Finding opportunity in situations where ???what is??? isn???t ???what is desired???.

Gaps can be a good thing.  Peter Senge says: “Truly creative people use the gap between vision and current reality to generate energy for change.”

Motivation for change often is lacking without a gripping positive vision that you are committed to. The current situation is the current normal – and the usual situation is ‘comfortable’.  People may not totally like the current situation, but they aren’t necessarily all that motivated to change it either. 

That is until – a vision of a preferred future becomes clear and compelling to those that have become generally accepting of the current situation.  When this happens, individuals or groups of people start to work toward the vision.  When groups of people see a similar vision, they have a ‘shared vision’.  A shared vision becomes a powerful ingredient in eliminating the gap between ‘what is’ and ‘what is desired’.

Actions follow dreams.  Epictetus (2^nd Century A.D.) understood this when he said: “First, say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”  We are able to accomplish much when we decide to leave the current in pursuit of the desired vision. 

Focusing on the possible, preferred future is important because in doing so we are working to make a brighter future for generations to come. 

Photo by Redvers via Flickr

 

 

 

How does breakthrough change happen? As you know ??? it is more about intentionality than luck.

Umair Haque’s resent blog post: Making Room for Reflection Is a Strategic Imperative is thought provoking for any of us who are thinking about how we need much “breakthrough” change in Michigan.

 

The most disruptive, unforeseen, and just plain awesome breakthroughs that reimagine, reinvent, and reconceive a product, a company, a market, an industry, or perhaps even an entire economy rarely come from the single-minded pursuit of the busier and busier busywork of “business.” Rather, in the outperformers that I’ve spent time with and studied, breakthroughs demand (loosely) systematic, structured periods for reflection — to ruminate on, synthesize, and integrate fragments of questions, answers, and thoughts about what’s not good enough, what’s just plain awful, and how it could be made radically better.

 

They consistently ask — in my experience, at least once a week, in informal, quick powwows — a handful of interrelated questions, never taking for granted that they’ve found the right, perfect, everlasting answer, but understanding instead, that the better answers evolve (and coevolve) with the world around them. In turn, reflection becomes the rocket fuel for experimentation, the lifeblood of high-level innovation, the spark of deeper meaning, and the wellspring of enduring purpose.  Read the whole blog pat at:

http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2010/11/reflection_items_not_action_it.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+harvardbusiness+(HBR.org) 

Treat yourself to 3 minutes of visual stimulation while contemplating thought provoking questions.

Because change is ripe with the unknown I think being reflective is a crucial review component of a person involved in and encouraging change.  This video gave me good food for thought in the form of many questions.  Enjoy!

TED2008 The BigViz Animation 

Michigan can rebound! Not as a result of magic, but as a result of intentional focused effort from all of us!

We (not just some of us) need to see and work toward a bright future for the state. 

Here in Michigan, we (our state government and the people in general) have a lot of change ahead if our state is to become a vibrant state again.   We can look at the change as disruptive, because it disturbs the status quo.  Or we can look at the change ahead as progress because we will be moving toward that vital and positive status as a state.   There are no guarantees that progress will result from our efforts to help the state.  But, it is guaranteed that the status quo is no bridge to the future!

Among the many things that need to happen to be vibrant: 

We need more students graduating form high school. 

We need more ‘new economy’ jobs – because the ‘old economy’ manufacturing Midwest is gone. 

We need to highlight our assets: from the great lakes to the inland lakes, from the fruit trees to the grape vines, from Eastern Michigan University to Olivet College, and from Kalamazoo to Petoskey.  

We need more college graduates to work and live in Michigan.

We need to increase tourism in Michigan.

We need to think about the challenges we all face and be willing to do things differently to effectively meet those challenges.

In the globally competitive environment we live, statewide improvement is called for in many areas.  We are in a complex situation and we must meet this complexity with a positive frame about Michigan and its future. We individuals need to be ready to answer the call: The future of our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren is at stake.

picture by Cluadia Castro via Flickr

 

‘What is’ or ‘what might be’?

Do we want to be servants of ‘what is’ or “what might be’?  Are we prisoners of ‘what is’?  As we look to the future – these are important questions.

 

I am thankful for those who can see the possible, like Michelangelo seeing David.

I am thankful for those who can see the reader in the non-reader.

I am thankful for those who can see the potential of a vibrant Michigan.

I am thankful for those who can find ways to work together to accomplish something rather than argue an accomplish nothing.

