In this latest in our Censemaking Methods Series we turn our focus toward applying design to generating impact through better events and gatherings. Crafting an unforgettable gathering is an alchemy of art and science. Through intentional design, we can learn from service design From board retreats, annual general meetings, to brainstorming sessions, a stellar event …
Designing More Powerful Events For Greater Impact Read More »
Boring and dull get a bad rap. Innovation, despite its popular image, is often boring and dull, but it also leads to fulfilment and that is an exciting outcome worth striving for. Boring is the day-to-day work that most of us do. It’s consistent, largely uneventful, and steady. It’s what allows us to create reliable …
Innovation Is Like Everyday Life: Mostly Dull and Occasionally Dramatic Read More »
We need systemic action informed by systems thinking to address the global challenges facing humanity. Alas, too many are focused on the thinking (and talk), not action. My aim for writing this is because I believe strongly in the potential of systems thinking for action. I don’t see much hope for humans if we can’t …
Systems Thinking and Systemic Action Aren’t The Same Thing Read More »
No matter what tools, methods, or approaches you take to create a change, time, care, and attention ultimately affect the outcome as much as anything else. When people ask about what is the one thing that most influence change efforts I offer not one, but three: time, care, and attention. Many things affect intentional change, …
The Three Variables Underlying Every Significant Change Project Read More »
We are trained to use our powers of evidence and research to make our point. What if we used much less research to make much more of a point? When I get into a debate or look to persuade something, my natural tendency is to gather and align as much evidence as I can to …
It’s been said by (maybe) Peter Drucker and (definitely) the Internet that culture eats strategy for breakfast. This quote’s truth is solid even if its pedigree is questionable. Our culture shapes us in ways that are profound and often invisible. When I look at how I talk, what I say, and how I express things …
The personalities and preferences of innovators and change-makers are rarely discussed and when they are it’s not about implementation. So it was with some enthusiasm that we find an attempt to place the roles, preferences, and skills of implementers in a framework and discuss what these might mean. Consultants at NOBL sought to ‘type’ those …
The autumn tends to be a time when many organizations hold conferences and this year is no different. What is different is that we are now in hybrid modes and questions remain about what we’ve learned about learning in a pandemic-affected world. Looking at my calendar I see a number of large events coming up …
Conference Season Here Again: What Have We Learned? Read More »
It took 10 years for me to make a podcast and the reason for that comes down to 10 factors that can be used to explain why most change does (or does not) happen. In this post, I look at these 10 factors as a bit of a preview for what’s coming on the podcast …
Ten Factors For Making Change Happen (and Ten Years to Make a Podcast: Part 2) Read More »
Among the two greatest constraints for innovation is time and the expectations we have attached to it. If only we could adapt, create and implement an innovation at the drop of a hat. Wouldn’t that be nice? Most innovation work isn’t like that. That’s a frustration for many of the clients I work with and …
Time and the Linear Bend of Innovation Expectations Read More »
