QuickBlog #3: The Pull of Human Retrospection Within System Leadership
Welcome to QuickBlog #3. Over 30 years of working, I've harnessed my lived, learnt, and qualified through experiences, practice and research towards tackling, learning and challenging social injustice, inequality, EDI, complex trauma, through building strength-based Humanistic, Systemic and multi-agency partnerships. This space is dedicated to connecting human to their system and our systems to systems, sharing learning, reflection, insights, and practical strategies. I aim to explore how to build more equitable and integrated solutions, from individual whole-person approaches to whole-system transformation. Learning is the aim, if you have a comment, direction or critical something to add, please feel free to do add it!
Robert Kegan and Erik Erikson, both renowned developmental psychologists, independently identified eight stages of human development, each marked by unique challenges and growth opportunities. While these theories offer valuable insights into individual development, they also shed light on a universal human tendency: retrospection.
We often find ourselves looking back at the past, longing for simpler times when life seemed less complicated. This is evident in everyday conversations: "Things were so much easier when we didn't have the internet," or "Remember how much fun we had before social media?" - However, as within the above infographic, life has many nuances and factors - each of the above stages don't stop once we have journeys through them. We take each stage with us, into the next - hence Trust Vs Mistrust is something we carry through our lifetime, but is established within the very start of our life. This can effect the 'human' interaction with regards change - we trust the people, process and world around us, or we don't (this is a spectrum between Trust and Mistrust, that can shift either way over our life-course).
This tendency is evident and can be observed within our daily interactions, just like in this personal anecdote; When my daughters were 3 and 5, I took them to a fair. My younger daughter, comfortably rested in the pushchair, she was enjoying every minute of the sounds, sights, smells and experience. My older daughter, however, grew tired from walking and, observing her sister's consistent enjoyment, she expressed a firm desire to go back to a time when things were easier – when she didn't have to walk and could simply be pushed along like her younger sister.
This childhood example mirrors our adult experiences. While our cognitive abilities allow us to embrace change and progress, our instincts often pull us towards the familiar and comfortable. This tendency can be a significant obstacle in the context of system change and leadership that is associated. System change often involves our venturing into the unknown, embracing uncertainty, and challenging established norms. This can feel uncomfortable and disorienting, prompting us to 'want' for the perceived stability of the past.
领英推荐
However, within this inherent human tendency lies an opportunity for growth. By acknowledging our natural inclination towards retrospection, we can consciously work to overcome it and embrace change. We can learn from the past, identifying what worked well and establishing a solid foundation for future innovations. This "holding on" to valuable lessons and principles is essential for sustainable change; it prevents us from "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" as we navigate new territories.
Furthermore, understanding the stages of human development as outlined by Kegan and Erikson can equip system leaders with valuable insights. By recognising the developmental needs and challenges at different stages, leaders can tailor their approach to change management, ensuring that the process is supportive and appropriate for the individuals involved.
In conclusion, while the pull of retrospection is a natural human tendency, and if unchecked, it can hinder progress in the context of system change. By acknowledging this tendency and leveraging the insights from developmental psychology, system leaders can help 'humans' navigate the challenges of change effectively, enabling a culture of learning, growth, and innovation.
#Human #SystemChange #SystemLeadership #Retrospection #Blog
#QuickBlog