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Upcoming workshops: November 2019

Changeology rapid project incubator (1 day)
Drive action and change

Melbourne: 13 November 2019
Sydney: 20 November 2019

[Full details] [Book here]

"This workshop was an absolute turning point. It helped us rethink our approach and move forward with absolute clarity and conviction."
- local anti-plastic straw campaigners, NSW

Bring along a tricky environmental, social or health challenge affecting groups and populations. Leave with a prototype project ready for its first public outing. An enjoyable two days with a wonderful bunch of colleagues.

Discounts for passionate volunteers: We're offering full scholarships to a limited number of passionate volunteers working on community action projects. (If you're seeking a volunteer place, please start by sending Les a short email explaining your project.)

Facilitate with Confidence
(1 day)
Facilitate workshops and meetings with authority

Melbourne: 14 November 2019
Sydney: 21 November 2019

[Full details][Book here]

Join this safe, friendly environment to expand your abilities to facilitate happy, productive gatherings, large and small.

New resources for change leaders

8 rules for communication for change (plus tips) Communication for change has different rules to "inform" or "educate" communications. We're asking people to invest effort and negotiate risk. And we have to contend with people's natural fears and tendency to resist and deny any form of pressure. So what does work? Here are 8 rules and a page of tips.

The 4 Clarities Collaboration Inception Tool Whether partnerships or public consultations succeed or fail depends on what happens in the inception phase (the first time the project partners or project team come together to plan the effort). The Inception Tool has 4 clarities that have to be got right to avoid conflict and mess down the track.

Remember everything I always forget something when I facilitate, so I made this handy guide to never forget important stuff!

The 6 dimensional enchanting event constructor This fun brain-expanding tool reminds us of the many ways humans like to be engaged. Try it when planning your next community project. Download here.

The physics of enthusiasm
Les explaining why changing people doesn't work, and could fundamental physics possibly teach us anything about human nature? From Cecilia Macaulay's Fireside Skillshare in June 2017.

How to instruct a brainstorm
Brainstorming is one of the most important things we do. Here's a word-by-word script that builds in the good things we need to think about to get the most out of a gathering of minds.
Here's the script.

Comfy Zone Diagnostic Tool
Decisions, decisions, and so much to think about! This simple tool reminds project designers about the full range of behaviour influencing strategies available to them and when they should be used.
Download the tool (152k PDF).

Les shows how to use the awesome "If not, then what?" method
It's a way to generate a host of convention-busting ideas amazingly quickly. From the fun session at the North East Landcare Forum 2013.

[More]

The Changeology blog

Passionate mashups A compendium of mashup ideas for volunteer groups from the Passion Mashing workshop. Download the booklet. (287k PDF).

The Changeology model The all-purpose model for designing behaviour change projects. Explained. Download PDF version.

How to change a system We often here "We need systemic change." But what, exactly, does that mean? Here are 18 ways to change any system, with strategies ranging from weak to strong, inspired by the work of Donella Meadows. 18 Leverage Points.

Changeology, the book

“An enjoyable, inspiring crash course in social change thinking.”

What it's all about.
And where to get it.

“Les helps teams and organisations to...

SOLVE PUZZLES He sits down with you to devise 'long fix' solutions to tricky social, health and organisationsal challenges. More.

CULTIVATE THE WISDOM OF GROUPS He facilitates the collective brilliance of teams, workshops, and conferences. More.

GEAR UP YOUR TEAM He expands people's skills in change management, facilitation, innovation and change thinking. More.

MAKE CHOICES EASY He provides lots of labour-saving tools to improve decision-making. More.”

Most read articles The problem with Social Marketing - why you can't sell change like soap This paper presents a critique of Social Marketing. Why the answer to "wicked" problems requires different approaches. The paper. (140k PDF) Changeology: the process and the theory Here is the step-by-step methodology and the theoretical background to the Changeology method of program design. The Changeology process (260k PDF) Changeology theory (147k PDF). Introduction to the Diffusion of Innovations A succinct introduction to the model of change that focuses on innovation design, viral communications, and satisfying the needs of users. Download (259k PDF) [This article is very popular. It gets downloaded about 4,000 times a month.]

Quote de joy "I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious. " - Albert Einstein

"All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning." - Albert Camus