The Catalyst's Way - A Handbook for People Who Want to Change the World

TheCatalyst’sWay

Ahandbookforpeoplewhowanttochangetheworld

ChellieSpiller

withFoundationalStorytellers

DurkhanaiAyubi,InduBalachandran,BoydBroughton,CyanBrown,DominicCampbell, KateHilton,SamHughes,AgustinIbáñez,KaiKennedy,LeNhanPhuong,Lance Louskieter,DorahMarema,ChrisOechsli,AmandaSegnini,DanaWalrath

ArtworkbyDanaWalrath

Foreword

WhentheAtlanticFellowsProgramswereenvisioned,apurposefuldecisionwastakenby AtlanticPhilanthropiestomoveawayfromthelargebricks-and-mortardonationsthathad becomeasignatureoftheircharitablegivingandtowardsadirectinvestmentinpeople.It wasadecisionnottakenlightlyandnotasafebet.Instead,itrecognisedtheneedfor leadershipmodelstogobeyondthosetaughtatbusinessschoolsorexecutiveeducation courses.

AtlanticPhilanthropieshadtheforesighttorecognisetheleadershipthatdefineseveryday life.Whilstmanydecryadearthofleadership,thereis,infact,anoversupplyof extraordinaryleadershipthatoftengoesunnoticedandthisextendsfaroutsideoffices, governmentinstitutions,boardrooms,andbigbusiness.ManyoftheFellowsinthe programmesexemplifythisleadership,fromworkinginthebackgroundonlife-changing medicationtoleadingacommunityorganisationforbetterhousing.Ourinternationalstaff membersrecognisedthis,anddiscussionsledtohowweputafingeronwhatwewereseeing intheseprogrammes,howweanalysethesediversenarrativesandweavethemintoan outward-facingstory.

Bybringingontheleader-in-residence,wecouldtellthestoryofthisunique,interconnected ecosystemanddevelopnarrativesofcatalyticleadershipaddressingthesystemiccausesof injustice,inequity,andoppressiontopursuelastingandmeaningfulchange.

Khalil Goga Associate Executive Director

Preface

WhenIwastheLeader-in-ResidenceattheAtlanticInstituteatOxford,Inoticedthat effectivetrailblazershavecertainfeaturesincommon:theydemonstrateimmensecourage andcompassion,andareaction-oriented.Theyarealsotorchbearersofhope,whichthey taughtmeisn’tpassiveorwishfulbutactive.Theyseeaproblemanddosomethingaboutit becausetheyalsoseebetterpossibilities.Ifmakingwavesandmakingchangeonaglobal scaleorclosertohomeinterestsyou,you’vecometotherightplace.Truechangemakers— catalysts—comeinmanyformsbutareallinterestedinjustice.Inart.Intruth.In collaboration.

WelcometotheCatalyst’sWay.

Developing The Catalyst’s Way involvedimmersingmyselfinspacesandlisteningtothe livedexperiencesofthefoundingstorytellers.InMarch2022,ImetmembersoftheAtlantic communityatOxfordduringagatheringoftheboard,executivedirectors,andglobalsenior Fellows’representatives,alongwiththeotherleaders-in-residence.Ialsometwiththe AtlanticFellowsattheLondonSchoolofEconomicsandtheGlobalBrainHealthInstitutein Ireland.Duringthistime,thefirstwaveofFoundationalStorytellersjoinedthisproject.I’m gratefultothemforgenerouslybeingearlyadopters.Afterthatfirstgathering,Ijourneyedto Irelandtodiscovermy Irishrootsonmyfather’ssideinSixMileBridge,CountyClare.Ialso drovealargeportionoftheWildAtlanticWay.Ithenhadconversationswitheach storyteller,andfromthere,wewoulditerateuntilthestorytellerwashappywiththeirstory andhowitgotwovenintotheevolving Catalyst’s Way.

Activistconsciousnessrunsthroughmanysidesofmyfamily.Dad,anAnglicanminister, heldradicalviewsaboutreligionthatweren’tcompatiblewiththeChurch’sview.Wemoved frequentlyfromparishtoparish.Dadlovedastronomy,andsomeofmyhappiestmemories arewalkingbesidehimacrossmeadowsandoverhills,sharinghissenseofdiscoveryand awe.MumisatrailblazerinMāoriaddictionservices,forgingculturalhealingmodalities alongsideclinicalpathways,forwhichshewasrecognisedasanOfficeroftheNewZealand OrderofMeritforherservicestohealth.ShestartedtheTeRangihaeataOrangaMāori addictionservicefromthebackofourfamilycarbecauseshecouldn’tgettheneeded funding.HerapproachwasgroundedinaMāoriworldview,andasshesaidtothenewspaper thatinterviewedherforheraward,“Iwantedaservicewheretheyhadthecouragetocome throughthedoorandwewouldmanaakithem,meaningthatwewouldshowkindnessand lovetothosethatdidcomethroughandunderstandthatittakescourage.”1 Myhusband, RodgerSpiller,hasbeenapioneerandanactivistinthefieldofethicalinvestmentsincethe 1980s.Hehasdedicatedhislife’sworktochampioningfundmanagersandinvestorswhose investmentdecisionsareaforceforgood.

AstatementbyMāorieconomicactivistTuionoguidesme:“Oneofthemostpowerfulforms ofprotestistocaptureaspaceandtransformitintosomethingelse.”2 Spacessuchas businessschoolsmustn’tbeabdicatedandlefttothestatusquo.It’simportantthatstudents andorganisationshaveaccesstoalternativeknowledgesystems.WorkingwiththeAtlantic Institutehasbeenanincredibleopportunitytobuildonthisworkandtobepartofa transformativewhole.Learningmoreaboutco-designandcollaborationinthecontextof catalyticworkwasfascinatingandinvigorating,andIhopeitwillcalltoyou,too.

Chellie Spiller Professor of Leadership, University of Waikato

Copyright©2023AtlanticInstitute,RhodesHouse,OxfordUniversity,UK.

Allrightsreserved.

Re-connect, Re-kindle, Re-imagine

Throughtheages,catalystshaveoverturnedinjustice,oppression,andinequity.Catalysts formconstellationsofeffortateverylevelofsocietyandeverynookandcrannyof communitiesworldwide.Theyshowusthatwarriorscomeinmanyformsandthateachofus canshiftthecollectiveneedletowardsjustice,liberty,andequity.Thecumulativeimpactof catalystactioncanendinjusticessuchasmodern-dayslavery,inhumanelabourpractices, racism,humanandenvironmentalrightsviolations,poverty,healthdisparities,abusesof genderrights,anddisplacement.

Catalystsseepotentialinthetransformationalfusionofradicalimagination,purpose,and people.Theyarethepoetswhowalkamongstus,themusicians,politiciansandpresidents, writers,orators,communityandfieldworkers,doctorsandnurses,journalists,educators,and philosophers.Theyaresurvivors,resisters,andfreethinkers.Theyarechangeagentsatthe interfaceoftransition,whetheramongstthegrassrootsofcommunities,inscientificlabs,on stage,incorporateboardrooms,inthehallsofacademia,orinantechambersofpower.They areourancestors,mothers,fathers,aunties,uncles,siblings,cousins,friends,andcolleagues. OurworldisindeliblyimprintedbythecourageouseffortsofpeoplesuchasMahatma Gandhi,MartinLutherKing,EllaBaker,MalcolmX,RosaParks,HarrietTubman,Nelson Mandela,EmmelinePankhurst,WilliamWilberforce,MalalaYousafzai,SojournerTruth, MaryWollstonecraft,KoUn,RubénBlades,andJhinnaPinchi.

Thepurposeofthisbookistoigniteandsupportcatalyticeffortsaroundtheworld—that meansyou,forwhateverlightsyouup. The Catalyst’s Way isdesignedasanembodied processthatseekstoempowerchangemakersbyprovidingthemwithtoolstobemore effectiveandtosupporttheirlifelongtransformationaljourney.Ingoingthroughthe exercisesandreadingthestoriesofthefolksinthetrenches,youwillemergefeeling motivatedandencouragedtotransformyourworld,too.

Acatalystissomeonewhocauseschangetohappen.ThismeaningderivesfromtheGreek root‘kata’,meaning‘down’and‘lyein’,meaning‘loosen’.Together,theseformtheword ‘katalyein’,meaning‘todissolve’and‘katalytikos’,‘abletodissolve’.3 Actionandcapability cometogetherinasynergeticway.Catalysts,assuggestedby‘katalytikos’,needtobeableto effectchange.Acatalystworkstopulldownanddissolvesystemsthatperpetuateinequity andinjustice.

Inthesepages,you’llfindavastrepositoryofexperienceandknowledgetosupportand inspire,whetheryouareoperatingatagrassrootslevelorareanacademic,trainer,consultant, orleaderfromanywalkoflife.Thisbooksynthesisescutting-edgeresearch,ancientwisdom, andthelivedexperienceoffifteenFoundationalStorytellers—catalystswhoholdaflameand illuminatethewayfortherestofus.Theirbackgroundsreflectthediversityofculture, context,andcircumstancesfromSouthAfrica,Asia,theMiddleEast,LatinAmerica, Australia,NewZealand,Ireland,theUK,andtheUS.Theyaredoctors,surgeons, neuroscientists,activistsinthefieldsofreproductivejusticeandLGBTQ+rights,Indigenous sovereignty,racialequity,climatechange,publichealth,ageing,genocide,anddisplacement. Theycometocatalyticworkfrommanyangles—asauthors,writers,poets,organisers, leaders,educators,agitators,andinnovators.Eachstorytellerbringsafacetoflived experiencetobearuponthiswork.Withimaginationanddaringinhowtheyenvision solutions,theyvaluepractical,livedexperienceandholisticintelligence.

Aswellasthestoriesthatinformthecatalyst’spathway,thisbookisinformedbyawide bodyofresearchandtheories,includingcriticaltheory,socialmovementtheory,decolonising theories,alternativeformsofleadership,wisdomtraditions,andneuroscience.

Catalytic Leadership

Leadershipisatrickynotion.Manycatalystsseethemselvesascontributors,facilitators,and collaborators,butnotasleaders.Theyresistnotionsofleadersasexceptional,with positional,hierarchical,andauthoritativeprivileges,andtheyrejectcommand-and-control approaches.Theyareacutelyawareofthecostsofpersonalaggrandisementandemptyvirtue signalling,andrailagainstanywhiffofduplicity.Sometimestheymuststrikeoutontheir ownand,atothertimes,theyworkindeepcollaboration.Beingacatalystishowwecarry ourselvesintheworld,whatweareinserviceof,andhowwedoitandwithwhom.Catalysts seeglimpsesofpossibilitiesandstrikethematchofpotential. Hencetheword‘catalyst’isnotaproxyforleader:itisitsownthing.

Catalystsdon’tonlydismantlesystemsofoppression;theyalsoraise(k)newones.Spelling (k)newinthiswayreferstoknowledgethatmaybepresentedasnewforsomepeoplebutis alreadyknownbyothers,i.e.,Indigenouswisdomaproposcollectiveleadershipfor sustainability.Theterm(k)newinthecontextof‘catalysis’isanalchemyofancientwisdom traditionsandnewknowledgethatrisesgeneratively.Anothermeaningoftheword‘catalyst’ isanalchemistwhoignitesapowerfulexchange.WhenchemistElizabethFulhamefirstused theterm‘catalysis’inherexperiments,inthelate1700s,shebroughtthisnewconnotation.4 Applyingthistochangeagency,RicardoMorse,inhisworkoncollaborations,describesan

Figure 1: The Catalyst's Way Developmental Pathway

effectivecatalystassomeonewhohasthecourageandconvictiontointervene,havean impact,reduceorremovebarriersto change,andbeanintegrator.5 Inchemistry,whenadded toamixture,thecatalyst elementignitesatransformationbutisnotconsumedbythe reaction.Beingacatalystinvolvespersonaltransformationandtransformingcomplexand challengingcontexts,butnotbeingconsumedintheprocess.Theworkcanbedepleting, evendangerous,andit’scriticalforalchemiststolearnhowtoreplenish,resource,and reconnect.

EfrainBritoandArnethaBalldrawongenerativechangetoarguethatagentsofchange “constantlyrecreatethepresentinordertoaffectthefuture”6 throughcriticalanalysisof context,challenges,andpractice.Theystressthatreflectionandawakeningareprecursorsto transformativepraxisbyinterrogatingpersonalassumptionsandelicitinginsightsthatleadto action.Truereflectionextendsbeyondrealisationandposturingonlywhenitgets operationalisedintoaction,andsuch“actionwillconstituteanauthenticpraxisonlyifits consequencesbecometheobjectofcriticalreflection.”7Thus,reflectionandconsciousness arenotpassive.Actsofcriticalcreation,iftheyaretobetransformative,involveexamining ourassumptions,livedrealities,anddiscomforts,whichwewillbedelvingintointhisbook.

Attheheartofcollectiveleadershiparehealthyindividualswhodotheinnerworkofchange anddevelopmentastheysimultaneouslycontributetothewhole.Thenotionofa‘collective’ ismultifaceted.Itcanmeanalooseconstellationofcatalystswhohavejoinedtogetherto effectachangeaspartofaproject,amoretightlyboundgroupthatcoheresaroundan enduringpurpose,oratribalcommunitythatsustainstheirworkthroughthegenerations. Regardlessofform,howacollectiveisorganisedandenactsitspurposeandprocesses requirespeoplewhoareself-awareandwillingtoexploretheirowninteriorrealms.Aswell astotakeeffectiveactionintheworld.

How the book is set out

ConsidertheCatalyst’sWay,evokedbythespiralmetaphor,asuppleofferingof possibilities,notasalinearpathway.Therearetwomainsectionstothisbook.

ThefirstsectionunpacksthetenelementsoftheCatalyst’sWay,setoutinFigure1,whose elementsflowintoandreinforceeachother,forminganintegratedwhole.Thepathwaycan bepickedupatanypoint.PassagesfromtheFoundationalStorytellersreveallived experiencesthatgroundeachelementandcollectivelyformthepathway.Relevantcomments fromothersources,suchasacademics,researchers,andpractitioners,arewoveninfor additionalinsightandtheory.Interspersedthroughoutisaneuroscienceview,reflectingthe researchbeingdonebytheGlobalBrainHealth Institute,whichisapartoftheglobal networkofcatalyststhatthisworkdrawstogether.

Withinthissection,therearefivemainpartstotheCatalyst’sWay.

1. CentreoftheSpiral(deepbluecircle),istheabodeofpotential,purpose,vision, knowledgecode,andvalues,includingactivatedhope.TheCentreoftheSpiralisa remindertoretainaCentreofStrengthtoholdyouinyourchallengingwork. Relationships,whicharetheconduitforcatalyticwork,arecoveredintheCentre, too.

2. ChamberofDiscomfort(redcircle),exploresthedisquietsandannoyancesthat bubbleawaywhenweencounterourselves,others,andcircumstancesthatcan triggerreactions.Theseencountersbubbleupintherealitiesofourwork,andhow werespondandevolveispartofbeinganeffectivecatalyst.

3. ReflectiveHemisphere(lightblueoval),isthespaceforcriticalreflectionand

involvesdiscoveringtheopportunitiestoadaptanddevelop,alongwithhealingthat emphasisescaringforourselvesandothers.CreativeStorytellingcompletestheset andbringsattentiontopoetry,dance,music,writing,andcrafts,toreclaimour narrative.

4. BridgeofPraxis(yellowcircle),isathresholdtotheactionhemisphere.How meaningisshapedanddisruptedisdiscussed,alongwiththebuildingblocksof strategywithwhichtotakeaction.

5. ActionHemisphere(greenoval),encompassesCollaborating,whichinvolves formingeffectivenetworks,communication,andgarneringcommitments. Mobilisingistheseatoflivedexperiencethroughtakingactionandtacklingpower. AmplifyingImpactandSuccessioninvolvesappraisingchange,alongwiththe importanceofcoachingandmentoringtobuildvitalsuccessionpathways.

Interspersedthroughoutarereflectiveexercises,tools,andpracticestobuildlearningand appliedknowledge.Youmayfinditusefultohaveapenandjournalnearbytoanswer questionsandcaptureyourideas.

Thispathwaymapstoawholebrainviewthatinterweavesourcreativity(lightblue)and logic(green)alongwiththelimbicandsocioemotionalbrainnetworks(red)thattrigger discomfort,reaction,andstress.Thefrontoparietalexecutivenetwork(yellow)isassociated withsensemakinganddecision-making.

You’llmeettheFoundationalStorytellers,withtheirstirringsandcriticalmomentsabout catalyticworkexpressedintheirfullness.Thesestorieshavebeengenerouslygiftedtothe communityofglobalcatalyststoguideallofourlearning.

Thesecondsectionprovidesacollectionof‘TAKE-a-WAYS,’whichofferreflective exercises,tools,andpracticestobuildlearningandappliedknowledge.

Figure 2: The Catalyst’s Way learning loop

Key themes

Thepoweroforigins

Ineachinterview,IinvitedtheFoundationalStorytellerstotellmealittleaboutthemselves. WhilstIhadmetseveralinperson,allbutoneoftheinterviewswereoverZoom,andIwas keentodotheintroductionsproperly.ForaMāori,thisincludessharingwhoweare,where wearefrom,ourculturalplacesofbelongingandourancestrallines.Iwasstruckbyhow openlyeachstorytellersharedtheirbackgroundandupbringingandwhatledthemtobecome anactivist.Icameoffthesecallsprofoundlytouchedbythis.Oneaftertheother,theirorigin storiesevokedthestirringsoftheircatalyticagency.

Activatedhope

Catalystsarewillingtobewarriors.Theyenterdiscomfortzones,leanintoadversities,tackle powersystems,andscrapeawayveilsofhypocrisy.Theyareinterventionistsmotivatedbyan innerforcethatstandsupandfightsforjustice.Catalystsholdaradicalimaginationandare committedtounlockingpotentialandinhabitingtheplacebetweennowandthefuture.They arepreparedtoletgosootherscanpickupthework.Curiousandhonest,theymeld possibilitiestogivethingsago,evenwhentherisksoffailurearehigh.Activatedhopeisnot wishfulthinkingorcrossingone’sfingers,butasenseofagencythattakingpurposefulaction willchangeoutcomes.Hopeisadeep-seatedconvictionthatthingscanbecomebetterifwe makeaconsciouschoicetoact,oftenindefianceofthemajorityviewsorsocietalnorms.

Changebeginswithin

Catalystspeelbackthelayers,shedoldskins,andgototheirgrowthedges.Theyunpack theirownreceivednormsandideas,oftenimprintedbyupbringings,colonisation, corporatisation,professionalism,anddominantcultures.Theyarenotpulledintoconformity andarewillingtoflexanddisruptthemselves.Theytakeactivestepstodecoloniseand acknowledgethatinheritedandacquiredprivilegeneedsscrutiny.Whilstprivilegecanbe harnessedasanopportunitytomakeadifferenceforothers,itcanalsoperpetuatesystemsof injustice.

RelationalandRotational

Relationshipsarecritical toachievingsustainable change.However,relationshipsarenot somemagicalgluewherebycollaborationsemerge,insteadtheyrequiretenacity, commitment,andacapacityforworkingamidstmessinessanddisagreement.As constellationsofeffortsappear,thecatalyticecosystemadjustsandripplesinresponseto opportunityandadversity.Sustenancefromothercatalysts,lovedones,andthecommunity providesacircleofstrengthwhenthingsgettough.Eachstorytellerlashestogetherplatforms forallvoicestobeheard,andtheyareacutelyawareofpresencesandabsencesinaspace. Theyhavementorsandarementors.Theyunderstandandvaluethatcatalystsarearelational movementthroughtime.

(K)newwisdominlivedrealities

Thestorytellershaveregardfortheancientculturalbedrockthatprovideswisdomfortoday. Valuesystemsguidethemtowardeffectiveandjustaction.However,theydon’tuncritically acceptall‘wisdom’asreceivedbutrather,turnitovertoconsiderorigins,histories, relevance,andimpacts.Catalystsvaluethelearningthatemergesfromlivedrealitiesand alternativeknowledge,cosmologies,andphilosophies.Theyeschewprescription,hierarchies, linearity,stages,andlabels.

De-organisingorganisers

Thecatalyststendtoholdcollaborationsandactionslightlyinthesensethattheydon’tovercontrol.Theytalkabouthavingporosityinrelationships,loosenedrulesandstructure,and co-designingandfacilitatingratherthanleading.Manyhadtounpackandrecoverfrom command-and-controlleadershipapproachesentrenchedinsystemsthatsuffocate possibilitiesfororganic,distributedapproaches.

