{"id":2884,"date":"2016-12-13T16:56:29","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T16:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2016-12-13T16:56:29","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T16:56:29","slug":"the-four-essential-preconditions-for-system-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/the-four-essential-preconditions-for-system-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"The four essential preconditions for system transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around this time last year I was reflecting in a concert. I discovered FRE. Focus. Responsibility. Example. Three attributes for organisation success. That framework<\/a>\u00a0has guided my work this year. And carries on into 2017. I have had much positive feedback about it.<\/p>\n

Last month, away from home, on a morning run along the Thames, I was thinking\u2026<\/p>\n

I work helping systems improve. This support can be in my main sectors, be it fashion or conservation; education or health. Or it might be in the events I run, from team time outs to larger conferences; individual coaching to speaking. I am concerned with helping the smaller temporary systems, such as in a workshop. I am also focused on improving the larger, well-funded and enduring systems, such as a fashion supply chain or a programme on bio-diversity.<\/p>\n

After over 30 years helping in complex environments I have identified four pre-requisites for system success. You might even imagine these as four bases to get a \u2018home\u2019 run. Four capabilities that are needed to be widespread in a system for progress. Or you can consider them as a personal manifesto \u2013 highlighting the four personal disciplines leaders in all roles need for achievement. They are shared here to help us all make different and better choices.<\/p>\n

I summarise them as CHHH. That is curiosity, holistic (whole-sighted) attention, honesty and hope.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s unpack these four themes a little. Each helps progress. I have had positive comments on this from some of the many people I know who are working hard for improvement from deep within the systems they are committed to.<\/p>\n

CURIOSITY<\/p>\n

Deepening curiosity helps us get beyond certainty and avoid hubris. There can be a pretence of motivation. There may be an interest in innovation in one\u2019s own work, that is undermined by the failure to search out and copy what others are doing. In my decades of practice, I think low curiosity is the most striking and common observation \u2013 it limits progress, it leads to \u2018reinvention of the wheel\u2019 and the consequent waste.<\/p>\n

Addressing a low \u2018pull\u2019, where colleagues are not bothered and not interested in what others are doing is hard. Ways to fan the flames of interest maybe through protected study time and positive reinforcement, including awards for copying! Crucially, leaders need to model curiosity themselves \u2013 asking questions, showing they prize imitation as much as invention, avoiding routine pet answers, working in a spirit of humility and avoiding arrogance.<\/p>\n

Curiosity gets us on the journey. But it is only the first base.<\/p>\n

HOLISM<\/p>\n

Once there is some curiosity, then finding ways to see the whole is important. However, looking beyond one\u2019s own tribal allegiances can be a challenge. Building empathy with \u2018the other\u2019 is difficult. However, this is critical if the system is to operate for the end user or end purpose, and not the \u2018core group\u2019 who have much to benefit from things as they are. Connection is personal, and takes time to develop and deepen. Spending time exploring WITOS (what is the other side) is key.<\/p>\n

HONEST<\/p>\n

The \u2018third base\u2019 is concerned with enabling important discussions beyond positioning and spin \u2013 having critical conversations<\/a><\/p>\n

This is important for authentic attempts to make things better rather than cosy speaking in the groove, repeating nice sounding platitudes. This might involve a risk \u2013 especially when systems have a habit of spewing out whistle-blowers as \u2018troublemakers\u2019. Prophets and Radicals (tempered or otherwise) need to be sought and valued. Curiosity and Holism helps to nurture the empathy necessary for honesty.<\/p>\n

HOPE<\/p>\n

Finally, and maybe paradoxically given the tone of this piece so far, being positive is important. Burnout is a risk in system work. It is easy to end up with no hope for the system or even for oneself. Accepting critique, but looking beyond criticism and cynicism is the better route. Being personally buoyant in the face of all that needs to be done. Looking to encourage each other.<\/p>\n

I increasingly use these ideas (CHHH) as a frame and even as \u2018ground rules\u2019 in my workshops.<\/p>\n

I find them a useful diagnostic tool too.<\/p>\n

If systems are perfectly designed to deliver what they achieve, then the basic design rules need to be shifted. Might CHHH help?<\/p>\n

Inertia and entropy are design flaws to be addressed. If something seems impossible, start small. Where does CHHH point you?<\/p>\n

So, I offer CHHH a way to start or sustain the journey of improvement.<\/p>\n

Travel well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Around this time last year I was reflecting in a concert. I discovered FRE. Focus. Responsibility. Example. Three attributes for organisation success. That framework\u00a0has guided my work this year. And carries on into 2017. I have had much positive feedback about it. Last month, away from home, on a morning run along the Thames, I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[136,155,173],"tags":[50,29,97],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2884"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2889,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions\/2889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idenk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}