Putting on the different faces of change

When discussing a whole systems approach to change, we must also consider developing people’s capabilities.

People aren’t static and will be influenced not just by the organisation's culture but also by the place they live or work in, the channels they use to inform themselves, the people they know, and broader political, economic, social, and technological trends.

While individuals influence and are affected by the cultures they inhabit, they also interact with others. Understanding collaboration capabilities is as much about people’s relationship with others and their culture as it is about their values, perceptions, and experiences.

Each individual possesses a unique set of intelligence. While most workplaces primarily recognize people’s interpersonal and verbal or logic skills, there are many other valuable forms of intelligence. Consider the ability of a musician or poet to tell a story, the need for a football team to collaborate and learn from each other continuously, the connection of a farmer to nature to be able to cultivate and nurture its crops, and the ability of a photographer to capture the dynamics of a place or community. Understanding and appreciating these diverse intelligences can open new doors for personal and professional growth.

I’ve discovered that growing herbs & vegetables and cooking not only provide relaxation but also serve as a lens to adapt. This process of nurturing, protecting, and letting grow has empowered me to explore genuine coaching rather than managing teams. It has also made me comfortable with the unintended consequences of allowing others to lead. If you're seeking a similar journey of empowerment, I encourage you to check out this documentary on fermentation by @michaelpollan!

What learning styles or intelligences above would you like to develop?

If we want to be even more specific and talk about capabilities for change, we can see that we can borrow roles from other fields to improve how we help people innovate…and guess what? It’s not just the unique serial entrepreneurs or the heroic leaders; there are many innovation styles or Faces of Innovation, as Tom Kelley from IDEO.

Reflecting on these different faces of innovation, it becomes clear that to help people develop different capabilities for change, we must also focus on creating or improving the conditions for it. Whether it’s about seeing the world in a new light in a non-judgmental environment or overcoming barriers, these conditions are crucial for fostering growth and innovation. By acknowledging and working on these conditions, we can provide a supportive and encouraging environment for our peers and colleagues.

Below are different ways I’ve taken part in to learn from other styles of change from other fields; some I’ve enjoyed more than others — anthropologist & experimenter more than director — and some I practice more than others — cross pollinator more than storyteller.

Learning

How about using practical ways, like creating living libraries or experiencing the Empathy Museum to be more of an anthropologist, taking part in 100 Design Projects or the 100 Day Challenge to solve problems quickly to be more of an experimenter, or to create a treasure hunt or carry out network mapping to be more of a cross-pollinator. These are not just theoretical concepts, but actual methods that you can try out to enhance your learning and development.

Organising

You could take on a complex project or, even better, volunteer to help a colleague tackle a sticky problem to be more of a hurdler, take part in a U Lab or the London Policy & Strategy Network to be more of a collaborator, or offer to host a session at the Local Government Innovation Network or take up a coach to be more of a director.

Building

You could design a creative workshop, game or festival which uses all the senses — whether it’s the sights & smells of a market, the sounds of a bus or a flashmob or the blind tasting of an urban game — to be more of an experienced architect, you could reinvent how you use a space on your highstreet, your workspace or even your home space to make you more creative and be more of a set designer, think about how to use space differently — including online — to help people’s wellbeing to be more caregiver, and finally learn about the power of myths in campaigns how to tell or write stories (one of my attempts!) to be more of a storyteller.

These different faces remind me of a strengths habit tracker I’m using with my coach, Strengthscope, which I blog about.

In what ways have you tried learning things that are outside your comfort zone?