3 Ps of Our Transformation as OD Practitioners

I had the honour and privilege of co-facilitating the first module of the Graduate Certificate Programme in Organisational Development (OD) at the Singapore Civil Service College last week. I met many passionate OD practitioners whose energy and enthusiasm to add value and help their organisations be healthy and perform was encouraging. In fact, these passionate OD practitioners are the reason why I do what I do beyond my day job.

During my conversations with many participants, many shared their enthusiasm and some shared their fears, concerns, pain, and disappointment with me. I vividly recall one participant who trusted me enough to share that she suspected she was experiencing burnout. The practitioner seemed sceptical about some concepts, ideas, and stories we shared. I am thankful for the trust and can totally resonate with what this practitioner is going through. Reflecting on my learning, experience, and conversations during the programme, I felt strongly about sharing these 3 Ps in our transformation as OD practitioners. The Holy Spirit also inspired these 3 Ps through a Sunday Church sermon I experienced the same week.

These reflections of mine are meant to underscore the significance of OD practitioners' work and inspire them to persist in their efforts. Many of these ideas are gleaned from other esteemed leaders, both in the marketplace and the spiritual realm, as well as from fellow OD practitioners I had the honour and privilege to work with. You may not agree with all of them, but I encourage you to take what resonates with you.

3 Pivotal Elements That Can Shape Us

As OD practitioners, our journey is profoundly influenced by three key elements: Pleasure, Plain, and Pain.

These elements play a pivotal role in our personal and professional transformation. By embracing them with the right mindsets, we can enhance our effectiveness as awareness creators and drive meaningful change in the systems we serve.

Pleasure: Aligning Work with Values

Pleasure stems from aligning our work with our personal core values and purpose.

When our professional activities resonate with who we are, the joy we experience can be transformative. This intrinsic pleasure propels us towards excellence in our practice. It motivates us to strive for better outcomes and fosters a deep sense of fulfilment. This alignment not only enhances our well-being but also amplifies our effectiveness as OD practitioners.

Successful OD practitioners I have observed (or have the privilege to work with) are very clear about WHY they are doing the work they are doing. They are often purpose and value-driven, and it is never about themselves. Egos are kept in check, and their drive for competence and outcomes is managed well by not being attached to the outcomes once they have tried their best. We can sustain our passion and drive for positive change by seeking out and savouring these moments of pleasure. Therefore, it's important to be aware of our values, purpose, and what drives us internally. By honouring our purpose and values while doing our work, the process itself should be the pleasure we seek.

Plain: The Power of Daily Habits

The plain, seemingly mundane aspects of our daily work – habits, routine tasks, conversations, and projects – are often overlooked. However, these elements hold transformative potential when approached with intention.

Although it may appear boring, our daily grind is the foundation of our practice. For example, every meeting we attend or participate in is an opportunity to intervene or shape the system's energy. I'm a strong believer that all our meetings if conducted intentionally, can shift the organisation's culture. Paying attention to and being deliberate about these daily activities can lead to significant growth and improvement. The consistency and discipline developed through our regular efforts shape our professional identity and capabilities.

Think of life like a cake. The routine actions are the cake’s base, and the exciting moments are like the icing and decorations. You don’t have a proper cake without the cake base – just a plate of icing and sprinkles. The foundation of the cake is what matters most.

This is true for our professional development, especially for an OD practitioner. Routine practice, not rare accolades, defines competence. It’s everyday problem-solving and continuous learning that build true proficiency, not the occasional breakthroughs.

So, whether in life or professional development, it’s not the flashy moments but the steady, everyday efforts that shape our true selves and professional identities.

“[The] appearance of triviality is deceptive: it is the things that occur every single day that truly make up our lives, and time spent the same way repeatedly adds up at an alarming rate.” Jordan Peterson,?12 Rules for Life?(pg. 117)

Outstanding OD practitioners I have observed often treat their day-to-day routine work as opportunities to sharpen their saw and hone their skills. In their day-to-day interactions, they build relationships. The mundane and plain routine is often viewed as foundation building and depositing in the emotional bank account with the system and people they are serving.

Never underestimate the power of these plain tasks; they are the bedrock upon which substantial transformations are built. Avoid going for intensive and dramatic change, but aim for 1% better every day. Small and simple actions every day can make a difference. Consistency is key.

Pain: Learning from Failures and Mistakes

Pain, arising from our failures, mistakes, and painful experiences, plays a crucial role in our development as OD practitioners. These challenging moments provide the most powerful lessons that stay with us.

Reflecting on and learning from these painful experiences can make us better or break us. We become more resilient and knowledgeable if we choose to learn and grow from these lessons. Conversely, allowing pain to traumatise us can lead to stagnation or abandonment of our practice.

Embracing pain as a source of insight and growth is essential for our transformation as OD practitioners. We must embrace failure as our First Attempt In Learning (F.A.I.L).

