I use my work as an organizational change consultant and my research to
change consultant and my research to
change consultant and my research to support people and turning possibilities
support people and turning possibilities
support people and turning possibilities into reality and if I could I would have
into reality and if I could I would have
into reality and if I could I would have each of you at my house right now having
each of you at my house right now having
each of you at my house right now having brunch with me in my kitchen so I could
brunch with me in my kitchen so I could
brunch with me in my kitchen so I could find out more about your possibilities
find out more about your possibilities
find out more about your possibilities because you and I are hardwired to want
because you and I are hardwired to want
because you and I are hardwired to want to actually be creative all the time we
to actually be creative all the time we
to actually be creative all the time we want it we want the possibilities that
want it we want the possibilities that
want it we want the possibilities that we imagine for ourselves our family our
we imagine for ourselves our family our
we imagine for ourselves our family our workplace and our community realized in
workplace and our community realized in
workplace and our community realized in the world but there’s this thing that
the world but there’s this thing that
the world but there’s this thing that happens that comes in and overshadows
happens that comes in and overshadows
happens that comes in and overshadows the possibilities that we want to have
the possibilities that we want to have
the possibilities that we want to have happen this dark cloud is made up of
happen this dark cloud is made up of
happen this dark cloud is made up of concerns and fears and doubts and
concerns and fears and doubts and
concerns and fears and doubts and worries about how will we actually get
worries about how will we actually get
worries about how will we actually get it to happen we don’t have to stay in
it to happen we don’t have to stay in
it to happen we don’t have to stay in that dark cloud because we could pay
that dark cloud because we could pay
that dark cloud because we could pay attention to our conversations and we
attention to our conversations and we
attention to our conversations and we could pull ourselves and others outside
could pull ourselves and others outside
could pull ourselves and others outside of the cloud and actually interact with
of the cloud and actually interact with
of the cloud and actually interact with eat with each other because what we do
eat with each other because what we do
eat with each other because what we do is what in conversation we are always
is what in conversation we are always
is what in conversation we are always making our current reality as well as
making our current reality as well as
making our current reality as well as our future and and because of that I
our future and and because of that I
our future and and because of that I looked at how do we actually collaborate
looked at how do we actually collaborate
looked at how do we actually collaborate together when we’re making possibilities
together when we’re making possibilities
together when we’re making possibilities go from wild and crazy ideas that we’re
go from wild and crazy ideas that we’re
go from wild and crazy ideas that we’re working on together and actually have
working on together and actually have
working on together and actually have them say have it go to yes we want to
them say have it go to yes we want to
them say have it go to yes we want to make this one idea happen so I research
make this one idea happen so I research
make this one idea happen so I research what were the conversations that
what were the conversations that
what were the conversations that actually happened that made that happen
actually happened that made that happen
actually happened that made that happen and what I found out and based in that
and what I found out and based in that
and what I found out and based in that research in actually years of working in
research in actually years of working in
research in actually years of working in organizations and watching people
organizations and watching people
organizations and watching people collaborate in groups back and forth is
collaborate in groups back and forth is
collaborate in groups back and forth is that there are six conversations that
that there are six conversations that
that there are six conversations that help people make creative collaboration
help people make creative collaboration
help people make creative collaboration and in these six conversations and to
and in these six conversations and to
and in these six conversations and to get a sense of those six conversations
get a sense of those six conversations
get a sense of those six conversations I’d like to invite you to do an exercise
I’d like to invite you to do an exercise
I’d like to invite you to do an exercise with me so if you will stand up if you
with me so if you will stand up if you
with me so if you will stand up if you can that’s fine
can that’s fine
can that’s fine and you’ll need to let go of all the
and you’ll need to let go of all the
and you’ll need to let go of all the things that you’re holding put out your
things that you’re holding put out your
things that you’re holding put out your right arm with your thumb up like this
right arm with your thumb up like this
right arm with your thumb up like this and turn all the way around as far as
and turn all the way around as far as
and turn all the way around as far as you can and get it locate where your
you can and get it locate where your
