Change Occurs Between the Dots
David L. BroussardCreating Extraordinary Organizations, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Leaders Connect the Dots
Change Is > Leadership is Change
“CHANGE IS”
Stephen HawkingLucas Professor of Mathematics
(formerly held by Sir Isaac Newton)University of Cambridge
Author: A Brief History of Time:
From The Big Bang to Black Holes
According to Dr. Hawkingchaos, complexity, and change are the only
constants in the universe.
At the fundamental levels of life, chaos is hard at work.
Complexity is the sum of simplicity.
Change moves from the center of a system to all parts, influencing everything else.
“Change Is”
• Quantum theory has taught us that change is not a thing or an event but rather a dynamic that is at the core of the universe.
• People cannot avoid change since it is everywhere.
• People can influence the circumstances and consequences of change.
• Most importantly, change can be given direction.
Schrodinger’s Box(1961 Nobel Prize Winner)
Showed that there are two prevailing realities operating at any given time,
actual reality and potential reality.
Actual reality occupies our immediate attention.
Potential reality is not yet experienced although current and present. It is waiting
for the right moment to be expressed.
“Change Is”> Leadership Is Change
Leaders act as change agents.
To be effective, the leader will have to anticipate the path of change.
Leaders connect the dots.
Leadership
“Change Is”
Leadership is Change
Change Occurs Between The Dots
Leaders Connect the DotsChange
All components of a system are intimately connected to its center – the place where it carries out its mission.
Machiavelli defines “virtu” as character, that is, integrity, courage, flexibility, talent & prudence.
For Machiavelli, the good of the community is of higher concern than the good of the individual, therefore, the good of the community is sought and achieved above
all.
In “virtu” the lion & fox are united in a single being.
Virtu
According to Machiavelli character is…
The integrity of realistic leadership is the determination of the leader to face the truth (actual reality) of what is actually
happening.A leader of courage is an organization’s most valuable resource for dealing with chaos, complexity and change.
Flexibility requires that leaders reflect on the future of their organizations and the change made necessary by changes
in the situation and environment (connect the dots).The capacity to learn, to unlearn and to relearn is the talent
required of leaders.The prudent leader has the ability to discern a possible and
wise course of action (potential reality).
Virtu
Culture
“When we examine culture and leadership, we see that they are two sides of the
same coin; neither can really be understood by itself…
Cultural norms determine how organizations define leadership…
The only thing of importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture.
Edgar H. Schein
Thinking and Learning
An organization with a culture of learning is one that is skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge (different than information) and at
modifying behavior to reflect new knowledge and insights.
In learning organizations leaders encourage thinking, that is, to imagine potential reality.
For thinking and learning to occur throughout the organization, relationships must exist that will allow for the influence of others so that potential reality
can be acquired.
Relationships
Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose
to follow.
Collaboration(You can’t do it alone)
Communication(Communicating a vision is the most difficult leadership skill)
Relationships
Power & Influence
“Vision is the commodity of leaders, and power is their currency.”
“Leadership is the wise use of power.”Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus
To use power wisely, leaders influence the behavior of others in a virtuoso direction.
David L. Broussard
Change Is > Leadership is Change
“Leadership seems to be the marshaling of skills possessed by a
majority but used by a minority. But it’s something that can be learned by anyone, taught to everyone, denied
to no one.”Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus
Thinking & LearningRelationships
Culture
VIRTU
LEADERSHIP
CHANGE
Power & Influence
Chaos & Complexity
RealityPotential
ActualReality
Change Is: Leadership is Change
Change Occurs Between the Dots
Change Occurs Between the Dots
David L. BroussardCreating Extraordinary Organizations, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Leaders Connect the Dots
Change Is > Leadership is Change