All that you touch you change. All that you change, changes you.
-Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
This quote captures and inspires my approach to change. A concept that speaks profoundly to the awareness of our power to both impact and be impacted by each moment. My core leadership belief is that to change our organizations or systems, we need to focus on bringing out the best in ourselves and our teams. How we show up in each moment creates the path forward.
I use person-centered strategic planning to help organizations and teams see the current state of their work… and what’s possible. Together, we will grapple with these question: What do I need to contribute my full self? What do we need to collaborate beyond our current state? How do our systems, policies, and structures need to change to sustain progress over time?
I help organizations illuminate the ways patterns of systemic racism unintentionally flow through their work culture and their programs. Feedback will lead to deeper understanding. Talk will lead to action. And new insight will help leaders — both formal and everyday leaders — to shift day-to-day practices toward a more inclusive work culture and more effective, equitable programs.
In my work over the past decade, I noticed elements that are common to finding success in improving practices and creating change in the social sector (non-profits, schools, etc):
These change elements can be intentionally nourished and developed. We need to get underneath the surface of the work and cultivate the soil so the programs, strategies, collaborations will truly take root.
As a consultant, I will help identify and support how these change elements are coming to life in your setting to create better outcomes within a program, organization, or system. Looking comprehensively at both the strategy and the culture–the structure and the people–leads to sustainable progress.