TransactionalandTransformational Changeistheresult,andchangeneverends.FoundingStorytellerChrisOechsli,President andCEOofTheAtlanticPhilanthropies,providesadilemmathatmanyactivistsface:dealing withdailyrealitiesthatcanbeurgentandcrucial,suchassavinglives,canmeannothaving thetimeorseeingthevalueintimespentoncriticalreflection.Suchtransactionalversus transformationaldilemmasarecomplex:

It’snotnavel-gazingtothinkabout‘howeffectiveIamasaleaderoractor’ina space.Reflectionandtakingtimetolearnabouteffectivewaysofbeingachange agentcanmakeyouanevenmorepowerfulchangeagent.Itisnavel-gazingifyou disassociatelearningfrominfluenceandimpact.Youcouldbeundervaluingyour potentialcontribution.Youcouldbeasuperbemergencyroomdoctor,andyoucan savelives.Youcouldalsointroducesomepracticesorevenlookatthecausesofthe emergenciesthatwouldreducewhat’scomingintoyouroperatingroom.For example,inVietnam,wewenttotheSchoolofPublicHealthforadvice,talkedwith theDeansandaskedwhatthenumberonehealthissuewasinVietnamthen.Itwas trafficaccidents.Wesupportedpeopleandorganisationsthatintroducedhelmetsand safetyruleswhichreduceddemandsonthehealthsystem.Ifyouareconstantly dealingwiththedownstreamresultandnotlookingathowyoucouldinfluence upstreamcauses,youmaybeundervaluingyourcontribution.Youcangetsodrawn intothetrenchesthatyouloseyourcapacityforgivingafteracertainpointbecause you’vejustgiventoomuch.

Skills developed and strengthened

AfocusedsetofskillsisdevelopedbydoingtheCatalyst’sWay.Itisdesignedtobe circumnavigatedmanytimesasacatalysttakesnewinsightsandinformationintoeach rotation.Skillsinclude:

Personal Relational Strategic Practice

● Criticalthinking andconsciousness

● Reflexivityand self-awareness

● Purpose,vision, values

● Neuroscience perspectives

● Storytellingand shapingnarrative

● Transformative praxis

● Well-being practices

● Theoriesofsocial movements,social justiceand decolonising

● Strengthening relationships betweenindividual andcollective

● Diversity,inclusion andintercultural perspectives

● Collaborating

● Building relationshipsacross differentspaces

● Intercultural communication

● Long-termpurpose orientationand visioning

● Sensemaking, sensegivingand sensebreaking

● Succession planning

● Adaptiveplanning

● Powerdynamics

● Mobilisationand takingaction

● Learningfrom livedexperience

● Powerinuse

● Differentiating typesofchange

● Getting commitments

About the spiral design

TheSpiralintheCatalyst’sWayrepresentsabedrockmetaphorthattraversescultures,time, andspace.Thespiralstructureofourgalaxyremindsusofthecyclicalanddynamicnatureof thecosmosinwhichwedwell.Spiralshavecomplexformsandmeaningsinmanysocieties. TheAdinkrasymbolsfromGhanafeaturea‘log’spiral,whichgrowsoutwardandisa reminderthatalllivingthingsmustgrow.TheancientcosmologyoftheDogonofMali revealsaspirallingcoilglyph,asymbolthatdenotesinfinity,dynamicexpression,and movement.TheCeltictriskelion(triplespiral)symbolisesunitybetweentheinnerandouter worldsandourmental,physical,andspiritualself.IntheDongbasymbolsoftheNaxiBon religion,aleft-turningspiralsymbolisesthegreat motherofcreation.“Kundal”isaSanskrit wordforspiralorcoil,denotingaserpentofenergythatcoilsupthroughthechakras.In Māori,thephrase“Tetōrinohaerewhakamua,whakamuri”meansthatatthesametimeas thespiralisgoingforward,itisreturning.Thespiralalsoreflectsgrowth,andnew beginnings,knownasakoru,theunfurlingfern.

Table 1: Skills developed and strengthened through The Catalyst's Way

Neuroscienceapproach

TheCatalyst’sWaytakesaholisticmind-bodyapproach.Theindentationinthespiral capturescurrentapproachestoholisticbraindynamics,synergisticblending,andselforganisingbrainnetworks.Therightandleftsidesofthespiralsymbolisethecreativeand logicaldimensionofhumanexperience.Therightsiderepresentstheorchestratingbrain processessuchascreativity,intuition,visualrecognition,spatialintelligence,colour, storytelling,healing,emotionalintelligence,andimagination.Thishemispheresynergistically blendswiththeleftside,associatedwithtakingaction,analyticalthinking,logic,reasoning, strategising,planning,communicating,numbers,andthelogisticsaspectsofmobilising.The limbicandsocioemotionalbrainnetworks,andemotionalintelligence,reflecthuman experiencessuchasdiscomfort,reaction,stress,andgoingintosurvivalmode.Thefrontof thespiralinvolveshigh-orderneurosemioticsprocessesandisassociatedwithsensemaking, awarenessanddecision-making,sensegiving,andsensebreaking.8

AgustinIbáñezisaneuroscientistwhohasguidedtheapplicationofneurosciencetothe Catalyst’sWay,ensuringanon-reductionistapproachtobrainscience.Hence,weseekto avoidcontemporarybiasedviewsabouta“neuroboom”industryassociatedwithcostreductivetechniques,hiddenagendas,andtechnologicalexperimentation.AsIbáñez explains,neuroscienceisstartingtoinitiatedialoguesacrossdisciplines.9 Wetakeaholistic approach;asaresult,theCatalyst’sWayisdedicatedtodevelopingrelationalintelligence internallyandexternally.Goingfurther,theCatalyst’sWayrepresentstheneuralnet throughoutthebody,anexquisiteandunifiedintelligencebetweentheheart,head,andgutto informaction.NeurosurgeonJamesDotysays:

Weseparatethemindasrationalfromtheheartasrelational,butultimatelythe mindandheartarepartofoneunifiedintelligence.Theneuralnetaroundthe heartisanessentialpart ofourthinkingandourreasoning…Ourindividual happinessandourcollectivewell-beingdependontheintegrationand collaborationofbothourmindsandhearts.10

Catalyststapintothisunifiedintelligence,strengthenedthroughre-imaginingandrekindling,whichisalifelongjourneyinwhatpsychologistCarlJungcalledindividuation.The spiralwasafavouredimageusedbyJung,whowrote:“Thespiralinpsychologymeansthat whenyoumakeaspiral,youalwayscomeoverthesamepointwhereyouhavebeenbefore, butneverreallythesame;itisaboveorbelow,inside,outside,soitmeansgrowth.”Jung visualisedtheunconsciousasmoving“spiral-wisearoundacentre,graduallygettingcloser, whilethecharacteristicsofthecentregrowmoreandmoredistinct.”11

Praxis

ThetwohemispheresofthespiralintheCatalyst’sWayreflecttheeducatorandphilosopher PauloFreire’swatershedworkonpraxis,intermsofasynthesisoftheoryandpractice,where eachinformstheother,asacontinuouspracticeofreflectionandaction.12 Praxisisgrounded inlivedexperienceandcontext,valuingreciprocallearningandreflexiveinsightfortaking actionandachievingameaningful,focusedimpact.

AmplifyingImpactandSuccession

Thespiraldesignembodiesamovementthroughtime,reflectingthecumulativeimpactof onegenerationofchangemakerstothenext,whoeachmovethecollectiveneedle. Throughouthistory,courageouspeoplehavetakenupacallingtobeaforceforjustandfree societies.

Wellspring

Watermovesin aspiralfashion,refreshingitselfandavoidingstagnation.Thespiraldesign intheCatalyst’sWayevokescentrifugalandcentripetalmovement,movingoutwardand inwardtoenergiseourselvesandrejuvenateourfield.TheAncientEgyptianwordNurefers toprimaevalwatersandthesourceoflife.TheTainopeoplesofPuertoRicousethespiral symbolinmanyways,includingtodenotesweetwater.Thus,thespiralalsoreflectsalifegivingspring,nourishingandgivingfreshenergyandvitality.Awellspringreflectsan IndigenousAustraliansacred‘jila’waterholeandareplenishingMāori‘puna’spring.Evie O’Brien,ExecutiveDirectoroftheAtlanticInstitute,says:

Ihavebeenfascinatedbytheroleofleadersandtheworkofleadershipinboth thecreationofwhatIcallwellsofpoisonand,mostimportantly,theworkof theresistancetonotjustpreventpeoplefromdrinkingfromthepoisonouswell butinthecreationanddiggingofnewwells.13

Labyrinth

Thespiralformechoesalabyrinth,anancientarchetypedatingback4,000yearsormore, usedsymbolicallyasawalkingmeditation,choreographeddance,orsiteofritualsand ceremony.Labyrinthsaretoolsforpersonal,psychological,andspiritualtransformation,also thoughttoenhancewhole-brain creativedynamics.Labyrinthsevokemetaphor,sacred geometry,spiritualpilgrimage,religiouspractice,mindfulness,environmentalart,and communitybuilding.14

Spirallingdownandspirallingoutofcontrol

Aswithanyhumanendeavour,butespeciallyforcatalysts,itiscrucialtobeawareofpitfalls andchallenges.Includingburnoutandexhaustionfromrepeatedconfrontationswith challengingcircumstancesandencounters.AsoneCatalystsays,itcanfeellikeonestep forwardandtwobackorsideways.Maintaininghopewhilstekingoutprogresscanfeel disheartening.Thepathwayyou’llfindhereprovidespracticestoincreaseeffectivenessand learnfromtheexperienceofotherswhohavepreviouslytravelledthatroute.The underpinningprocessoffersbalance,skill,mastery,andinsighttosupportyouinyourgamechangingwork.

CommentsfromtheartistDanaWalrath

Thatspiralsappearindependentlyacrossspaceandtimeinhumanartspeakstotheircapacity toexpresssomethingfundamentallyhuman.SpiralsappearedinmyownworklongbeforeI knewoftheirpresencein theoldesthumanrockart,fromtoday’sSouthAfrica,Australia, France,andSpaincreatedbetweentwentyandfortythousandyearsago.Intheseancient works,spiralsareaccompaniedbydots,humanhands,andtheplantsandanimalssharingthe earthwiththepeoplesoftheseplaces.Connectingustoourancestorsandleadingintoour future,spiralsareembeddedinourcellularstructureandthespirallingdoublehelixstructure ofourDNA.

WELCOMETOTHECATALYST’SWAY

Legend

TheSpiralrepresentsabedrockmetaphorthattraversescultures,time,andspace.Here,the rightandleftsidesreflectthecreativeandlogicaldimensionsofhumanexperience, respectively.Thesesidesalsoreflectthecriticalpraxisofactionandreflection.TheSpiral evokesawellspring,labyrinth,(k)newbeginnings,successionandmovingtheneedle.

TheCentreof theSpiralisthegroundingpointthatorientstopurposeandvision.Itisthe placewheredrawuponvaluesandguidingwisdom,describedasa‘knowledgecode’.A CircleofStrengthisthecommunitythatprovidesasupportiveandsafecontainerfor catalyststodotheirinnerandouterwork.

ThefourdimensionsofInterbeing,Self,Community,andWorldspeaktorelationships thatreflectaninterwovenapproach.Relationshipsarethemediumforcatalystsandrequire self-awareness,courageousclearing,andgalvanising.Interbeingreferstointerspecies interconnectedness.Self,community,andworldareaninterplaywherebypeopleselfactualiseinrelationships.

WeencountertheChamberof Discomfort,whichhasmanyforms.Discomfortcanbe profoundlypersonalandunsettlingandcanconfrontourfeelingsaboutourselvesandour histories.Itcansurfaceintheperturbingdifferencesbetweenpeople.Fromaneuroscience view,thissectionreflectslimbictriggers(e.g.,AmygdalaHijack)andreactivitiesthatripple alongsocioemotionalbrainnetworksandinfluenceemotionalintelligence.

TheChamberofDiscomfortgivesrisetoDis-Covery.Thewordhasbeenspeltlikethisto signifythemeaningofdiscover:tofragment,pullapart,andallow(k)newperspectiveand lighttoenterourcriticalconsciousness.Weinquireintoourexperience.Froma neuroscienceview,wecontinuetounfoldourbrainplasticitythroughexperiencetowards whatprofessorsBobbKeganandLisaLaheycalla‘self-transforming’mind.15

Healingprocessesdevelopedbytheworld’sculturessupportindividualandcollectivewellbeing.Healingrestoresandrevitalisespeopleontheirpath.Fromaneuroscienceview, healingconnectstoempathy,takingcareofour‘bodybudget’,whichflowsthroughtoour emotions,affect(valenceandarousal),andbrainhealth.

CreativeStorytelling,suchaswriting,dance,poetry,visualarts,weaving,carving,and performance,tapsintodifferentformsofintelligencetoexploreourstories.Through personalandcollectivestorytelling,peopleunderstandthemselvesbetterandstrengthen relationshipswithothers.Fromaneuroscienceview,thisistheorchestratingcreativebrain.

IntheBridgeofPraxis,wearemovingtowardtakingactionthatcatalysespersonaland collectiveconsciousness.Thissectionreferstosensemaking,sensegiving,andsensebreaking throughnarratives,constructivecriticalthinking,andradicalimagination.Froma neuroscienceview,thisisthefrontoparietalexecutivenetwork.

InCollaboration,wejoinwithothersinthevanguardofchange.Collaboratinginvolves brainstormingideas,developingprocesses,findingcommonalitybetweenpurposeand values,negotiatinghowdecisionsgetmade,and(tomovefromthepossibilityto crystallisation)garneringcommitments.Agustincallsthis“cognitioninthewild.”

Mobilisationresourcessuchasrelationships,energy,funds,time,andexpertiseforeffective collectiveactionrequireattentiontocriticaltheoriesofpowerandagency.Froma neuroscienceview,beingawareofdifferentmodesofaffectensuresthatpeopleinthe collectiveremainingoodshapementally,physically,andemotionally.

AmplifyingImpactandSuccessionistoignitemorecatalystsandhelpothersdevelop (k)newformsoftakingeffectiveactionintheworldandtogoonthecatalyticjourney.Itcan includetakingstepstogetcoachingandmentoring.AmplifyingImpactislessabout expandinganindividual’sfieldofinfluenceandmoreaboutmultiplying:that’strue perpetualmomentumandempoweringothers.

Centre of the Spiral

TheCentreoftheSpiralisthegreat‘ReturningPoint’—thepausebetween movingout(centrifugal)andmovingin(centripetal).Thecentreiswhereall possibilitiesareavailable.Insomecultures,cosmologies,andphilosophies— includingAncientEgyptian,Malian,Mayan,Buddhist,Taoist,Hawaiian,and Māori—itisknownasthevoid,therealmofpotential.16 TheGerman philosopherMartinHeideggerdiscussedtheconceptofan“absoluteemptiness”thathe describedasa“plenitude.”17 Ratherthanastaticnothingness,thevoidisareservoirof possibilities.Itmeansseekingoutthatpotentialandthenreleasingitintotheworld.For catalysts,thecentreofthespiralrepresentsabeginningandanending,asthecyclic movementthatignitesenergyandtransformation.Thisliminalspaceisasourceofpotency andagency.Itisapausebetweenbreathinginandbreathingout,reflectionandaction.

Flame of Activated Hope

Catalystsholdtheflameofactivatedhope,asensethattakingpurposefulactionwillchange outcomes.Theyworkinsharpdissonancewithhowthingsareandhowtheyshouldbe regardingdignity,equality,andlibertyforall,includingtheenvironment.Theytakea pragmaticapproachtoshiftthecollectiveneedletoabetter-envisionedfuture.ForFreire, “thefutureissomethingthatisconstantlytakingplace,andthisconstant‘takingplace’means thatthefutureonlyexiststotheextentthatwechangethepresent.”18 Socialmovement educatorMarshallGanzemphasisesthatleadinginsocialmovementsrequires“learningto managethecoretensionsattheheartofwhattheologianWalterBrueggemanncallsthe ‘propheticimagination’:acombinationofcriticality(experienceoftheworld’spain)with hope(experienceoftheworld’spossibility),avoidingbeingnumbedbydespairordeludedby optimism.”19 Whateverthefutureholds,therewillalwaysbecatalystsinthepresenttojoin those,throughtheages,helpingtoimprovethecircumstancesofothers.SarahRay,who leadsanenvironmentalstudiesprogrammeatHumboldtStateUniversity,describesavirtuous circlewherebyactiondeliversresults,whichfostershope,leadingtomoreaction.Sarahsays, “Hopeistheby-productofaction,notaprerequisiteforit.”Insightsfromherstudyinclude: “Maintaining—orrestoring—hopeandoptimismrequiresfocusingonsolutionsandontheir positive(orpotentiallypositive)outcomes”,whichcounterbalancesdespair.The transformationalresilienceworkandexistentialqualitiesrequiredofpeopletoengagein activismdespitealotofbadnews.”20

Purpose and Vision

Visionandpurposeareentwined.Visionimbuesasenseofperpetuity,andpurposeisasense ofimmediacy.Catalystsimaginealternativefuturesandfindwaystobringthemintobeing. Havingaclearvisionensuresadesiredfuturealreadyhasaplaceintheworld,evenwhenthe gapbetweenpromiseandrealityseemsvast.Holdingtensionisparticularlynecessaryfor catalysts,whotakeactionpreciselybecausethepresentisunacceptable.Purposeprovides orientation,energisesmomentum,andpropelsagency.

InthecontextofBlackLivesMatter,vision,saysSarahJackson,anexpert inBlackand feministmediaandactivism,requiresradicalimagination.Shecallsuponthewordsof activistWalidahImarisha,whodescribesa“visionaryfiction”wherebywesee“wehave beguntoseetheveryrealpotentialsofenvisioningandenactingaworldthatdoesnotyet exist.”Jacksonfurtherexplains,“Collectivevisionaryleadership,embodiedacrossthese generations,islocalandcommunity-based,centresthepowerandknowledgeofordinary people,andprioritisestransformativeaccountabilityandliberatoryvisionsofthefuture.”

21 ManyIndigenouspeoples,suchasmembersoftheNativeAmericanOneidaNation,maintain

asevengenerationsoutlook,whichrequiresholdingavisionfordescendants.Theenvisioned (k)newworldisaconnectiontoancientwaysofbeingthathavebeenlostorforgottenbutcan bereclaimed.

FromaPacificOceanic wayfindingperspective,visionisdescribedas‘callingtheislandto you’.Itinvolvesholdingastrongintentionofthedestination.Byadjustingtosignsinthe world,oceanicnavigatorsbringtheislandtothemselves.Thisphilosophyof be-coming is in contrasttothe be-going,strivingand goal-conqueringmodethatmostofusareacculturated toandexhaustedby.22 Visionandpurposeareaboutwhatmattersandthechangewewishto see.Itistoaskwhatkindofancestorwewillbe,andthedifferencewewanttomakethat leavestheworldabetterplace.Itorientsustothepresenttomakechoicesandtotakeaction thatbringsafuturerealityintobeing.

Catalystsareinserviceofapurposethatwillbringaboutchange.Thatcouldmeancreating innovativehealthcaresolutionstoimprovethelivesofvulnerableanddisenfranchised communities,harnessingyourcreativetalentstobuildstrongercommunities,raising awarenessofatrocities,oreducatingothersaboutdisplacedpeoples.Somecatalystsserve througheducation,coaching,andmentoringtoequipotheractivistswiththetoolstheyneed.

Togainanunderstandingofyourplacewithintheworldwidecommunityofcatalysts,let’s identifyyourFlameofActivatedHope.Beingclearabout how youwillharnessyourskills andtalentsisadimensionofpurpose:forexample,asadoctor,writer,poet,artist,scientist, relationshipbuilder,healer,educator,speaker,andadvocate.Cultivatingtheseskillsisa necessarypartoflifelonglearning.Anotheressentialcomponentofacatalyst’spurposeis who theyareserving.Herearesomepointersforthinkingaboutyourflameofhope:

● Whatreallymatterstoyou?Don’tsomuchthinkaboutanissuebutratherwhatdoyou valueinthe way thatyouareacatalyst.Yourflameofactivatedhopeneedsairtostay alight.Forexample,DurkhanaiAyubi,anAfghanfoodexpertandprize-winning cookbookauthor,valuesfreedomandindependencetopursuewhatshetrulybelieves in.Sheknewsheneededtoavoidbeing“madeimpotentbythestructuresof organisationandotherpeople’sexpectationsofwhatyoucanandcan’tsayandwhat youcanandcan’tdo.”Whileherpathhasinvolvedimmensesacrifice,ithasalso broughtincredibleoutcomes.Durkhanaisays,“Therealpowerandtransformative groundworkhappenwhenyoufollowyourtruthsandsenseofwhatyoushouldbe doing.Anddoingitinawaythat’squiteuncompromising.”

