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1 © Tim Coburn, 2011 That was then… This is now… Rethinking Corporate Leadership as… Corporate Authorship
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
That was then…
This is now…
RethinkingCorporateLeadership as…
CorporateAuthorship
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
‘We often ask the question now,‘What will become of me?’And lose the fact that what we doCreates identity.
And so it is, with choices made,We build who we become:The stories of our life fulfillOur quest to be someone.’
Tim Coburn, 2003
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
The nature of identity is changing….
‘If you want to know me, then you must know my story,for my story defines who I am.’
Dan P McAdams
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
‘Narrative form is not a dress which covers something else but the structure inherent in human
experience and action.’
David Carr
1947 1956 1963 1975 1989 1995 2002 2011 2019 2025 2034 2042 2050 2057 2062
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
‘… the very idea of individual selves – in possession of mental qualities – is now threatened with
eradication.’
Kenneth Gergen
THE END
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
Just as I become who I am by imagining, enacting and updating my story, so too, do people become families, communities, organisations and groups by
composing, creating and narrating theirs’.
In this respect, the leaders of these groups are the corporate story-makers.
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
That was then…
This is now…
Corporate Leadershipas
Corporate Authorship
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
‘…from my early attraction to the leadership ideas of courage, humility and service…
…I’ll explain how I arrived at… leadership as authorship.
In so doing, I hope to engage you in developing your own view of systems leadership, how you practice it and how you encourage others to do the same.'
Leadership as Authorship
The Practice of Authorship in Our Everyday Lives
“What we really should do about…… is…”
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
“Their view is different because…”
“If you were in my shoes, what would you do….?”
“Did you see…?! ….What did you make of it?”
“Let’s be clear, the purpose of this organisation is to…”
“Here’s a concern…. What question should I be asking?”
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
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My Journey
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘How can I be sure?’
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘I was… increasingly uncertain about the certainty with which I was speaking in my endeavour to educate, encourage and enable change for others.’
‘I was beginning to think that talking with the conviction of an expert… was actually doing more to diminish than enhance their ability to make progress.’
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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A machine
An organism
A brain
A culture
A political system
A psychic prison
An instruments of domination
The Organisation is…
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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The Way I Know
The ObservationsI Make
The Possibilities ofMy Performance
The MeaningI Make of Them
The KnowledgeI Construct
Determines Informs
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘I would like us all to recognise that…
…reality is made, not given
…our understanding of the world is always seeing as, rather than seeing as is
…and to take a moral responsibility for the way we see and act in every day life, difficult though this may be.’
Gareth Morgan
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘Knowledge or wisdom, Tim?’
Keith KinsellaJenny Rogers
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Object
Physics
Ingredients
Characteristics
Person
System
Cybernetics
Organisation
Pattern
Relationship
He changed the subject
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Photo: David Kjaer/RSPB IMAGES; Charlie Hamilton James
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘But, what does this tell us about human systems… and leadership?’
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Identity
Purpose
Action
Expression
Belonging
And the leader’s role?
Human Systems Characteristics of allhuman systems?
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Everything is mediated through language and constructed in conversation
Identity
Purpose
Action
Expression
BelongingHuman systemsare systems of language and meaning
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
A Human System
Value for money For us, that's about offering more for your money, not
cutting corners. It's every Virgin company's magic tool.
Good quality Going that little bit further in everything we do.
Innovative and challenging Supporting creativity and challenging convention and
freedom is a huge part of what it means to be Virgin.
Fun More than any other element, fun is the secret of
Virgin's success.What does this mean for our people? Having a sense of humour Occasional gags at a competitor's expense Celebrating success together Ensuring we can all enjoy a decent work/life balance Avoiding blame culture, because it's OK to make the odd
mistake
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
A Human System
Respecting the unique worth of every person We believe that every person is different but equal,
and that everyone's unique talent should be recognised and encouraged.
Encouraging people to fulfil their potential We all need encouragement at some time in life.
Barnardo's aims to create opportunities for people to make the most of their abilities.
Working with hope Our hope for a better future for all children is the
source of much of our inspiration.
Exercising responsible stewardship The commitment of all our staff and volunteers to
making the best use of all our resources enables us to help children, young people and their families to overcome severe disadvantage.
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Human systems are systems of language and
every one is different
Language and meaning are localand contextual not universal and objective
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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I am willing to putmy knowledge at riskno yes
I judge your knowledge against my criteria
yes no
Leadership Dispositions for Working with Other Language Systems
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I judge your
knowledge against my
criteria
humility
certainty
curiosity
reflexivity
I am willing to putmy knowledge at risk
no
no
yes
yes
© Tim Coburn, 2011
Dispositionsfor working in human systems
First Proposition
Human systems are systems of language each with its own vocabulary and meaning for…
Identity, Purpose, Action, Expression and Belonging
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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It’s what you… Do
It’s how you… Act
It’s in the quality of… Decision
It’s what you… Say
It’s how you… Talk
It’s in the quality of… Conversation
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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It’s what you… Say
It’s how you… Talk
It’s in the quality of… Conversation
It’s what you… Do
It’s how you… Act
It’s in the quality of… Decision
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Leadership
it’s a big responsibility…
so where can you turn for reliable knowledge?
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Truth is discovered by scientific investigation and other disciplined methods
Truth is constructed socially – it’s what we agree to be true
Truth is experienced individually and expressed in unique ways of talking
Truth is revealed through personal, spiritual and natural enlightenment
Truth is passed down and comes from culture and tradition
Scientific Investigation
Enlightenment and Revelation
Lived Experience
Common Sense
Culture and Tradition
Five different
ways to be absolutely
right
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘The goings-on between people in the course of their everyday lives are seen as the practices during
which our shared versions of knowledge are constructed.’
