Spring Newsletter 2010

Change & Transition at InCourage

Well spring has sprung and it is nature's season of change and renewal. Within the InCourage team, we are experiencing all the phases of transition associated with "saying good-bye, working through the neutral zone, and striving for new beginnings" (just as we had explored these transition principles in our recent change and transition showcase event). Lorne Brown, who led the leadership development practice at InCourage, has returned to his roots in the Insurance industry taking on an Acting Presidency role. Kathy Kaye, as a former coach and facilitator with InCourage before she and her husband welcomed their little bundle of joy a year ago, has decided to extend her maternity leave and will not be returning to her full time role. Julie McGillivray will be leaving us as "the glue that binds" to pursue her life's dream of becoming a school teacher. Yet, we are thrilled to have Renata Luisetto replacing Julie as the new Office Manager! And back just in time for our Sustainability Leadership Exchange (see SLX) on April 1st - following his six month sabbatical - is our world-traveler and returning President Tom Bowes.

Sustainability

InCourage has long been at the forefront of leadership development and organizational change - 14 years of helping organizations build strong, effective leaders and find their way through difficult and changing times.

We have always had a strong interest in the sustainability of the organization, including of course our own - which is why our Sustainability Model goes beyond the traditional Triple Bottom Line of Planet, Profits & People - to include Purpose. We believe that in order to be fully sustainable, any organization must also continually attend to its intended purpose: ensuring that the work we do always leads us towards that target, and is consistent with the values we espouse.

Therefore it is only natural that we have expanded our service offerings to include sustainability - that is, the sustainability of your organization itself. We can help you organize and execute your own sustainability initiatives - whatever business you're in, wherever you are on this journey. Utilizing the Natural Step's science-based methodology for analyzing your current status, making manageable choices and implementing phased changes throughout the company, we will guide you through the entire process. As one user of this technique noted, this methodology moved them 'from compliance into commitment and from confusion into understanding'.

As a demonstration of our commitment to Planet, Profits & People and Purpose, we're proud to have conceived and led the development of SLX: Toronto's "Sustainability Leadership Exchange" (slxtoronto.com). Read more in this newsletter on how SLX came to life through organizational partnership, vision and commitment.

We are including with this newsletter an article on sustainability from our partners Five Winds International, because we think it contains words of wisdom for us all. Although it is nominally focused on the retail sector, I encourage everyone to read past that, and consider how it applies to your area of business. In particular, I propose that the 5-step process under "What Should You Do" applies equally to all organizations. Click here for article.

I hope you enjoy this article, and look forward to discussing sustainability issues and opportunities with you - please let us know if you have questions about our work.

Bob Isenberger
Sultan of Sustainability

Finding Rhythm and Direction in a Desert of Change

Companies undergoing strategic, structural, leadership and operational changes are looking for ways to minimize productivity lag and transition blues. The ability to coach leaders and teams to effectively navigate through transition is pivotal to the sustainable growth of any organization. On February 25, InCourage and our associates at Boom - The Power of Rhythm teamed up for a successful showcase called "Finding Rhythm and Direction in a Desert of Change".
Read more...

Videos linking Culture Change, Leadership and Sustainability

Here is a very straightforward description of the difference between traditional leadership and leadership for sustainability; see this 90 second video. ...the capacity to work through paradox is one leadership skill and mindset shift InCourage hones through many of our experiential learning programs.

Now if you are looking for a chuckle about getting the Call to Action for driving sustainability in our communities and organizations, check out this fun little clip...you'll want to take the two minutes to share this with family and friends, as well as work colleagues.