Ron Heifetz, a Leadership lecturer at Harvard University, taught me that one of the best ways to develop leaders is to throw them into the deep end of the pool and not necessarily throw them a life preserver. You can provide coaching, guidance, and provocative questions, but you must let them figure out the solutions […]
Sink or Swim Leadership Development Read More »
I have been using this platform to discuss Grand Challenges– big, bold initiatives that take on some of society’s wickedest problems. A Grand Challenge is NOT a project. While there are similarities, this issue of Visionary Talk focuses on the differences between a Grand Challenge and other projects and initiatives. Watch the video above or
A Grand Challenge is not a Project Read More »
In my 30s, I trained in search and rescue and got my Wilderness First Responder certificate, the industry standard for professional guides and trip leaders. I was motivated to do this because I loved the outdoor backcountry and had already gotten seriously lost once in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. That scared me enough that I
When I went on this last camping trip, I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler because the last time I took my car up these mountain roads, I popped off a lower door panel. I had no idea how much fun I would have driving the Jeep. On the highways, being up higher than most and
Launching a successful Grand Challenge requires managing several critical elements. In past issues, I’ve covered: the Grand Challenge Upward Spiral, Creating a Social Movement, Ecosystem Activation, and more. Today, I want to discuss The Grand Challenge Systems Model for Change. I created this model by heavily drawing on the work of Kenneth McLeroy. In
Grand Challenge Systems Model for Change Read More »
In the picture above my canine companion, Kaya, is drinking from a mountain stream on our recent trip up into the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I took a jeep up into the hinterlands, getting as far as Lyon Mountain, just 22 miles south of the Canadian border. I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler (4×4,
Wilderness with Kaya Read More »
Grand Challenges address socially intractable problems. Wicked problems. Problems that have so many moving parts, it’s difficult to wrap your mind around them – like climate change. I’ve had the opportunity to help conceive, design, and execute, five grand challenges. I’ve spent the last few weeks discussing the varied processes, tools, and models key to
Strategic Foresight in 5 Steps Read More »
When you read this, Kaya, my canine companion, and I are deep off the grid in the Great Northeast for a week of Nature. No connectivity. Forest, river, sky, trees, dirt… magic all around. Kaya is being fitted for Sita’s dog pack above. That’s a week ago when I wrote this. Sita and I appear
I am event-driven. I believe bringing people together has the most potential for creating the capability and building the bonds that enable social movements – critical to successful Grand Challenges – to take place. Despite this potential, many corporate events and conferences miss the mark, offering carnival-like atmospheres when you need a profoundly moving and
Touchstone Events: 7 Steps to Impact Grand Challenges Read More »
Here I am holding jalapenos fresh from the garden. Behind me are a mass of marigolds and a wall of cherry tomatoes picked clean for the time being, but more to come. I love jalapenos! They are my perfect heat for so many recipes, including those that call for them raw. Marigolds remind me of
The Fruits of Our Labor Read More »
