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Integral Leadership in Action - What would you do?

Posted October 19th, 2008 by Robb Smith in Integral Leadership

Last weekend was the conclusion of the Integral Leadership in Action event in Boulder.  I was scheduled to speak about Integral Life for 30 minutes, but I thought that might be rather boring - after all, we run a pretty transparent company in terms of our plans and what's going on - so instead I asked each member of the audience to help me find my blind spot by asking them to suggest one "unlocking" action they would take if they were CEO of Integral Life and Integral Institute.  This was, after all, an event about real integral leadership in action.  So what would you do?

The only instructions I gave them was that A) they have to try to embody the role of leadership steward of the entire integral ecosystem and movement: deeply partial or merely self-serving strategies will not set the right example for the integral movement and B) an "unlocking" move is one that dramatically improves the business plan of these entities.  I purposely did not describe the mission, vision or business plan of either entity because I wanted everyone to face the deep dilemma of the value judgments one has to make before one can even begin to approach a question of this sort.  For example, some people might think the unlocking move is to shut both companies down (i.e., integral will be better embodied if it has no institutional support).  Part of enlightened leadership is thoroughly understanding your own philosophical biases.

Here are the results of the process from that day, to which about 50 people responded, which I have roughly organized into three categories of actions.  I have not provided any detail around these short notes but will be happy to do so if anyone has specific questions.

Outreach
- Integral world tour
- tv show - current events - humor (e.g., Jon Stewart show)
- outreach to politicians
- convene/catalyze action groups
- Integral team in white-house
- Barack downloads from Ken 4x/year
- involve / retool yoga industry/teachings
- clear call for support - people - money
- Put Ken on Oprah
- middle east convoy
- cross organization partnerships
- accessible film to masses
- tie to progressive religious organizations
- Integral play day - national holiday
- solid Integral solution to a major world problem
- global symposium
- develop relationships among Integral leaders - be a force!
- reach out to world leaders
- road show - engaging exercises (drama, improv) - youtube - interactive site - college campus

Offering
- enterprise membership
- 2nd tier collaborative - events
- support connections among Integral groups
- giga glossary
- technology - iphone apps
- leverage youtube & video learning (school house rock)
- ILP practice centers - college campuses - franchises
- unpack current events in chewable bites - current affairs analysis
- Integral endorsements - fee structure
- disseminate IP
- interviews with religious leaders
- Integral lens - DIY perspective taking
- Integral front page - advertising?
- Integral answers
- stay awake to what's happening (timing, crisis)
- focus on specific customer group - onramp
- Integral balanced scorecard for companies

Embodiment
- Integral needs to do its shadow work - Ken [Wilber] & Don [Beck] - green aversion
- develop Integral heart
- lose the intellectualism
- stay small
    low overhead
    focused mission
    leverage practitioners
- keep asking the questions
- develop Integral journalism
- do what you say you will do
- social entrepreneurism
- appreciate the gifts available in this room
- new doctrine a la constitution - what if chinese leaders were exposed to Integral

What unlocking move would you add to this list, or perhaps just second a move that is already on the list?  You can list yours in the comments below.  Also if you want to reflect on integral leadership please do so in this inquiry: What makes an integral leader?

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$$$

Posted October 20th, 2008 by Timothy J Melody

I was a little disappointed in this one:

 

"- lose the intellectualism"

 

Strictly speaking, Integral means nothing valid or valuable should be "lost" or negated.


 

At this point, I really feel like single greatest "unlocking" factor of the Integral ecosystem would be an influx into the Integral economy, and the genuine creation, growth and sustainability of such. That is, ultimately to create more Integral jobs for people, Integral careers. This way a greater number of individuals could not just safely but fully devote themselves to Integral work, to the Integral Vision, Integral projects, initiatives, teams, physical meetings with one another, the formation of various groups, etc. To get people working, or better said, substantially and genuinely putting the wealth of Integral passion to genuine work. The vast majority of the suggestions above require just this monetary base to really be realized. (I mean, a movie?) The level has emerged, a culture has been gathered, the passion, the interest and the initiative is already in high supply, and many good and valid and sustainable .means of communication have been established, and so has been an ever-present guide. The unlocking of the Kosmic Integral Checkbook is what I really feel would be, or is, the next and most major catalyzing step.

 

There are basically two means of generating money. One, through grants and donations, the other through the creation of products. I have long thought with regard to the creation of products that, to put it one way, the entire world is open to us -that is, the entire spectrum, not just 2%. Integrally-informed products can be created which would be valuable to and appeal to all of them. But in short, in my dream world I would now focus every effort possible into shoring up the Integral ecosystem with an Integral economy - or, with money. Money, money, money. Gathering it, creating it, channeling it, focusing it, directing it.

 

From another perspective, however, all monetary systems are open to us as well. Why if the $$$'s not there, what else is? Maybe someone has a house that someone can live in without worry until some project or other is done. Maybe Whole foods contributes free groceries certificates. These are just examples of, say, barter and trade - to get things done, going, moving in some of these new and possible directions.

 

Anyhow, all just some early morning thoughts . . .

 

Tim