Dancing at the Edge: Competence, Culture and Organization in the 21st Century

by Graham Leicester, Maureen O'Hara PhD

Overview

In Dancing at the Edge, Maureen O’Hara and Graham Leicester map the "powerful times" in which we live, the 21st-century competencies required to thrive in this complexity, and how to discover and develop them in practice. The picture that emerges is complex but remarkably clear, and surprisingly hopeful. Organizations of every sort can create the conditions, offer the support, and provide the context within which engaged, aware, passionate, and compassionate people can rise above denial and take on the challenges of today’s powerful times.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911193678
Publisher:	Triarchy Press Ltd
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Edition description:	Second edition
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Graham Leicester is Director of International Futures Forum. He previously ran Scotland's leading think tank, the Scottish Council Foundation, founded in 1997. Maureen O’Hara PhD is Professor of Psychology, National University, USA; President Emerita, Saybrook University, San Francisco; and Director, International Futures Forum-US. 

Table of Contents

Responses to Dancing at the Edge v

Foreword Edgar H. Schein 1

Preface To The Second Edition 7

Introduction: Persons of Tomorrow 11

The World of Tomorrow 11

Three Emergencies 12

Culture and Competence 14

Beyond the Limitations of 20^th-Century Competence 17

21^st-Century Competencies 20

Recognizing 21^st-Century Competencies in Practice 23

Start Where You Are 28

Part 1 The Contemporary Context 31

Chapter 1 Powerful Times 33

Powerful Times Foretold 33

Disturbing the Psychosphere 37

Culture Matters 41

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Don't Settle 44

Chapter 2 Growing with the Times 49

Defensive Denial 49

The Growth Response 52

How We Grow 53

Getting Beyond Defensive Denial 56

Chapter 3 Competence in the 21^st Century 61

The Full Development of the Human Personality 61

The Neurotic Pursuit of Competence 62

Nudging Ourselves to Competence 66

There Is No Hierarchy of Needs 69

Defining Competence 73

Part 2 21^st-Century Competencies 75

Chapter 4 Enabling Conditions for 21^st-Century Competence 77

Three Literacies: Psychological, Cultural and Epistemic 77

Competence in Practice 80

Enabling Conditions 83

Chapter 5 Being a Person of Tomorrow 87

Four Pillars of Learning 87

Being 88

Humility 90

Balance 94

Faith in the Future 96

Chapter 6 Cultural Leadership and the Person of Tomorrow 99

Being Together 99

The Importance of Culture 102

Cultural Literacy 103

Navigating the Cultural Landscape 107

Cultural Leadership 109

Changing Cultures 111

Chapter 7 Knowing Like a Person of Tomorrow 115

The Enlightenment and Beyond 115

Containing Multitudes 116

Expanding Our Ways of Knowing 118

Knowing and Feeling 120

Knowledge in Motion 122

Maps and Compasses 124

Chapter 8 Organizing Persons of Tomorrow 127

The Setting: Places To Grow 127

The Promise of Adhocracy 128

And Its Dangers 130

The Producer 132

Robust Adhocracy 134

Money at the Margins 138

Chapter 9 Persons of Tomorrow in Action 141

Becoming Through Doing 141

What Kind of Action? 144

Messy and Complex 144

Hopeful and Wise 146

Patient and Reflective 148

The Master of Go 149

Theatres for Action Learning 151

Rehearsal Spaces 153

Chapter 10 Practical Hope 157

Start Where You Are 157

Inspiration 159

Prompts 161

Form A Creative Integrity 162

Reflect and Learn 163

Never Forget the Bigger Game 165

Chapter 11 Conclusion 167

Why Last Chapters Disappoint 167

Blowing An Uncertain Trumpet 168

References 171

Notes 179

Index 185

Editorial Reviews

"We want to change the world. But that begins with ourselves. Often our focus is almost incessantly outward with what is wrong out there, without the corresponding reflection upon and assessment of our own skills, attitudes and beliefs. To do such reflection and assessment we need the set of concepts in this book, exquisitely organized around the important concept of ‘The Person of Tomorrow’. That person could be you." Bob Horn, Visiting Scholar in the Human Sciences and Technology Advanced Research Institute (H-STAR) at Stanford University and CEO, MacroVU Inc. "For anyone feeling the challenge of today’s world and struggling to find their feet amidst the complexity, this is a book to savour and treasure. Drawing on long experience, wide research and deep reflection the authors build on the simple statement that ‘the first step is awareness’ to take us on a journey of deepening our inherent capacities to meet the world through transformative growth and learning in action. It is refreshing and valuable to find a book that recognises the importance of bringing our whole complex human capacity to the task of systems transition, renewal and regeneration. We can look for patterns and design pathways. But it is always persons, working together, who make the journey to the third horizon. If we want to shift the culture, we have to do something counter-cultural, we have to dance at the edge. Take this book with you." Bill Sharpe, author, Three Horizons: The patterning of hope "As a set of guidelines to how we should think and act in powerful and liquid times, this is an excellent start, ably assisted by the distinctive artwork of Jennifer Williams that sets a questing tone, and the handsome production values of Triarchy Press." Michael Marien, Global Foresight Books "Leadership Development is an industry and like all industries it has its own marketing strategies. One is coming up with fancy labels and new ideas rather than considering real need. But does it help organizations solve their challenges to jump on the next bandwagon leadership approach? Or are we in the innovation trap of leadership and people development – not taking care of what is proven and still valuable to apply, to be combined with additional approaches, methods and tools. The work of Leicester and O’Hara is different. It provides an orientation to the field and is based on solid philosophical and historical thinking. It makes you think and reflect and it is a good starting point for coping with the variety of challenges emerging in today’s environment. I like the book because it makes me think and it encourages me to take these ideas as a starting point for all my actions in my professional environment. Especially the idea of transitioning from a socialized mind to a self-transforming mind, which has become the compass/quest for all my thoughts and actions. The book in three words: inspiring, motivating, enabling." Peter Spannagl, Global Talent and Inclusion, Bayer "In business today there is a permeating sense that the toolbox of management practices developed over the last 50 years is not enough to equip leaders to navigate these complex times and deliver sustainable results. There is much discussion and literature supporting the need for more transformational leaders, yet very little practical advice on how to develop these abilities. This is where I see the work of Leicester and O’Hara making a profound contribution to the next level of leadership development. Exploration of the Psychological, Cultural and Epistemic literacies provides a blueprint for individuals to grow the competencies needed to face the challenges of today and tomorrow in an adaptive manner. This book gives me hope that through a deeper connection with our innate humanism and having the courage to work at the edge of our abilities we can collectively create a better future for all humanity. " Susan Francis, Leadership Development Consultant 

From the Publisher