I have learnt from outstanding OD practitioners that they often have a daily ritual or routine to purge, cleanse, and moan. They find ways to express their negative emotions and allow time for them to heal before they learn. When we face challenges, pain, or failure, it's important to reflect, pause, and talk to a mentor or your community to learn from it. Don't react impulsively. It's okay to moan and feel sad. Do what is needed, but ensure you move on after some time and ask yourself what you can create from it. Let's learn to L. O. V. E ourselves more. How to L.O.V.E ourselves more?

Let go of the need to fix and heal. Don't carry what is not ours to carry.

Ok, not to be ok. Take time to moan and heal. Proper energy management is key.

Value curiosity and learning. Create from failure. Don't react to it.

Embrace the mindset that the system will self-correct over time when it becomes more aware. Be patient.

Embracing the Gifts of Knowledge, Power, and Inspiration

What is good? What is bad? Nobody knows.

By intentionally embracing Pleasure, Plain, and Pain as gifts of knowledge, power, and inspiration, we equip ourselves for continuous transformation. These mindsets ensure that we evolve over time, becoming more adept at initiating and managing change.

Gift of Knowledge: What we learn through our work and even our failures serves us in the future, making us more successful and effective. Whenever you encounter a setback, you can ask yourself,

“What knowledge, wisdom or insights would I need to gain so that the payoff in the future will be much greater than what this is costing me right now?”

Each experience, whether positive or negative, adds to our understanding and skills, preparing us for future challenges and opportunities.

Gift of Power: From our experiences, we learn what aspects of ourselves need improvement. We discover new skills and abilities to develop for our benefit and that of others. Think of your problem as weights in a gym: as you lift and press, your muscles grow. Ask yourself,

“Which powers - empathy, curiosity, creativity, boldness, courage - must I grow so this problem or challenge no longer upsets me? When these qualities grow in me, what gifts will I have? More freedom, more joy, more effectiveness?"

This growth in our personal power and capabilities makes us more impactful and effective in our roles. This is a gift of Power.

Gift of Inspiration: Our experiences push us to try new things and take actions we might not have thought of otherwise. They encourage us to stretch our limits and do things we never imagined. This newfound courage and drive is a great gift that helps us move forward in our journey.

Christopher Reeve, who once played Superman, became a paraplegic after a riding accident. Instead of becoming bitter, he asked himself,

"How can I turn this into a gift?"

He dedicated his life to spinal cord injury research and treatment. Near the end of his life, he said, "I've never been happier. If I could do it all over, I wouldn't change a thing. My life has meaning and purpose."

For him, the terrible event was small compared to the good he did. Reeve believed the hardship was worth the gift of being an inspiration to many. This is the gift of inspiration.

Every Breath Is A New You

I'm not a Buddhist but I do reflect on Buddhist philosophy because all knowledge is God's knowledge. There is a Buddhist philosophy of

“With every breath, we are a new person”.

This principle of impermanence reminds us that we are capable of change and that our current state is not permanent.

You are a different person from yesterday.

Embracing this mindset allows us to cultivate a deeper sense of presence and non-attachment to the past. It helps us to remain adaptable and open to continuous transformation, both personally and professionally.

As we integrate these mindsets into our practice, we enhance our ability to serve the systems we are part of, driving meaningful and sustainable change. Embracing these gifts and mindsets ensures that we continuously grow and evolve, becoming more adept at creating positive impacts in our field.

Defining Success as an OD Practitioner

What does success look like for an OD practitioner?

For me, success is not defined by outcomes. If you think that to be successful and happy as an OD practitioner, you will achieve all the outcomes of the interventions and projects you are involved in and responsible for, you will be disappointed and demoralised. Never associate your value as an OD practitioner with outcomes or results. There are too many variables in the system you serve that are beyond your control. Peter Drucker once said,

"Our job in life is to make a positive difference, not prove we’re right”.

For me, success as a practitioner is to be able to do work that resonates with my higher purpose or aspirations, and to enjoy the process of learning, growing and failing. That's success for me.

In conclusion, by recognising and embracing Pleasure, Plain, and Pain and approaching each experience from a ‘Gifts Perspective’, we can transform ourselves into more effective OD practitioners. These three elements and gift mindsets provide a comprehensive framework for our growth and development, enabling us to become impactful changemakers in our field. Be coachable, be human.

After reading my reflections, if you still feel down and helpless, don't be too hard on yourself. Many of us feel the same way once in a while. I want to normalise this and there is nothing wrong with you. We're human. Guess what's the good news? You don't have to deal with this alone. Reach out to your community for support. Reach out to me, I'll pray with you. If not now, when?

What resonated? What is one action you're committed to taking? Do share your thoughts for our collective learning.

p/s: The above elements and mindsets can be applied to many other aspects of our lives as well.

Holding you NCRW always, Jimmy

19 May 2024

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