Leaders Into The Wild
Theory U
Leaders Into The Wild
Theory U
We live in a VUCA world
The current world order is characterized by an overwhelming transformation unprecedented after the Industrial Revolution: economic crisis, great complexities, issues of sustainability, collapsing conglomerates. We live in a VUCA world.
Hierarchical structures, where a few have the say for many, no longer seem to work. The management has no idea what is going on and happening in the workplace. Everything seems to be on loose screws.
Focus on the future
Broadly speaking, it seems that two reactions are heard:
- Return to the past. Let's go back to the old order, to old religions, that provides a foothold, which is often accompanied by fundamentalist traits.
- Stick to the status quo. It blows over, just keep going, mudding through. Materialistic thinking is the main theme here.
Yet there is a third option: focusing on the future. Learning from the future as it unfolds. And that on the basis of their own, tapped source of inspiration. This can manifest itself at the micro (personal), meso (groups), macro (institutions) and mundo (world) levels. Leaders (micro) who find the way to operate from the source, their inspiration, their authentic self will be able to inspire groups (meso) and organizations (macro) and even the world to collective transformation into new realities.
The U-Process
This is what C. Otto Scharmer the U-process is called (theoryu.com). Sustainable and lasting transformation is the result of going through this U-process.
In short, the U-process has three important steps:
- Observing (without judgment) the situation to the depths and realizing that I am part of the whole that I consider
- With heart and soul I open myself up to what now presents itself out of nowhere and appeals to my highest potential
- I act directly from this inspiration and with imagination I continuously improve the solution
Two ways of learning
The principle is clear: there are two different ways of learning. The first is learning by reflecting on the past and the second is learning from surges, learning from the future as it unfolds.
Almost all learning models are based on reflecting our past experiences. However, sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where reflections on past experiences do not help. Sometimes it is even the case that past experiences are a limiting factor for teams to come up with new answers. Then the question arises whether there is a second source of learning and if so, how does it work?
Awareness: stop downloading
When we look at this approach, we have to distinguish between two types of awareness. The first type is called ‘downloading', which means that I operate from an existing and familiar mode, I take a familiar and familiar thinking model, framework and project that onto the situation I see myself facing. We all know that.
However, successful innovation in business and every successful discovery in science is not based on this downloading type, but on a deeper layer of awareness. To get there, the first thing I have to do is stop the download. I have to interrupt that process of more of the same and I then have to turn my attention with fresh eyes to looking at the situation from all sides.
See with a fresh look
Observe, observe, observe. So, the first thing I do is put all my existing models aside and look around the situation uninhibitedly why it's going. I then dive deep into it and look for the places where I can find the first-hand information. That can also give me information, the clue, about the solution I'm looking for, or about the innovation I want to create. Sometimes that means talking to or being with others, sometimes that means doing research in completely different industries. Take a 'deep dive' in the field and feel what is happening there. So listen deeply.
Silence, tranquility and reflection
Next, it is necessary to distance yourself, let go of everything, reflect and allow the inner knowing. I then seek the silence, also within myself, where the inner knowing emerges. Sometimes taking a shower, a walk along the beach or in the forest can already work wonders. I will then review everything I have heard, seen, smelled, felt, tasted and experienced. I then listen to the whole with my whole being from a deeper place. A place that asks: What is it that wants to free itself from that tangle and if it wants to be born through me now? How does it understand who I am and with everything I have in me, my best abilities? From that place of silence come the raids, the new insights: Eureka! I will start working with it immediately.
Let the best come up
The real art of connecting myself with the future is to deepen my awareness with this moment, the moment where the future takes root, through me and brings out the best in me, that is my potential, with this I stand in my strength, that is what it is going to be.
The only thing that really exists is the now and by fully experiencing my awareness in the now I make the connection with the bubbling insights along with my deep intentions. I get inspired and get excited. We've all experienced that before. And while I experience that, I can immediately take the next steps. I know the direction I want to go and I know the next step.
Getting started
Instant action is a rapid cycle of prototyping. It's not: now I need a business plan, now I need to develop a Rational Blueprint or write a pilot plan. No, it's what we can learn from creative designers. They just start by cutting into a piece of foam plastic to shape their ideas and then constantly try again.
Prototyping is not the implementation of an elaborate blueprint, but prototyping is exploring the future, exploring an opportunity by doing, while learning. I go down the action path before conceptualizing an idea and I use whatever feedback I can get from the various stakeholders and I improve the prototype through continuous iteration.
Three intelligences
Will this trip go by itself? What intelligences should we address on this journey? This journey requires 3 human intelligences: an open mind, an open heart and an open will.
With open mind (curiosity) I mean my ability to leave judgment at home for a moment, to be perfectly receptive and to perceive it with Wonder.
Open heart (compassion) is the ability to look at the whole and the coherence from the situation itself.
And open will (courage) opening my self, who I really am, letting go of the past for what is, and surrendering myself to everything that presents itself from the future.
Pitfalls
This seems simple and so natural to arrive at real transformation and innovation, but why is this approach a journey that is undertaken so little? This is because I have to face the battle with three enemies within ourselves, three powerful voices in our heads that oppose us and that sometimes constitute the obstacles on our journey.
The first is The Voice of judgment ( VoJ). Only if I am able to silence that voice can I open my mind and see what the world looks like. I come out of Plato's cave.
The second obstacle is the voice of cynicism (VoC = Voice of cynicism), it is the barrier that makes us distance ourselves from the situation, sometimes we ridicule it and do not open ourselves to what really matters.
And the third voice, of course, we all know, that is the voice of fear (VoF = Voice of Fear), when we are afraid of losing something or are afraid of what may come our way. I will have to cross the threshold, go through the eye of the needle, to embrace the future.
Finally
This journey through the U is not about predicting the future, but it focuses on learning about the future as it unfolds in the now.
Leaders Into The Wild
The U-coaching process
Coaching is a process
Coaching is also essentially a U-process. The Coach helps individuals and teams go through the U-process by asking the right questions. Coaching is not advice, but by asking open questions the coachee himself comes up with new insights.
Leaders are judged less and less by the position they hold and more and more by the person they are. What they think and feel. And then again what their intentions are, from what source they draw. This is the blind spot of leadership.
When making important choices, all those layers must be addressed in order to achieve real changes. One quick-fix to go directly from the fact analysis to the solution works almost only on technical issues. In the Coaching dialogue, this entire U-process is run through.
Positive spiral
In the Coaching U process, all layers are tapped: facts-circumstances-feelings-intentions. The starting point is always the goal. What are we thinking? What do we want to achieve? What follows is not a linear process, more of a positive spiral; the goal is constantly reviewed.
By asking open questions - without any judgment - the dialogue takes shape. The facts are exposed and the circumstances are looked at with a fresh look. All this with a open mind. Insight arises. The deeper feelings about the subject are addressed and brought up with a open heart. What does that do to you? What moves you? Fixed patterns are released.
Deep intentions
Feelings are the access to your deep intentions that arise from your authentic self, the origin from which the new future emerges, with a open will, unfolds. You step from the past into the future. A source of inspiration and energy sets itself free.
Together with the Coach, the new image (What do I see in front of me?) admitted and crystallized: what could the future look like?
Getting started
The next step is the question: How can I get started? By 'prototyping' (trying out on a small scale, with the aim of learning), the first steps are then taken in the realization of the action plan. With the support of the Coach, you will get started. The new reality is finally established and embodied. The goal has been achieved.