● Lookatthetrailsofyourlife.Sometimeswhenwelookback,wegetasenseof perspectiveandinsightthatwemaynothavehadatthetime.Adescendantofenslaved Africans,aswellasfreeBlackfolksfromtheAmericanSouth,KaiKennedyalso tracesherrootstotheIndigenousMattaponipeoplesofcentralVirginia.The Mattaponilivedattheconfluenceofthreerivers,theMatta,thePoandtheNi,andare knownasthepeopleoftheriver.Asshewasgrowingup,Kaiandherfamilywould crosstheriversonebyoneonoutings,andshesawhowtherivershelpedshapeher identityandpurpose:“Ihavealwaysbeendrawntobodiesofwaterthatmove.This loveofmovementhasmanifestedinmyprofessionasaphysicaltherapist,wherethe rivercountryIgrewupinandwhatIdofeeldeeplyconnected.”

● Lookup.Wecangetsoembroiledinday-to-dayissuesthatweforgettoconnectwith thebiggerpicture.Boyd Broughton,directorofasignificanttribalhealthcareservice inNewZealandthatfocusesonfamilywell-being,encourageshisteamtoseebeyond thepresentcircumstancestoafuturestate.Boydremindshisstafftoputoutfiresas

quicklyaspossible.Aswellas“taketimetolookupatthestarsandimaginewhatthis whānau[family]canachieveoncethefiresareputout.”

Knowledge code

TheCentreoftheSpiralholdsacodeofculturalknowledgesystemsdevelopedintimately withcommunityandplace.Theseknowledgecodesaretransmittedfromonegenerationto thenextthroughlanguage,loreandlaw,stories,dance,artforms,ceremony,proverbs,and agriculturalpractices.Somecultureshaveasserteddominancethroughcolonisation, imperialism,andwar,anddeliberatelyerasedalternativeknowledgeforms,andmuch catalyticworkinvolvesdeconstructingthoseimposedsystems.Wecanalso developourown knowledgecode.

Ihavetwovisionsthatareamongmybasketofguidingwisdom.Thefirstwasadream bequeathedtomefromaspiritualauntyofmine,WhaeaJaneMarsden,aboutavanguardof peopleholdingaflamethatignitedtheprocessionbehindthem,whichbecameabeaconfor thiswork.TheotheristhesayingIquotedintheintroductionbyMāoriactivistTuiono,who notedthatthemostpowerfulformofprotestistocaptureandtransformaspace.Ihave turnedtohiswordsmanytimes.Theyremindmewhyworkinginabusinessschooland withinmainstreamorganisationsisneededtoshifttheneedletowardsasustainableandjust world.IalsowishtoensurethatMāoriandIndigenousvoicesareheardinthesespaces throughmyresearchandteaching.

Aknowledgecodecanbeanassemblageofthingsthatcontainmeaningforus,suchas proverbsorcertainimages.Storiesoftenencapsulatethiscodeinmemorableways,asit interlaceswithcultureandidentity.Inthearticle‘ParadigmWarriors,’aboutchallengingthe statusquo,mycolleaguesandIwrite:

Ourencouragementisfor[people]to reclaimsacredkinshipwithEarth,anda senseofimmanence,andturntothebedrockofwisdomthatiswithintheir culturaledifice.Toaccessthisbedrockmayrequirethepatientdetermination ofanarchaeologistpickingthroughthesedimentsoftimetopiecetogether one’sownancientknowledgecodesuchascanbefoundinproverbs,poetry, chants,andartefacts,mayrequirethepatientdeterminationofanarchaeologist pickingthroughthesedimentsoftimetopiecetogetherone’sownancient knowledgecodesuchascanbefoundinproverbs,poetry,chants,and artefacts.23

Somepeopleliketopiecetogethertheirownknowledgecode.Herearesomeideasto generateyourownthatwillresonateandholdyouinyourwork:

● Findfragmentsfromstories.LanceLouskieter,areproductiveactivistandresearcher attheUniversityofCapeTown,shareshowtheyhaveconsciouslysoughttopeelaway layersofidentityimposedbycolonialsystemsthathavewarpedAfricanidentity.They piecetogetherfragmentsfromelders’storiesandpearlsofwisdompasseddown throughthegenerations.

● Trustyourinnerguidanceasasourceofknowledge.ForLance,themultiplelayersof theirancestralidentityhadbeenwipedoutandreducedtoaconstructof‘Coloured’ identity.Ithasbeenpainstakingtopullthingsaparttoseetheinfluenceofcolonisation andChristianitythathaspermeatedeveryaspectoftheirlife.Lanceislearningtotrust theirknowledgefromlivedexperiencesandinnerwisdom.

● Leanintoyourculturalbackground.InduBalachandraninheritedarobustandintact knowledgecodethroughherTamilheritage,whichwassonormalandinnatethatshe

didn’tevenseeitassomethingtopractise.InherworkwithFirstNationssocial enterprises,shecametorealisethatconsciously“practising”cultureis essentialto ensurethatdominantculturesarenotthemediatingapproachforengagingina relationship,especiallyinherworkwith Indigenouscolleagues.Shepointsoutthat “whilstdiasporiccommunitiescanpreservetraditionsasresistanceagainst dislocation, thepracticeofcultureasanhonourable actinitselfisrathermorepowerfuland sustainable.”

Values

Valuesilluminatearichseamofknowledgecodeandareportalstoaworldviewthatguides peopletoactconcordantlytowhattheybelieveinandwishtouphold.Valuessupport relationships,especiallyinsocietiesthatvaluethecollective.MnyanduexplainstheAfrican philosophyofUbuntu:It “isnotmerelypositivehumanqualities,buttheveryhumanessence itself,whichluresandenableshumanbeingstobecomeabantuorhumanisedbeings,livingin dailyself-expressiveworksofloveandeffortstocreateharmoniousrelationshipsinthe communityandtheworldbeyond.”24 Guanxi(关系)isacomplexcultural valueinChinathat referstobuildingenduringrelationshipsthroughobligationsandexchangesthatforge intenselyloyalandsupportivenetworksystems.TheArabicword“wasta” emphasises connections,andIndigenousvaluesystemsteachushowtobeinrelationshipwithourselves, eachother,andecologies.Valuesarenotonlyportalstoaworldviewbutalsotoacalling aboutwhatweenvisionandhowwecarryourselves.Theyarepersonal,notprescriptive,and aremarkersthatorientustochange.Apersonmayworkmoreoncourageatonepointin theirlifethanatothers,withtheresultthatitbecomeseasierforthemtospeakout.Whilst workingoncouragemayalwaysbepresent,anothervaluemayarisemorestrongly,suchas navigatingthecomplexitiesofempathy.Hencepractisingvaluesareaninterplay,notastatic state.

Valuesneedtobemadeconsciousandpractisedcontextually.Environmentalguardianshipin WesternsocietyisdifferenttothatofMāoriculture,whichviewskaitiaki(stewardship)as therightofecologiestounfoldtheirtruepotential,apolicyofnon-interferenceratherthan actingasoverlordswhofixandmeddle.WhilestewardshipisawidelyembracedWestern value,theexpressionofitcantendtowardsrelyingonscienceandtechnologyto‘fix’humancreatedimpacts.Everyoneofthecatalystshashadtograpplewiththecomplexitiesand contradictionsthatmakeupthehumanexperience.Herearesomeoftheinsightswecanlearn fromthem.

● Valuesneedtobealivingpracticetowardsyourself.LeNhanPhuongwastrainedas adoctorandhasdedicatedhislifetoimprovinghealthequityinSoutheastAsia.He explainshowvaluesneedtobealivingpractice,notonlytowardstheouterworldbut alsotowardsourselves.Inparticular,Phuonghighlightstheneedforcompassion, kindness,andforgiveness.Incoachingsessionswithchangemakers,Phuonghasnoted clientsareoutwardlyfocusedontheirworkandhaven’tpreviouslygivenmuch thoughttotheiridentity,thevaluesthatguidethem,andwhattheirneedsare.Itis crucialtobeintentionalaboutvaluesandbringthemforwardasapriority,otherwise, therewon’tbeachangeandthesituationcanreverttoarelentlessworklife.

● Findyourzenithvalueandsticktoit.Azenithvalueislikeaguidingstarthatwealign allaspectsofourlifeto.SamHughesrecallsamomentduringhisfirstjobinterview (asayoungman)whenhegotaskedwhathisbestqualitywas.Hesaysitwas loyalty—inhiscase,loyaltytohisbrotherswhohadbeenaccusedofacrime.As FounderandChairofNōnaTeAoTrust,whichprovidesapathwayforruralMāori

studentsintotertiaryandvocationalopportunities,Samknowswhatitmeanstohold steadfasttoazenithvalue.

Circle of Strength

TheDaodejing,acentralTaoisttext,pointsoutthatwhenclayformsaroundemptiness,it becomesapitcherthatcanholdwater.Waterfromthepitcherispouredintoacup,whichis itselfformedaroundemptiness.Theroomthisallhappensinisitselffourwallsformed aroundemptiness.25

AroundtheCentreoftheSpiralarethepeoplewhoholdthecatalystlikeacontaineraround thevoidofpossibilities:families,friends,andcolleaguessteadfastlysupporttheirwork. Catalystsarealsoacircleofstrengthforothersintheecosystemofmutualityandreciprocity. Catalystsneedparticipativespacesthataretrust-based,aplaceofrespite,care,andempathy, andasafearenatolearnnewskills.TheCentreoftheSpiralisaspacewherecourageous conversationsareencouraged,contestationsmayarise,andprovocationslaiddown,butthese arenotfromaplaceofjudgementorprojection.Curiosityaboutourexperienceandthe capacitytoinquireintoourhabitsandassumptionsisessential.TheCatalyst’sWayisa contextuallyoriented,activeprocesswhereeveryonecanparticipate,expectingtheirvoiceto berespectedandvalued.Diversityischerishedandadvocated,livedexperiencehonoured, andwhilstmutualityisappreciated,soisdifference.

ACircleofStrengththatembraceseachpersonwhojourneysonTheCatalyst’sWay supportsthemtoshowupfullywithalltheirintersectionalitiesofculture,sexuality,gender identity,personality,neurodiversity,lifeexperience,spiritualbeliefs,andphysicalability.

TheCentreoftheSpiralinvolvesarticulatingaflameofhopethatpropelsustotakeaction andhavingaknowledgecode,includingvaluesthatactasmarkersaswemaintainalineof sighttovisionandpurpose.Acircleofstrengthisaballastofsupport.

Relationships: Interbeing, Self, Community, World

3: Levels of relationships

Thefourlevelsofinterbeing,self,community,andworldspeaktorelationshipsthat strengthencollaborationsandbindpeopletogetherinpracticalaction.SoniaOspinaandErica Foldy,academicswhospecialiseinstudyingsocialmovements,saybuildingrelational capacityisasourceofcollectivepowerandmomentumforchange.26

Interbeing

AnInterbeingseesthemselfasinterconnectedandpartofthewhole,notasanatomised, individualisedpersonactingintheirownself-interest.ZenMasterThichNhatHanhdescribes ourinterconnectednesstoearth,ancestors,futuregenerations,andallcreation,and encouragesaninterbeingphilosophyofbeinggroundedinthepresentmoment.Hesays, “Oncewetouchrealitydeeplyinthepresentmoment,wetouchthepast,wetouchthefuture, andwetoucheternity.”Interbeinggoesbeyondthelimitingnotionofa“now”selfand embracestheideaofanintergenerationalselfwhoisareflectionofancestorsand descendantsand,thus,partofamovementthroughtime.27

Interbeingisatthecoreofmanywisdomtraditions.AXhosaadage'umntungumntu ngabanye'—apersonisapersonthroughotherpeople—embracesaholisticcoexistence28;the HadzaandMaasaipeoplesnourishaffective,spiritualtiesbetweenhumanityandthe environment.29 CelticwisdomoftheseerAmhairghin’sancientinvocationisarecitalof relationshipsbetweenhumans,creatures,andtheenvironment.30 InaMāorioutlook,every aspectofcreationpossessesagenealogythatgoesbacktoasharedsource.Thiscoalescence pointinsometribaltraditionsisknownasIo.Thissourcesignifieshumankinshipwithall creation,wherebyeverythingisconnected.

Theworld’sIndigenouspeoples,whomakeupfivepercentoftheglobalpopulationand15 percentoftheworld’sextremepoor,protect80percentoftheworld’sbiodiversity.Theyare intergenerationaldefendersandwarriorsfortheirecologicalkin.Anexampleofinterbeingat

Figure

workisthelandmark2017casethatconferredlegalpersonhoodtothe290kmlong WhanganuiRiverinAotearoa,NewZealand.Thecaserecognisedtheentityasanindivisible andlivingwhole,incorporatingallitsphysicalandmetaphysicalelements.Intergenerational, rotatingleadershipbeginninginthe1800shadpetitionedthegovernmenttosavetheirriver kinbeingviolatedfromdredgingandpollution,evenasthelocaltribewasbattlingthe upheavalsofcolonisation,landgrabs,violentconfiscations,andwars.31

ElderandactivistJayNaidooprovidesaninterbeingoutlookinthecontextofSouthAfrica. Asaseasonedcampaigner,hehassteppedovermanythresholdsofseismicchangeandinhis message,weseetheCentreoftheSpiralcomingtogetheronaninterbeingfoundation:“You trytounderstandwhatis thepurposeofthislife.Ithastobetodosomethingworthwhileto transcendthelimitationsofourmindorourbodyorourintellectandsaythere’sagreater purpose,thereisagreaterbelongingthatwe’vebeengiventheprivilegeofthislifeandthis lifeweshouldcelebrate,andthereforeweshouldcelebrateitinthewaythatraisesour consciousness.”Jaybelievesweneedtoriseabovethedifferencesthatseparate,suchasrace, religion,sexualorientation,culture,andlanguage,inorderto“realisethefullpotentialofthis humanlifewe’vebeengiven.Andthatistoaspiretoahigherlevelofconsciousnesswhere werecognisethatalllifeisequivalent.”32

Self

ThewebsiteforEngajamundo,ayouth-ledNGOinBrazil,reads,“Wechangeourselvesto changeourrealities”.33 FoundationalStorytellershaveakeensenseofincreasing consciousnessaboutinjustice.GoingontheCatalyst’sWayisanopportunitytoinquireinto thoseaspectsofourselvesthatnolongerserveusandgrapplewithourintersectionality, wholenessandfractures.Wemaywelcomethosequietervoicesthathavenotreceivedour attentionthatpoetDavidWhytecallsour‘unlivedselves’.Wenoticehowweshowupina community,inthejoyful,creativemomentstohonourandcelebratemilestones,andduring thechallengingtimes.Asfiltersandocclusionsdropaway,weconfrontourideasof‘self’ andtakeresponsibilityforgrowingandtransformingself-identities.Socialjusticeleadership expertKathleenBrownsayswhenweexplicitlyexaminethemilieuofourlives,suchasour culture,socioeconomicstatus,formalandinformaleducation,includingthecovertagendato prepareusfor‘society’alongwithidentityandintersectionality,wegothroughaprocessof self-discoveryandgrowthofcriticalconsciousness.34

Catalystspayspecialattentiontoidentity,whichembracesalternativeviewsfromdominant norms.Courageousinquirysurfacesourassumptionsandlenseswithwhichweviewthe world.Actionstouncoverhowouridentityandworldviewareshapedcaninclude:

● Beinginformedofcriticalviews.LearningabouttheoriessuchastheDoctrineof Discovery,CriticalRaceTheoryandCriticalSocialTheoryhelpsustobeawareof, andchallenge,thesystemicpowersystemsthatupholdhealth,political,economic, cultural,andsocialinequity.DurkhanaiAyubinotes:“Ifyoucan’tshedyourown presuppositions,yourownengrainedkindofnorms,yourownculturalexpectations,I don’tbelieveyoucangointocollectivespacesandbetrulycatalytic;becauseyou’re stillholdingontoalotofideasandnormsthathavebeenreiteratedthroughlong, historicalprocessesthatcanbetoxictoourspiritandthatwecanevenbeunawareof.”

● Understandwhatdecolonisingisandwhyitmatters.Forexample,Indigenouspeoples havehadtheiridentityframedbycoloniserssuchas“pan-Indian”,asocialconstruct thathomogenisedvarioustribes,languages,andcultures.Aswediscussed,Lance Louskieterhasbeencourageouslyexcavatingthelayersofidentitytogettotheircore, whichhasledtotherealisationthat“I’dbeenholdinganinstitutioninmybellyand

uncoveringhowcolonisedIam.Abigpartofthisjourneyisdecolonising.” Sometimes,youhavetoleavecertaintables,stoptryingtositatothers,oreven becomeawareofthetableitselftotransformyourselfandyourenvironment.

● Steparoundthepothole.Inthemovie Groundhog Day,theleadcharacterfindshimself caughtinatimewarp,re-livingthesamedayoverandoveragain.Repeatedly,he walksandputshisfootinapotholefullofwater.Untiloneday,hestepsaroundit.For Lance,apowerfulinsightcamewhentheyrealisedthatdisrupting,speakingbackand contestingwereformsofengagementthathadthemstillcoupledtoaparticular conversationandworldview,whichwasexhausting.Theythought,“Youknowwhat,I canactuallybebraveenoughtodelinkfromthisandcompletelyshiftmygazeand rethinkthewayinwhichIevendomyadvocacyandactivism.”

Courageousinquiryincludesconfrontingprivilege.Inthe1930s,W.E.B.DuBois highlightedthenotionofa“psychologicalwage”that“enabledpoorwhitestofeelsuperiorto poorblacks;duringthecivil-rightsera,activiststalkedabout‘white-skinprivilege.’”35 In 1988PeggyMcIntoshprovidedforty-sixexamplesofwhiteprivilege,including“Iamnever askedtospeakforallthepeopleofmyracialgroup”and“Icanbeprettysurethatif Iaskto talktothe‘personincharge,’Iwillbefacingapersonofmyrace.”Sincethen,privilegehas becomecastintosharperfocuswhereby“somepeoplebenefitfromunearned,andlargely unacknowledged,advantages,evenwhenthoseadvantagesaren’tdiscriminatory.”McIntosh explains:

Inordertounderstandthewayprivilegeworks,youhavetobeabletoseepatterns andsystemsinsociallife,butyoualsohavetocareaboutindividualexperiences.I thinkone’sownindividualexperienceissacred.Testifyingtoitisveryimportant,but soisseeingthatitissetwithinaframeworkoutsideofone’spersonalexperiencethat ismuchbiggerandhasrepetitivestatisticalpatternsinit.36

Makingprivilegepersonalhelpsusseehowsystemicpatternsareperpetuated,and,howwe canleverageourprivilegeasaresourcetomakechangehappen.Peoplefromvastlydifferent backgroundsmayexperienceprivilegeintheformofencouragementandaccesstohigher education,forexample.InduBalachandranhastakentimeoutofherseniorleadershiproles toresearchandreflectonhowshecancatalyse whatshedescribesasa‘deepcommunity’ approachthatlinksculturalcommunitiestogetherwithoutthemeditationofWesternnorms. Sherecognisestheprivilegeofbeingabletohavethistimeofsabbatical.KaiKennedywas raisedinafamilythatbelievedstronglyineducationandaccessingopportunitiessuchasjobs andtravel.Shenowharnessesherpositionasafacultymembertomakeadifferencefor othersandto,especially,“servecommunitiesforgottenaboutbythebroaderhealthcare system.”ForKai,thisrequiresbeingatrailblazerinherfieldofphysicaltherapy,whichhas notbeentypicallyactiveinpublicorglobalhealthconversations.AmandaSegniniisa foundingmemberofBrazil’smostprominentNGOforyouthconcernedaboutclimate injustice.Duringheruniversitystudies,shebecamemoreawareofhowdamagedthe environmentisandthescaleofinjusticesagainstcertainsocietiesandcultures.Thesedays, sheusestheprivilegesofherprivateuniversityeducationandsocialstatusasaspringboard tohelpothers.

