To change direction or change gear?

Currently there are a number of groups, blogs and initiatives looking at fostering a change in direction, approach, politics, operations, thinking. In recent weeks I’ve been involved in ciChange, TEDxStHelier, the Danelion Project and Island Innovators. I have also seen the set-up of Change.je (nothing to do with ciChange) and Collaborate.Je The latter is a spin-off of Island Innovators and includes some of the brilliant minds behind TechTribes, Codex, DQMagazine and many other great groups. Jersey Business is driving the innovation fund and promoting enterprise. @DigitalJersey have moved and set-up its new hub and their #FF promotes 21 organisations.

With 100’s of initiatives all taking-off I have one question: Is all this a sign of success or of impending chaos?

SOME THOUGHTS

There is a logic that says that this armada of ideas and enterprise setting off from Jersey’s shores has to be a good thing for promoting the Island. But there is also a concern that without a clear course to a destination and a leadership compass to guide our efforts dissipate and many may founder and fail.

I am interested in Marc Winn’s unstoppable passion “..to make Guernsey the best place on earth to live..” based on by-passing government and engaging the community in revolt, challenge and change. It is interesting to compare to Richard Noble OBE’s management of a programme comprising 4000 people in teams of 12 with tight management and lean resources which is the opposite of the free-for-all power-to-the-people revolution. Richard’s approach is no less empowering, but he is more certain of roles, goals, controls and resources.

I’ve read tonight about Jersey’s latest move to form a political party, called Reform. There is certainly a mood for change. But what change? For whom? To what ends?

THE FUTURE FOR CICHANGE

ciChange is a Think-Tank for issues about corporate and individual change, and potentially an co-ordinator for Do-Teams to meet the challenges posed by businesses, the government and community. There is no value in re-inventing the wheel or duplicating effort so we are keen to work with all these initiatives in our capacity to help encourage dialogue and action in support of successful change. But which group? All of them? How?

The last few events of ciChange have tackled the business and economic aspects of corporate and individual change. My instinct is that IoD, Chamber of Commerce, Breakfast Club and organisations like Jersey Business and Digital Jersey provide excellent service in this area. Whilst initiatives like ciChange Do-Teams are exciting, if they parallel Digital Jersey’s Technical Action Groups (TAGs) or Jersey Business’ equivalent then this is unnecessary duplication or competition which can only distract or dissipate.

I am minded to support and contribute to any group which I am invited to participate in, but not to push ciChange into that arena.

The Do-Teams initiative (ostensibly to gather passionate people to address complex problems) is something I care about a lot, but I think these may be better fostered by Digital Jersey’s Technical Action Groups (TAGs) or Jersey Business’ equivalent and Collaborate.Je

Instead I propose to focus on ciChange original quest. To bring the best minds and experience in corporate and individual change and bring them together in a room for lively debate, collaborative working and development of new ideas and shared learning. ciChange will still run 4 breakfast meetings per year since these are hugely popular and great fun. However my key focus will now be toward invitation events comprising less than 10 experts to work together to create “white papers” and “best practice guides” on key aspects of managing change.

ALL CHANGE FOR CICHANGE

There is no doubt that ciChange is great at event management, but great presentations will now be a secondary aim. We aspire to pull together the foremost thinkers and best practical guidance in managing change, and over the next few months we will seek out the best psychologists, project managers, thought leaders, innovators, community leaders, politicians and entrepreneurs to investigate every component of managing change.

Using Richard Noble OBE’s approach to boundaries, outputs and outcomes and the Island Innovators un-structured approach to process, debate and discovery we will aim to make the discussions lively, challenging informative and deeply rewarding for everyone taking part.


THE AUTHOR

Tim Rogers is an experienced Project and Change Leader. He is founder of www.ciChange.org and curator for www.TEDxStHelier.Com. He is Programme Manager for the commercialization of a major public sector organisation. He is also Commonwealth Triathlete and World Championships Rower, as well as Athletes’ Representative for Jersey’s Commonwealth Games Team. He has a passion for teaching and learning and is a former tutor/mentor on the Chartered Management Institute courses, and a coach / trainer.

Email timhjrogers@gmail.com
Twitter @timhjrogers
Skype timhjrogers