Personal "EDGE" Experiences

One of the issues raised above was helping leaders become aware and more comfortable with a different kind of control, where direction and creative new approaches emerge from a healthy system, instead of plans being imposed on the system by leaders. To explore this issue members of the group explored what if felt like to be operating at the edge, in the creative far-from-equilibrium space. A clear, consistent pattern was evident - paradoxical emotions. Here is what people said.

• "it was some mix of excitement, curiosity, anxiety - that we have all experienced - and which some folks take as a sign that "intriguing possibilities ahead."
• "To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."
• "I've lost it, now over the edge, but my intuition is telling me to push ahead, keep working this stuff."
• "I had the strangest feeling of absolute calm that I was doing the right thing and yet real anxiety and fear that I was awfully close to the edge of a cliff."
• "I'm pulling my hair out, chewing my nails, staying up at nights, but still feeling that things are good and getting better."

Helping others appreciate what it actually feels like to be in this territory and appreciate the fact that it is a good place to be if change and creativity are needed was view were viewed as essential in helping leaders let go of traditional means of control. Relating this concept to personal experiences of significant growth and change was viewed as an effective means of fostering understanding of this principle.

Worth pursuing - What enables people to work at the edge? Is it past experience, support from others, knowing the theory…?

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