How do we create change that will have impact on complex societal challenges? The Good Shift (which used to be the Griffith Centre for System Innovation Australia) has just published a new “Learnbook”, based on practical experience. Rather than the typical approach of “understand the system first, then act”, they've adopted an approach of “learning forward” through small actions as learning probes. They define ‘learning’ not as the absorption of knowledge, but as action & reflection in practice, so that we can take better next steps forward. Some excellent content & references: static1.squarespace.com/stat…. Via Tanya Verrall @hqcsask.

I'm often surprised by how many change & improvement leaders don't know about (or don't use) Liberating Structures. They are a set of 30+ ways of working with groups that enable us to include everyone, in innovative ways, to produce results within a short amount of time. Liberating Structures can change the way we meet, plan, decide & relate to one another. You don't need to be an expert facilitator. They can be used by anyone. They are freely available. I use Liberating Structures constantly in my own practice. In the last week, I've used 1-2-4-All & 15% Solutions. Learn more here: liberatingstructureslondon.o…. Liberating Structures were developed by @KeithMcCandless & Henri Lipmanowicz. Graphic from @liberators_the

Measuring impact. There's an increasing focus on demonstrating impact in our work in improvement, change & knowledge creation. But while we're so busy measuring impact, is anything actually changing? Data & measurement are important but they're not enough to create change, particularly in complex systems. Here's a brilliant new discussion article that offers: 1) A history of impact measurement and how its cultural roots are affecting how we think about impact today 2) How "value" skews impact measures 3) How the more uncertain things become, the more the push for methods that help us generate a sense of certainty grows - which should make us question them 4) How might we pragmatically frame ‘impact measurement’ in the context of complex challenges & work to improve systems? medium.com/good-shift/now-we…. By @Centre4SysInnov via Paul Batalden

I love working with visual images. They can make such a powerful contribution to learning & facilitating change. They can make abstract concepts more tangible & usable; they can help us move from a logical/rational mindset to a social/emotional space, connecting the change more deeply with what matters to us; they help us to remember & recall. So here's heartfelt thanks to all the people who post brilliant visuals on social media every day & who help people like me in our roles as change leaders/facilitators. That includes @MrChrisJWilson whose graphic I have shown below.

I have been asked for advice about improving organisational culture. My view? DON'T start by setting up a "culture change" programme or a direct "culture" intervention. Culture gets changed when people start doing real work differently. Culture change is a byproduct of wider improvements. See for instance: hbswk.hbs.edu/item/to-change…. Via @HBSWK