Vivien Burr
All Five produce socially constructed realities…
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Theword
is not the thing
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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How do you know what I mean?
ChairPencilBoatRoadDeskPhone
StudentsParentsCustomersStaffLearnersLeaders
AchievementFreedomTrustPotentialCompetenceLearning
And this is the language of
leadership and leaning
Easier Harder
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
"We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn't a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride."
Example
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
"We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn't a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride."
Example
Leaders are the authors, architects and arbiters of the language
that constructs and sustains corporate life
Second Proposition
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Examples of Authorship in Your Life?
Project
Department
Profession
People
Organisation
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘Leaders achieve their effectiveness chiefly
through the stories they relate’
Howard Gardner
Narrator, yes….
…and author, director, reader
and repairer
…protagonist even, and not least,
integrator
The Corporate
Story-Maker
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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‘As in the real theatre,in the corporate world
it is the compelling story linethat captures the imagination
and retains the attention.’
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Social
Movement
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Social
Movement
© Tim Coburn, 2011
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Authoring the Lives of People You Lead
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© Tim Coburn, 2011 Taking Down Walls
1947 1956 1963 1975 1989 1995 2002 2011 2019 2025 2034 2042 2050 2057 2062
Their world…
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© Tim Coburn, 2011 Defying Authority
1947 1956 1963 1975 1989 1995 2002 2011 2019 2025 2034 2042 2050 2057 2062
Their world…
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© Tim Coburn, 2011 Increasingly Connected
1947 1956 1963 1975 1989 1995 2002 2011 2019 2025 2034 2042 2050 2057 2062
Their world…
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© Tim Coburn, 2011 Cloud Inversion
Their world…
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
phone tablet laptop desktop
search find link listen watch discover learn blog share talk discuss create collaborate
tv
LEAD?TEACH?LEARN?
Knowledge Inversion
Their world…
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
90,000 Employees18 Countries
All Sectors
Engagement ImprovesSatisfactionProductivity
RetentionPerformance
79% Not Fully Engaged
Engagement Improves with1. Leadership
2. Learning
A Human System
Their world…
HomeMY WORLD
Words
Family
Relationships
Culture, NationTradition
Conversations
Politics, FaithGender, Age, Ability
Actions
My Word Hoard
Education
My Historical Facts
ImmediateFuture
ThoughtsFeelings
My RecentPast
My Hopes &Aspirations
My Fond Memories
My RealisticExpectations
Generation Critical EventsEra
Personal ChangeLife Stage Life TimeAge
MY PAST
MY FUTURE
Work Community
My Current
Reality
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
‘Are youtalking to
meor chewing
a brick?’
Systems of Meaning
If you really want toengage meyou have to
discover who I amand
the realities I live by
Manager,Work Team, Job
OrganisationProfession
Yes, engage me…
‘The unity of a human life is the unity of a narrative
quest’
Alasdair MacIntyre
“I am mystory-maker…”
1947 1956 1963 1975 1989 1995 2002 2011 2019 2025 2034 2042 2050 2057 2062
My Story’s in Your Gift
One day there’ll be a storyOf the life that I have lived.I’ll be the story-maker, You’ll decide if it’s a gift.
For I have passion for what’s possibleAnd dreams that take me there.Where mountain tops evaporateIn destiny’s thin air.
I am my story-maker,You choose the words for me?No… My heart will beat foreverIf your voice sets mine free.
For I have passion for what’s possibleAnd dreams that take me there.Where mountain tops evaporateIn destiny’s thin air.
So, the story that you tell one dayWill be the one I lived.My life in words you gave me;My story’s in your gift.
For I have passion for what’s possibleAnd dreams that take me there.Where mountain tops evaporateIn destiny’s thin air.
The Learner’s Voice
© Tim Coburn, 2011Tim Coburn, 2003
A view corporate life as a system of language
invites a view of corporate leadership as corporate authorship
Third Proposition
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
Object
Physics
Ingredients
Characteristics
Person
System
Cybernetics
Organisation
Pattern
Relationship
Systemsof Meaning
It’s time to change the subject
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
UniversalObjective
TruthFor ever
Knowing ‘this’, ‘that’and ‘how’
Found by experts
Manifest in facts
LocalContextualRelational
For the time being
Knowing ‘how togo on’
Made by everyone
Manifest in language
Knowledge
Of course, we need both
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
When we believe the realities we live by are…
found by experts
Learning occurs by… didactic instruction
We might call this… ‘learning-by-listening’
With the advantage of…experts knowing
everything
When we believe the realities we live by are…
made by everyone
Learning occurs by… collaborative construction
We might call this… ‘learning-by-making’
With the advantage of…everyone knowing
something
Learning
New paradigm, new pedagogy
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
You are the author, narrator and protagonist in
the story of your life
And, you have to read, repair, relate and respond tothe stories around you, too
Like life, leadership islike a quest for
narrative integrity
Leadership as AuthorshipEverything is mediated through
language
Authoring… your disposition in creating productive relationships
Authoring… conversations that create new realities for people to
live by
Authoring… social movements that enable the fulfillment of
narrative integrity
Leadership
Corporate Leadership as Corporate Authorship
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
That was then…
This is now…
Learning andLeadership…
Tim Coburn
Visiting Fellow, Centre for Systems Learning and LeadershipGraduate School of Education, University of Bristol
Contact:[email protected]
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© Tim Coburn, 2011