you can and get it locate where your thumb is and go back to the front all
thumb is and go back to the front all
thumb is and go back to the front all right now I’d like you to do it a second
right now I’d like you to do it a second
right now I’d like you to do it a second time and I’d like you to go as far as
time and I’d like you to go as far as
time and I’d like you to go as far as you can so let’s turn go as far as you
you can so let’s turn go as far as you
you can so let’s turn go as far as you can okay thank you very much and have a
can okay thank you very much and have a
can okay thank you very much and have a seat thank you how many of you actually
seat thank you how many of you actually
seat thank you how many of you actually experienced it how many of you the
experienced it how many of you the
experienced it how many of you the second time stopped where you did the
second time stopped where you did the
second time stopped where you did the first time raise your hands okay and how
first time raise your hands okay and how
first time raise your hands okay and how many of you actually saw that you went
many of you actually saw that you went
many of you actually saw that you went further the second time raise your hands
further the second time raise your hands
further the second time raise your hands yes exactly you went beyond the familiar
yes exactly you went beyond the familiar
yes exactly you went beyond the familiar so you had a little bit of an experience
so you had a little bit of an experience
so you had a little bit of an experience of actually making an opening for
of actually making an opening for
of actually making an opening for yourself so central to going beyond the
yourself so central to going beyond the
yourself so central to going beyond the familiar is a groups double commitment
familiar is a groups double commitment
familiar is a groups double commitment to actually make something new valuable
to actually make something new valuable
to actually make something new valuable and useful for others with others but a
and useful for others with others but a
and useful for others with others but a group collaboration doesn’t have to be
group collaboration doesn’t have to be
group collaboration doesn’t have to be just on one idea or make one idea happen
just on one idea or make one idea happen
just on one idea or make one idea happen it could be on several possibilities as
it could be on several possibilities as
it could be on several possibilities as I found out in a collaboration that I
I found out in a collaboration that I
I found out in a collaboration that I studied of between Hallmark cards
studied of between Hallmark cards
studied of between Hallmark cards Syracuse University and continuum
Syracuse University and continuum
Syracuse University and continuum innovation Syracuse University and
innovation Syracuse University and
innovation Syracuse University and continuum innovation created this
continuum innovation created this
continuum innovation created this project for Hallmark cards because since
project for Hallmark cards because since
project for Hallmark cards because since the Internet you might notice that the
the Internet you might notice that the
the Internet you might notice that the greeting card industry was losing market
greeting card industry was losing market
greeting card industry was losing market share and hallmark had recently
share and hallmark had recently
share and hallmark had recently rebranded themselves from being a
rebranded themselves from being a
rebranded themselves from being a greeting card
greeting card
greeting card to becoming a leader or wanted to be a
to becoming a leader or wanted to be a
to becoming a leader or wanted to be a leader in the relationship business so
leader in the relationship business so
leader in the relationship business so Syracuse University and continuum
Syracuse University and continuum
Syracuse University and continuum innovation which is a professional
innovation which is a professional
innovation which is a professional design consultancy got together over the
design consultancy got together over the
design consultancy got together over the course of a semester and actually work
course of a semester and actually work
course of a semester and actually work together in videoconference like you’ll
together in videoconference like you’ll
together in videoconference like you’ll see on this slide to actually invent
see on this slide to actually invent
see on this slide to actually invent four different communication products
four different communication products
four different communication products that could be developed that would help
that could be developed that would help
that could be developed that would help heal relationships or bridge and a
heal relationships or bridge and a
heal relationships or bridge and a relationship gap and the students would
relationship gap and the students would
relationship gap and the students would generate research and propose ideas and
generate research and propose ideas and
generate research and propose ideas and continuum innovation the professional
continuum innovation the professional
continuum innovation the professional designers would ask questions challenge
designers would ask questions challenge
designers would ask questions challenge and critique those ideas in order to
and critique those ideas in order to
and critique those ideas in order to move the ideas or those possibilities
move the ideas or those possibilities
move the ideas or those possibilities into a product proposal stage the six
into a product proposal stage the six
into a product proposal stage the six conversations that they utilized are
conversations that they utilized are