I am thankful for those who can see the multiple benefits of reuse rather than always having sprawling “new” buildings.

I am thankful for those who can see that by being thoughtful and intentional our grand children and their grand children will benefit.

I am thankful for those who are kind to others – it is a choice and I appreciate that they choose to be kind and thoughtful. 

 

I am thankful for people who choose to collaborate. I am thinking it is time for radical collaboration!!!

While reading a blog form World Changing: Change Your Thinking – I came across the concept of radical collaboration.  Here is some of their post and a video along the same line of thinking.

“There are more than 55,000 environmental nonprofit organizations registered in the U.S. today, and many more green businesses, all competing for the support of responsible consumers. At a recent event in San Francisco, a trio of green business owners suggested that this type of traditional competition may not be the most effective way to make large-scale change. They instead proposed a new model: radical collaboration.

The phrase ‘radical collaboration’ has been used to describe a variety of phenomena, from participation in Wikipedia and similar ventures to cross-disciplinary cooperation in academics. In business, it means creating alliances between a group of former competitors to solve problems together. The concept has been used by corporations. For example, when IBM was losing money on semiconductor chips in 2003, it made the decision to open its research to a network of competitors, and began a new, successful method of innovation that has now been expanded to other departments. Now some argue that the same type of innovation should be applied to the sustainability movement.”

 Read more at: http://current.com/1j3e64c

 

We have much to be thankful for. We also must become better stewards.

Thanksgiving week takes my thoughts to the comfort many of us enjoy and the concept of wanting future generations to have similar opportunities.  I know that there are no guarantees.  In fact current history seems to shed light on the reality that the challenges we face are increasing.

John M. Bryson and Barbara C. Crosby in the Preface to their book: Leadership for the Common Good 1992 they write: “We live in a world no one organization or institution has the legitimacy, power, authority, or intelligence to act alone on important public issues ans still make substantial headway against the problems that threaten us all.  No one is in charge when it comes to the greenhouse effect, AIDS, homelessness, the federal deficit . . . and a host of other public problems. 

If we survive and prosper, and if our children and grandchildren (mine are below) – and their children and grandchildren – are to enjoy the benefits of our ability to make the world better, we must find ways to think and act more effectively in shared-power contexts.  We must deepen our understanding of the interrelated phenomena of power, change, and leadership.”

The above words were written 18 years ago.  Before I became a grandfather, when Karen and I were still deep in parenting.  The challenges have gotten bigger in those 18 years.  We all need to think about what we can do to help be good stewards of the globe.  Future generations will not benefit from the gifts of the world if we don’t become better stewards. 

Margaret Wheatley addresses 2 of her 8 Fearless Questions in the 4-minute video. It is good food for thought for all or us!

 

Here are the 8 questions.  Each of them are worth asking ourselves.

1. Does the world need me to be fearless?
2. Who do I choose to be for this world?
3. How do I name myself?
4. Can I bear witness to what is?
5. Can I work with what’s available?
6. Can I give up needing to make a difference?
7. How do I imprison myself?
8. How do I offer my work?

Dr. Margaret Wheatley, renowned author and teacher, created these eight questions designed to help you develop clarity about your work and the contribution you want to offer at this troubled time. The DVD: EIGHT FEARLESS QUESTIONS is available.

Credibility! Effective informal or formal leaders are credible. You earn credibility or you don???t.

The leadership authors and researchers, Kouzes and Posner wanted to learn about the behavioral dimension admired leaders earned.  Kouzes and Posner asked people to give them specific examples of what the leaders they admired the most did to gain their respect, trust, and a willingness to be influenced.   How did they behave that help them build their credibility?

“Several common actions emerged.  The following is a list of some of the most frequently mentioned behaviors.  The leader:

o     Supported me

o     Had the courage to do the right thing

o     Challenged me

o     Developed and acted as a mentor to others

o     Listened

o     Celebrated good work

o     Followed through on commitments

o     Trusted me

o     Empowered others

o     Made time for people

o     Shared the vision

o     Opened doors

o     Overcame personal hardships

o     Admitted mistakes

o     Advised others

o     Solved problems

o     Taught well”

Page 50 of Credibility by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner 2003, Jossey Bass

Leaders must be able to develop and maintain relationships if they are going to accomplish anything.  Collaborations, coalitions, partnerships and/or teams are needed to successfully meet the challenges of 2010 and beyond.  And relationships don’t just happen.  Relationships do happen for people that behave in the ways listed above.   They are credible people.