Topic

Changing conversations

Conversations might just be the smallest biggest thing in catalysing transformation

We care about helping leaders make their organisations become fit for humans and fit for the future – and we have a hypothesis that conversations might just be the smallest biggest thing in catalysing real, sustainable change.

Conversations are everywhere. We have them in meetings, at coffee machines, in workshops, on the phone, on Zoom. While we are driving, when we wish we were somewhere else, and when there is nowhere else we would rather be. Sometimes we wish we could just get it over with, so we can get working on the real stuff. Sometimes they are the real stuff. Some of them seem important, others are dull, and some turn out to be different than we thought.

Regardless of what you do, what you know and who you are, you are always in conversation.

From idea to impact, conversations are where transformation takes place. We need to get more intentional about the way we use conversations. We need to practise ways of being in conversations that build a sense of meaning. And we need to grow our toolset for designing conversations for more progress.

Our conversational beliefs

Organisations are conversations.

Conversations are the currency and means by which we create together, organise together and evolve together.

Change is changing conversations.

Conversations are the trigger point for real transformation. If you want transformation, you must change the conversation.

We shape our conversations, and they shape us.

Conversations are accessible to every person in the organisation. And in the process of changing the conversation, we change the way we think (and hence, the way we act).

Conversational heroes

Michele Zanini

Michele Zanini is the co-founder of the management lab and the co-author of the book “Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them”.

Mads Nipper

Leaders in conversation

CEO of Ørsted

Roger Martin

Changing conversations in strategy

Strategy advisor and author of ”Playing to win – how strategy really works”

Priya Parker

Gatherings that change us

Conflict resolution facilitator and author of the book, “The Art of Gathering”

Elizabeth Stokoe

Effective conversations

Scientist and Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University

David Whyte

Courageous Conversations

Philosopher and poet

Fred Dust

Committing to the conversation

Designer and advisor and author of the book “Making Conversation”.

Julie Diamond

Power in conversation

Executive coach, international leadership consultant and author of “Power – A User’s Guide”

Wendy Smith

Capitalising on tension in conversation

Professor of management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics, Co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative, and author of “Both/And Thinking”.

Gail Gallie

Changing a global conversation

Co-founder and creative leader of Project Everyone.

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