What’s your mission? How are you bringing it into the world?

I have three passions: - transforming public services, rooted in citizen and community outcomes - the field of systems/cybernetics/complexity - understanding deep laws that structure our world, and the insights we can generate - transforming organisations, systems, places, through consultancy, facilitation, change I'm very lucky - my work allows me to combine these together - … Continue reading What’s your mission? How are you bringing it into the world? →

Technical vs adaptive problems

I don't quite know why this distinction is so valuable to people - but it is! The attached is from a recent session to introduce a group to Adaptive Leadership, working alongside a genuine expert (I'm a sceptical, engaged dabbler). Their challenge:what to do about home/hybrid working post-pandemic? Should people work from home? Be forced … Continue reading Technical vs adaptive problems →

Have you heard of the brown contract? 💩

It's a simple way to work on relationships, introduced to me by our then-company coach. And brown means what you might be thinking but can't believe I actually mean. So, you sit down with your business partner, client, consultant, colleague, or whatever. Try to do this early on in the relationship (done late, it would … Continue reading Have you heard of the brown contract? 💩 →

Events coming up – please join me! Radical procurement, systems thinking, learning, consulting, public services and more…

-> have you ever seen someone turn purchasing into a creative art form? -> have you got interesting experiences of community-building for learning? Share your ideas below! I’ve got a bunch of open events coming up, join me if you can (all free to attend): 1 June, Systems Change Finland sensemaking session - What are … Continue reading Events coming up – please join me! Radical procurement, systems thinking, learning, consulting, public services and more… →

What do we want for the days after?

As we move into the uncertain future, on 23 June we convene public service learners to review our journey so far. https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/2020/04/the-days-after-a-learning-community-to-build-back-better/ Join us as we consider: - what have we learned on the journey so far? - what do we mourn? - what do we celebrate? - what are our determinations for the future? … Continue reading What do we want for the days after? →

Which world do you live in?

There are 'five worlds' in any service, especially #publicservices, or #systemschange A simplification that can help understanding, from a small service to a whole place-based system In citizen (customer) world, we live our lives, trying to achieve our purposes. We prefer to get on with things ourselves; sometimes we need help, sometimes we even create … Continue reading Which world do you live in? →

Complexity is not a paradigm shift

Epistemic status: uncertain yet bold (working things out), and part of my thesis that there are no distinguishing fractures in the systems/cybernetics/complexity field, only many relevant and interesting dimensions of difference which cut across the supposed big distinctions. Claims are made such as ‘complexity entails a scientific revolution, hence a radical shift in science’. I … Continue reading Complexity is not a paradigm shift →

Why do they say my country doesn’t exist?

What did you once have, that can never come back?And what do you want to hold on to, now, as a result? What we build, as people, is so precious. I grew up in a town, in a country, that seemed grey, crushing, often violent, incredibly angry at difference, at uniqueness, at potential, crushing in … Continue reading Why do they say my country doesn’t exist? →

How can you quickly assess how you are doing as a #leader?

And how are you actually doing? Hint: it doesn't involve navel-gazing, it needs you to #gosee This is a follow-on to my post about 'ten principles for (public) service #transformation' (see here for more: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_redquadrant-ten-principles-for-service-activity-6798501196282892288-tWom/). It's about how you run the #organisation in a context of meeting citizen and community needs - or, better, help … Continue reading How can you quickly assess how you are doing as a #leader? →

Ten principles for public service transformation

Which do you think is most important? Is anything missing? See full document at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_redquadrant-ten-principles-for-service-activity-6798501196282892288-tWom/ Purpose: Founded on strong, shared understanding of:organisational intent — what we exist to do — and citizen purposes in their lives 2. Measure and work to meet these purposes 3. Customer-centred design: channels, processes, and services designed to meet demand, to reduce need, to support … Continue reading Ten principles for public service transformation →