PATTERNS FOR SUCCESS
The Art of Change: Learning
Sections 1–8: Turbulence, Flow, Growth, Learning, Waiting, Conflict, Competition, Collaboration
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.
1. TURBULENCE
When in turbulence:
improve continuously,
listen to nature.
In turbulent times, how might we …
… prepare before the storm?
While change is pending, it is time for self-development and building organisational capabilities.
… seek advice?
Seek wisdom and advice from knowledgeable people both inside and outside the organisation. Then, announce adjustments as needed while maintaining integrity.
… adjust?
Adjust to the situation and beware of your integrity being consumed by ambition.
… decide?
Be prepared for a full range of changes and find suitable times for action, persistence, or retreat. Remember that standing still is illusory since the world is in constant motion. The only wrong decision is no decision.
… seek alliances?
Form alliances with skilled and experienced people and organisations.
… keep the balance?
Avoid extreme actions since they may introduce undesired consequences. Beware of over-ambition and overestimating capabilities.
… self-organise?
Spontaneous social and political order emerge through Purpose and Integrity rather than pressure and control. Purpose entails self-creativity and co-creativity, as well as speed and engagement. This is particularly important in turbulent times when suitable changes need to happen quickly.
2. FLOW
Securing your flow:
have a purpose, dare to fail,
support your allies.
How might we secure flow by …
… looking for minor signs of change?
Look for minor changes that could significantly impact the internal and external environment, such as increased customer complaints, staff turnover, or interest rates.
… going with the flow?
After assessing the Landscape, follow the line of least resistance and go with the flow, just like water does.
… succeeding with our stakeholders?
Fulfil your purpose by attending to your stakeholders’ needs. Their success is your success and collaboration is the hallmark of success.
… choosing our conflicts?
Be cautious to stay safe and save your energies.
… keeping the balance?
Keep your balance, stay modest and avoid showing off.
… perseverance?
To fulfil your purpose, be flexible, receptive and perseverant.
3. GROWTH
When growing quickly:
destinations limit us;
directions free us.
When growing, how might we …
… stay committed?
Grow together in adversity, keeping your integrity to attract suitable collaborators.
… be patient and persevere?
Collaborate when the time is right and align with purpose and integrity; otherwise, wait for or create suitable conditions.
… pursue purpose with suitable capabilities?
Go forward after establishing suitable capabilities under the current conditions, e.g. suitable equipment, suitable training and suitable collaborators with appropriate expertise and behaviours.
… overcome difficulties through collaboration?
Complement your capabilities with colleagues and allies with suitable expertise and behaviours.
… take small steps?
Work through the difficulties stepwise and avoid giant leaps to minimise risks.
… stop, think, and start anew when blocked?
When you get stuck in chaos, take a time out to stop and think together. Sometimes, a quick, clean break helps you start anew.
4. LEARNING
When seeking answers:
first questions receive answers;
pushy receive none.
When learning, how might we …
… be clear on expectations initially?
Both as a teacher and student, be clear on the conditions and expectations from the very beginning.
… handle mistakes with patience?
Be patient and tolerant with people learning, particularly those taking on new responsibilities for the first time.
… seek people with integrity?
Avoid people driven only by opportunism.
… be open and listen?
Be open-minded and listen to others to secure allies and avoid filter bubbles.
… keep a beginner’s mind?
Being modest and open-minded, like an innocent child, enables sharing the mission with able people.
… focus on positive feedback?
Never be too severe or aggressive in correcting others. Instead, focus on the positive elements in any situation.
5. WAITING
Waiting, preparing;
going into the unknown
requires caution.
When waiting, how might we …
… keep patient when anticipating challenges?
Keep calm and continue straight ahead to avoid wasting energy.
… stay committed when challenges are coming?
Keep calm and carry on with perseverance and commitment.
… stay cautious when challenges have arrived?
Keep calm and carry on with caution.
… keep calm and act with timing?
Keep calm and wait for suitable moments to act.
… find new perspectives?
Keep calm and invite diverse perspectives.
… accept unexpected help?
Often, when we do good to others, it comes back to us in unexpected ways later on.
6. CONFLICT
When in a conflict:
be cautious, find common ground,
avoid the abyss.
In conflicts, how might we …
… keep them short?
Conflicts are like war, exhausting time and capabilities. If disputes are prolonged it harms all involved.
… retreat from unfavourable positions?
If your opponent is stronger, be conciliatory and retreat to avoid disaster.
… keep a low profile?
When faced with conflict, retreat from public view and remain in the background to stay safe.
… avoid them in the first place?
Secure safety by staying calm, committed and rational.
… resolve them through mediation?
Get help to resolve conflicts from a facilitator with integrity.
… think long-term win-win?
Winning a conflict may not be worth it if the gains don’t outweigh the losses, especially if it could lead to retaliation later.
7. COMPETITION
In competition:
seek skills and integrity
support your allies.
In competition, how might we …
… secure a suitable doctrine?
Make the rules of conduct clear initially to avoid confusion on what to do and what to avoid.
… keep a balanced course and stay flexible?
Keep your integrity while being flexible in decisions and actions.
… keep unity of purpose?
Keep unity of purpose through coherent direction to avoid divergent decisions and actions.
… retreat from a weak position?
There is no shame in retreating if it is done for appropriate reasons.
… secure unity of direction?
Secure consistent, coherent direction to avoid confusion, disorder and inefficiency.
… reward success fairly?
Consider both outcomes achieved and the behaviours used when achieving them when rewarding people.
8. COLLABORATION
Collaboration:
follow direction when clear
and follow early.
When collaborating, how might we …
… show trust to get trust?
Start by trusting people and they will feel it and trust you.
… show integrity?
Respond to requests with integrity.
… seek diversity of perspectives?
Avoid people with a questionable reputation since it may negatively affect you later.
… seek capability and commitment?
Surround yourself with people who are capable and have integrity.
… inspire people to follow?
Using purpose and integrity rather than pressure and control allows people to feel they did it all by themselves.
… co-create purpose?
Use purpose to direct the energy of the community members.
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, Knowledge, 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.