Community

TheCatalyst’sWaysupportschangemakersconnectingwitheachotherinthecommunityand outinthefield,asrelationshipsareourgreatestresiliencestrategy.However,“community”is notagluethatautomaticallybindspeopletogether,nomatterhowlike-hearted;connection needstobecultivated.Anintentionalcommunityisarefuge,acrucibleforchange,anda

repositoryofcollectiveagency.Forsome,it’saboutcommittingtoprovidingawellspringof support.Forexample,doctorsandnursesworkingatthefrontline,savinglives,needa communitytobuttresstheirefforts.

ForIndigenouspeoples,whilstmultipledevastationshavebeenwroughtupontheir communities,whatunitesthemisnottherelationshiptosuchoppressionsascolonisationand greed.Whatunitesthemareabidingbeliefssuchascherishingasacredecology,a commitmenttothecollective,andthewisdomofanintergenerationaloutlook.Inher bestselling So You Want to Talk About Race,IjeomaOluocelebratesherblacknessand community,whichseesthewholemuti-facetedpicture,notjustasliceofit.Thismitigates beingdefinedbytheactionsandsystemsofothers:

Raceismorethanjustpainandoppression,it’salsocultureandhistory.Personally, myblacknessisahistoryofstrength,beauty,andcreativitythatIdrawoneveryday; itismorethanthehistoryofthehorrorsthatracismhaswrought.Myblacknesshasits ownlanguage,itsownjokes,anditsownfashion.Myblacknessisacommunityanda family,andI’mverygratefulforit.Humansareresilientandcreativebeings,andout ofasocialconstructcreatedtobrutaliseandoppresswe’vestillmanagedtocreatea lotofbeauty.Wecanfightracialoppressionwhilestillacknowledgingand appreciatingthat.37

World

Thecombinedactionsofcatalyticcollaborationshavethepowertochangetheworld.Each personcontributestoshiftingtheneedle,whethertheyareanactivistinthecommunity,a facilitatoronaprogramme,acoursedesignerandevaluator,anadministrativestaffmember, aboardmember,anexecutive,orastakeholder.TheCatalyst’sWayiscentredonthe interbeingofinter-speciesinterconnectednessandgroundedinlivedexperience.Ensuring reciprocitybygivingback,andsharingknowledgeandexperience,empowersrelationships. Cultivatingthesekindsofrelationshipsbreaksdownsilosandmitigatessystematic disenfranchisementandinjustice.

TheFoundingStorytellersprovideinspiration,andpracticalon-the-groundknowledge,of howworkingatlocallevelscanamplifyyourimpactbyconnectingwithothersininnovative ways.Eachofthestorytellersisactiveinglobally-orientedprojectsthataimtobringabout justice,equity,andliberty.Theymeetonline,traveltoeachother’snations,andattend gatheringsandworkshopsthatstrengthentheirskills.Theyhaveproduceddocumentaries, heldeventsinthecommunity,supportedactivistartinstallations,writtenbooksontopicsthat matter,broughtdiversestakeholderstogether,andpursuednewresearchareas.

Neuroscienceview

Ourbiological,perceptualexperienceandinteractiveco-constructionofmeaningare interconnected,too.Acrossindividualandinterpersonalsettings,meaningisinfluencedby externalandinternalprocessesthatbridgephenomenologicalandbiologicaldimensions.38 AgustinIbáñezoffersarelationalviewofcognitionisconstructedinthecontextofour multidimensionalandmultisensoryexperiences:

Theclassicideaofcognitionasapassiveobserverwhofollowsinstructions, onlydrawsonworkingmemory,paysattention,andisanentirelyrational decision-makeris aweirdwaytounderstandcognition.Inreallife,itdoesn’t happenthatway.Lookatusrightnow.We’retalkingandusingthesynergetic interactionofmultipleprocesses.We’reusingvisualrecognition,memory, language,interoception(howyoufeelyourbody),socialinteraction,empathy (orcounterempathy),andallthesehappentogetherinasynchronicway.The

braincoordinatesallthisactivityspontaneouslyandconsciously,andit’s happeningcontinuouslyinreallife.Whenwetrytoassessthatinthelab,it doesn’twork.Wecan’tjustisolatepartsofthebrainandstudyitinisolation; weneedtheculturalandsocialcontextofengagement.Weneedmorereal-life assessmentsandtrytomakechanges,andnotjustfocusonisolatedresultsbut onprocesseshappeningtoformmeaningfrom atheoreticalsideofhowwe canunderstandactualconditionsandinteractions.

Relationshipsarethemediumthroughwhichcatalyticworktakesplace.Fourlevelsof interlockingrelationshipsacrossinterbeing,self,community,andworldemphasisetheir multidimensionalnature.Self-actualisationoccursinrelationships,andit’snecessarytodo thetoughjobexcavatinglayersofidentityandexperienceaspartofbeinganeffectiveagent ofchange.

Chamber of Discomfort

WhilsttheCatalyst’sWaydoesn’thavetobetraversedlinearly(you canstartanywhere),soonerorlater,youwillencountertheChamberof Discomfort.Discomforthasmanyforms.Onthecatalyticjourney,it couldariseinfirstencounterswithothersinthecontextofwhatfeels likeperturbingdifferencesofculture,history,perspectives,ideas, ideologiesandjudgements.Itcanalsoariseinhowwethinkandfeel aboutourselvesandourpast,upbringing,families,andancestors.Bringingawarenesstoour discomfortscanopenadoorwaytoinsight.Itcanbringustoouredges,wherewegeta differentview,figureoutrelationshipsandcollaborations,disagreewell,speakuporleanin andlisten,andstandbyourconvictions.Discomfortiswherethepotentialfortransformation isseeded,andasOluosays,“Humanityisworthalittlediscomfort;it’sactuallyworthalotof discomfort.”39

Earlier,wediscussedtheimportanceofcreatingaCircleofStrengthasaplaceofrespite,safe learning,and,forsome,thecompanyofotherswhounderstandtrauma andoffernonjudgementandempathy.However,thiscircleisn’talwayscomfortable.Boldenexplains: While“safespaces”areincrediblyimportant,theyarenotauniversalright atall times.Onecanchoosetohaveasafespacebut,attimes,willhavetoleavethatsafe spaceinordertohaveconversationsandbereadyforthoseconversations.40

Thecatalytic experienceistobecomfortablewithbeinguncomfortable.SineNørholmJust andSaraLouiseMuhrfromRoskildeUniversityinDenmarksaytheintentionshouldnotbe toharmoniselesscongruentvoicesbuttositwiththediscomforts.Theyprovideanexample ofa‘Women’sMarch’wherebytheleadershipwasinconversationwithits‘own contentions’andsawthevalueofcollaborationandcontestation:“Thepotentialofandfor positivechangeliesincontinuingtobranchoutandopenup,toalwaysexplorenew intersectionsandtheirvariouspaths.Togetherwerise,butonlyifwekeeppullingapart.”41 FacilitatorofcatalystsKateHiltonisamazedathowmanydiscomfortsemergewhen catalystscometogether.Assheexplains,“Relationalworkisaboutcreatingdiscomfort; discomfortwithtime,discomfortwithpractisingnewskills,discomfortwithfearsaround howothersmightperceiveus.Discomfortinhowwemightapplythistoourowncultureor setting,anddiscomfortinstrategicfailures.Somanydifferent formsofdiscomfortcomeup forpeople;it’sincredible.”

Hereareafewtipsforbeinginachamberofdiscomfort:

● Besafe.

● Practise“divinedisgruntlement”.Manyartistsknowdiscomfortwell;theydive straightintoit.DominicCampbell,acatalyticartistandeventorganiserbasedatthe GlobalBrainHealth InstituteinDublin,explainsdivinedisgruntlementas“thenatural defaultstateofcreativemindsisdivine.Disgruntlementisjustnotbeingcomfortable withit.”Heencouragespeopletovaluenon-verbalwaysofcommunicatingtoallow thisspace.Dominicseeshisroleasanartisttogoouttotheedgesofaspace,which helpsshapethemiddlemeetingground.Inasimilarvein,Brownencourages ‘plungers’toconsciouslymovebeyondcomfortbutnotsomuchthatbeing uncomfortableissothreateningthatpeopleclosedowntoothers.42

● Bepreparedtobounceoffeachother.Dominic’sworkstraddlesmanygroups,from citycouncilstoartists,governments,communityorganisations,andindustrypartners.

Hedescribeshow“peoplearriveintospaceslikebilliardballs.Theyarriveinvery differentways.”Whilstheseesthatspacesneedtobewelcoming,healsoappreciates theneedtoallowcomplexitytoexist.Whenpeoplehavediverseideasabouthowto makesomethinghappen,itcanbeperturbing,butdon’tfightthatormakeitgoaway. Letitbepresentasacreativeenergy.

● Faceit.ThepeopleIhavemetduringthecourseofresearchingandwritingthisbook arephenomenallybraveandsquarelyfacethemirrorofhorrorsinthisworld.One suchpersonisDanaWalrath,anartistandwriterofArmeniandescent,who foregroundsgenocidesinherworksothatwedonotforgetthemandwemaylearnto detectpatternstopreventfutureones.Herworkhasevenrenderedherphysicallysick, suchaswhenshewenttoAuschwitzinpreparationforwritinganessayonthe Holocaust.Butwehavetofacethesethings,shesays,haveconversationsandenter spaceswhereitislaidbare,aspartof“thewayto healfromandtoendgenocideisto sitwiththediscomfort.”Allovertheworld,therearereminders,madevisibleand renderedinvisible,ofwhathasoccurredinthisworld.Beunrelentinginseekingthem outandbeingeducatedbyfacingthetruth.

● Stayintherelationship.Itcanbetemptingtowithdrawunderashroudofsilenceor hailofprotest.Whilstyoushouldneverstayinunsafeorunhealthyspaces,sometimes wewithdrawtoavoiduncomfortablefeelings,whichcanbeverysubtle.Durkhanai Ayubisawhowanunstructured,openspacecanbegenerativeforsomepeopleand disorientingandoverwhelmingforothers,provokingthemtopullaway:“Ihadthis profoundexperienceoflearningaboutpeople—seeinghowmuchsituationscancreate ashuttingdownandbreakdownwhengivennoparametersorboundariesto work with.”

● StayconnectedtotheCentre.Havingafoundationofvaluessuchasmutuality, respect,andrecognition,peoplecangotomoreprofoundlevelsofengagement.The CentreoftheSpiral,whichisthefirststepoftheCatalyst’sWay,keepsusconnected topossibilitiesratherthanrespondingfroma‘lockedandloaded’reactiveposition. ChrisOechsliencouragespeopletostayconnectedtotheirvaluestoharnessthe “benefitfromthediscomfort”sothatwhenchallengesarise,thereisa“comfortable foundationofmutualcommitmenttorespectandbelonging,wherepeople acknowledgetheircommonalityandcantrustthemselvesenoughtoshareinvarious kindsofdiscomfort.”Otherwise,basedonhislongexperienceworkingalongside catalysts,heexplains,“Ifthediscomfortcomesprematurely,andthere’snotrustand comforttounderpinthat,itcantearpeopleapart.”Durkhanaisaysshetakestimeto “thinkaboutwhoIwant tobeinthosespaces,whatqualitiesareessentialtome,and howtonavigatethosechallengingthingsandcomeoutwithdignityandasenseof knowingIdidn’tcauseintentionalharmtoanyone,evenwhenthingswere challenging.”

● Haveanoutsider’seyes.ChrisOechsliilluminatestheopportunitiesofbeingoutside ourcomfortzone.Chrisreflectsonhislifegrowingupinafamilythatmovedaround agreatdeal,makinghimanoutsidertomostpeoplehemet:“Asalittlekidgoing fromnewplacetonewplacewasuncomfortable.Butinthatdiscomfort,Igrew sensitivitiesanddevelopedaballastthatallowedmetonavigatethosediscomforts withoutbeingdefeatedordisappointedduringthedifficulties.”Theseexperiences forgedhisinterestinthewiderworldandconnectednessbetweendiverse communities. Theyhaveshapedhisworkintheareaofglobalphilanthropy,which hasinvestedbillionsintosocialjusticebybringingcatalystsfromacrosstheworld

togethertogeneratenewprojects.Durkhanai’slearningjourneytookherintospaces withIndigenousactivists,andeventhoughitbroughtupvariousdiscomfortsfor herselfandothers,itprovidedfreedom:“EvenwhenIwasbeingchallengedbecause ofwhoIwasastheonly non-Indigenouspersonthereworkingonnon-Indigenous relatedissues.Itcreatedapointofcontentionforsome.Weexperiencedit inavery rawform.Forsomeonelikeme,Ilovethatseedingstage,andIlikethattherewereno parameters,anditwasuptoustocreatewhatwewantedtodo.”

Understanding the nature of silence

Sittingwiththediscomfort,withourselvesandeachother,beginswithlistening.Someofus havecultivatedastrongandpersuasivevoice,listeningtotheinternalchatter,honouringthe pausesinbetween,valuingthetypesofsilencefromthesacredandrespectfultothefearful andanxioustoperformativeniceness.Listeningto silenceispartofthecatalyst’srepertoire. AsDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.said,“Ourlivesbegintoendthedaywebecomesilentabout thingsthatmatter.”43

Unaddresseddiscomfortcanoftenbefoundinthetexturesofsilences,whichmycolleagues andIexploredinanarticletitled What silence can teach us about race and leadership.The silenceofsafetycanarisewhenweavoidspeakingup,whichcanbeamaskofselfprotection.Orwestaysilentbecauseitismorecomfortabletodoso,whichgivestacit supporttobiasandprejudice.Performativenicenessisasilencethatavoidsissuessuchas gender,raceandotherformsofdiscriminationtoholdontoaself-imageasagoodperson withoutinquiringintopersonalbiasesandcapacityfordiscrimination.Thesilencethat preservesstatusandprivilegeisanepidemic;peoplegoundergroundlesttheirstatusbe challenged.Thesilentmajorityactsasacollectivebystanderwhoobserveswithoutever interveningorspeakingup.Selectiveperspectivesmeanwepickandchooseourvantage pointstosuitouragenda.Wedon’twanttoknowaboutotherpeople’sversions.Thefinal silencesareprejudice,loathing,andhate,e.g.,sexism,chauvinism,racism,andmisogyny.44

Itisuptoeachofustoinspectourinternaltexturesofsilence,ensuringallvoicesareheard, andlisteningfromthehearthelpsensurepowerisequalandjust.ThichNhatHanhsayswe needtocultivateaqualityandcapacityoflisteningaswesitwithdiscomfort:

Whenwehearwordsofblameandjudgmentfromothers,itmaytouchoffourown irritation,anger,andfrustration.Andso,weneedmorethanjusttheintentionto listen:weneedtraininginhowtolisten.Whenwecanopenthedoorofourheartsand restorecommunicationinourcloserelationships,we’llbeabletodothesameat work,acrosssociety,andamongdifferentpoliticalpartiesandnations.45

Thereareothertexturestosilence,suchassacredandrespectfulsilences.Theancient IndigenousMāoriwānangacultivatesthespaceforcollectivereflectiveinquirywherepeople gatherwithasharedintentiontosurfacewisdomandinsight.Inwānanga,timeorientationis towardsaholistic“perpetualpresent.”AustralianIndigenousscholarMichelleEvans emphasisestheimportanceof“trulylistening…findingagenerativespace…findinga timelessplaceinsideourselves…”46,andsheilluminatesthewisdomofAboriginalactivist, educator,andartistMiriam-RoseUngunmerr-Baumann,whodescribesdadirri,deep listening:

…dadirri…Itisinner,deeplisteningandquiet,stillawareness.Dadirrirecognisesthe deepspringthatisinsideus.Wecallonitanditcallstous…Itissomethinglikewhat youcall’contemplation’.WhenIexperiencedadirri,Iammadewholeagain.Icansit ontheriverbankorwalk throughthetrees;evenifsomeoneclosetomehaspassed

away,Icanfindmypeaceinthissilentawareness.Thereisnoneedforwords.Abig partofdadirriislistening.47

Otherhintsforlisteningwellinclude:

● Bepreparedfordisquiet.KateHiltonencouragespeopletobepreparedforwhat bubblesup,tolisten,evenwhenit’schallengingtodosoandtoaskreflective,open questions.Guidepeoplethroughtheirdiscomfortratherthanimposingsolutions. Listeningtothestoriesofothersendowsasenseofsolidarityandcanhelppeoplesee, ‘I’mnotaloneinthis;otherpeoplearestrugglingwiththat,’or,‘Thatwassucha greattakeawaythatthispersonjustsaid;itspoketomyownexperience.’”

● Hearourbodiesspeak.KaiKennedysayswecanlearnagreatdealbypaying attentiontosomatic,embodiedexperiencesinourencounterswithothers.Muscle memoryisthesomaticknowledgeheldinourbodiesthatweunknowinglytakeinto everysituation.Especiallyinthecontextofgatheringswherepeoplecomefrom diversebackgroundsandlivedrealities,sheadvises,“It’scrucialtoconsiderwhat customsfolksarecomingfromandwhatdifferentwaysyouengageyourbodywith thefolksaroundyou.Itinvolvesreflectingonhowtodemonstraterespectornot respect,suchaslookingsomeoneintheeyeversusnotlookingsomeoneintheeye. Bothcanbesignsofrespect,dependingonyourcommunity.”

Emotions

ManyemotionscanariseintheChamberofDiscomfort,includinganger,frustration,grief andsadness.Somepeoplethriveondiscomfort(withthemselvesormakingitsoforothers), otherswithdraw,andsomestaysilentformanyreasons(suchasfear,anxiety,wantingnotto saythewrongthing,feelingunsafe,orharbouringdeep-seatedfeelingsofcynicism,blame, orloathing).Ganzsays,“Socialmovementleadersmobilisetheemotionsthatmakeagency possible.Whenweexperiencethe‘worldasitis’indeepdissonancewithvaluesthatdefine the‘worldasitshouldbe,’weexperienceemotionaldissonance,atensiononlyresolvable throughaction.Organiserscallthis agitation.”48 TheChamberofDiscomfortinvolvesbeing withthecomplexityofourexperience.

Case study on anger

Let’stakeangerasacaseexample.Angercangeneratevitalityandsparktheimpetusfor takingaction—oritcanbeastewoftoxicity.RuthHunt,formerCEOofStonewall,says,of leadingtoachievesocialchange,that:

Wemistakeangerforprogress,andwethinkthatangermeansthatwearemakinga difference.Ithinkangerisincrediblyimportantandshouldbevocalisedandshared, butdonotmistakeangerforchange.Angerdoesnotchangepeople’sminds,people’s thoughts,people’sapproaches,people’sattitudes,itjustentrenchesthemfurther… Angerbreedsangerandcontemptandtoxicity,sowealljustgetangryallthetime withnomovement…weneedtobekindtoeachother.Seeangerforwhatitisand notasanagentforchange.49

Ontheotherhand,Oluosaysthatafalsedichotomyhasarisenbetweenthekindand compassionate‘Martins’who“nevertalkaboutanger”andtheinconvenient,loud ‘Malcolms’whoexpressit.Thisdichotomy,shesays,isanotherformof“tonepolicing”: Whenpeopleofcolourspeakoutaboutsystemicracism,theyareopeningupallof thatpainandfearandangertoyou.Theyarenot doingthisbecausetheyenjoyit;itis anincrediblypainfulandvulnerableexperience.Wedothisbecausewehaveto, becausesystemicracismiskillingus….Torefusetolistentosomeone’scriesfor

justiceandequalityuntiltherequestcomesinalanguageyoufeelcomfortablewithis awayofassertingyourdominanceovertheminthesituation.Theoppressedperson reachingouttoyouisalreadydisadvantagedbytheoppressiontheyaretryingto address.Bytonepolicing,youareincreasingthatdisadvantagebyinsistingthatyou gettodetermineiftheirgrievancesarevalidandwillonlydecidetheyaresoif,ontop ofeverythingtheyarealreadyenduring,theymaketheefforttoprioritiseyour comfort.50

Meanwhile,ThichNhatHanhexplains,fromaZenBuddhistoutlook,howangercan“block communication.”Hesays:

Somepeopleseeangerasenergyandfeelweshouldmakeuseofthatenergytofight forjusticeandsocialequality.Ofcourse,angerisverypowerful,butthequestionis whetheryoucancontrolit.Whenyouareangry,you’renotverylucid,andyourisk creatingalotofdamage,bothinyourselfandintheworld.But,ifyouknowhowto transformangerintocompassion,youstillhaveaverypowerfulsourceofenergy. Compassionisabetterenergythananger,justassolarenergyisbetterthannuclear.51

Angerisanenergythatboostsactionandmomentumforchange,butitiscomplex,and peoplehavedifferentresponsestoit.Exploreyourrelationshipwithanger(oranyother emotionthatyoufeelfrequentlyarising)usingthefollowingprompts:

● Exploremeaningandpersonalneeds.LeNhanPhuongsaysthatwhilstitisnatural forchange-makerstobeangry,whichpropelsthemtotakeactionintheworld,itcan leadtopersonalimbalance.Beingoverlyexternallyfocusedmightgenerateshort-term results,butitcanleadto neglectofone’sownwell-beingandanerosionofcapacity. Ashesays,“We'realwayslookingatwhatothers'needsareandrushingeverywhere torightthewrongs.Thatmotivationisfineintheshortterm,andmanypeople discoverthemeaningoflifeinthatkindofwork.Butangercanbeveryexhausting andenergy-draining.Tobeeffectiveandabletodothisworkforalongtime,weneed tolookwithinourselvestounderstandthemeaningsandneedsthatmotivateus.”

