Who Changes in Systems Change?
Toward the end of Adam Kahane’s book Collaborating with the Enemy he makes an eye-opening observation. Truly collaborating for transformational change – what Kahane calls Stretch Collaboration – starts with moving beyond us/them conceptualizations and learning to see oneself as deeply embedded in the problem that requires changing. As consultants we are not outside of the problem. We are not mere observers of the problem. Our presence, our sensemaking, and our behavior are part of the problem, influenced by and influencing the problem. As a somewhat humorous and powerful point of clarification Kahane uses a traffic metaphor to drive home his message. He notes that the phrase “stuck in traffic” is a misnomer. When I call home to notify my family that I will be late because I am stuck in traffic, I have failed to notice that from another driver’s perspective I am the traffic. It would be more accurate to call home and let folks know ...