E45: WTH just happened?: Big disruptions and the need for collective integration
Episode 45 of We are Open Circle’s Beyond Listening Podcast saw Adam and Miriam share their thoughts on reintegrating after disruption to our philosophies, organizations, and to the world as a whole—with a focus on the lasting impact of the pandemic.
For the full podcast, check out the episode here.
In this episode, we cover...
Observing change: initial state, disruption and future state... how do we reintegrate?
Adam and Miriam’s own lessons of transformation within We are Open Circle.
How to enact lasting change in an organization, through empathy and collaboration.
Adam and Miriam continue a new solo series that shares insights, framing and pragmatic tools to help you make sense of what's going on in your life, organization and the world.
Here are some of the key insights from the conversation...
Are we questioning the values, or the way the values are being applied?
”I think about some of the policy-focused DEI work... there's a gravity when so many people buy into something in a short period of time, of actually questioning it. And there's a lot at stake in questioning things like that... nobody wants to be on the wrong side of that conversation. Whatever side they believe is right, no one wants to be on the wrong side of it. We might mistake questioning the application, for questioning the values themselves... and so we might avoid taking the risk of actually having a conversation: Is this the best way to get to that goal? To realize the values?”
Organizational diversity is essential for innovation.
”In an organization, diversity... like having diverse human beings in all the complexity of that... Yes, it creates tension but when you open to it and you allow it, it also creates play and experimentation because you have different ways of seeing and experiencing and being in the world. That's exactly when it's like, ‘Oh let's play with that!’ ‘What would it be to do that?’”
Acknowledging the larger journey is the first step to making progress.
Many of the conversations I've had with culture people talk about the battle with cynicism in their organizations. ‘This is just another tick the box... It doesn't mean anything... Change is not going to happen... It's just optics...’ Maybe this is the space for leaders to say: We don't know the answers, but we are committed to going on the journey together. We do know if we stop and we ask questions together and we acknowledge the larger journey we can get to a place that feels like we're all in this together. Maybe that can be a really good starting place.
See you next week!