Originally sent on August 12, 2023

Hi Barb,

Do your organization operate on the calendar year?  If so, 'tis the Season of Planning.

When Planning Season came around in my former workplace, I'd lay low. I managed to dodge planning for many years.

I hated boring meetings and frankly, those planning marathons were the worst. (For other reasons why I disliked traditional strategic planning, read my latest blog.)

Planning Seasons can vary, but whenever yours is or was, think back to when you created your last plan. 

-- How long did it take to put it together?
-- How long before life derailed it?  
-- Did you try to force life to fit the plan?
-- Did you give up and put your plan in the can?  (i.e., trash, rubbish)

Good news!  You can have Planning Season all year round! 

I hear you groaning, but hear me out.

-- What if planning in frequent, short, and fun sessions could replace those annual planning sessions? 
-- What if you could bring your plan to life and could stop trying to put life into your (dead) plan? 
-- What if you could see on the change you want to be in the world? 

Now you can! On the wall, on your screen, on paper -- you can see the big picture, including the places where are you stuck.

I'm talking about Ecocycle Planning.*

• It's clear. You can see what is growing and what you need to let go of.
• It's powerful. You can find leverage points, those activities that can release more resources for what you care about. 
• It's dynamic. Whenever something unexpected happens, you can update your plan quickly and find your next steps.

You can experience Ecocycle planning for yourself in a workshop next Wednesday, August 16th. Not only can you create a plan on a topic of your choice, you can receive help in improving it. Learn more here.  

The workshop is offered jointly by two state organizational development networks -- but it's OK, they say anyone on my list can come at no cost. 

Join us on Wednesday August 16th,  I hope to see you there!!

Warmly,

Barb Bickford

PS --The workshop is at 4:30 Pacific time / 6:30 Central time / 7:30 Eastern time. "Times may vary in your location"  Register here!
* Ecocycle Planning is a Liberating Structure developed by Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz, and may be used by anyone under a Creative Commons License

If an event has already occurred, the links in this email may not work. Questions? Contact Barb.

Ecocycle Planning / Grow and Let Go - August 16, 2023

Join me this coming Wednesday for an online workshop jointly offered by the Pacific Northwest and Minnesota Organizational Development Networks. No experience necessary -- this workshop is open to anyone interested in planning, innovation and change in organizations. Learn more and register.

Beyond Bob - Practicing Alternatives to Robert's Rules - September 20-21, 2023, Duluth, Minnesota

If you'll be attending the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits' Annual Conference, please join Daryl Yankee and me in our experiential breakout session about alternatives to Robert's Rules. Check out the conference webpage.

The Deliberate Irony of Liberating Structures

What makes Liberating Structures (such as Ecocycle Planning) so useful, so liberating? Check out this article by one of the co-creators of LS, Keith McCandless.

Recent Blog posts

-- Leading change -- a guest post by Dr. Carrie Goucher
-- What's better than good old strategic planning?

My current workshops and courses

Four ways to beat fatigue -- for yourself! 

Yes, this tip is similar to the one in my July 26th email, but it's worth repeating.

Are you disengaged in meetings? Maybe you need more rest! Rest is not just sleep. 

Broadly speaking, rest is anything you do that is non-habitual, something that will bring you balance.

-- If you sit a lot, then stand, move, or walk.
-- If you work alone, collaborate with colleagues.
-- if you are around people a lot, then take time alone.
-- if you think logically a lot, do something creative like doodle (even during a meeting). 

You get the point. You don't have to do it for hours -- just take little breaks.

Look at a tree. Pet your cat. Read a novel. Call a friend. 

For more on rest, read "How can leaders get just a little more rest?" 

I and two friends offer a program about different types of rest. If interested, simply reply to this email.

Want more tips? Access Ten Tips to Foster Online Engagement.

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