From Our Integral Blog
Perspectives on consulting, developing policy, collaborating and more, by integral Neil Richardson.About the Integral Blog and Neil Richardson
This blog is written by integral thinker, Neil Richardson, founder of Emergent Action. Here he discusses smart government advocacy, integral thinking and many other topics. Neil believes that his work should foster change and transformation. His writing, like the life he leads and the work he supports – emerges out of contemplation only reaching full completion through collaboration and dialogue with others. Thoughtful, creative and comprehensive: integral Neil Richardson’s ideas have been encapsulated admiringly by these words.
Be Radical But Not Too Damned Radical
Saying we are in an era of discord is to state the obvious. There are great differences in how we think about politics, how to respond to the global pandemic, what entertainment is best or harmful, some wonder about the validity of science and how to care for the...
Think Again (Knowing What You Don’t Know)
I have written and talked a lot about change recently to people in my work life and with those in my personal life. Probably you have too. The pandemic and social justice protests have stirred a lot of talk about rethinking our life priorities, what we believe is true...
Change is Spontaneous
No matter who you are or where you live or your age, most people are interested in change. In the morning we are cold and seek warmth, later we become hungry and make breakfast. Some of us have emotions we want to change or bodies that we want to look different. And...
Patience In A Pandemic: Leadership In A Time of Complexity
“Do you have the patience to wait Till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving Till the right action arises by itself?” Lao Tzu You want to do something. In the midst of a crisis our first thought is to act or move into solution mode....
Stepping Forward
Richard C. Harwood has written an important book for our time of individual, national and global upheaval and disruption. I do not know of another living person who could have written a book like this with both the humility and authority than what Rich has...
Transformational and Traditional Coaching: And/Both!
Three year anniversary of “Preparing For A World That Doesn’t Exist-Yet” We are approaching the three year anniversary of the release of our book “Preparing For A World That Doesn’t Exist-Yet” and Rick and I are grateful for everyone who purchased a copy. We are in...
Just Do It! Strategic Planning -Execution, Adaptation and Measurement
Strategic planning is essential for organizations who want to achieve their priorities. This said, the plan is not the “thing itself”, the plan is like a team practicing to win a championship. Good strategy is planning and action integrated and synchronized. The...
Platinum Anniversary Fast!
It is that time of year (almost) for me to do my February Fast…I am doing it earlier this year to celebrate my twentieth year and to accommodate birthdays and other events. January 15 – February 15. I am happy to begin. The Fast, as always for me is about observing...
Matrix Leadership and the Four Stages of Transformation
In our book, “Preparing For A World That Doesn’t Exist-Yet” Rick Smyre and I examine how new ways of listening and finding multiple answers is critical for leaders to master. We call this matrix thinking and if we are to authentically spark transformation in our...
What Do We Know? The Four Stages of Knowledge
By Neil Richardson & Rick Smyre Traditional learning has been focused on standard answers and linear thinking. What is “it” is usually the way someone asks for answers. In a society and economy in which advanced communication and “complex adaptive systems” are the...
It Takes a Village in a VUCA World
“We are in a time when change is happening so fast that many people are uncomfortable about what the future holds and how to deal with it.” One thing we know, is that the way we did things in the past will not work in today’s world. We are more interconnected,...
A New Wave Rising
Surfing like other complex tasks requires going with the flow and adapting to new situations as they emerge. Letting go and allowing some chaos into your life is essential for growth.
Elegance in Complexity: The Rejection of Dumbing Down Society
Elegance in complexity is a concept that emphasizes the need to look for “access points” in order to help seed and evolve new capacities for a changing and dynamic society…
Revitalizing the Spirit of America Requires Growing Ecosystems
After several months walking around with ideas germinating from the Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit, we are more convinced than ever that cities and leaders…
The Sound of Wise Silence: A Perspective from Blackrock Summit
There was a fire burning. Five of us were in the woods hundreds of miles from our home. I was with a high school friend and the rest were strangers hunkered down…
OldSoulz: Mything a New Chapter
In this interview, Rodrick Chambers facilitates a dialog for his Old Soulz series. Renown futurist and thinker, Duane Elgin, joins Neil and four other integral thinkers…
The 2017 Harwood Summit
Thirty years ago, Americans felt disconnected from politics, now many people feel disconnected from their very lives and their local communities – they don’t feel heard…
Turn Off the Noise – Turn On Your Life
Noise is a sound that is loud or one that causes a disturbance or confusion. Noise may contain random fluctuations that obscure or do not contain meaningful data…