● Beanalchemistthattransformsenergy.GrowingupinKaditshwene,innorthern SouthAfrica,DorahMaremahadasafeworld.Shelovedwalkingtoschoolina nearbyvillagewithherfriends.However,theirlifewasshatteredwhenminersarrived toprospectforgraniteinthesurroundingmountainstomakekitchenbenchesfor wealthypeople.Baboonslivinginthemountainsweredisplacedandranoutof control.Dorahcouldnolongerwalkthroughtheforesttogettoschoolbecausea hostelforminerswasbuiltthere.Childrenplayedwithdynamitethattheminersused toblastholesinthemountains,andoneboyhadahandamputated.Thevillagerswere neverconsulted.Itignitedanangerinhertotakeactionagainstsocialand environmentalinjustices.Laterinhercatalyticjourney,thisangerwastransformed intoanenergy,aspark,thattookDorahtoanewlevelofbeinganddoing.Dorahhas frequentlyobservedthissparkinothersandsaysit’saspecialqualitythatweallhave, whetherlatentoractivated.

● Avoidmerging.WhenDanaWalrathwasresearching,writing,andcreatingart installationsaboutgenocides,sheturnedtotheworkofactivistRaphaelLemkin,a PolishJewishlawyerwhocoinedtheterm‘genocide’anddevisedtheUnitedNations ConventiononGenocideandtheResponsibilitytoProtect.Asshewasreading Lemkin’smemoir,sherecallsthatthebeginningwaspoeticandbeautiful, but increasingly,hebecameangry,thenparanoid,asthepoliticssurroundinghiswork grippedhislife.Itwasparticularlyself-confronting,asshesays,“Thebookstartedto

readlikearant,anditspookedme.Ididn’twanttofinishit.AsImademyselfdoso,I thought,‘Idon’twanttorant.Idon’twanttogetcaughtinanger.Iwanttokeep puttingthismessageouttheresothatpeoplecantakeitinandreflectbecausethat’s howtheworldchanges:whenweallowthingsin.Angerclosesourhearts.’”

Neuroscienceview

TheChamberofDiscomfortcanberelatedtothelimbicandsocioemotionalbrainnetworks andemotionalintelligence.Ifwearetriggered,wecanbeinthegripofaso-calledAmygdala Hijack,52 astateofreactivitythatisnotanoptimalplacetoexercisesoundpractice.Catalysts understandthepowerofharnessinganddevelopingemotionalintelligence.Thebrainis elastic,andeveryonecandevelopnewconnections;ourbodiesareessentialsomatic instruments.LisaBarrett,aDistinguishedProfessorofPsychologyatNorthwestern University,notesthatweoughttobeawareofsimplifyingthe“triunebrain”thatcarvesthe brainintothreemaindomains(left,rightandlimbic)andsuggeststhatthinkingregulates feeling.Ourbrainisentwinedwithourinteroception[bodilysensations]andaffects[our underlyingfeelings,emotions,ormood]regardlessofhowrationalwethinkweare.Ourpast experiencesinfluenceourresponses,actions,andsensoryandemotionalmeaning.Therefore, experienceisasignificantpredictorofemotionalresponse.Ourbodilysensations(e.g.,an increasedheartrate)canbecomeanemotionalexperienceinfusedwithemotionalconcepts wehavelearnedfromourculture.53

AgustinIbáñezshedslightonhowouremotions,whicharewiredovertime,areconstructed incontextandhowourresponsetodiscomforthasanemotionalcomplexion.

Wecan’tdefineorunderstandemotionsaccordingtoaregioninthebrain.We buildthemsocio-culturallyandapplymeaningandexpression,andexperience embodiedemotionsindifferentsituations.Wehavemultiplebiases,suchas rationalitybias.However,theideaofbiasdoesnotshowthewholepicture.In thatview,emotionsarebadforarationalmind,makingusblind.Wehavealot ofemotionalbias,it’strue,butwithoutthistoolboxofemotionalintuitionand bodyfeelingstoanticipateasituation,wecouldn’tsolveourproblems. Emotionsmakeushuman.Wedon’tneedorwanttobepurelyrational;thisis anold-fashioneddream.

TheChamberofDiscomfortandgettingcomfortablewithbeinguncomfortableisan unavoidablepartofthecatalyticjourney.Emotionsareasourceofimpetusandmomentum andhavemanyfacets,suchasbeingculturallyinstituted,sociallyconstructed,andignitedby criticalevents.Alwaysremembertostayconnectedtoastablecentrewhilstworkingwith complexdiscomfortsthatcantriggerreactivitiesandsurgingemotions.

Dis-Covery

AsvaluableasitcanbetolearntositintheChamberofDiscomfort,you don’twanttogetstuckthere,asitcanbecomeanechochamberthat perpetuatesone’sdefaults,habits,judgements,assumptionsandfamiliar alignments.MargaretLedwith,EmeritusProfessorofCommunity DevelopmentandSocialJusticeattheUniversityofCumbria,says, “Criticalconsciousnesscreatesacracktoletthelightshineinforcollective action.”54 Thespellingof‘dis-cover’referstouncover, takeoff,fragmentandpullapart. In thecontextofcatalyticwork,itistobewillingtoloosenandcrackopeninwaysthatwilllet thelightofnewperspectivesandpossibilitiesin.Dis-coverytransformsdiscomfortinto awareness,learningandgrowth.Dis-coveryisliketakinganuncomfortablewalkingtourof ourlife—it’snotachronologyorachroniclingofwhatothershavedone,butaninquiryinto ourbeginnings,encounters,andlivedandfeltexperiences.Inour Wayfinding Leadership workshops,IexplorethenotionofDis-covery:

Thejourneyofdiscoveryisnottheeasiestpath.Theworddis-covercanmean to‘pullapart’.Togoonajourneyofdiscoveryinvolvesafragmenting,so shaftsoflightcanshinethroughthecracksandwegainanewperspective.It’s notthemostcomfortableplacetobeandoftenmeanssomethingisbreaking up.Thefragmentingisessential;weneedtobreakupabittoseethe interconnections.

Whatbreaksup?Defaults,defences,habits,assumptions,judgements,and beliefsystemsthatnolongerserve.Itencompassesthedissolutionof structuresthathaveactedasafortressaroundus.55

Somethingfragmentsinorderforustosee,andonthejourneyofdiscovering,ouroldmaps won’tbeenough.Dis-coveryistoinquireintoourexperienceandbringtolightnew possibilities.WepreparetoconfrontwhatWaltWhitmancallsour‘multitudes’andwhat DavidWhytedescribesasdiscoveringourstrangerwithin,thepartsofourselveswehaveyet tomeet,theas-yetunlivedandfutureself.TheDis-coveryelementisaclearingbetweenthe ChamberofDiscomfortandthenextelement,Healing.Reflectonthefollowingtoprompt discoveryinyourownjourney:

● Diveintotheflux.Whilsttheorycanteachusmanythings,truediscoverycomesfrom throwingourselvesintotheunknown.Likemanydoctors,CyanBrownreceived medicaltrainingthatinstilledatop-down,hierarchicalapproachtoleadership.Shewas thrustintoanimmersivepersonalexperiencewith theTekanoprogrammeinSouth Africathatsupportshealthequitycatalysts.Herjourneyopenedheruptonewwaysof seeingthings:“[Theprogramme]startedbyaskingdifficultquestionsofmy leadership,myself-awareness,mypositionalityandmywork.Itaskedofme,andall ofus,topauselongenoughtoreflectonthestoryofhowwearrivedatthisworkand whywearedoingwhatwearedoing.”Cyanleanedintotheopportunitytodis-cover, eventhoughit“sometimesmeanttheanswerswereuncomfortable,caused fragmentationandsparkedfiercedebate.”

● Findtheopportunityinadversity.Dis-coveryfurtherpresenteditselfwhenCyanwas diagnosedwithbilateralhipdysplasia,needingmultiplehipsurgeriesinhertwenties. Cyanwasthrownintoasituationofnavigatingthehealthcaresystemasapatientand experiencingfirst-handthechallengespeoplewhoaredifferentlyabledface.Beingin awheelchairduringrecoverymeantfindingthe“vulnerabilityneededtoaskforhelp

witheverything,whilstbeingdifferentlyabledforthoseperiodswasinitiallyquite hard,butultimately,itbuiltstrongrelationshipswiththosearoundmeandhelpedbuild myinnertoolsandresilienceinthatprocess.”

● Beyourauthenticself.Evenwhenitmaygoagainstthegrainofcultural conditioning orchallengeso-calledprofessional‘norms,’standinginyourauthenticityispartofdiscovery,saysLeNhanPhuong.Phuong,too,isadoctorinasystemthatvalues medicalexpertiseandcanenticepeopletopresentthemselvesasaninfallibleexpert. Ontopofthat,Phuonghashadtodealwithsocietalandculturalnormsfromhis community:“InAsiansociety,it'snotjustabout'keepingface';it’salsoaboutselfconfidence.Wetendtoseeourselvesinhowotherpeopletreatus,andinternaliseit.In someways,weuseotherpeopleasamirror.”Doinginnerworkandinquiringintohis personalfeelingsandvaluesprovidedamoreauthenticandstablegroundtomoveon fromthechaosofothers’opinions.

● Hitthepausebutton.InduBalachandranfoundherselflongingtodis-coverandbe generativeinherapproach;shehadbeen“runningsohard”thatsheneededtostep awaytoallowdiscoveriestoemerge.Thisdecisionhastakencourage,self-belief,and aconsciousefforttoallowunstructuredspace.Sheexplains,“Mycurrentexperience— ofnothavingatitle,oranorganisation,orarole—isanuncomfortableplace.Itfeelsa littleunmoored.”Butwithinthatunmooring,Induhasnoticedaslowingdownand havingfallowtimetodiscoverfamily,beauty,andcreativity.

Neuroscienceview

AsNeurosurgeonJamesDotysays,“Thereisnoretirementforthebrain—everyexperience matters.”56 HarvardprofessorsBobKeganandLisa Laheyarerenownedfortheirseminal book Immunity to Change.Theydescribehowourbrainscontinuallyevolve,andtheysetout threeplateausofthemindwhichIhaveprécisedhere,andencourageyoutoreadtheoriginal work:

● Thesocialisedmind:Weareorientedtooursocialenvironmentandtakeourcues fromfamily,peersandcommunities.Ouridentityandideasarehighlyinfluencedby particularbeliefsystemsandcommunityprotocols.

● Theself-authoringmind:Westepbackandgenerateourownbeliefsystemand values;wemightstillchoosetoalignwithoursocialcontext,butwebringmore consciousnessandawarenesstotheprocess.Weevaluate,questionandformourown standpointswhichmayormaynotalignwiththeoutsideworld.

● Theself-transformingmind:Weareabletoseethelimitationsofdifferent perspectivesandapproaches,includingourown.Weseepartiality,arereflexiveand adaptableandhavethemasteryandexpertisetosortthroughmultiplepositionswhilst maintainingastrongsenseofauthenticity.57

Dis-coveryisapausebetweentheChamberofDiscomfortandHealing.It’saninvitationto explorewhathasemergedfromdiscomforts,emotions,andrelationshipsandidentify changesthatwillbenefitgrowthanddevelopmentasaneffectivecatalyst.Leaninginto discomfortwillallowyoutobetterunderstandthemutuallyconstitutingnatureof relationships,withourselvesandinrelationshipswithothers,includingtheecologiesof naturethatareourlifesupportsystems.

Healing

Catalystsseektohealdivisionsandworkacrosschasms.Theyareunited intheireffortstobuildhealthysocietiesandunderstandthatthe connectivetissuebetweenpeopleshasoftenbeenprofoundlyruptured andrequiresreconciliation.Ceremonies,rituals,chantsandhealing modalitieshavebeendevelopedbytheworld’sculturesandinclude visionquests,sweatlodges,chants,songanddance,andart.

Healing,formanyofus,hasbeenpushedasideinthecontextofourbusylives.Takingtime forhealingcanbechallengingformanycatalystsastheirattentionandenergyarechannelled towardtakingactionandworkinginpressingsituations.Forsome,spendingtimeononeself feelslikeaprivilegeandindulgence.However,catalystsmustn’tbe‘consumed’bytheir work.InarecentsurveyaboutcollectiveMāorileadership,therespondentsresoundingly notedtheywantedtheirleaderstobehealthy,whichincludedbeingrolemodels(physically, mentally,emotionallyandspiritually)andbettermanagingstressandburnout. Otheraspects weretobecalmandsteadfastunderpressure,keeptheiregoincheck,beself-awareand possessemotionalintelligence.58 HealinghelpsusmovefrombeingstuckinaChamberof Discomfortandbringsusbacktoa(k)newwholenessfromDis-covering.

Manyculturesencouragecontinualhealing,notjustwhenahealthcrisishits.ThecenturiesoldJapaneseartformofkintsugi,meaning“joiningwithgold”,meldsbrokenpiecesof crockerywithmoltengold.Kintsugispeakstoaphilosophyofembracingourflawsand experiencesandtransformingthemintoaworkofbeauty.InAfricanculture,drumming bringspeopleintothespiritualdomain.59 Shintopurification,wherebythecommunity purifiesmindandbodywhenparticipatinginmatsurifestivals,cancultivateanunselfish mindcalledseimeishin’.60 ForIndigenouspeoples,healingisconnectedtoplaceandtime spentincommunionwithnatureprovidesspiritualnourishment.ANativeAmericanPlains tribes’medicinewheelpresentsanintegrativeapproachtounderstandingandachieving wellness.61 Aboriginalsoundandvibrationinvokehealing,asdotheMāoriwiri(quivering handmotions)andtheHawaiianhula,whichsendoutspiralwaves.Thecleansingand groundingofbreath,meditation,prayer,andinvocationheal,purifyandbind.

Aswellasculturallygroundedhealingapproaches,someotherobservationsfromthe catalystsinclude:

● Communityisavitalsourceofsupport.Youmayrecallourearlierdiscussioninthe CentreoftheSpiral,whichsuggeststhathavingaCircleofStrengthisvaluablefor doingcatalyticwork.Astheywereexcavatingthroughthelayersofidentitytogetto theircore,LanceLouskieterneededtoconsciouslyhealfromtheimpactsof Christianity,colonisationandthesystemsandinstitutionswithinwhichtheyhavebeen ensconced.Lance’shealingisnotasolitarypractice;theyfoundsolidaritywithother catalystsaroundtheworld.

● Healingisecosystemic.ForCyanBrown,too,tappingintoaglobalnetworkhas supportedherhealingandtheworkshedoesasaninnovatorinthemedicalarena.She isadamantthat“tobeabletocreateanewworldandnewnormsrequiresboth individualandcollectivehealing.”Shebelievesthatcrucialtohealingistobelong withinasustainable,nurturingecosystemwithorganismsdoingtheirownthingsbut sharing“thesamelifeforceoftheelements[that]sustainsandhealsusall…”.

● Takethetimeyouneed.AsDorahMaremawaspreparingtohosttheUNFCCCCOP 17inDurban,SouthAfrica,hersix-month-oldbabydiedduetosuddeninfantdeath

syndrome(SIDS).Ostracisedbyherhusbandandthevillagers,whoblamedher,Dorah foundsolaceinacommunitythatralliedaroundhersoshecouldhaveasix-month sabbaticalandhavetime toheal.

● Honourembodiedknowledge.Weliveinasocietythatisoftendetachedfrombody knowledge,butsometimes,thetruesthealingcomesfromtappingintophysical experience,whichincludesdance.KaiKennedyintegratesdanceandothersomatic experiencesinhelpingothersheal andrecoverfromtrauma.Sheoncehadapatient whohadhadastrokeandhemiplegia,leadingtoparalysisononesideofhisbodythat wasunresponsivetotreatments.Oneday,Kaiputonkompamusic,andthatday,they dancedtogether.Healingcaninvolvememoriesheldinourbodies,andmovementcan releasetrauma.

● Emptythecup.Whenworkingforagovernmentagencytobringstakeholderstogether toformaneweducationcurriculumcentredonMāoriapproaches,SamHughesfound thatthefirstfewgatheringsweretough.“ThepeoplefromtheMinistryhadtosit throughafewveryuncomfortabledays,andtheywerenotcopingwithjustlisteningto peoplewhohadahatredtowardsthesystem.”Samsawthatthestakeholders“needed toletoutwhatwasinsidethembeforetheycouldmoveon.Wehadtoletthemempty themselvestohaveaclearspace.Wehavetoallowittohappen.”Overtime,the offloadingreduced,andtheycouldmoveforward.

Burnout

Catalystsencountermanyformsofsufferingandoppression,theirownandothers.They oftenworkinareassuchasmodern-dayslavery,inhumanelabourpractices,andracism, includingAIprofilingtechnologies,humanandenvironmentalrightsviolations,poverty, healthdisparities,genderrights,anddisplacement.Burnoutisagenuineconcern.Patricia Parker,drawinginspirationfromtheindefatigableEllaBaker,believesinradicalself-care andsustainingconnectionswithotheractivistsandcommunitymembers.Atthecoreofselfcareisadailypracticethatnurturesthespiritofselfandothers.62 AsThichNhatHanhsays: Wemayencounterpeoplewhoareveryactivebutarenotoperatingfromtheir compassion.Theyaretired.Whencompassionisweak,it’snotpossibletobehappy; youbecomeeasilyjealous,frustrated,andangry.Wehavetoknowourlimits.You cannotdomorethanyoucandooryouwillburnout.Wehavetoorganiseourlifeto ensurebalance.63

Antidotestoburnoutinclude:

● Keeptheflameofactivatedhopealive.AuthorHollyHammonddrawsattentiontothe roleofhopeasanantidotetotheburnoutmanyactivistsfaceastheytakeup warriorshipintheworld.Commonstressesofactivismarewellknown,(suchas overwork,trauma,andbeingengagedinconflictualspacesfortoolong),but somethingthatdoesn’tgetmuchairtimeiswhenasenseoffutilitysetsin: “Accumulateddemoralisationfromexperiencingdefeatscontributestomanypeople burningout,orjustdroppingoutofactivism.Feelingthatactionisfutileoften translatesintoceasingtotakeaction.”Sherecommendsthatorganisationsandsocial movementstakeconsciousstepstoensuretheyfunctioneffectivelyiftheywantto retainactivistswhoareingoodshape.64

● Seekprofessionalsupport.Youthareespeciallyvulnerabletofeelingtheweightofthe enormouschallengestheworldisfacing.AmandaSegnini,whoworkscloselywith youthwhotakeactionagainstclimatechange,rememberswhentheburnouthither. Shesoughtthehelpofapsychotherapist,awell-beingpracticeshecontinuestothis

day.SheandotheryoungactivistsintheNGOtheyfoundedmadesurethatamental healthpolicywasputinplaceformemberswhocarriedalotoftheorganisingload.

● Changeyourlifestyle.WhenLeNhanPhuongwasayoungmedic,thelongshiftsand intensecompetitionmeantthathiscohortwastryingtofunctiononlittlesleep,which impactedtheiremotional,physicalandmentalwell-being.Whenafellowresidentdied fromaheartattack,ittookthreedaysforanyonetonoticethathewasn’tatwork. Phuongrealisedheneededtodrasticallychangehislifestyle.HeturnedtoTaiChiand learnedtobreathemoredeeplyandexperiencemoreemotionalregulationandless reactivitytochallengingworksituations.Eventually,hisachesandpainsdisappeared, too.35yearslater,hestillpractisesitregularly.

