A few days back, I wrote about the Tibetan Women’s Uprising in 1959 in my post titled “Leading Change When There Is No Sense of Urgency: The Women of Tibet.” In this post, I made a commitment to dedicate my next article in honor of these women that have persevered and dedicated their lives to the Tibetan cause.
In doing so, I will write about the The Noble Eightfold Path and how it relates to realizing change in business and in life. In Buddhism, the eight practices that lead to well being are known as The Noble Eightfold Path. Don’t freak out—I’m not going to go all religious on you. I’m simply going to share how these age-old practices are applicable to leading change in business and in life.
The point I’m trying to get across in this article is that leading change is a skill, an art, a discipline, a mystery even. The Dalai Lama, for example, is a master of many things and I’m sure he painfully ponders every day, “how might we make progress with China and Tibet?”
My argument is that the 21st century doesn’t need more change managers—no more “accredited” change management professionals. Only Designers of Change can kick-start the chain reaction of a better, more innovative kind of change.
How can you become a Designer of Change? Here are the eight principles of The Noble Eightfold Path, contrasted with the practices of a change manager and the principles of a Designer of Change.
1. Right View
The Buddhist has the capacity to see and understand things as they really are; the change manager conducts a change readiness assessment. The Designer of Change seeks to understand worldviews.
2. Right Intention (Right Thinking)
The Buddhist trains their mind to dwell deeply in the present moment; the change manager uses a structured approach. The Designer of Change asks “How might we…?”
3. Right Speech
The Buddhist sees language as a principle of ethical conduct; the change manager fills out a communication plan template. The Designer of Change asks ‘Why?’ and listens.
4. Right Action
The Buddhist is committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental; the change manager identifies and executive sponsor. The Designer of Change is a connector and solves ‘wicked problems.’
5. Right Livelihood
The Buddhist earns a living in a righteous way, legally and peacefully; the change manager gets certified. The Designer of Change uses the Human-Centered Design Toolkit to practice open-minded observation, to generate ideas, and implement change.
6. Right Effort
The Buddhist is self-disciplined and nurtures honest, kind, benevolent mental energy; the change manager manages resistance. The Designer of Change practices exploration, collaboration, and prototyping.
7. Right Mindfulness
The Buddhist is mindful of the first aspect of meditation—stopping, calming, resting, and healing; the change manager creates a sense of urgency. The Designer of Change establishes a sense of purpose.
8. Right Concentration
The Buddhist cultivates a mind that is one-pointed and maintains evenness; the change manager follows best practices. The Designer of Change tackles tough challenges that require innovative thinking, creative solutions and collaborative action.
These are not the only principles for Designers of Change, and perhaps not even the best ones. And, my hope is that they begin to help us think constructively about how to build a better tomorrow, compassionately. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
The fisherman is falling asleep by the fireplace next to the beagle. I shall join him. Good night.
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