So you want to solve one of the world’s wicked problems? Cool! Give us a call – that’s our schtick. Oh – you want to know HOW to solve one of the world’s wicked problems. Alrighty – here’s a start…but only a start. If we told you all the secrets, we’d have to hire you! Ask the right question Engage any and all stakeholders who care Make great effort to invite the people who will make the conversation awkward Trust in the intelligence of the human system Chaos is fundamental t

We recommend to our clients that they not engage us on their complicated projects. Because we’d prefer to work on the complex ones. So…what’s the difference? Complicated, complex…whatever, right? Complicated…assembling automobiles is complicated. Thousands of moving parts, all needing to be fabricated to the right specifications, assembled in the right order, built to the right quality. It’s complicated – to be sure – but it’s dependable. More than that, it’s repeatable. Same

Alright. Hands up, everyone who thinks it would be pretty cool to spend a week learning how to use advanced 3D modeling techniques to build conceptual models of complex human systems, testing possible future states for hidden weaknesses, in order to develop optimal strategic plans? One…two…three… okay, just about half of you. So, hands up, everyone who thinks it would be pretty cool to fly across the country and spend a week playing with Lego in a resort town south of Vancouv

We assemble a CTLabs team for every engagement that we do. This team includes at least one Collaboration Lead and one coLead. While the Lead is responsible for the overall solution design, the coLead plays an important role in realizing the design during the event by being available to support the Lead, the client, and all of the participants in a variety of ways. As a number of bright young minds have discovered over the past decade, the first step in joining the CTLabs te

How often do hundreds of people from various walks of life take action at a moment’s notice? Whenever a clear common purpose is established and passionate people are engaged in true collaboration. When people are truly passionate about what they are working towards in a collaborative system, they jump on the opportunity to offer their views and to better the current situation. People go straight to work. Whenever we start a large complex systems engagement, the instruction gi

Lego-based strategic planning is being used around the world to get 100% engagement in collaborative conversations that lead to insight and commitment from the entire team. These modeling tools and planning process are being used successfully by the likes of Microsoft, NASA, Google, Kraft Foods and many others. You will be in good company. Developing strategic plans and visions for the future with Lego is a much more effective process than ‘standard’ approaches. Which means

Lego Serious Play (LSP) is a wonderful process that was designed to enhance deep, innovative conversations among intimate groups of 8-12 people. As a creative problem solving process for small teams that are solving huge challenges, it is unmatched in its support of lateral thinking and metaphor building. So what were we thinking when we designed an LSP workshop for over 200 participants? Not exactly the most intimate gathering. But we’re accustomed to taking groups of 100 or

Introductions are a natural jumping off point at many meetings. They are a calm, polite way of setting a tone, letting everyone speak, and ostensibly, getting everyone to know everyone else. However, it has been my experience that introductions can also be insidious little time wasters on many occasions, and they have the bad effect of slotting people into roles – something that is seldom useful, and often detrimental to doing real work . A case in point: at one Open Space-ty

Sincerity, like love, is NOT an emotion. It’s not a feeling. It’s not something you can promise. “Sincerity”, in the words of a wise old Zen master (is there any other kind?) “is following through.” You can’t promise sincerity – you can only demonstrate it through your actions. Pounding on the table, stating that this initiative is at one with the beating of your heart and that you will see it through to the bitter end is wonderful drama, but it isn’t useful, and it certainly

I recently attended some wonderful visual facilitation training at the Grove in San Francisco. An exceptional experience, highly recommended to any facilitator. Contact me for details where to stay, and where not to wander! Anyhow, part of the fun was spending three days batting around ideas with like-minded colleagues from around the planet. One of the oddest things, to the ears of our newfound friends, was our recipe for success: one part structure, two parts chaos. Many of

In life, I’ve always enjoyed the role of enabler – helping others to achieve exceptional results. I’ve done it many ways: as a teacher, a leader, a mentor, even in sales roles. But the place I’ve found the most joy is in my work as a facilitator of complex collaborative efforts. In my opinion, facilitating done effectively is a vocation. It’s not something you can do part time, and it’s not something you put on with the morning coffee and take off with the evening meal. I wil

When I walk into a room to work with a team, I come from a certain point of view, and I run events under certain assumptions. I thought it might be handy to walk through some of them, for those who’ve never been through an engagement with our team. First: the people. I make two assumptions. One, I presume that each individual gets up in the morning expecting, hoping, to do good work. I’m not naive enough to presume everyone is, but you’re presumed to be a positive force until