● Takeabreakinnature.Goingintonatureisgrounding,evenifit’sjuststanding barefootinthegrass,takingtimetostudyaflowerpushingitswaythroughthecracks inthepavement,ornoticingthediffusedsunlightbetweenskyscrapers.DanaWalrath findstherestorativesilenceinnaturehelpsherworkinstudyingthepatterns underlyinggenocides.Assheexplains,“I’llsay,‘Okay,timeforabreak,’andIwalk rightoutmydoorandintothewoods.”Asachild,AgustinIbáñezwenthikinginthe mountainsnearSanJuan,andhestillreturnstothehillsasaformofmindfulnessand reflectivepractice.

Neuroscienceview

BrianLawler,whoisattheGlobalBrainHealthInstituteinDublin,sayswegeta‘warm brain’whenwegiveempathyandcompassion.Thesevaluesarerelational,andthereis higheractivationwithinagroupcontext.Brianexplainsthat“deficitsinempathycontribute tosufferingandconflictininterpersonalrelationships,poorcommunicationandimpacton leadershipabilities.”65 Burnoutcanbe“aformof‘compassion’fatigueandiscorrelatedwith decreasedactivationintheempathycircuits.”Keepingour’bodybudget’ingoodshapeis essential.Inotherwords,takingcareofourbodyflowsthroughtoouremotions,affect,and brainhealth.66

Burnout,fatigue,andexhaustionaremassiveissuesforanyonetryingtopushthroughchange inourworld.Exhaustiondescendsfromfightingfires,respondingtoemergenciesandcrises, dealingwithexceptionallydifficultsubjectmatter,changinggoalpostsandobstinatesystems. Catalystsareconstantlybattlingsystems,sometimestakingonestepforwardandtwobackor sideways.Steppingintotheroleofactivism,ofthinkingofthewholeandnotjustthemselves, meanstheyoftenpushtheirownneedsaside.Yetit’sessentialtotaketimeforhealing.Not find time—squeezedinbetweenthingslikeanaccident.Not make timebecausesooftenthere arecompetingresponsibilities.Takeitandclaimitasanecessarypartofacatalyticstrategy.

CreativeexplorationofourstoriesfromaplaceofDis-coveryand healingcanmoveusoutofthegroovesoftheoft-repeatedtoallowa (k)newstorywith(k)newvoicestotransformus.Throughstorytelling, wecanevolveouridentityandincreaseexperiencesofauthenticity.

Inthecatalyst’sworld,thenarrativeisapowerful leverforinsight. Ganzsaysthatwhilstanalyticshelpsusanswerthe‘how’ofsocialactivism,suchashowto useresourcesefficientlyanddetectopportunities,wemustalsolookatthe‘why’.Narrative helpsusexplorewhythismatters,whywecareandwhywevaluecertainthingsoverothers. IntheCatalyst’sWay,narrativeisexpressedthroughmanyculturalformsanddoesnot prioritiseonewayof“doing”narrativeoverothers.Wecantapintomultipleformsof exploringourstoriesthroughwriting,dance,poetry,visualarts,weaving,carving,andthe performancearts.

Withanunemployedfatherandamotherworkinginstreetmarkets,DominicCampbell oftengotlefttohisowndevices.Bytheageof12,hehadlargelylefthomeandhadmadefor himselfwhathedescribesasa“seriesofsurrogatefamilies”.Hethenwenttoartschool, followinganimpulsefromdeepwithinhim.Perhaps,hesays,hehada“curiosityabouthow peopleconnecttoeachother,howIfitinornot,andhowyoumakecommunity”.Artgave himawayofconnectingandexploring.Heeventuallygravitatedtoworkingwithcompanies thatwerecommunity-orientedandcoordinatingevents,suchasaDiwaliCelebrationor CaribbeanCarnival,oftenwithpeoplewhohadmigratedtoLondon.Helovestheartistryof ritual.AsDominicsays,“Underneaththeshinymarketingandadvertising,theCaribbean Carnivalisaritual.It’sgotstagesofdressandundress.It’saboutcostumingupand transforming.Iwasfascinatedbyhow,whoeveryouwere,youcouldfindawayintothis extraordinarythingthatevolved,whichhadretainedsomesenseoftheworldbeingturned upsidedown,ofdisruptionandofbeingabletomaintainyourtruth,whateverthatwas.”He learnedtoorganiseteams of3,000peopleandtoworkwithavolunteerbasetomake costumesforthem.Manifestinganeventwherepeoplewereworkingforfree,including himself,incommunitieswherepeoplehadnomoneytookDominictoanedgeof“constant reimaginingofwhatitcouldbe,howitwouldwork,andhowitcouldhappen.”This creativityandreinventionisasourceofvitality.

Intheirreport“Re-memberingThroughNarratives”,DurkhanaiAyubiandDanaWalrath saythat“eachindividuallifefollowsanarrativearc.Thislifeunfoldsinrelationtoothers— wehaveancestorsandbecomeancestors.Weinheritourstoryfromthosewhoprecedeus, andweleavestoriesopenforshapingbythosewhofollowus.Weareeachbutapointina perpetualconversationlinkingeverythingthathasbeenwithallthatisyettocome.”When weseeourstoriesasalivingnarrative,weengagewithourconsciousandunconscious perceptionsofrealityandthevaluesandnormsthatguideus.Storytellingallowsustotap intotheinjusticesthathavepropelledapersontotakeaction.Itisanantidotetothedominant narrativesthatcanengulfpeopleintobeguilingandoftensubtlenormalisations.Theyexplain that“Re-memberingdependsfirstupontheactofconjuringtheintrinsicmemoriesof ourselvesbeyondthedistortionsourhistorieswouldhaveusforget.Next,wereassemblethe piecesofourselvesthatweredismemberedandforciblyremovedtogenerateavisionthatis unifiedandwhole.Atthismomentinourcollectivehumanstory,wehavearrivedata precipicewhichbeckonsustore-memberintobeingadifferentworld—aworldthat,we posit,iflongheldatbay,hasnonethelessalwaysbeenknowntous.”67

Bringnarrativeinquiryintoyourownworkwhilerememberingthat:

● Itcanbechallengingtoseebeyondthenormsweareraisedin,whichcanfeelso,well, ‘normal’thatwedon’tquestionit.Thewayweseeourselvesisshapedbyour contexts,forexample,howweviewstatusandpower,racerelations,andgender issues.Evenourplaceinthecosmosishauledintoquestion:Arehumansoverlords andhavedominiononEarth,orarewestewardswhoseeaspectsofcreation,suchas floraandfauna,asaformofkin?Theseviewpointsgenerateourrealitiesandcanlead toanuncriticalbelief.Onewherethetrajectoriesofhistoryaresimplyinevitableas humans‘progress,’kickingsometothegutterasothersascend.The‘progress narrative’thatembedstheideathathumansareonaceaselessupwardtrajectoryof progresscanhaveadevastatingimpactonsocietiesandtheenvironmentthrougha deep-seatedbeliefthatscienceandtechnologyareourbestrecourse.

● Elevatingcertainknowledgeassuperiorandomittingordiscreditinganother knowledgeasinferiorcreateshierarchicalsegregation,forexample,betweenWestern scienceandIndigenousknowledgesystemswhensolvingenvironmentalchallenges. Shouldwefollowapunitiveorrestorativeapproachtojustice?How‘best’toraiseand educatechildren?

● Otherimpactsinclude‘fragmentedidentities’.RecallLanceLouskieter’sendeavours topeelawaythelayersoftheiridentityimposedbycolonisationandreligiontogetto theircore.

● Bydivingintothesegnarlynarratives,wecan‘re-member’andbebetterplacedto ‘shiftthetideofhistorytowardsjusticeanduniversalhumanity’.DurkhanaiandDana offerthisguidingwisdom:

■ Embraceadeepersenseofempathy;

■ Refutedogma;

■ Rejectanuntamedegoinordertorehumanise;

■ Re-memberourselvesbasedontheknowledgethatliveswithineachof us.

ThefinalsectioncontainsTAKE-a-WAYSthatofferarangeofrecommendationsfromthe reporttobringnarrativeandstorytellingdeeperintotheCatalyst’sWay,ascreative explorationisakeypartofyourrepertoireofcriticalself-reflexivity.Parkernotesthatthe artscanprovideaplatformtoconsciouslyandopenlyacknowledgethedynamicsofpower andprivilegeinourselvesandinourrelationships.Navigatingthistrickyterrainwith empathycansurfacealternativeknowledgesystems,andthefullnessofpeople’s contributionscanberenderedmorevisibletotheaimsofthecollective.68

Bytappingintootherwaysofknowingandexpandingourmind,wecanreleasepossibilities beyondthefamiliarandrelaxtherationalisticlogicthatconstrainsourexperience.Getting outofourcomfortzonestoengagewithothersandtellourstoriescanexpandourawareness ofwhatispossible.Thatcanlooklikemanydifferentformsofartandcreativity.Durkhanai Ayubi’sacclaimedbook Parwana,whichweavesrecipeswithstories,histories,andancestral wisdom,demonstrateshowconnectingtoourstoriesandsharingtheseisaformofactivism inandofitself.InduBalachandranplaystheveena,aSouthIndianclassicalstringed instrument,whichshewastaughttoplaybyhermother.Sheconnectstothismusical knowledgecodeinculturalceremonies,whichdrawsherintobeingpartofan intergenerationaltransmission.Indualsoengageswithothercatalyststodialoguethrough music,sometimesinunexpectedways.Once,shesays,“Aperformancewascancelled,and

theorganisersaskedifImightsing.IaskedElla,whoisaWiradjuridancer,andAlex,whois KabiKabiandplaystheyidaki(didgeridoo),toplaywithme.Itdidn’tfeellikea performance.It wasadialogue,adeepengagementwithoutwords.”KaiKennedy,whoisa specialistinphysiotherapyandmovement,likestoincludeeverythingfromyogaand breathingexercisestoplayfulgamestoshifttheenergyinaroomawayfrompassivepodium downloadsandhelppeoplefromdiverseplacesandexperiencesconnecttooneanother.For AgustinIbáñez,whosufferedfromADHDandintenseintroversionasachild,musichas helpedliberatehimandprovideachannelforhealing.HislongfriendshipwithIndio,a musicianwhowasonceunhousedinadeprivedregionofArgentina,hasbeena transformativepartofhislife.Together,theybecamewanderingminstrels,travellingthe world.Thefriendsnowworktogethercreatingfreemusicschoolsforvulnerable childrenin Argentina,wheretheyplaythefour-handsguitartechnique.

Ourstoriesinformandinspireourcatalyticworkinsurprisingways.BoydBroughton,a formerrugbyplayer,“Ifoneofmycousinswould tacklemeinbullrushoragameofrugby,I wouldsay,‘Yougotmethistime,’butIwouldnoticethatintheirdeterminationtotackleme, theyleftadefensiveholeontheirleft,andIwouldexploitthatnexttimetogetthroughthem. MyoldercousinssayIwasalwaystryingtofigureouthowtogetoneoverthem.”Ashegot olderandstartedplayingrepresentativesports,hecontinuedtodevelophismasteryofthe gameandexpandhisfieldofawarenessintowhattypeofkicktouseinamomentorwhatthe consequencesofamovemightbeforteammates.Now,leadinghealthservicesforMāori, whichrequiresanactivistcommitmenttodealingwithopposingforces,Boyddrawsupon thesesameskills.Whenfacedwithchallengingsituations,hewill“startpickingapartthe ‘opposition’orchallengeandunderstandwhatweweretryingtoachieveandfigureoutways tooutsmartit.”Hedescribesthisapproachas‘havingacrack’wherebyhehasagoatthings “armed”withexistingknowledgeandthenseekstolearnfromtheexperiencetouncover moreknowledgeandbecomemoreawareofhisblindspots.

Neuroscienceview

Narratives(i.e.,writtenstories,oralaccounts,audiobooks,fictionmovies,andmediafeeds) canhaveanarousingandlingeringeffectonthebrain’sactivityandresponsiveness, especiallywhenthenarrativeisemotive.Forexample,emotionalmovieclipscanactivatethe amygdala,whichisaneuralsystemfordetectingandmakingsenseofstimuli.Whetherfact orfiction,fakenewsorfactual,analyticalorholistic,narrativesimprintonourbrain’s processing.Thestorieswetell,alongwithourcontext,livedexperienceandcommunitiesof belonging,influenceourperceptionofrealityandourexpectationsofit.69

Creativeexplorationofourstoriesengageswhatwecallin Wayfinding Leadership terms “sphereintelligence”thathonoursthemanywaysofknowing.Characteristicsofsphere intelligenceincluderecognitionofmultipleintelligences,roundednessandholism, appreciationofanunfoldingandcyclicapproach,notjustthelinear,capacitytobewith uncertainty,mysteryandtheunknown,attentiontoprocess,andunderstandingthe relationshipsbetweenthings.Sphereintelligenceembracesintuition,creativity,and embodiment.Itbringsourhead,heart,body,andspiritintoasymphony.

Storytellingisthespineofacatalyst’srepertoire.Throughsharing,weopenourselvesto beingtouchedbyothers,makesenseofourlives,contemplatethethingsthatmatterand enjointoabiggerpicture.Storieshavemanyforms,andwhilstwritingandoratoryare widespread,divingintothefluxofothermodalitiescanbeenergisingandsurprising.Todive deeper,turntotheTAKE-a-WAYSinAppendix1,whichincludesastorygeneratoractivity.

Bridge of Praxis

IntheBridgeofPraxis,wearemovingtowardstakingcatalyticaction. Theword‘praxis’canmakepeopleshudder,especiallyrecovering academicsandpeoplewaryofjargon-soundingterms.Praxis,inthis work,simplyreferstothedynamicconnectionbetweenactionand criticalreflection.Weneedboth.Criticalreflectioninvolvesallthe thingswehavecoveredsofarin The Catalyst’s Way.Justbeingin criticalreflectionmodeisn’tgoingtohavemuchimpactuntilsomeactionistaken.Thenext partof The Catalyst’s Way focusesonaction.Tobeallaction,withlittleornoreflection,can beanunconsciousroutetobadoutcomes.

TheBridgeofPraxis(yellowzone)isthethresholdbetweenthelefthemisphereofreflection (blue)andthelefthemisphereofaction(green).TheBridgeofPraxisisatimetorallyfor effectiveengagementontheleftsideoftheCatalyst’sWay.Forcatalysts,itistointentionally evaluatepracticesandconsiderplansofactioninthelightofthe(k)newformsofknowledge, perspectives,knowledgecodes,andalternativediscoursesencounteredalongtheway.

Sensemaking

Sensemakinginvolvesbringingvigorouscriticalconsciousnesstodriveunderstandingabout whatisgoingon.Catalystsareattunedtostructuresanddynamicsthatperpetuateinjustice. Theyaimtohaveaholisticviewandtakemorethanaone-cutversionofreality. Sensemakingoccursacrossmanydimensions:

● Livedexperience:makingsenseoflivedexperienceinourlifetrajectories,encounters withothers,events,andoccurrencesandexploringourthoughts,feelings,and behaviours.Environmentalandplace-basedsensemakingisapartoflivedexperience thathonourstheecologicalworldandindigenousknowledgeofplaces.

● Socialworld:howdistributedrelationalinteractionsimprintindividualsandsocieties andchampion,challenge,andchangetheseimprintstoadvanceequityandjustice.

Figure 4: The Catalyst’s Way learning loop

● Temporal:havingregardforhistoryandpayingattentiontodiscoursesthatframe present-dayunderstandingsandhowthisinformsthefuture.Sensemakingis retrospectiveandprospectiveincriticalreadingsofthepast(suchaswhose versionis posited),andradicalimagination(foranequitable,justworld)isheldinthepresent.

● Action:akeenagenticdispositiontowardstakingactionforjusticeandliberty, informedbyaniterativeaction-reflectioncycle.Actionsprovideessentialcuesand informationtotestandassemblemeaningtoinformthenextstep.

● Criticalandmundaneevents:sensemakingoccursinthecontextofcritical occurrencessuchasracistacts,conflict,climatechangeevents,andhumanrights breaches.However,maintainingvigilancetomundaneeventsalsooccursintheways constructedsystemsexertandperpetuatepower,suchasthroughpolicy,legislation, anddiscriminatorytechnologies.

● Identity:howidentityformsandhowpowerfulforceshavemoderatedperceptionsand imprintingispartofsensemaking.Consciouslyunpackinganddecolonisingispartof sensemaking,asisdrawinginformationfromvarioussourcestobetterunderstandhow identities,individuallyandcollectively,arethreatenedandsuppressedandtobeaware oftheargumentsusedtojustifythemanipulationofidentitybyothers.

● Trauma:enteringaspaceoftraumaandloss,one’sownandthatofothers,toconfront realities.

● Change:sensemakingisusedtoinformthetypesofchangeandadaptationneeded, suchasstructuralandsystemictransformation,toenvisionfuturesclosertoaredefined reality.

● Narrative:harnessingthepowerofnarrativeandstorytellingtomakesenseof experiencesandtounderstandthepathbeingcarved.Narrativeandstorytellingoffer momentsofenlightenmentandinsightthatcanhelptilttheworldandfillitwith meaning.

● Power:woventhroughoutsensemakingarequestionsaboutcompetingusesofpower andthemultipleformsittakes.Powernarrativesinvolveexaminingsocial,cultural, economic,andpoliticalforces,authority,anduseofresourcesandprivileges.

● Emotion:embodiedemotionalexperiencecontributestothesensemakingwholeand oftenprovidestheinsightsandmotivationforeffectivepraxis:criticallyreflectingon themeaningoftheemotionandwhatactionisneeded.70

Sensegiving

Sensegivingactivelyconstructscomprehension,acceptability,andaction.Catalysts understandthepowerofcraftingalternativediscoursesfromtheconstellationsof sensemakinganglesoutlinedabovetoshape(k)newrealities.OspinaandFoldyhighlightthe valueofsensegivingandmanagingframesofreference:“Wesuggestthatsocialchange leadersdeliberatelyframeimportantaspectsoftheirworkincarefullycraftedwaysthatwill reachandmotivatekeyaudiences.”TheygivetheexampleoftheGwich’inNation,fighting topreservetheArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge,whichhasreframedtheissue“asoneof humanrights,ratherthanonlyanenvironmentalconcern,whichthenreachesconstituencies whoaremoremotivatedbythreatstohumanbeingsthantolandscapeorwildlife.”71

Sensebreaking

Sensebreakingiswhenweareconsciouslydoubtingandprobing.Sensebreakingisnot separatefromsensemakingorsensegivingbutpartofadynamicbigpicture.Forexample,in thesensemakingaspectsoutlinedabove,severalsensebreakingdimensionsaregiven,suchas beingvigilanttotypesofpowerthatseektopreserveanunjuststatusquoandnarrative manipulationthatinfluencespeople’sperceptionsaboutwhatisgoingon.Inadisruptive crisis,oursensemakingandsensebreakingskillsareevenmorecrucialtosee(k)new opportunitiesandpathways.

KateHiltonusesacoachingpracticecalled“theempatheticbridge,”whichpeoplecanbring intoconversationstohelpthemmakesenseoftheirsituation.Therearefourstepswecan use:

1. Acknowledgethechallengesomeoneisfacing.

2. Thepersoninthecoachingroleexpressesempathyandasksopenquestionsina genuineandcuriousway.Thisformofquestioningdoesnotseektosatisfyone’sown curiosityortosmuggleinsolutions.

3. Drawuponappreciativeinquirytoorientpeopletopositiveexperienceswithout dismissingthewholeoftheirexperience.SomequestionsKateusesare,“Whathas workedinthepast,orwherehavetheyseensomebodyelsesolveforsomething similar?”

4. Companionthepersonastheyidentifypossibilitiesandchoices.Kateencourages peopletotapintotheircreativitytogeneratepossibilities.Shemightask,“Whatdo youfeelmightworkandisworkableforyou?Andofthoseoptions,whatareyoumost drawnto?Whencouldyoutryit?Whowouldyoutryitwith?Whatwoulditlooklike? Whatworriesyouaboutit?Whatareyouexcitedabout,andhowcanwefollowupand besupportive?”Connectingthecoachtotheirinnerguideandteachermeansavoiding thetemptationtosolvetheotherperson’sproblemsorsuggestideasabouthowtofix something.