conversations that they utilized are really an improvisational dynamic or
really an improvisational dynamic or
really an improvisational dynamic or structure you could say each one of the
structure you could say each one of the
structure you could say each one of the six like each instrument in this jazz
six like each instrument in this jazz
six like each instrument in this jazz ensemble has a distinct voice however
ensemble has a distinct voice however
ensemble has a distinct voice however blended together they can actually make
blended together they can actually make
blended together they can actually make new connections and take something from
new connections and take something from
new connections and take something from the familiar beyond into something new
the familiar beyond into something new
the familiar beyond into something new and make something happen each
and make something happen each
and make something happen each conversation in the six conversation
conversation in the six conversation
conversation in the six conversation dynamic is not a step so any group who’s
dynamic is not a step so any group who’s
dynamic is not a step so any group who’s participating together can actually
participating together can actually
participating together can actually enter and start creating together at any
enter and start creating together at any
enter and start creating together at any point using all six the other thing that
point using all six the other thing that
point using all six the other thing that can happen is that the conversations can
can happen is that the conversations can
can happen is that the conversations can be big like one group might have one of
be big like one group might have one of
be big like one group might have one of the six be really big and two others be
the six be really big and two others be
the six be really big and two others be smaller it doesn’t matter now how many
smaller it doesn’t matter now how many
smaller it doesn’t matter now how many of you would think that the most
of you would think that the most
of you would think that the most effective conversation that could happen
effective conversation that could happen
effective conversation that could happen for a group is brainstorming in terms of
for a group is brainstorming in terms of
for a group is brainstorming in terms of producing the most innovate
producing the most innovate
producing the most innovate of ideas how many of you would just
of ideas how many of you would just
of ideas how many of you would just normally think that raise your hands
normally think that raise your hands
normally think that raise your hands yeah well I thought that to me too and
yeah well I thought that to me too and
yeah well I thought that to me too and we think that because brainstorming is
we think that because brainstorming is
we think that because brainstorming is the most used and the most commonly
the most used and the most commonly
the most used and the most commonly believed to be effective method of group
believed to be effective method of group
believed to be effective method of group creativity but the research and my
creativity but the research and my
creativity but the research and my research proved otherwise
research proved otherwise
research proved otherwise in group brainstorming is valuable and
in group brainstorming is valuable and
in group brainstorming is valuable and it’s one of the six but it’s not the one
it’s one of the six but it’s not the one
it’s one of the six but it’s not the one that actually launches an idea into the
that actually launches an idea into the
that actually launches an idea into the domain of new it at brainstorming can
domain of new it at brainstorming can
domain of new it at brainstorming can add modify and refine an idea and it’s
add modify and refine an idea and it’s
add modify and refine an idea and it’s important socially but it’s not as
important socially but it’s not as
important socially but it’s not as important as a critique interruption and
important as a critique interruption and
important as a critique interruption and challenge when people used challenging
challenge when people used challenging
challenge when people used challenging interrupting and critiquing of an idea
interrupting and critiquing of an idea
interrupting and critiquing of an idea that is when especially in metaphors or
that is when especially in metaphors or
that is when especially in metaphors or analogies or stories or let’s call it
analogies or stories or let’s call it
analogies or stories or let’s call it playful juxtaposition or even jokes what
playful juxtaposition or even jokes what
playful juxtaposition or even jokes what happens is that the idea gets pushed out
happens is that the idea gets pushed out
happens is that the idea gets pushed out of the familiar and people start to open
of the familiar and people start to open
of the familiar and people start to open up and let go of their prior
up and let go of their prior
up and let go of their prior preconception they start to allow new
preconception they start to allow new
preconception they start to allow new perspectives to be considered we need
perspectives to be considered we need
perspectives to be considered we need each other to actually look at our
each other to actually look at our
each other to actually look at our unseen limits still it’s hard to let go
unseen limits still it’s hard to let go
unseen limits still it’s hard to let go of an initial idea and it’s even harder
of an initial idea and it’s even harder
of an initial idea and it’s even harder to be critiqued or challenged about your
to be critiqued or challenged about your
to be critiqued or challenged about your idea so I’d like to tell you a story
