Michelle James, CEO of the US-based Center for Creative Emergence, has published a short article that presents seven powerfu tools for navigating the unknown.
I am summarising them here, as they are highly relevant to those engaged in whole system innovation and change.
- Change the lens you use for seeing the unknown.
- Consciously engage uncertainty.
- Allow the process to be messy.
- Actively leave the familiar.
- Use multidimensional creative approaches.
- Be the beginner.
- Accept the human paradox: the unknown is both dangerous and exciting.
“While a part of us may love the mystery, we have another part of us, in our reptilian primal brain, that has been hard wired to fear what is around the corner.”
Looking at the title of the second tool, perhaps this should be ‘Consciously engage with uncertainty’. Attempting to engage someone is like trying to dance them. It simply cannot be done. Engaging is a mutual activity, an interaction, and not something that one person does to another.
Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/9EstOr
Michelle James’ blog, The Fertile Unknown, is located here: http://creativeemergence.typepad.com. I recommend it.
A ‘visionary leader’
Seth Kahan, Fast Company magazine’s expert blogger, included Michelle in his roll call of visionary leaders, alongside such giants as the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. This is how he honoured her:
Michelle James for her commitment to bring creative expression into the work environment in a very deep and meaningful way. And her ability to create safe spaces so people can express their own uniqueness without judgment and in collaboration with others.
Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/oNtU
I offer Michelle my congratulations.