If we want to build learning systems for improvement, we must encourage our teams to be curious. A culture of curiosity leads to psychological safety, experimentation & problem solving. Yet a recent large study found most leaders regard curious people as "insubordinate" & like them less than people who don't question things. However, curious people who are politically skilled are liked & supported by their leaders. Lessons for leaders AND change agents here. Change agents: how do we express our curiosity in constructive ways, asking the right questions at the right time? hbr.org/2023/11/research-whe… By @OUOBProf

Storytelling is a key skill in leadership for change. It enables us to connect with people at the level of values & inspire everyone to take action. Leaders of large scale change need to be able to: 1) Understand our story so well that we can describe it in simple terms 2) Honour the past, building on our existing strengths 3) Articulate a compelling mandate for change 4) Describe a rigorous & optimistic path forward hbr.org/2023/11/storytelling… By @FrancesFrei & @annemorriss. I have partnered the article with a compelling graphic from @tnvora

System Conveners are an emerging group of changemakers who bring people together across sector, organisational & community boundaries, enabling people to share learning across those boundaries & create positive change in systems like public services. For a free eBook on System Convening: wenger-trayner.com/wp-conten…. For a report of the experiences of System Convenors: newsystemalliance.org/2023/1…. For details of a new community of practice for System Convenors: eventbrite.co.uk/e/system-co…. Thank you @MatthewMezey @SysConvening #SystemsConvening