idea so I’d like to tell you a story
idea so I’d like to tell you a story about Thanksgiving stuffing to
about Thanksgiving stuffing to
about Thanksgiving stuffing to illustrate this point about how hard it
illustrate this point about how hard it
illustrate this point about how hard it is to let go and what what could help
is to let go and what what could help
is to let go and what what could help letting go so this this is my great aunt
letting go so this this is my great aunt
letting go so this this is my great aunt goalie on your on your left and my
goalie on your on your left and my
goalie on your on your left and my grandmother Eve on your right they were
grandmother Eve on your right they were
grandmother Eve on your right they were sisters and very proud of their
sisters and very proud of their
sisters and very proud of their Thanksgiving stuffing that was handed
Thanksgiving stuffing that was handed
Thanksgiving stuffing that was handed down in the family but they fought
down in the family but they fought
down in the family but they fought every single Thanksgiving about how it
every single Thanksgiving about how it
every single Thanksgiving about how it should be cooked and goalie wanted it
should be cooked and goalie wanted it
should be cooked and goalie wanted it cooked in the bird Eve wanted it in a
cooked in the bird Eve wanted it in a
cooked in the bird Eve wanted it in a metal pan so it had crispy edges and
metal pan so it had crispy edges and
metal pan so it had crispy edges and this argument would go back and forth
this argument would go back and forth
this argument would go back and forth and and dialogue and conversation
and and dialogue and conversation
and and dialogue and conversation throughout the end almost the entire day
throughout the end almost the entire day
throughout the end almost the entire day and of course definitely negatively
and of course definitely negatively
and of course definitely negatively affect the experience of the holiday and
affect the experience of the holiday and
affect the experience of the holiday and Michael T would usually say at some
Michael T would usually say at some
Michael T would usually say at some point that would end the argument but
point that would end the argument but
point that would end the argument but not the experience it’s my house and
not the experience it’s my house and
not the experience it’s my house and anyway mama always cooked it in the bird
anyway mama always cooked it in the bird
anyway mama always cooked it in the bird and that’s what would usually end the
and that’s what would usually end the
and that’s what would usually end the argument but one year she didn’t one
argument but one year she didn’t one
argument but one year she didn’t one year
year
year she offered to Eve well Eve what would
she offered to Eve well Eve what would
she offered to Eve well Eve what would you propose how we should cook this bird
you propose how we should cook this bird
you propose how we should cook this bird and how that we should cook the stuffing
and how that we should cook the stuffing
and how that we should cook the stuffing so that we satisfy their traditionalists
so that we satisfy their traditionalists
so that we satisfy their traditionalists in the family as well as the crispy
in the family as well as the crispy
in the family as well as the crispy edges that you want for this stuffing my
edges that you want for this stuffing my
edges that you want for this stuffing my grandmother said it’s easy well pluck
grandmother said it’s easy well pluck
grandmother said it’s easy well pluck cook half of it in the bird and half of
cook half of it in the bird and half of
cook half of it in the bird and half of it in the pan and forevermore
it in the pan and forevermore
it in the pan and forevermore Thanksgiving was that was a peaceful
Thanksgiving was that was a peaceful
Thanksgiving was that was a peaceful holiday but this was no compromise I
holiday but this was no compromise I
holiday but this was no compromise I don’t know why or what happened that
don’t know why or what happened that
don’t know why or what happened that made Goldie say that to my grandmother
made Goldie say that to my grandmother
made Goldie say that to my grandmother that one year she never told me but what
that one year she never told me but what
that one year she never told me but what I can say is that she connected to my
I can say is that she connected to my
I can say is that she connected to my grandmother’s idea she let go of being
grandmother’s idea she let go of being
grandmother’s idea she let go of being right and she let go of the one who knew
right and she let go of the one who knew
right and she let go of the one who knew and she chose a different response her
and she chose a different response her
and she chose a different response her offer actually gave power to Eve to make
offer actually gave power to Eve to make
offer actually gave power to Eve to make the choice for the family and for not
the choice for the family and for not
the choice for the family and for not just for the dinner but for the whole
just for the dinner but for the whole
just for the dinner but for the whole family
family
family Goldie connected to Eve’s idea and that
Goldie connected to Eve’s idea and that
Goldie connected to Eve’s idea and that and that elicited a different response
and that elicited a different response
and that elicited a different response so connecting and exploring the ideas
so connecting and exploring the ideas
so connecting and exploring the ideas important is one of the conversations
important is one of the conversations
important is one of the conversations and this is a relational act because
and this is a relational act because