ArtcanbeafantasticwaytosynthesisethereflectionandactionsidesoftheCatalyst’sWay learningloop.DanaWalrathformsabridgeofpraxisbetweenherartisticendeavoursto ensuregenocideremainsinthefieldofhumanawarenessandundergirdsherworkwithher traininginthemedicalandbiologicalsciences.DominicCampbellrunswildlysuccessful andmeaningfuleventsthatbringartandsciencetogether.Whathefindsis thatthescientists tendtowardsanalyticaldissectionoftheartisticendeavoursandeventsthathespearheads, “Theykeeptalkingabout‘howdoweanalysetheartproject,andthenwecanbottleit’.It’s constanttension.”ThatconstanttensionsumsuptheBridgeofPraxisquitenicely,likea bridgethatspanschasms betweenworldsandforgesopportunitiesfornewencounterswithin ourselvesandwithothers.

Actions and Resources

TheBridgeofPraxisisatimelyplacetobrainstorminsightsandconsideractionsthatwillbe takenandresourcesrequiredtoadvancecatalyticprojects,events,andmobilisations. Assembledbelowareafewideas.

Examplesofactions:

● Creatingclearpolicies

● Creatingspacesforallvoices

● Beingagileandadaptive

● Usingmultipleleversofchange

● Demonstratingresilience

● Findingwaystoadvance

● Buildingdiverseteamsandnetworks

● Forginglinksbetweenpeople

● Listening

● Beingcriticallyreflective

● Managingtensions

● Problem-solving

● Navigatingconflict

● Challenginginequitablesystemsof power

● Disagreeingwell

● Demonstratingpassionand commitment

FromReischandcolleagues72:

● Connectingglobalforcestolocal concerns

● Buildingsocialcapital

● Expandingcivicparticipation

● Forgingdiversecoalitions

Examplesofresources:

● Money

● Time

● Commitments

● Rewards,incentives

● Accesstoalliances,networksand influence

● Supportfromcommunity

● Expertise,skillsandcapabilities

● Food,shelter,energy

● Decision-makingpower

Neuroscienceview

Engagingawholebrain-bodyapproachentailsawarenessofthereactivitiesformedinour limbicbrainsystem(thechamberofdiscomfort)andemotionalintelligence.The transformationswegainhelpensurethatwhenwedothestrategicworkandtakeaction,we arecomingatthisfrom aplaceofstrengthandawareness.73

TheBridgeofPraxisgathersthethreadsofwhathasbeencoveredthusfarbyweavingthe FlameofActivatedHope,Vision,Purpose,andtheKnowledgeCodetogetherintoour relationships,changechallenges,discomforts,healing,andstorytelling.Judiciousweaving involvessensemaking,sensegiving,andsensebreaking.Westarttoconsiderwhatwewill takeforwardinouractionsandtheneededresources.IntheTAKE-a-WAYSinAppendix1, theBridgeofPraxiscomprisesthefirstoftwoCatalyticCanvases.Itprovidesaone-page snapshotofthemaincomponents,includinga‘BelowtheSurface’aspect, whichremindsus ofthepersonaltransformationswearetakingupandwantingtotakeforward.

Nauterourou

Nakuterourou

Kaoratetangata

Withyourbasket[ofknowledge]

Andmybasket[ofknowledge]

Thepeoplewillbeassisted

Collaboration

Here,ascatalystshaveacommitmenttoandappreciationofforming effectivenetworks,collaborationtakesanecosystemicapproach. Ganz saysthe“keytosocialmovementactionisthecraftofgetting commitments”,which,headds,isoneoftheskillspeopleseemto strugglewithmost.Collaboratingdrawsonmanyskills,suchaslistening, courageousconversations,creativeexploration,stayingopentodiverse contributions,fosteringrespectful,equitabledialogue,payingattentionto discomforts,practisingemotionalawareness,andremainingconnectedtoourcentre. Collaborationcanbeenergising,playful,creative,andexcitingattimesandfrustrating, messy,andchaoticatothers.

Securingcommitments,however,iscriticaltothesuccessofasocialmovementand“ittakes courage,training,anddedicationtodevelopamovementcultureofaskingforandgettingreal commitments”.Fortrulytransformativecollaborations,Ganzsuggeststhatyou:

● Consistentlytranslateintentintooutcome.

● Makethingshappen-ontime.

● Measureandevaluatecollaborativeactionsforcontinualimprovement

● Amovement'smostpreciousresourceisvolunteertime,useitwell.

● Establishnorms,processes,andstructurestomakecommitmentrealsuchassettingup regularmeetings,gettingemailresponses,andagreeingonaplanandpathway.

● Embedresponsibilityandaccountability.

● Providecoachingtogetexcellentperformance.

● Appreciatethemotivationalbenefitsofintrinsicrewardgeneratedbywell-designed work. 74

Effective organising from a practical standpoint

AmandaSegninistartedEngajamundowiththeintentiontoincreaseyouthparticipationin decision-makingaboutthefutureoftheplanetandthepeople;herteamsetuptheinteractive web-basedplatformsothatuserscouldaccessinformationandfindouthowtoparticipatein eventssuchasmarches.Initially,about30peoplesignedup.TheNGO’sgoalwastoattract membersfromallfiveregionsofBrazil,whichtheyachievedintheirfirstyearduetotheir activevolunteerbase.Thereareafewreflectionsfromtheirexperiencetoconsiderwhenever youareestablishinganewcollaboration:

● Holdorganisingloosely

● Thinkaboutwhat(ifany)‘rules’areneeded.Engajamundohadjustoneinthe constitution:thatmembersarebetween15to30yearsold,or,iftheyarefroman Indigenousorruralcommunity,upto35yearsold

● Whathoursofcommitmentareexpectedfrommembers,ifany?

● Putmentorsinplace

● Howwillpeopleconnect?Engajamundowantedtoattractvolunteersfromallregions acrossBrazil,sotheyheldonlinemeetingstogrowtheirnetworkofyouthwhocared abouttheenvironmentandsustainability

● Experimentwithgovernancemodelsintermsofhowdecisionsaremadeandstrategies developed

● Whatwilltheorganisationalstructurebe?TheEngajamundoco-foundersdidnotsee themselvesas‘leaders’but‘facilitators’.Aswe’vediscussed,theterm‘leader’does notresteasilywithcatalystsasitimpliespower,influence,elitism,anddenotingthat certaingroupsofpeople are‘incharge’.Aswellasfacilitators,Engajamundo’s network,whichhasgrowntoalmost3000volunteers,comprisestwootherroles:the broadbaseofvolunteersandthearticulators,whowereregularlydoingthingsintheir territories,formedabout tenpercent,300people,ofthewholeorganisation.

DominicCampbellprovidessomeotherquestionstoreflectonwhenorganising:

● Canyoudevelopaporousyetclearframeworkforpeopletoengagein?Forexample, whenorganisingthe‘CaribbeanCarnival’,whichisaglobalphenomenon,thereisan overarchingstructuretotheevent,whichoccursoverthreedays,withacleardress codeforeachday.Yettheyholdwhathappenswithinthatstructureveryloosely.

● Areyouspendingtimewithpeoplewhohaveotherwaysofthinkingabout theworld?

● Howdoyouusedisparateprojectstoconnectpeopleintoaworkingallianceandform aporousunion?

● Withastructurecentredaroundtheideaof‘fairness’.Howaretheysupported?

● Howdowestayfocusedonthemissionofchange?

● Howdowerespectandengagewithlocalisedcomplexity?Howdoweconnect withoutbeingdistractedbythedemandsofaninstitutioninneedofsustainingthe institution?”

AgustinIbáñezbringsanotherperspectivetoorganising,drawingonhisexperiencein buildingnetworksinthemedicalsciencesfield.Throughhistrainingasaneuroscientist,he foundprofessionalcollegialitylacking,aspeoplewereworkinginisolationfromeachother. LatinAmericannationsarehistoricallynotwell-resourcedinthisfield,whichrestrictedthe opportunitytoinnovateastheywereconsumedbyday-to-dayproblems.Hisgoalwasto developnetworksacrosstheprofessionaldivide,andherearesomestepsheandhis colleaguestooktobuildcollegialstrength:

● Shareresearch,whichbuildsaknowledgebankthatinvestspowerintothecollective andgrowscapability.

● Supportresourcedistribution.Thisisespeciallyrequiredinnationssuchasthoseof LatinAmerica,whiletryingtobuildcapabilityandwell-resourcedlabsinthefaceofa systemicbiasinthesciencesthatprivilegeshigher-incomecountries.

● Createacommonlanguageandcode.InAgustin’scase,thismeantthatthe neurosurgeoncommunitycouldformaunitedvoiceandcoordinateeffectivelyto addresssharedproblems.

● Collaboratetotrainnewpeople.

ThichNhatHanhsays,“Withgoodcommunicationamongitsmembersandeveryonesharing thesameintentionanddirection,anyorganisationcanbetransformedintoacommunitythat canbeaninstrumentforsocialchange.”75 DrawingontheexperienceofElla Baker’s approachtosocialjustice,Parkerhighlightssomevitalcommunicationpracticesnecessaryto advanceacommitmenttocommunitypower:

● Criticalself-reflexivity(questioningrolesandcheckingprivilege)

● Criticalnetworking(spacesthatbuildtrustandmutualrespect andidentifyneeds)

● Radicallistening(payingattentiontostructuralinequalities,silences,absences,and collectiveintention)

● Criticaldialogicgroupstructureandprocesses(includingparticipative-decisionmaking,mutuallearning,rotatingroles,andtalkingcircles).76

Inaddition,encouragethedevelopmentofthefollowingcommunicationskillsamong catalyticgroups:

● Fostergenuinedialogueinensuringallvoicesareheardandrespected.Maintainan openmindset

● Createspacesthatenable constructivecommunication

● Advocateone’sviewsskilfully

● Practiseemotionalintelligence

● Keepalineofsighttosharedpurpose,visionandvalues

● Exercisematureconflictmanagement

● Engagestorytellingskillsthroughthepersonal,collective,andpublicnarrativeto framethesituation,constructameaningfulcollectiveidentitythatinspiresand motivatesactionandgalvanisesrelationships

● Practisecross-culturalefficacyandhumility

● Valuecollectiveintelligence.

KateHilton’swatershedmomentlearningtheropesoforganisingcamewhenherapproach oftakingchargeledtoamajorbreakdowninthegroup.Whilstshewasgoodatbuilding relationshipsandgettingnetworkstogether,shewasalwaysatthefrontoftheroom,being directaboutdistributingtasks.Shesays,“Bythefourthmeeting,allthebeststudentleaders intheroomstoodup,lookedatme,andsaid,‘Welovethisidea,butwecan’tworklikethis. We’reoutofhere.’”Atthetime,Katewasenrolledinacommunityorganisingcoursethat wasbeingtaughtbyMarshallGanz,aseasonedexpertinthefield.Heaskedhertwo questions:“Doyouknowhowtocreateasharedpurpose?”and“Doyouknowwhata collectivedecision-makingprocessis?”Kateshookherhead.Marshallsaid,“Findsomebody inthegroupwhocanleadaprocesstoidentifyasharedpurposeandallowthegroupto decide.”Asshewatchedotherstudentstakeleadership,Kateworriedthatitwasheadingin thewrongdirection.But“ultimately,theoutcomewasmuchbetter.Whattheycreatedand imaginedwassimilartowhatIhadsaid,plusalltheseothergreatideasandvisions,andthey turneditintosomethingextraordinary.Thatmomentcompletelyshiftedhowweallworked together,ourrolesandresponsibilities,howdifferentpeoplehadautonomyandtookthelead onvariouscomponents,andhowwestructuredourworktogether…Youactuallyhaveto trustpeopledeeplyandmeaningfullyandputyourselfalongtheedgeofnotknowingwhat’s

goingtohappennextandnotknowingwhatthatpersonisgoingtosayordoandletthatbe okayforleadershiptowork.”

Low-HighContextCommunication

Workingacrossnationalandinternationalcommunitiesrequirescarefulattentiontofactors suchashowspacesareconstructed,thenormsthatguideencounters,explicitandimplicit communicationprotocols,bodylanguage,andcomfortlevelsaroundproximity.

Oneusefulframeworkto keepinmindissocialscientistEdwardHall’slow-highcontext model,developedinthelate1970s,aimedatnavigatingcross-culturalcommunication. Whilsttheframeworkhasproblematicelements,itcanstillgeneratehelpfulinsights.Hall placeslow-contextculturessuchastheUS,Netherlands,andGermanyatoneendofthe spectrum(seeTable2).MediterraneanandLatinnationsclusterinthemiddle.Middle Eastern,African,andAsiancountriesaretowardthehigh-contextend,wherewewouldalso locatemanyIndigenouscultures.77

Low-contextculturestendtowardindividualismandrelyonwrittencommunicationto minimisenuance,ambiguity,andinference.ErinMeyer,inherworkonintercultural communications,describeshowthemorelow-contextthecultureis,themorepeopletendto puteverythinginwriting:’Thatwasafinemeeting—I’llsendoutawrittenrecap.’‘Thanks forthephonecall—I’llsendyouanemaillistingthenextsteps.’‘You’rehired—here’syour writtenjobdescriptionandaformalofferletter.’ComparedwithEuropeanandAsian companies,shesays,Americanbusinessestendtorelyonorganisationalcharts,titlesthat detaillevels,writtenobjectivesinplanssuchasprojects,strategic,andcommunications plans,andsetsoutresponsibilities,actions,andmeasures.Timeorientstoward clock/chronologicaltime.78

High-contextcultures,meanwhile,valuesymbolism,metaphor,andstorytelling. Communicationcanbeladenwithmeaningthatrequiresreadingbetweenthelinesandpoetic nuance.Oraltransmissionisvalued,knowledgetendstobecarriedinternallyandishighly contextualandrelational.Relationshipstendtobelong-termandcentrearoundbelonging. Face-to-faceconnectionischerished,andrelationshipsareprioritisedabovetasks.Thesense oftimeisnotsomuchclock/chronologicallyorientedbutrather,aslongasittakestobuild relationships.

Thisandotherframeworkscanbeusefulindevelopingculturalproficiencyandconnecting directlywithdifferentcommunitieswithoutthemediationofoftentaken-for-grantedWestern norms.Someoneacculturatedtostatusdistinctionsmaybehighlyattentivetothepersonwith perceivedgravitas(suchasaculturalelderoraboss)andwilllistencarefully,notinterrupt, andgenerallyseektosupportthatpersonpublicly.Tosomeonefromaculturethatstridently assertsindividualism,itmayseemthattheotherpersonlacksconfidenceorisundulyquiet. Conversely,somemayseetheruggedindividualistasactingdisrespectfully.Itishelpfulto harnessthepowerofthisdiversityforcollaborationsandcatalyticactions.Therewillbe peoplewhospeakdirectlyandbluntly,whileotherswhoexpressthemselvesmore symbolicallyandmetaphorically.Youmightfindhavingastorytellerwhocanpainta compelling,movingpicturevaluableinsomemeetingsandsomeonewhoisexplicitand matter-of-factmorebeneficialelsewhere.

Patterns,holistic,relational,field dependent

Groupconsensus

Oral-based Dialogueincl.,non-verbal,common sharedunderstandings

Extendedfamilycaregiving

Childrearedinsociallydense,unrestricted environment

Situatedfeedbackloops

Isolatedvariables,analysisofparts,fieldindependent

Solitary

Print-based Orders,explicit,detailedinstruction,low sharedunderstanding

Primarycaregivers

Childrearedinlowsensory,restricted environment

Decontextualisedauthority

SamHughes’experienceoforganisingaseriesof‘wānanga’fortheNewZealandMinistry ofEducationoffersanexampleoflowandhighcontextsinaction.WānangaisaMāorihigh contextformofdialoguewherepeoplecometogethertodeliberatewithintentionandallowa deeperformofknowingtoemerge.Yearsago,anumberofexpertswerebroughttogetherto developaneweducationcurriculumsteepedinaMāoriworldview.Thewānangaincluded MinistryofEducationstaffandstakeholderswhohadalowcontextstyleofengagement, alongwithaseniorMāorileadershipteamtoguidethemusingahighcontextstyle.AsSam says,“TheMinistrywasgettingimpatientwithme.Theywantedareport,butIsaidwe neededmoretimeandspace.Theyalsowantedametaphor.Itwasveryforced,likethey requiredametaphorasamarketingtool.”Whentheyhadabreakforlunch,theMāori leadershipsaidtoSam,“CanIbehonestwithyou,boy?Wehaven’tgotanythingbecause theykeeptryingtogetustomakeametaphortheycanuse.”TheMāorileaderbegantoshape thecurriculumbydrawingonMāoriwisdomandwhakapapa,whichisawayoforderingthe worldthroughlineagesgoingbacktooriginalsources.Samsays,“Herewasanideaatits mostpure.Hedownloadeditall,andwedevelopedphasesofprogression,allowingyoung peopletohavetimetogothroughphasesoflearningthroughdifferentblocksoftimethat startedwiththeawakeningandtheactionsthatneededtobetaken.”

InduBalachandranischampioningacatalyticprojecttobringtwohigh-contextcultures, IndianandIndigenousAustralian,togetherincollaborationwithoutthemediationoflowcontextstyles.Induisinterestedin“howcommunitiescansettlemorelawfullywith IndigenouspeoplesinAustralia.”Shenoticedin herworkwith IndigenousAustraliansthat howtheencounterstookplacewasmediatedbyaWesternapproachtorelationshipsand engagement.ReflectingonherTamilculturalbackground,whichishighcontext,Induasked herself,“HowcanpeopleinAustraliaandoverseaswhoareofIndianoriginbuild relationshipswithIndigenouspeoplesthataren’tmoderatedbyaWesternlens?Howcan migrants,asuninvitedsettlersinAustralia,potentiallytransformthenarrativeofsettlement? Andthen,whatifwedeepenconnectionsbetweenIndigenousAustraliansandAdivasitribal andothercommunitiesinIndiawhoaredeeplyrelatedtolands,forests,andplaces?”Meeting culturetoculturecanoftenbethestrongestplacetostart.

Table 2: Comparison of Indigenous High- and Low-context approaches Source: Adapted from Yunkaporta, Tyson. (2019) Sand Talk

Radical inclusion

Manyorganisationsfocusonrecruitmentandhiringpoliciestoachievediversityacross criteriasuchasgender,ethnicity,age,faith,physicalabilities,andsexualorientation.Yet, theyoverlooktheorganisationalcultureaspectsandassimilatepeopleintoanexisting monoculture,i.e.,whilsttheorganisationmightcheckcertainboxesofdiversity,thisdoesnot translatetoaninclusiveenvironmentintheoffice.Thus,peoplewilldriftaway,unwillingto dotheculturalgymnasticsrequiredtofitinandconformtothedominantnorm.Many organisationsoperateinalow-contextfashionwithoutrealisingit,resultinginalossofthe richdiversityofotherapproaches.

Whilstprovidingvaluablebaselineinformation,peoplecanbeshoehornedintocheckboxes. Thiswayoflookingatdiversitydoesn’taccountforourpersonalities,neurodiversity, socioeconomicbackgrounds,levelsofexperience,howwerespondtosituations,orhowwe arechangingandbecoming.Itdoesn’tconsiderourintersectionality.Nooneisasking: diversityfromwhat?Whatisthe‘normal’thatis beingdiversifiedfrom?So,builtintothis verynotionistheideaof‘different’and‘other’.It raisesquestionslike,‘WhodoIneedtobe fortheretobediversityaroundhere–andwhatdoesthatmakeyou?’Therealaimshouldbe makingpeoplefeeltheybelongandcanbetheirwholeselvesintheirplaceofwork. Beinganoutsidercan,infact,beanopportunityforradicalinclusion.Asachild,Chris OechslifoundthatwhenhisfamilymovedfromIndiatoChina,wheretheylivedforthree years,hewas“re-introducingmyselfeachtime,andlearninghowtoconnectsocially contributedtoasensethatIneededtobeobservantandrespectfultojoin,engageand developanidentitywithineachnewcommunity.”Astimepassed,he“experiencedbeing valuedforbeinganoutsider,goingthroughaprocessofbeingvettedandthenbeingvalued forbringingsomethingdifferentintothecommunity.Itraisedmylevelofawareness,respect, enjoymentandfunandbroughtsomethingtoaspace.”

