7 Mindsets to start your journey as an OD practitioner.
When I saw this illustration on Linkedin, it reminded me of my early days in the field of OD. I recalled the stark difference between the theories I learned in the classroom ?? and the complex, messy realities I encountered in practice. The journey from point A to point B was never as straightforward as the textbooks or theories suggested. Over time, I’ve learned to embrace this complexity and developed key mindsets that have helped me navigate the challenging terrain of OD work.
In this blog, I want to share these 7 key mindsets with fellow OD practitioners. They are meant to complement the tools and skills you’ve learned or will learn in the subsequent modules of the OD Graduate Certificate Programme (ODCP) in our Civil Service College (CSC). Take what is useful and relevant to you ??.
These 7 mindsets are,
1. Start Within: Ignite Your Inner Compass, Harnessing Your Inner Resources
Spend time to understand who you are both as a human being and as an OD practitioner. Discover your inner resources and compass—your purpose (why) and values (how). Knowing who you are and leveraging these inner resources are crucial as you start your OD journey ??. Love yourself enough to let go of the need to have all the answers immediately ??. It's okay not to be okay at times. Value curiosity and embrace yourself as Naturally Creative, Resourceful, and Whole (NCRW) ??. This mindset helps you remain grounded and adaptable ??.
If you want your world as an OD practitioner to be less messy, you need to be less messy inside ??. Be clear on why you are doing this work, why you are doing it now, and why not.
If you want your situation to get better, you must get better ??. Don’t expect others to change; you need to change yourself. Work on your mindsets, toolsets, and skill sets.
Don't ask for less problems, ask for more skills. Start within.
2. Embrace the Chaos: Finding Order in the Mess
In our field, you’ll encounter systems that seem chaotic and unpredictable. That's normal. The systems we work in are always in a constant state of emergence ??, changing constantly, and sometimes, it can be very messy ??. Expect that, and this messiness will start to clear as you listen to the voices within the system and understand its wants and needs ??. Every system is unique and has a personality. Understand and appreciate it. Don’t rush to impose order; instead, spend time observing and understanding the system you're in. Listen to it and assume that it is constantly trying to reveal its potential to you ??.
3. Share the Load: Let the System Carry Your OD Role Too!
Remember that roles are part of the system. Don’t be burdened by your role, responsibilities, and purpose; instead, expand and share them. Forge alliances and build relationships with others in the system ??. Don't carry what is not yours. Let go and allow others to take responsibility too. Allow the system to carry some of these roles and responsibilities ??. This collaborative approach often leads to more sustainable and impactful solutions. At the same time, it will do wonders for your personal well-being ??.
4. Seek Mentors and Coaches as your Thinking Partners
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Find a mentor or coach who can act as a thinking partner to journey beside you ??. Having someone to discuss your experiences with can provide new perspectives and support your growth ??. If the mentors and coaches are properly trained, they won't tell you what to do. They will listen and provide context from their experience to enrich the quality of your thinking ???. They will help you to work on yourself from the inside out ??. This is one of the reasons we have built in coaching support into our ODCP. I hope many of you will benefit from the experiences all your thinking partners bring to the table and, most importantly, discover a bit more about yourself in the process ??.
You are the most powerful instrument in your craft ??.
5. Trust the Process: Believe in the System and Yourself
If I were to name one key contribution we can make as OD practitioners in the system, it would be our ability to create awareness nodes in the system using data, observations, powerful questions, and our presence ??
From my experience, when enough awareness is created, the system often starts to self-correct. Trust the system’s natural capacity for self-organisation and trust your instincts as an OD practitioner ??. Use data to your advantage ??. Use your curiosity, observations, and questions to evoke or create awareness ??.
6. See Setbacks as Opportunities: Embrace Challenges for Growth
Expect failures and challenges along the way. Instead of reacting negatively to them, view them as valuable data and opportunities to learn and grow ??. Embrace these setbacks as part of the process, and use them to create something new and innovative ??. This mindset will help you build resilience and continuously improve your approach ??.
Let me share with you one of my favourite stories from Jim Rohn,
领英推荐
Two-man wakes up one morning and there is a storm going on...
One of them looks out of the window and sees the storm out there and he says: WOW,?what a storm! With weather like this, they can’t expect you go out there and make any sales.
He stays home…
The same morning the other guy looks out his window, sees the same storm and says: WOW, what a storm! But he says, you know, with weather like this what a great day to go out and make sales, most probably everybody are gonna stay home…
Especially the salesman.
It's not what happens to you that matters. It's about how you respond and what you do about it. It's all about your mindset and attitude.
7. Be Patient with yourself and the Process
Even after applying these mindsets, the system might still appear messy. That’s okay. Sometimes, the system isn’t ready for change, and you need to allow time for it to rest, recover, and learn ??.
Wait for the next opportunity with patience and readiness ?. You also need to rest, recharge, and recover before you start again ??. Take care of your body. Treat it like a temple. Some OD practitioners I know who are struggle and not doing well because they are NOT feeling well physically, mentally and spiritually. Focus not just on the outcomes but on yourself.
Your success as an OD practitioner is something you attract by BEcoming an attractive practitioner. Success is not something you pursue. You will BEcome attractive when you are patient and work on yourself ??. You BEcome attractive when you have skills. You BEcome attractive when you have presence. So, who are you BEcoming?
Learn to work harder on yourself than your job as an OD practitioner. Don't wish things will get easier (it will not). Wish that you will get better every day.
When you get better and when you change, your conditions and circumstances will change. AND you don't have to journey alone. That's what I’ve learned over the years as a student and practitioner of OD ??.
7 Mindsets at a Glance from a System Perspective
Self-Level of the System
Others-Levels of the System
Organisational-Level of the System
Final Thoughts
The journey of an OD practitioner is filled with challenges and complexities, but it's also immensely rewarding. By adopting these 7 mindsets, you can manage yourself, others, and the systems you work within more effectively and sustainably. Embrace the journey, keep learning, and remember that every experience is an opportunity for growth ??.
What resonated?
Do share your thoughts with me.
Holding you NCRW always, Jimmy
Credits: All images on the 7 mindsets were generated by AI. Cool isn't it?
Transformation & Change Management | Leadership & Organisation Development | Leadership Team coaching | Learning & Development
8 个月Nice one Jimmy! I think if you change od practitioner to leader, the mindsets would apply well too. ??
Business Builder | Super Network in Asia | Evidence-based Leadership Journeys | Helping Solve C-suites' Most Crucial Organisational Challenges
8 个月Jimmy Lee thanks for sharing this, so well put. On your last question, yes, you are very good prompt-engineer! Graphic for point 6 is especially good!