Inquiring my way into 2019

At the beginning of each year I take some time before returning to work to think about the year ahead — to set some intentions for the year and to look the work that lies ahead. I have found it really useful to think big, being able to prioritise and when things get really busy, which inevitably they do have something to go back, even if they need readjusting.

This year is no different. What I have noticed (or perhaps re-noticed) is the importance of action inquiry in my way of working and being in the world. What this means is that the questions set the starting place for my intentions whilst the work is the practice ground to explore and develop from this. I feel there is a significant difference for doing it this way around — as questions allow to adapt to things that change and emerge as the year progresses rather than having to know the exact outcome at the beginning of the year.

The inquiries and practice grounds

1. Curating learning: What is our systems change practice (currently and in the context of others)?

One of my personal intents for 2019 is to bring a deeper level of awareness to what is going on — a slowing down and noticing the underlying dynamics. As I bring this to the systems work we do I want to be able to observe and capture what the practice is. For example capturing the systems change coaching process we use with Open Society Foundation as we support them develop their practice or looking at projects we have been working with for a while — such as Oneless. At Forum for the Future we are also looking at how we really up our game on learning curation and knowledge management and I am curious to see what we discover by looking at our own practice from the inside out.

2. Navigating learning: How might we cultivate systems change practice using action inquiry more explicitly?

This is a big one — this year my intention is to bring a more explicit action inquiry process to the work that I/we do. This means helping others reflect and see their own learning as a journey of action and reflection — for example at the School of System Change we need to refine our programmes, supporting participants on their longer learning journey. It also means working collaboratively on shared action inquiries — such as working as a cohort of practitioners who are supporting systems change learning programmes, or running internal programme at Forum to support us up our systems change capacity. This will requires us all to be co-learners and supporting our collective practice development and I am looking at how we can set up collective processes to do this. We are also exploring how an inquiry process can support the cultivation of the field of systems change practice — how might the process of stewardship be done through action inquiry?

This has led me to think about how I can really keep my own skills in action inquiry tuned and supported — if I am supporting others who I am seeking supervision from? I have started this year by doing a meditation retreat to tune into my own processes — and now working out what else I will do this year to support this.

3. Systemic forms of governance and leadership — How do we cultivate systemic forms of governance and working together?

Relationships and how they form and work together continues to be a key part of my inquiry — from the micro, personal to the structural forms they might take in how we are organising for change. Over the last couple of years my questions were about systemic ways of working and also my leadership. In 2018 the question of power and privilege became an emergent inquiry that we need to deepen in 2019 — and look at how that relates to our strategy and implementation.

These question will play out into how we start working with more people at the SoSC as the work grows and we recruit or develop collaborative partnerships. We need to explore the principles or practices we need to have to work together. As the Marine CoLAB moves into the next phase of its development we will also be looking at the way it is formed and governed — so that it is more formalised in its collaborative effort — navigating the current systems of funding, organisations and finding appropriate ones for the future. This year will be about looking at ways we can set up the models for 2020 and beyond.

4. Edge inquiries: How might we lean into the edges of the change systems we are working with?

OK so this one is cheating a little bit — but it is an intention to remain open to what emerges and to see what might be needed. Just like in 2019 the question of power and relationships emerged we need to pay attention what might be needed going forward as well as how we resource systems change — looking at the nature of foundations and international development in that context.

I am excited about re-invigorating a network — a community of sustainable behaviour practitioners — funded by KR Foundation — to really look at what it takes to activation change towards a 1.5 degree world — I know that this will raise loads of deep questions about systems change — the nature of hope, our agency to be able to create change in the face of chaos and possibly climate and therefore society breakdown and so how do I lean into what is needed in the world?

More personal questions

These are my big work questions — there are other more personal ones that mirror or support these about which cover areas such as:

- How do we connected to a deeper purposes for this work — a group of us have been exploring how systems change is a process of really working and living with change. How do I keep this as the key intent?

- How do I understand relationships better — at all levels — relating to boundaries and shared connection — which can relate to how I facilitate but also in the personal spaces?

- Ensuring I get the rhythm and space of my work so if feels more in flow that making me frazzled — finding time to write, reflect, and do my own learning, knowing that this really benefits the work — as well as to continue outdoor swimming, yoga and other ways to work with flow.

The intention and inquiry setting practice

And here — for those of you who are interested — is a little bit more about my practice of intention setting that is part of this setting out the space for action inquiry:

• Doing a review of the previous year in December — going back over the intentions and objectives you set at the at the beginning of the year and looking at what you have and have not done. I usually try and do this at least a couple of times through the year as well and write notes into the document.
• Getting peer-feedback — for the last few years we as a team have not only gotten written feedback from people we have worked with but also done a day where we sit together as a team and help each other reflect on the year. Each person gets some time for them — they first give their own summary of the year and then the others give their reflections, feedback and comments — including areas for development. I have found this process beneficial because it has helps me and others connect into the work themselves so it can be really be acted upon.

• It is important for me to do this after some reflection time about the year past, I also spend time over the holidays going over my years notes, looking at what the pattern of the year was — what I was asking and learning. [Here is one journal questions I have used https://www.thegoodbyehellojournal.com/] For the last few years I have also gone away with two friends, Rowan and Jen, to a shepherds hut by the south downs between Christmas and New Year to help each other reflect and plan for the year ahead.

• Then comes the process of looking at what I want the coming year to be — firstly what emerges out of the reflections and what seems to be calling me before relating this up to the work or organisational objectives you need to look at. This was a day long process of mapping before returning to work.
• And finally writing it down and sharing in a blog to help make it real!!

What are your intentions and inquiries for 2019?