Breaking New Ground

Perspectives and Tools for Innovation

Victoria, BC – February 4, 2019

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 Perspectives and Tools
Thanks to:
Trust Theory

Appreciative Inquiry

Theory U

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 Trust and fear are keys to
understanding persons and
social systems. They are primary
and catalytic factors in all
human living.

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 Trust Theory

High High
Fear Trust

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 TRUST TORI
OPENNESS
REALIZATION
INTERDEPENDENCE

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

Levels of Trust

High High
Fear Trust
 Level/Phase Focus of Energy

1. Punitive Survival, retribution

2. Autocratic Power, control, obedience
3. Benevolent Reward and punishment
4. Advisory Communication, validity of data
5. Participative Influence, choosing, resolving conflict
6. Emergent Being, freedom, searching
7. Organic Expression, integration, sensing
8. Holistic Creativity, spontaneity
9. Transcendent Transcending sensory and body states
10. Cosmic Cosmic being
WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS
 Appreciative Interviews
• Tell me a story of a time you experienced a
positive breakthrough or innovation in a system
you were part of.
• What conditions supported the
breakthrough/innovation?

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS
 What supports breakthroughs?

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 Sensing Realizing

Theory U Presencing

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 • Observe, Observe, Observe
• Listen!
OPEN MIND
• Visit “bright spots” – the
positive deviants
• Immerse in all parts of the
system

Sensing OPEN HEART Realizing

OPEN WILL

Theory U Presencing

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 • Step away from desk
Sensing Realizing
• Take time in Nature
• Pause on waking
• Attend to the moment

El “Click”

Theory U Letting go
Presencing
Letting come

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 Sensing Realizing
• Create a
prototype to
test your key
assumption(s)
• Get feedback
• Iterate
Theory U Presencing
• Repeat!

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 Co-Initiating Co-Evolving

Sensing
Co-Sensing Co-Creating
Realizing

Theory U Co-Presencing
Presencing

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 Ask your partner...

• What stands out from this session?

• What might you do differently as a result?
• What is one next step you will take?

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 In sum: 3 key shifts
• Shift your inner state – choose trust over fear,
and allow that to open your mind, heart and will
• Shift the conversation – from problems to
possibilities
• Shift your practice for thorny challenges – from
quick fixes to a deeper dive, informed by Theory
U
WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS
 WeCanDoThisTools.com

WE CAN KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 ExtraSlides

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS

 Building trust
• Address power dynamics/imbalances
• Frame a true shared purpose/goal
• Be authentic – a whole person; see this in others
• Let go of control
• Listen – really!
• Be transparent
• Have integrity
WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS
 It is hard to build trust if you minimize, ignore, or
deny hurts that have happened.

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 Restoring trust
• Start slow
• Be vulnerable. Acknowledge hurts and harms,
and what you will do differently
• Be trustworthy in how you are, speak & act
• Create a high quality environment/context
• Aim for small wins and build from there
WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS
 “Your perception, or your view of reality, is the lens
through which you see things. Your perception
determines the way things will behave for you and
toward you.”
— John O’Donohue

WE CAN DO THIS! KATE SUTHERLAND #COLLECTIVEGENIUS