One of my favorite statements in the book is: "It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting". From an innovation point of view, experimenting constantly and innovating regularly leads to new strategies and new processes, when "top down" strategic direction often fails.
Acting my way into a new way of thinking is going to be a greater challenge. If you act, you risk failure. Or perhaps even scarier, you risk success! Then what? I am part of an intentional Company in Tirana. We are doing a study on racism, which has been interesting in a room full of white people. But at some point, study has to stop and we have to take on action. What are we going to do in response to what we have learned?
The most important thing, or one of them, I believe, is to be aware of our white privilege as we choose and carry out actions. What actions we take could have a million forms, but if we are not aware of our privilege and how that shapes what we are doing, our actions risk harming, not assisting in liberation.
As a traditionally Company (which is changing on a national level) we must be aware that our liberation IS wrapped up in the liberation of others. And we can study, be aware, and work, but until we begin to act our way into a new way of thinking, the old way will remain.
I can’t wait to see what actions come out of our study. This Company has existed for more than fifteen years and has always backed them up with direct action. This is an exciting time for me. This is an exciting time for the Company, my little local one and the larger one…we get to act our way into a new way of thinking, aware that our liberation is tied up in that of others. Let’s go and do it!
Every new beginning starts by changing your way of thinking but,to take action is also as important as idea.If you don't take any action,even the best new thinking remains on the air.It is very important to be aware of who you are,what you have,where you are to understand the things correctly and thus to evaluate the results of any study objectively.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeletePositive Deviance is based on the observation that in every community there are certain individuals or groups (the positive deviants), whose uncommon but successful behaviors or strategies enable them to find better solutions to a problem than their peers. These individuals or groups have access to exactly the same resources and face the same challenges and obstacles as their peers. The PD is unique process invites the community to identify and optimize existing, sustainable solutions from within the community, which speeds up innovation.
Blerina
Dear Elda,
ReplyDeleteI want to join you with your favorite statement of the book "It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting". I like it very much also and find it well defined, because people generally do not dare, they fear to think a new way of acting. After they find the “positive deviant” and see that it is not bad, then they can think their way and act in a new way, the way they already found proved and do not risk failure.