It’s been a fantastic year

I departed Adaptive Cultures in April to take the next step in my personal leadership evolution and social impact. You can stay connected here.

It was time for a change

After 15 years dedicated to a particular experiment, I am ready to begin a new chapter in my life and contribution. Rather than rushing into new opportunities, I committed to a pause – to start again with a clear intention. During this pause, I’ve invested deeply in uplifting my health at all levels and taking time in retreat, listening to the quiet voice within. This time has renewed my energy and creativity at a foundational level. It has provided me with a level of clarity with which to begin a new chapter.

My life’s passion

My life’s passion has been exploring how humanity can transform its ways of thinking, being and doing towards a more compassionate, just, and sustainable world.

I’ve explored this in a range of contexts over the years, and in 2008 I committed to beginning a decade-long experiment (which became 15 years) working to support the evolution of big business.

My working hypothesis was that if large, complex organisations could transform themselves, they could positively impact the broader systems they connected to. I was particularly interested in the impact large business could have on our economic, political and education systems – towards a more sustainable and compassionate world. 

The experiment

Over the course of the experiment, my research and practice developed in a range of areas. In 2015 I co-founded Adaptive Cultures, a leading-edge global business in leadership, strategy, and culture transformation.

Over the last 15 years, I have worked with many of the world’s largest and most complex organisations, including their Board and leadership. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with purpose-led start-ups and medium size businesses preparing to scale.

I officially departed Adaptive Cultures as Director in April 2022. Adaptive Cultures was ready for the next stage in its growth, and I was prepared for the next stage of mine.

I have seen that it is possible for businesses to impact, influence and transform the wider world for the better. My hypothesis – that the social and structural transformation of large organisations and the individual transformation of those working inside them could have a profoundly positive impact on the systems they interconnect with – was proven possible.

It has been profoundly fulfilling to see the work bear fruit, and I have also experienced the barriers that might prevent us from greater progress (no surprises there).

What I learnt

I learnt a considerable amount over the last 15 years. Today, I would like to share with you three learnings essential for successful transformation. These are often overlooked or given lip service in our organisational life and our personal lives:

1.    Deep, whole, congruent commitment (physical, emotional-mental and spiritual) is essential for long-term sustainable transformation – especially from stakeholders in positions of influence. Intellectual commitment is not enough.

2.    Willingness to Sacrifice. Sacrifice is from the Latin word “sacer”, meaning to make sacred, consecrated or holy. In not being willing to make some perceived sacrifice (of short term for long term, for example), people and organisations make decisions from a contracted, fearful position rather than a compassionate, expansive position.

3.    Long-term and continual effort and focus in a compassionate, expansive direction by those involved is essential. Too often, initial positive steps or successes are not followed up diligently enough, or new leadership moves in a different direction. Use small successes as springboards for accelerating momentum. An evolutionary approach to systems, structures, and beliefs must be deeply embedded to ensure ongoing momentum regardless of leadership changes.

Consider a transformation you are interested in making or being a part of (personal or professional), and use the following questions to support you:

1.    How congruently and wholly committed are you?

2.    What are you willing or not willing to sacrifice?

3.    How can you make decisions from a compassionate and expansive position?

4.    How can you support ongoing focus and effort toward this transformation?

5.    How do your rituals, daily practises and beliefs support or detract from this?

What’s next?

While I continue to work with a couple of organisations I have an ongoing commitment to – I have also created space for reflection and to nurture creative projects, one of which I will be launching in early 2023.

New Millennium Leader – The Academy (launching March 2023) provides participants with an opportunity to access the vast repository of knowledge and experience I have developed in over 30 years working in human potential, strategy, social transformation, and leadership evolution.

From rewiring the brain and transcending limiting beliefs to leading and living mindfully (and heart-fully) and transforming the world around you – The Academy provides the opportunity to actualise your potential and make a more profound difference in the world.

It is unique and profound – and deeply empowering, and I am overjoyed to be sharing the magic of The Academy with the world.

Learn more and sign up for launch announcements about the Academy here.

There are several other creative ideas I am nurturing which I’ll share more about in the new year.

The best way to stay in touch is here.