and this is a relational act because when you can make offers to people about
when you can make offers to people about
when you can make offers to people about their idea it actually
their idea it actually
their idea it actually shows interest and concern about the
shows interest and concern about the
shows interest and concern about the possibility itself it starts to make the
possibility itself it starts to make the
possibility itself it starts to make the possibility more important than the
possibility more important than the
possibility more important than the personality that proposed it that in
personality that proposed it that in
personality that proposed it that in turn helps the group create more trust
turn helps the group create more trust
turn helps the group create more trust and respect together to actually push
and respect together to actually push
and respect together to actually push and support all the ideas going forward
and support all the ideas going forward
and support all the ideas going forward the forth conversation is to choose your
the forth conversation is to choose your
the forth conversation is to choose your response is it going to brighten the
response is it going to brighten the
response is it going to brighten the possibility or is it going to darken it
possibility or is it going to darken it
possibility or is it going to darken it when people take responsibility for how
when people take responsibility for how
when people take responsibility for how what they say affects or lands for
what they say affects or lands for
what they say affects or lands for another person it actually begins to
another person it actually begins to
another person it actually begins to change the dynamic or the pattern of the
change the dynamic or the pattern of the
change the dynamic or the pattern of the interaction like Goldie did with Eve and
interaction like Goldie did with Eve and
interaction like Goldie did with Eve and Co evolving why the possibility would
Co evolving why the possibility would
Co evolving why the possibility would matter beyond that idea itself or beyond
matter beyond that idea itself or beyond
matter beyond that idea itself or beyond the group itself is also a huge an
the group itself is also a huge an
the group itself is also a huge an important pivot point for a crazy idea
important pivot point for a crazy idea
important pivot point for a crazy idea to actually become an innovation because
to actually become an innovation because
to actually become an innovation because if you can actually make the stories
if you can actually make the stories
if you can actually make the stories about why this has value in the world
about why this has value in the world
about why this has value in the world for somebody else
for somebody else
for somebody else it turns the idea into a rippling value
it turns the idea into a rippling value
it turns the idea into a rippling value sort of rationale that’s really needed
sort of rationale that’s really needed
sort of rationale that’s really needed in order to convince other people to
in order to convince other people to
in order to convince other people to produce it and to make it happen so I’d
produce it and to make it happen so I’d
produce it and to make it happen so I’d like to tell you a quick story of the
like to tell you a quick story of the
like to tell you a quick story of the how the hallmark project group evolved
how the hallmark project group evolved
how the hallmark project group evolved the rationale for one of the proposals
the rationale for one of the proposals
the rationale for one of the proposals that was proposed in that group within a
that was proposed in that group within a
that was proposed in that group within a week of when hallmark was going to hear
week of when hallmark was going to hear
week of when hallmark was going to hear all the students presentations there was
all the students presentations there was
all the students presentations there was one student Baily who had proposed a
one student Baily who had proposed a
one student Baily who had proposed a communication product called random acts
communication product called random acts
communication product called random acts of kindness and no one could see the
of kindness and no one could see the
of kindness and no one could see the rationale of why to make this product
rationale of why to make this product
rationale of why to make this product work in the lives of the hallmark
work in the lives of the hallmark
work in the lives of the hallmark customers not one she in the
customers not one she in the
customers not one she in the professional designers had been caught
professional designers had been caught
professional designers had been caught in a struggle pattern over the entire
in a struggle pattern over the entire
in a struggle pattern over the entire semester about Bailey’s not really
semester about Bailey’s not really
semester about Bailey’s not really ingesting the critique and finally the
ingesting the critique and finally the
ingesting the critique and finally the professional designer said in this last
professional designer said in this last
professional designer said in this last almost last session um at Bailey she
almost last session um at Bailey she
almost last session um at Bailey she reminded Bailey of her love for bold
reminded Bailey of her love for bold
reminded Bailey of her love for bold confrontive things and said Bailey are
confrontive things and said Bailey are
confrontive things and said Bailey are you going to get out of the land of
you going to get out of the land of
you going to get out of the land of Hallmark’s sickeningly sweet products
Hallmark’s sickeningly sweet products
