on creating and disrupting connections and engaging people in small actions in the here and now. Mindset change smacks of indoctrination. Credit: Dave Snowden Source: Dave Snowden in a post on LinkedIn.Posts where this quotation is embedded A Brief … Continue reading Mindset Change Smacks of Indoctrination Dave Snowden
If you want to make any real difference then stop making lists of idealised qualities of how things should be — they will always end up as anodyne platitudes — focus on understanding and critically ACTING in the present to start shifting things in a better direction Credit: Dave Snowden Source: Dave Snowden in a … Continue reading Stop Making Lists of Idealised Qualities of How Things Should Be Dave Snowden
Gurteen Knowledge Blog June 1, 2023, 10:51I like the argument made in this article; A better environment does start with you. In it, the author, Marc Davidson, challenges the notion that governments alone are responsible for solving the climate crisis. He argues against the either/or debate of individual responsibility versus government intervention, stating that it leads … Continue reading Driving Environmental Change Individuals and Government Working Together
You think that writing is communicating your ideas to your readers. It is not. What is professional writing? Professional writing, what is it? It’s not conveying your ideas to your readers. It’s changing their ideas. Nobody cares what ideas you have. Credit: Larry McEnerney Comment: Larry stresses that the purpose of professional writing is to … Continue reading Changing Your Readers’ Ideas Larry McEnerney
The function of an academic piece is not to communicate your ideas, it’s to change the ideas of an existing community. Now, sometimes you do that by communicating your ideas, sometimes you don’t. But understand what it’s for and understand that your training has been all about revealing your head. Credit: Larry McEnerney Comment: Larry … Continue reading The Function of an Academic Piece of Writing Larry McEnerney
The kind of conversation I like is one in which you are prepared to emerge a slightly different person. Credit: Theodore Zeldin Source: Conversation Comment: One of my favorite quotations from Theodore.Posts where this quotation is embedded A Brief History of Knowledge 200,000 years of history A Knowledge Café in English, French and Russian Knowledge Cafe’s can … Continue reading The Kind of Conversation I Like Theodore Zeldin
Small group conversations are at the heart of Conversational Leadership, but there are several challenges to be overcome if they are to be effective. Small groups | Peter Block These are some of the factors that we need to be aware of and take into account when thinking about conversations in small groups: Blook Search … Continue reading Introduction: Small Group Conversations Small groups are an essential building block to any future you want to create
With their rigid plans and fixed outcomes, traditional change management methods often struggle in today’s unpredictable environments. Dave Snowden’s Vector Theory of Change offers a more adaptable solution by focusing on setting a broad direction (vector) rather than a specific goal. Introduction In today’s complex world, initiating successful change can be daunting. The traditional approach, … Continue reading Vector Theory of Change ** Dave Snowden
Encourage dissent: Many view conflict as bad and try to suppress it, but disagreement is healthy. It is an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation. We should encourage it. FUD – fear, uncertainty, and doubt. No, not the marketing sort of FUD but the kind of stuff in your head whenever a change occurs. It … Continue reading Encourage Dissent Fear, uncertainty and doubt are good things