Two Loops

This simple model is a map for thinking about what is important to each of us now and where our work lands in a larger system.

Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle

This handout is a gift from PeerSpirit, Inc. an educational company devoted to life and leadership through Circle, Quest and Story. Download the PDF from PeerSprit.net For more information see: http://www.peerspirit.com

Cynefin Framework

In this paper, we challenge the universality of three basic assumptions prevalent in organizational decision support and strategy: assumptions of order, of rational choice, and of intent. We describe the Cynefin framework, a sense-making device we have developed to help people make sense of the complexities made visible by the relaxation of these assumptions. The […]

Power and Love

This paper grows out of conversations and exchanges of papers with Adam Kahane. It was stimulated by Adam’s reflections on what he described as his more and less successful efforts in working with some of the world’s most complex challenges, among them: child malnutrition in India, implementing the peace accords in Guatemala, responding to the […]

Weaving the Community Resilience and New Economy Movement Report

A portrait of a rich and vibrant movement, full of promise and hope for a better future—and still very much in formation—with many opportunities for creative engagement, collaborative movement-building, visioning, and developing strategy. Download PDF

Living Universe or Dead Universe

Duane Elgin has developed this simple and marvelous chart describing the characteristics of a living universe and contrasting them with a dead universe. It’s a clear way of inviting thought and conversation about the world in which we live! Download Dead Universe or LivingUniverse PDF

Tao Te Ching – Chapter 15

“Stephan Mitchell’s 2009 translation of the Tao Te Ching is a remarkable piece of work.  It makes some of the essence of the Tao more accessible by translating it into more contemporary imagery. Lao-tzu’s Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living and one of the […]

The Healing Century

In early 1998, after a successful operation in November, 1997, for esophageal cancer, British socio-economist and futurist Robert Theobald accepted an invitation to speak to the Ontario Arts Council. He chose The Healing Century as the topic for his speech. Robert, a dear and close personal friend of Bob Stilger, died in November of 1999. […]

Disaster as a Springboard for Thriving Resilient Communities

What happens when catastrophe fundamentally shifts the world we know? In March 11, 2011, the triple disasters of earthquake, tsunami, and radiation leak devastated northeastern Japan. In the aftermath of the tragedy, people from throughout the country began to gather not just to share their grief but to consider how they might create a new […]

Supporting Pioneering Leaders as Communities of Practice

How to Rapidly Develop New Leaders in Great Numbers If we stepped away from our assumptions of what a talented leader looks like, what would we see? Margaret Wheatley explores this question in this essay, pointing to a vibrant and emerging community of pioneering leaders all over the world. Download PDF

The Six or Seven Axioms of Social Change

Margaret Mead’s Gift Explore Margaret Mead’s axiom: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Zaid Hassan begins to investigate the conditions under which this statement works and functions in the world. Download PDF

Reflections on Now Activism

An introduction to a booklet produced by Shikshantar: The People’s Institute for Rethinking Education and Development on the theme of the Now Activism. This is the activism of today, of right now, and it shows up as people everywhere are stepping forward with the leadership they have to offer to make a difference in their […]