Hallmark’s sickeningly sweet products with random acts of kindness and use
with random acts of kindness and use
with random acts of kindness and use your idea of kindness to actually make a
your idea of kindness to actually make a
your idea of kindness to actually make a difference that could even challenge
difference that could even challenge
difference that could even challenge hallmark itself and when she asked
hallmark itself and when she asked
hallmark itself and when she asked Bailey that question
Bailey that question
Bailey that question Bailey flipped her idea into this new
Bailey flipped her idea into this new
Bailey flipped her idea into this new product idea called truth be told which
product idea called truth be told which
product idea called truth be told which was a series of cards that you would
was a series of cards that you would
was a series of cards that you would give people at the workplace that would
give people at the workplace that would
give people at the workplace that would communicate a faux pas something like
communicate a faux pas something like
communicate a faux pas something like excuse me you have a spinach between
excuse me you have a spinach between
excuse me you have a spinach between your teeth or could you stop talking now
your teeth or could you stop talking now
your teeth or could you stop talking now you’re annoying the boss or somebody who
you’re annoying the boss or somebody who
you’re annoying the boss or somebody who actually needs to clean up the dishes in
actually needs to clean up the dishes in
actually needs to clean up the dishes in the in the break room um now when
the in the break room um now when
the in the break room um now when hallmark listened to that project
hallmark listened to that project
hallmark listened to that project hallmark said this is still a little too
hallmark said this is still a little too
hallmark said this is still a little too edgy for us however we have to rethink
edgy for us however we have to rethink
edgy for us however we have to rethink our strategy because if we really want
our strategy because if we really want
our strategy because if we really want to heal or help bridge relationship gaps
to heal or help bridge relationship gaps
to heal or help bridge relationship gaps we’ve got to think about doing all kinds
we’ve got to think about doing all kinds
we’ve got to think about doing all kinds of relationships even those that are
of relationships even those that are
of relationships even those that are uncomfortable this actually brings us to
uncomfortable this actually brings us to
uncomfortable this actually brings us to the final of the six conversations which
the final of the six conversations which
the final of the six conversations which is to synthesize different perspectives
is to synthesize different perspectives
is to synthesize different perspectives when you synthesize different
when you synthesize different
when you synthesize different perspectives and own them and actually
perspectives and own them and actually
perspectives and own them and actually start to incorporate them in yourself
start to incorporate them in yourself
start to incorporate them in yourself and be able to advocate for them you can
and be able to advocate for them you can
and be able to advocate for them you can take a into reality so in summary to
take a into reality so in summary to
take a into reality so in summary to help you and others take your
help you and others take your
help you and others take your possibilities into reality and go beyond
possibilities into reality and go beyond
possibilities into reality and go beyond the familiar there are six
the familiar there are six
the familiar there are six conversational
conversational
conversational Editions help create crib help make
Editions help create crib help make
Editions help create crib help make creativity and collaboration it has less
creativity and collaboration it has less
creativity and collaboration it has less to do with the genius or the originality
to do with the genius or the originality
to do with the genius or the originality of any one idea of the group and more to
of any one idea of the group and more to
of any one idea of the group and more to do with how we listen to each other how
do with how we listen to each other how
do with how we listen to each other how we support each other how we critique
we support each other how we critique
we support each other how we critique each other and how we own and what we
each other and how we own and what we
each other and how we own and what we say and do how it affects other people
say and do how it affects other people
say and do how it affects other people creativity is really at the heart of
creativity is really at the heart of
creativity is really at the heart of each of us every person but it won’t
each of us every person but it won’t
each of us every person but it won’t have a chance to come out and make the
have a chance to come out and make the
have a chance to come out and make the difference in the world that it can make
difference in the world that it can make
difference in the world that it can make unless we actually pay attention to our
unless we actually pay attention to our
unless we actually pay attention to our conversations so by how you listen and
conversations so by how you listen and
conversations so by how you listen and speak you can help yourselves
speak you can help yourselves
speak you can help yourselves and others and the world realize
and others and the world realize
and others and the world realize possibilities into reality thank you
possibilities into reality thank you
possibilities into reality thank you [Applause]
”
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