Changing cultures and systems is a challenge, but if leaders are to drive innovation it is one that must be addressed. Reflecting on an innovation-themed ETF event for leaders she co-designed and co-led at the end of 2023, and that will be built upon with an online session in 2024, Dr Lou Mycroft offers some practical advice on the knowledge and skills necessary to have the difficult conversations this challenge can require.
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing, and right-doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
Rumi[1]
When Joss Kang and I designed and facilitated the Education and Training Foundation-commissioned ‘Innovation Workshop’ for leaders in November 2023, we titled it: ‘Thinking Differently for Culture and Systems Change’. The session gathered leaders who were interested in doing different things, rather than just doing the same things differently.
We framed the day with Thinking Environment founder Nancy Kline’s short article ‘Do What Works’ and included a range of activities. Interestingly, the aspect of the event participants told us they found most useful considered a subject that is often at the crux of change: challenging conversations and how to have them.
