PATTERNS FOR SUCCESS

The Art of Change: Incomplete

Sections 57–64: Influencing, Joy, Dispersal, Restraining, Integrity, Exceeding, Completion, Incomplete

Photo by Zulian Firmansyah on Unsplash

How do you handle change? The Art of Change provides timeless answers to this eternal question. It is a modern reading of The Book of Changes/I Ching — a guide for sustainable success in turbulent times. Discover solutions for your current situation by exploring the relevant sections and considering how you can apply the change patterns in your context. All parts. Other reading formats.

57. INFLUENCING

Attend to folks’ needs

for mutual influence

like winds finding ways.

When influencing people, how might we …

… be decisive?

To break a deadlock, overcome your doubts and fears, e.g. through openness, curiosity and coaching.

… find and remove causes?

Find the deep causes and conditions of the challenges and then carefully remove them to reduce risk. That is, move beyond looking for individuals to blame and towards acting on the system of causes.

… be confident?

Be decisive and stay committed to the purpose while remaining adaptable to alternative routes to avoid exhaustion and distress.

… nurture our relationships?

Nurture your relationships with all your stakeholders for increased mutual influence.

… reflect on our actions?

Reflect before, during and after your actions and decisions, carefully considering context and consequences.

… be creative?

Use creativity to handle changing conditions.

58. JOY

Partnership for joy:

form strong mutual support

like joining two lakes.

When seeking joyful interactions, how might we …

… be friendly?

Be friendly, open and curious to form long-term valuable relationships.

… be sincere?

Treat people with sincerity and fairness to avoid regrets.

… keep our integrity?

Avoid seeking harmony through improper means and at the expense of your integrity.

… think before we act?

Think before you decide, act and speak to avoid temporary pleasures and secure long-term benefits.

… seek honesty?

Seek honesty and avoid flattery for a more thorough understanding of the situation.

… avoid manipulation?

Avoid manipulation and being manipulated since this erodes trust.

59. DISPERSAL

The warm breeze of spring

brings dispersal to water,

waves thawing the ice.

In times of dispersal, how might we …

… handle conflicts?

Reconcile conflicts early to restore harmony while being aware of how conflicts can teach us something about ourselves and the organisation.

… get support?

Use all the help you can get to secure harmony.

… go beyond our egos?

Go beyond your ego and attend to people’s needs — including your own.

… dissolve cliques?

Dissolve special interest groups to secure harmony.

… inspire others?

Lead by example with purpose and integrity to restore harmony.

… provide safety?

Prepare timely safety measures to avoid risk.

60. RESTRAINING

In floods or in draughts

restrain yourself and nature;

find timely balance.

In times of restraint, how might we …

… maintain harmony?

Restrain your actions when there are challenges ahead to avoid wasting your capabilities.

… find suitable timing?

Act and decide at the appropriate time and position to maximise the impact of your momentum.

… find timely balance?

Do what fits a situation at a given time, i.e. carrying out appropriate actions and decisions depending on the circumstances. For example, choose conflict, collaboration or something in between depending on the timing and context.

Graphically, timely balance is illustrated below: finding the position on a spectrum where the appropriate position at a specific time and place may be one of the endpoints as in scenarios (b) and (c), or, somewhere in between, not necessarily at the midpoint m, as in scenarios (a) and (n).

Timely balance: just right at the right time. © Ikujiro Nonaka and Zhichang Zhu

… restrain ourselves naturally?

Go with the flow to adapt to different conditions with the capabilities available.

… keep our balance

Use integrity and correctness to keep the trust of your stakeholders.

… keep efforts just right?

Keep your efforts just right and avoid excessive restraint — except in special situations for a short time — to continuously adapt to new conditions while avoiding resistance.

61. INTEGRITY

Go forward in peace

with integrity and strength

like ships cross oceans.

When growing integrity, how might we …

… be more prepared?

Integrity follows preparation. Know yourself and avoid relying only on outside knowledge.

… enable long-term relationships?

Act with integrity from within and people you meet will do the same. Seek coherence rather than uniformity.

… be more confident?

Be confident and avoid being affected by your moods to be independent yet collaborative.

… choose suitable allies?

Seek suitable allies who embody integrity and loyalty.

… form fellowships?

Use your integrity to attract followers and unite them.

… use substance?

Use substance rather than image, fact rather than fiction and know your capabilities to avoid overconfidence.

62. EXCEEDING

Action with restraint

recognising your limits;

flying low is safe.

When exceeding the norm, how might we …

… start from a solid foundation?

To secure safety, ensure that you have the capabilities needed before starting.

… accept deviations?

Accept minor deviations — e.g. bypass formal structures and challenge rules — during a limited time if it serves a higher purpose, e.g. to gain knowledge.

… know our limits?

Know your capabilities and limits to avoid risk.

… stay cautious?

Be firm internally while staying cautious and curious to identify weak signals and cues early.

… act with timing?

Avoid continuing to pursue a mission that is already hopeless or unproductive.

… know ourselves?

Know your capabilities and curb your arrogance to keep the trust of your stakeholders and avoid isolation.

63. COMPLETION

Be just as cautious

at the end of the journey

as at the outset.

When reaching completion, how might we …

… hold back?

By being careful, you will avoid mistakes.

… keep calm?

Stay true to your principles and act with integrity; what is lost today will be gained tomorrow.

… keep people with integrity?

Large operations need large capabilities and significant time. After completion, retain loyal and honest people.

… prepare for risks?

Prepare for consequences and mitigate risks to secure smooth sailing.

… act with integrity?

Acting with integrity and timing is more effective than boasting with grandeur.

… stay cautious?

Avoid failure on the verge of success by being cautious until the end. Remain focused.

64. INCOMPLETE

Times of constant change:

like foxes crossing thin ice

courage and caution.

When starting anew, how might we

… know our limits?

Assess your capabilities carefully before starting a new mission to avoid risk. Without knowing your limits, you need boundaries and guardrails.

… keep our balance?

Avoid rash actions and maintain your balance to stay safe. Wait for suitable timing.

… overcome resistance?

Overcome resistance by building capabilities and getting help.

… persevere?

Skilfully use your capabilities, keep your determination and courage when you face challenges.

… attract people?

Gain people’s trust and support by practising integrity.

… stay moderate?

When happiness is enjoyed to the extreme, sadness results.
— Old Chinese proverb

The Art of Change: All Parts

Pick section(s), ponder patterns, change, learn, repeat!

Contents: A summary of all parts
Introduction: Patterns for Success

• Sections 1–8: Turbulence, Flow, Growth, Learning, Waiting, Conflict, Competition, Collaboration
• Sections 9–16: Nurturing, Mistakes, Balance, Obstruction, Fellowship, Power, Modesty, Excess
• Sections 17–24: Following, Renewal, Attitude, Observing, Resistance, Image, Division, Cycles
• Sections 25–32: Flowing, Capabilities, Nourishing, Overload, Danger, Knowlege, Resonance, Perseverance
• Sections 33–40: Retreating, Strength, Progress, Darkness, Teamwork, Opposition, Difficulty, Removal
• Sections 41–48: Decline, Surge, Determination, Alliances, Teaming, Rising, Adversity, Energising
• Sections 49–56: Change, Renewing, Shock, Stillness, Development, Underdog, Success, Unknown
• Sections 57–64: Influencing, Joy, Dispersal, Restraining, Integrity, Exceeding, Completion, Incomplete

Glossary: Explanation of key terms
Acknowledgements: Standing on the shoulders of giants
Sources: Where to learn more
Other reading formats: Hardcover, paperback and PDF

This text is provided as Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International by the author, Erik Schön.