Theory U

But when we listen empathically, our perception shifts. We move from staring at the objective world of things, figures, and facts into considering the story of a living being, a living system, and self. To do so, we have to activate and tune a special instrument: the open heart, that is, the empathic capacity to connect directly with another person

In the case of global NGOs, for example, there is one system that works on the ground in order to help and empower the beneficiaries in the field. Then there is the whole infrastructure piece that must be in place to adequately deliver the services to the field. That includes not only funding but also developing logistical infrastructures and so fo

I found that there are four different places or positions and that each gives rise to a different quality or field structure of attention.

Practice: Here is a checklist for a kickoff event that for the first time brings all the central players together. To create focus and commitment, clarify:

revolutions that had begun in this very spot. Since the 1970s the original Xerox PARC team has been considered one of the most productive research and development teams of all time.

The crisis of our time isn’t just a crisis of a single leader, organization, country, or conflict. The crisis manifests across all countries in the form of three major divides: the ecological divide—that is, the disconnect between self and nature; the social divide—that is, the disconnect between self and other; and the spiritual divide—that is, th

When working with senior designers from IDEO, sometimes called the world’s most influential design company, I was amazed to see how much time the designers spent up front, before beginning a project. “The quality of the creative design process,” one IDEO leader explained to me, “is a function of the quality of the problem statement that defines you

Health: The development of MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction)

been documented in an Oxfam study that shows that the 62 richest billionaires own as much wealth as the poorer half of the world’s population.