Teaching old dogs new tricks
May 30, 2023
I was excited to attend the Jumpshift NZ Leadership Action Network event last week, focussed on Liberating Structures.
The name was a little mysterious to me. Was I about to hop into something all about restructuring? Was it about mental models?
It turned out to be a fascinating walk through a selection from over 35 tools which leaders, facilitators and, basically anyone can use to unlock people around them and generate, innovate and ideate. I encourage you to check them out here.
"Liberating Structures make it easy for leaders of all levels to create conditions for people to work at the top of their intelligence and creativity. In this environment, people thrive and enjoy their work. It is also the path to top performance".
It made me think though, that we all have a tendency to lean on the "tricks we know work" to get results. We maintain patterns and routines because they get expected results. However, this reliance on patterns is also limiting to our own growth and might never yield the fresh innovation a new approach will. They may even create new, better results!
As a result of this session, I committed to trying some of these new models in my coaching sessions - the first one being yesterday where I adapted the TRIZ structure into my own version - TRIO - Total Reverse Ideal Outcome. Essentially - if I were to imagine the absolute opposite of the outcome I want (like a really terrible version) what would that look like? Down to the rawest detail. Imagine the type of organisation you want to be a leader in, for example.
It's amazing how ridiculous it sounds to write this stuff down until you actually try it. The client I was working with said it really helped him unlock some stuff he hadn't realised was there. And it's a really fresh perspective where humour can apply as the ideas pour out of you.
I then took this a step further by asking which of those "ridiculous" items were present in his organization. At which point he went quiet for a moment before replying, "too many". The exercise can force us to be more honest than we normally our with ourselves.
Whether the TRIO exercise works for you, another or the Liberating Structure inspires you, or you simply come up with something else, I wonder how many of you will try something new today? If we all exercise a willingness to try new things, we will build the ability and subsequent changes become easier to face.
Onward!!
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