Leading in times of change
“Reinvention means marching off the edge of our maps.” Bob Black
What is liminality?
The word “liminal” originates from the Latin word “limen”, which means threshold. Liminality, or liminal space, is the pathway that leads to new beginnings; the transitional, in-between state we enter once we have left what was but have not yet arrived at what’s next. People and organizations intent on continuously improving will find themselves in this space several times over the course of their lives. Each time it will feel disorienting. Not only are you suspended between two realities, neither in one place nor fully in another, but you are raising the bar and therefore crossing a new threshold every time. Stepping into liminality, embracing the unknown, and developing a curiosity for what this space holds is the catalyst for transformation.
A leader’s sole purpose is to guide others through change in pursuit of a better future. Leadership only truly exists in liminality.
How do we lead in liminality?
Leaders are change evangelists. Ones who not only advocate for change, but play a critical role in their team’s ability to adapt to it. Beyond skills and traits, leaders foster trust and connection. This trust and connection is what gets their teams from where they are to where they need to go; to depart from what’s known into the unknown with enthusiasm and poise. Leading through liminality requires leaders to understand their team’s relationship with change, how to manage it, and how to build resilience in times of turbulence.
Why now?
The pace of change is accelerating. Organizations no longer have the luxury of a static 5 year strategy. They are being forced to reinvent every 2 to 3 years. When it comes to reinvention, organizations will prioritize new product roadmaps, revamp their processes, and rethink their business models. At the core of these priorities is an often overlooked piece of the puzzle: people.
While the planned number of enterprise changes employees experience rises, the support they receive continues to drop. Even with the best intentions, your people are struggling to keep up. The key to navigating this future in flux is to revisit what’s required of your leaders and equip them to ride the waves of change rather than be crushed by them.
The sooner you learn to lead through liminality, the lesser the chances of your organization becoming obsolete.
How do we help?
It’s not enough to survive change, we help organizations thrive through uncertainty by equipping their appointed and emerging leaders to better anticipate, design, execute, and communicate change. We do this through a series of diagnostic tools, design thinking exercises, change management practices, and proprietary reinvention frameworks.