PATTERNS FOR SUCCESS
The Art of Change: Renewal
Sections 17–24: Following, Renewal, Approaching, Observing, Resistance, Image, Division, Cycles
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.
In memory of Toshimi Hirohata (廣畑 登志美), 1937–2024, who lived change peacefully.
17. FOLLOWING
Following, followed:
mindful of the direction
follow the context.
When following or leading, how might we …
… adapt based on diverse perspectives?
Be responsive to others’ views and needs. Mingle and meet people with different perspectives.
… carefully choose our collaborators?
Take care when choosing your collaborators and allies. You may lose your close allies and collaborators if they distrust the new people you associate with.
… choose collaborators who have integrity?
Choose collaborators who have integrity and they will keep you honest.
… follow purpose with integrity?
Integrity sometimes means tuning the purpose rather than persevering to achieve the original purpose after needs and conditions have changed.
… follow value?
Follow what is valuable for the organisation and the people, and attend to your stakeholders’ needs.
… have others follow of their own accord?
Show integrity and a clear purpose, tapping into people’s needs, and people will follow without pressure and control.
18. RENEWAL
Prepare to renew:
embracing decay is like
crossing an ocean.
In renewal, how might we …
… improve without laying blame?
Assume positive intent and change the underlying conditions and capabilities rather than blaming individuals.
… improve in moderation?
To secure the morale and harmony of the organisation, deal with situations with purpose and integrity rather than pressure and control.
… improve using purpose instead of pressure?
Use purpose and attend to people’s needs to create “pull” for renewal. Use suitable consequences and avoid “pushing” too hard with pressure and control.
… improve by what and how?
In times of renewal, start acting with precision after careful observation. Consider what to do and what not to do, i.e. make choices. Then, carefully consider how to do the things you have chosen to do.
… improve together?
To secure renewal: go together — preferably with people possessing domain expertise and appropriate behaviours.
… improve using needs?
Start from stakeholders’ needs and avoid external rewards like incentives.
19. ATTITUDE
Context is crucial
consider consequences
curiosity.
When approaching people, how might we …
… approach them with integrity?
Use integrity rather than formal authority to gain trust and respect.
… consider options with an open mind?
Ask for and listen carefully to alternative perspectives with an open mind.
… approach them with appreciation?
Ask with curiosity and respect rather than tell using sweet words.
… approach them with trust?
Start trusting and you will be trusted.
… lead using skills and experiences?
Complement your skills and experiences with the capabilities needed in the specific context, e.g. domain expertise and suitable behaviours.
… lead with integrity?
Use purpose and integrity rather than pressure and control for sustainable success.
20. OBSERVING
Observing with care
perform timely adjustments
grass follows the wind.
How might we secure valuable input for decisions and actions by …
… observing with sensitivity?
Observe and contemplate the situation deeply — including the forces at play.
… observing using diverse perspectives?
Put yourself in the shoes of others to understand their unique perspective.
… observing and orienting before acting?
Reflect on your actions and behaviours to understand the eventual impact. This orientation gives insights on how to proceed.
… observing skilled people?
Learn from domain experts. Observe and learn from people with suitable behaviours and attitudes regarding integrity, perseverance, curiosity, trust, and collaboration.
… observing ourselves?
Look at yourself through the eyes of others to find both superpowers and improvement areas.
… sharing our observations with others?
Your unique perspective is valuable. Share it with your colleagues and allies.
21. RESISTANCE
Understand constraints
persevere in resistance
preserve harmony.
When experiencing resistance, how might we …
… share feedback quickly?
Assume positive intent and quickly provide clear instructions and teaching as needed when mistakes happen.
… remove obstacles quickly?
Act quickly when using suitable consequences to ensure people’s learning and when changing the conditions of the system—in particular when dealing with acts of cruelty.
… remove obstacles fairly?
When facing resistance from people protecting their interests, handle it fairly, openly and constructively. What are their needs?
… remove obstacles with perseverance?
Be ready for temporary setbacks and to play the long game.
… remove obstacles with balance?
Balance strictness and gentleness when dealing with problems.
… remove obstacles with openness?
Listen to your colleagues to get their perspectives for better actions and improved behaviours.
22. IMAGE
Image is crucial.
Substance is even more so.
Keep the harmony.
How might we secure change indirectly by …
… conveying simple images?
Use a simple image to complement purpose and decisions.
… conveying appropriate images?
Image refers to external appearances, such as words, actions, and clothes — today sometimes amplified significantly through media and social media — whereas substance refers to internal capabilities, such as values, skills, and experiences.
… conveying substance through images?
Secure that image and substance are in harmony since people will sooner or later discover any differences.
… keeping substance and image simple?
Keep things as simple as possible, but not simpler, to ensure understanding so that decisions and actions are in harmony with purpose.
… avoiding exaggerated images?
Keep the image simple to keep a short mental distance from others. An exaggerated image increases the mental distance which decreases trust and collaboration.
… using simpler images for bigger impact?
An extreme image creates dissonance and distorts the reality of the organisation.
23. DIVISION
Aware of forces.
Trusting folks brings harmony.
Control brings collapse.
In dissonance and division, how might we …
… look for early signs?
Pay careful attention when someone is working to undermine purpose — particularly people you trust.
… be flexible?
Listen carefully to feedback and act quickly to show that you care.
… listen with integrity?
When listening to feedback, use integrity to decide what actions to take. Also, consider the integrity of other people.
… be cautious?
Carefully consider how other people follow, remain passive or go actively against purpose. Attend to their needs.
… build alliances?
Carefully consider how to build alliances and what additional needs to fulfil for more people to join.
… adjust direction?
Be ready to fine-tune purpose and direction to increase positive forces and decrease negative forces.
24. CYCLES
Moving in cycles,
making timely adjustments,
ready to return.
When cycles and timing matter, how might we …
… adjust quickly?
Be open about mistakes and see them as opportunities for learning and improvement.
… adjust by example?
Lead by example by admitting and correcting your mistakes.
… adjust only after careful deliberation?
Changing course too often means losing direction since too many directions equals no direction.
… adjust in a balanced way?
Balance adjustments of purpose and direction based on different perspectives.
… adjust direction and persevere?
When the situation changes, be ready to change direction openly and quickly and then start moving in the new direction with perseverance.
… be flexible?
As the situation changes, be curious and open to new observations to shift perspective and direction flexibly.
The Art of Change: All Parts
Pick section(s), ponder patterns, do, 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.
