At the edges, not at the center. That’s where real change begins.
We work from the outside in, a series of small but potent actions in service of our highest aspirations:
- small gatherings of like-minded colleagues marked by a commitment to knowing the people for who they are, not just by what they do,
- brief but sincere check-ins on values and culture to lead off every meeting,
- brief but sincere recognition offered at the end of every meeting,
- “below the line” conversations with customers about their aspirations for their own enterprises,
- common sense support for healthy distance from work after hours, on weekends and on vacations,
- regular, rich, candid and mutual conversations about performance that make “performance reviews” irrelevant
- and how many more can you think of?
These acts do not require permission, nor do they require authority. They require initiative.
These acts, over time, lead to a more open system, a system that is learning how to learn and therefore, learning how to change.
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world. Connect with him on Twitter at @berrydavid.