Neuroscienceview

Oursocialworldshapesourbrain.Orsaidinadifferentway,ourmindisa“grand collaboration.”79 AgustinIbáñezsharesaneuroscienceviewoftheneedtounderstandour social,collaborative‘cognitioninthewild’.Ifwereallywanttoknowhowourminds functionandconnect,weneedtodothisrelationally,outinthefield,inreallife.Henotes, “Thebrainisasocialorgan;ofcourse,geneticsimpactsourbrain,butsodoesthesocial contextinourgenetics,soepigeneticsisanotherwaytounderstandthedifferentstressfulor intensesocialsituationsthatinfluenceourbrain.”

Collaboratinginvolvesforminginclusivenetworks,adaptivecommunicationstyles,a grassrootsapproachthatsurfacescollectivewisdom,andgarneringcommitments.Permeable networksthatpermitthefreeflowofenergyandideasanda‘de-organising’stylecanbe especiallyeffective.Organic,distributedapproachesembraceradicalinclusionandpay attentiontoabsencesandpresences.

Mobilisation

Catalystsdiveintotheflux,mobilisingmarches,organisingprotests, speakingoutoncriticalissues,takingleadershipincommunityactiongroups andorganisations,andtransformingeducation.Activistarts,suchaswriting, theatre,dance,andperformance,featurestronglyinmobilisingefforts. Catalystsvaluelivedexperienceandgrassrootsknowledge.Claimsofstatus, hierarchy,andsuperiorityarereceivedwithcircumspection,evenwariness. Whilsttheoryandabstractioncanprovideperspective,this‘education’is not betterthanthewisdomcontainedinthecommunity.Adiversityof knowledgesystemsisembraced,andeveryonebringsvaluablecontributions.Mobilising involvesbeingawareofhowoppressionshowsupincontextsandensuringthatthepersonal isconnectedtothecollective.80

Lived Experience and Action

Mobilisinghasmanyaspects. Itincludesworkingwithorganisationswithdifferentagendas butarticulatingthevisioninawaythattheyarecompelledtojointheeffort.Amanda Segniniadvises,“Oneofthefirststepsinadvocacywithorganisationsistohavethem recogniseyouragendaisimportant.”Oneofherclimatechangemarchestookthreemonths ofworkingwithdisparateorganisationsandmobilisingthemtowardsasharedpurpose.She alsonotesthathavingrotatingleadershipaswellasdecision-makingvestedinthecollective isessentialtoeffectivemobilisationefforts:“It’sfantastictoseethoseintersectionsof knowledgeandexperiencewhendifferentorganisationsplanacampaigntogetherforthe climateagendaandcreatenewpossibilities:everybodyrallyingaroundthesameburning insighttomakethisworldbetter.”

Beingawareoftheculturalcontextsurroundingyourmobilisationeffortsaddsimpactand cansaveyoualotoftroubleingettingsupport.Asshewaslearningtheropesofcommunitylevelresearch,DorahMaremawasintroducedtoparticipatoryruralappraisalmethodology. Sheexplains,“Becauseoftraditionalculturalpracticesandnormsthatdidn’tallowwomento speakfreelyamongchiefsandmen,wewouldseparatethewomen.BecauseIcamefroma ruralarea,Iunderstoodsomeculturalnormsthatawomanwasnotsupposedtospeak,andif youwantedtoraiseanissue,you’dhavetogotoamalefamilymember.”Tomobilisea communityaroundlandclaims,first,theywouldinvitemenandwomenintothesameroom. However,ontheseconddaytheywouldworkwiththetwogroupsseparately.“Inthe women’sgroups,wesoughttoinstilconfidenceinthemtoremindthemthattheymatterand theirvoicesmatter,”shesays.“Weexploredresettlementplansandhowthewomenwould liketobesettled.”Themenandthewomenwouldthenbereunited,andthe“womencould speakupandvoicetheirpointsofview.Themenwerebeginningtorecogniseand acknowledgethem.”

Fundraising

Seekouttheactivitiesandmobilisationsthatpeopleinthecommunityarealreadydoing. Often,thesystemsinwhichcatalystsoperateandreceivefundingputspressureonthemto follownarrowlydefinedpathwaysandscopesofactivities.Whenenteringacommunity, BoydBroughtonaskshowheandhisteamcansupporttheirwell-beingand,“Wegooutside ourlane;ofwhatwe’refundedtodoallthetime.Peopleinthecommunitywillaskustohelp withthingssuchasorganisingtransporttoprotests,rallies,andkapahaka[performance],all thatsortofstuff.”Histeamknowsthatworkingalongsidepeopleismuchmorepowerful

thantryingtodivertthemawaytocometothehealthservice.DurkhanaiAyubiexplainsher approachtofundraising: “Idon’tmaketheraisingoffundstheprimarythingaboutevents.I makeitaboutanexperiencethatpeoplewanttobeapartof,whichisthisamazingfoodthat tellsitsownstory,andaboutbeingwithfamilyandlovedonestoshareinamoment together.”Shehasfoundthatremovingthe‘alwayscharitable’aspectinfusesamoredirect, relationalexperiencethatbringspeopletogetherin acommunity–notwithalayerofcharity sittingovereverything.Earlier,welearnedhowAgustinIbáñezandhiscolleaguesneededto buildcollegialstrength,shareknowledge,combinetheircollectivecapability,andforma unitedvoicetotacklesystemicbiasinfundingopportunitiesthatprivilegedwealthiernations. AmandaSegninispentmonthsworkingwithorganisationswithdisparateagendastocome aroundasharedpurposeofyouthactioninclimatechangeandtoagreeto providefunding.

Power

“Wedependdeeplyoneachother,notjusttosurvivebuttowin.Youknow,I thinkthatthatispartoftheingredientsforbuildingpower,andforsustaining power,andfortransformingpower,[and]isreallytransformingthedynamics ofhowpoweroperates.”—AliciaGarza81

Mobilisingrelationalandcollectiveactionrequiresattentiontopowerandagency.Power pliesthefieldoftheCatalyst’sWay—withinthecommunityandinthesystemsthatwork againstliberty.Ignitingintentionandactioninthecollectiveinvolveshavinganacute awarenessofpowerdynamics.Exploringthesedynamicsinthegroupcansurfacecrucial insightthatcanhelpthecollectivebetterfunctionwhenmobilising.Considerationsinclude:

● Criticaltheoriesofpower,includingcriticalreadingonhistoryanddecolonisation

● Overcomingimposedpowerlessness,ascausedbystructural,systemic,andcasual racism,forexample.

● Theabilitytopushbackandchallengedominantnarratives.

● Thepowerofdiversityandradicalinclusion.

● Personalpowerandbeingconnectedtoone’scentre,vision,purposeandvalues.

● Powerinthecontextofamplifyingimpact.

● Creativeforcesareapowerfulformoftransmission.

● Centripetallylocatedforceisapowerfulwaytomove.

● Personalandmutualagencyasreciprocallyproducedsourcesofpower. CherylHyde,whostudiespower,pointsoutthatpeoplewithperceived‘lowpower’maybe thelynchpininstrongrelationalnetworksthatareconduitsofinfluenceforchange.82 Parker providesasuiteofrecommendations:

● Valuethepowerof‘lowpower’agentswhoworkatthegrassroots,areamongthe marginalised,arelikelytobehighlyattunedtolocalcontextsandconditions,may consciouslyeschewpositionsofauthorityandchoosetoworkcloselywithnetworks andcoalitions.

● Developgroupfacilitationcapacitiesforeveryone.

● Encouragemutuallearningstructuresthatsupporttrialanderror.

● Rotate‘leadership’roles.

● Useparticipativedecision-making.

● Sharelearningwithotherstoempowerthem,encouragingcriticalconsciousnessand actionwithinthenetwork.

● Buildcatalyticknowledgeandexperiencewithinthenetwork,suchasknowledgetodo withobtainingandexercisingpower,vitalconnections,visibility,and communication.83

Considerculturalperspectivesofpower,too.InBuddhism,therearethreekindsofsupportive powerknowninChineseas 三 德 (tamđucinVietnamese):

● Powerofcuttingoff(斷德,đornđuc)suchascravings,anger,fear,despair,or jealousy.

● Powerofunderstanding(智德,tríđuc)throughmindfulnessandconcentrationtolook deeplyandgetabreakthroughintotheheartofreality.

● Poweroflove(恩德,ânđuc)toforgiveandacceptothersandofferunderstandingand love.84

TheworkoftheHarvardProjectonNativeAmericanEconomicDevelopment,whichhas spannedsome35yearsofresearch,showsthatwhentribesrewritetheirconstitutionsand organisetheirinstitutionsanddecision-makingwithaculturalmatchthatreflectstheirown protocols,theyaremorelikelytoachievetheoutcomestheyseek.However,someassumed culturalnotionsaboutwherepowerisvestedcannotbeaccepteduncriticallyeither.Always inquireintopowerrelationswithinacultureaswellasimposedsystems.

Wemustbeabletointerrogateeventheconceptsthatweholdmostdear,suchas empowermentofothers,highpowerhavingmoreimpact,orcoalitionsthatneedtobe waterproofed.DorahMaremawasfirstignitedintoactivismthroughherexperienceasa childinavillagethatwastargetedforgranitemining,andshenowworkswithwomenin SouthAfricatobringtheirvoicestotheclimatechangeagenda.Shesays,“Ifindtheissueof empowermentveryproblematicbecause,inmyview,itassumesthatpeopledon’thave powerandarejustwaitingforanoutsidertocomeanddepositpowerinthem.Itassumesthat peoplehavenopower,whichisnotthetruth.”WhatDorahdiscoveredisthatthesameforce withinherexistsineveryone,eventhoughit’shardtodefine.Timeandtimeagain,shehas witnessedthetransformationthattakesplacewhenthisinternalforceisignited,anditis especiallygratifyingwhenmenputforwardwomenastheirspokesperson“becausethey knewthatthiswomanwassopowerful,she’llbeabletorepresentourinterests.”

Whileindividualsmaytheoreticallyfallintothecategoryoflowpower,beingpartofan organisedgroupelevatesthepowerstatusofeveryonewithinit.BoydBroughtonderivesa hugesenseofsatisfactionwhenheseeswhānaugetinvolvedinlocalpolitics.Hesays, “Thesewhānau[families]weren’thavingthosethoughtsearlier,theydidn’tthinkitmattered, butnowthatthey’vegrownandprogressed,theyunderstandtheconnectionsbetween decision-makingandoutcomes.Theystartaskingquestionsandnoticethingsthatthey thoughtwereoutoftheircontrol.Seeingthatprogressionhasbeensomeoftheabsolute highlightsofourmahi[work].”LanceLouskieterispartofacoalitioncommittedtothe rightsofpeoplearoundsexualandreproductivejusticeinSouthAfrica.Theyworkata grassrootsleveltoadvocateforallpeopletoreceivequalityservices regardlessoftheir genderexpression,sexualorientation,religion,ethnicity,andphysicalabilityandforthese peopletohaveagencyovertheirbodies.Forexample,whilstabortionislegalinSouth Africa,not everybodycanaccesssafeservices.Withvariousforcescombiningtoplace obstaclesandbarriersfor‘lowpower’people,Lanceandthecoalitionleveragetheir

collectivepower.Waystosupportincludehumanrightsadvocacy,politicallobbying,and policyinfluencetoensureconditionsforpeopletoexercisetheirownagency.

Lookforpointsofcommonality,evenamongwhatmightseemlikedisparatecommunities, whichcanenableyoutobetterworkagainstsystemsofoppression.DurkhanaiAyubi underscorestheimportanceofacriticalunderstandingofpowernarrativesinsocietieswith dominantnormsthaterodecommunitiesthatalignwithcollectivistpower,suchas Indigenous,displaced,anddiasporicsocieties.Durkhanai’sexperienceasapartofthe refugeecommunityfromAfghanistan,livinginAustralia,hasshownherthatmuchofwhat happensinsociety,politics,andeconomicsismediatedby“Europeannotionsofpowerand identity.”TransformationcanoccurthroughaligningwithIndigenouscommunitiesand findingpointsofcommonalityas“therearemanysimilaritiesinourcontemporaryand historicalexperiences,aswellasideasaroundleadershipandwaysofbeingthatfavours operatingwithadispersive,collectivevoiceinmakingdecisions.”

Whenenteringanewcontext,trytogetabeadontheassumptionsyou’recominginwith becausetheycanmakeyoumissthebigpicture.Acommonthoughtexercisegoes:imaginea seriesofimagesofthreechildrenwatchingabaseballgame.Thefirstdepictsthechildren standingonlevelground,i.e., equality.However,eventhoughtheyarebeingtreatedequally, onechildcannotseeoverthefence.Thesecondimageshows equity,wheresupportsof differentheightsmakeitpossibleforeachchildtoseethegame.Thethirdimagerepresents justice,alsocalledliberation—allthreearestandingonlevelground,andthefencehasbeen removedaltogether.

Butwhatifthere’sanotherkidwhodoesn’twanttowatchthegameatall?SamHughes believesthat“ifyouendupwithasystemthatlooksthesameontheoppositeside,thenitis nottrueequity.”Inhiswork,hehasseentheMinistryofEducationmakingattemptsto removethebarrierstoenterthesystem,buttheirendgoalisstilleveryonewithinasystem designedbyadominantworldview.Heasks,“Doyouwanttobelongwiththepeoplethat havealwaysbeenthere?Orisitaboutpavingthewayforotherstohaveaspacedifferent frombelongingtothecurrentsystem?”InhissmallcommunityofTolagaBayintheEast CapeofNewZealand,“Overfiftypercentofstudentsinourareahaven’tfinishedhigh school.Theyliveinplaceswhereinternetconnectionisunreliable…howdoweensurethey canlearninawaythatisequitable,collective,andcultural?”Forstudentswhohave“doneall therightthingsandhavebattledtheodds”togotouniversity,Samwantstoensurethatthe curriculumisculturallyrelevant,inclusive,and truly equitableintermsofpower,agency,and access.

Securinganddeployingresourcesiscrucialforsuccessfulmobilising.Theresourcesasocial movementneedsincludetime,skills,effort,andenergy,oftenrelyingonvoluntary commitment.Anecessarydimensionofresourcesrequiresunderstandingpower,andthosein chargeofscarceresourcesholdpower—butwhatthatlookslikeisentrenchedwithineach specificculturalcontext.WhenworkinginaMāoricommunity,BoydBroughtonfoundthat aninfluentialauntyfigurewouldprovideaseriesofsignalstoindicatehersupport,which requiredclosereadingofthesituationbyBoyd’steam.Forexample,sheusuallyhadher phonecameraturnedoff,andBoydwould“silentlygroantomyselfifsheturnedthecamera on,becauseitwastogrowlatus.”DuringtheCOVID-19pandemic,whentheteamwere engagingwiththecommunitytoensureresourcesandsupportservicesweregettingthrough, Boydnoticedthatthe“growlingsweren’thappeninganymore.Therewasmore encouragement.Therewasnoticeablesupport.”Hebelievesthatthepandemicmadetheteam moreresponsive.TheMāoricommunitiestheyworkedwithcametoseethattheyweredoing thebesttheycouldandhadstaffthatwereshowingupandpreparedtobeontheground.

Boydsays,“Weknewwehadturnedacornerwhenthemaraepeople wouldsay,‘Whatcan wedo?’Priortothat,alotofthefeedbackwereceivedwas‘you’renotdoingenough,you forgotthis,andthereisawholewhānau(family)youdidn’tlookafter.’”Thecommunity evenstartedcoordinatingtheresourcesamongstthemselveswhen“anotherwhaea(aunty) calledtheothermaraeandsaidtothem,‘Thisiswhatyoucandobecauseyou’vegotthe tractorsortrucks.Youcoulddothisonebecauseyou’vegotalotofkumara(sweetpotato) sittingthere.Theycan’tgetexportedbecausethebordersareclosed.’”Powerandmobilising unfoldatacommunitylevel,sohoneyourabilitytotuneintohowpowerwendsitswayin. Sometimes,it’samatterofunlearningmodesofoperatingthatyouholdclose.Itwasn’tuntil CyanBrownwasexposedtootherwaysofleading,suchasco-powerandvalues-led approaches,thatshewasabletolookatherfield,healthcare,withneweyes.Sheexplains, “themedicaleducationIhadreceivedhadengrainedsomanyunhelpfulnormsaroundpower andhierarchythatIwasbarelyawareofalternativeformsofleadershipthatcouldreally work.”Cyanhadtounlearnallherschooling;herjourneyopenedupnewvistasandupended muchofwhatshehadlearned:“Isawinsteadaradicallydifferentparadigmthathighly valuedco-powerandsubvertingtraditionalsystemsofdominance…Itmademeaskdifficult questionsofmyself,thetypeofpowerIused,andwhatwastheimpactofmyleadershipon thosearoundme.”

Sometimes,understandingpowerdynamicsisamatteroflifeanddeath.Statesurveillancein BrazilmeansthatactivistslikeAmandaSegninimustbecautiousaboutnavigatingexplicit andhiddenpowermechanisms;IndigenouspeoplesinBrazilareespecially atrisk.Don’tlose sightofthedegreetowhichagivensituationtakesonrealrisksforyouand/oractivistson theground.

Power and Artistry

Artistshavebeenattheepicentreofcatalyticchangethroughouthistory.Protestsongs, paintings,sculptures,art installations,performances,memes,posters,photos,documentaries, poetry,books,andgraffitiartaresomeofthecreativeworksthatcallustoinformand persuade.ArthistorianandcriticRuthMillingtonsays:

ThetwentiethcenturyphilosopherTheodorAdornofamouslywrotethat“all artisanuncommittedcrime.”Byitsverynature,artchallengesthestatusquo. Throughouthistory,artistshavereactedagainstoppression,violence,injustice, andinequalities.Theyhavestoodupforthevoicelessandmarginalised. Protestartchallengestraditionalboundaries,hierarchiesandrulesimposedby thoseinpower.It’sanactofdefiance.Anditishugelyimportantasitcan influencethethinkingofthegeneralpublic,aswellasleadersandpoliticians. Often,imagesspeaklouderthanwords.Artcanmakeamessageaccessible anduniversal.85

There’spowerin creating.ForDominicCampbell,thetensionforanycatalystis“Howtobe morethanpoetrywritten,butpoetryinrealtimeandenduringtime.Occasionally,Iseek poetrywhenfloundering.Wordsusedpoeticallyfreeupimaginativespace.Movingthem aroundallowsrisk.Andriskisrequiredforchange.”DanaWalrathusesherarttoengage thepublic,soitisnotapassive,intellectualexperiencebutparticipatory,andsheexperiments withdifferentapproachestofindtheonethatbestreflectshermessagetoagivenaudience. Danamadeherfirstsetofillustrationsin The Book of Genocides small.Later,shemadeher figureslife-size.Shesays,“IhadmydrawingofthemanfromtheHolocaustsectionofthe projecttackeduponthewallofmystudio,andhiseyeswerefollowingme aroundasI worked,sayingtome,‘makeusbig,pleasemakeusbig.’”

Manyartistsandcreatorsfindthatwhentheyhaveaprojectthatreceivespublicattention, theirownexplorationofpowertrulybegins.DurkhanaiAyubiusedtheopportunitiesthat emergedwhenherbookreceivedwidespreadcriticalacclaimtotellherstoryofAfghanistan, therebyharnessingthepowerofvisibilityandmedia.Shespentalmosttwoyearsbeing interviewed,andshesawthisasanopportunitytoeducatepeople.“Thatwasthedriverofmy book,”shesays.“It’sgroundedintakingpeopletoaplacethey’renotexpectingregarding thestoryofAfghanistanandourhistory.Andthepresciencewithwhichtherefugeeidentity cancontributetotheworldandhowweneedtotransformunderstandingabouttheexperience ofdisplacement.”

Neuroscienceview

Beingawareofdifferent modesofaffectwhenmobilisingensuresthatpeopleinthe collectiveremainingoodshapementally,physically,andemotionally.Whensittingquietly, affectcanbeatacentralpointof“neutralvalence,neutralarousal”ontheintegratedcircle depictingdifferentstatesknownasacircumplexdevelopedbyJARussellin1980.86 Ifweare atalivelygathering,ouraffectmightbeinthe“pleasant,higharousal”quadrant.Iftheparty becomestedious,we’relookingat“unpleasant,lowarousal.”Inthecontextofaparticular circumstance,anactivistengagement,somepeoplemaybeintheupperrightquadrant, meaningtheyareinhighactivationandexperiencingalert,excited,satisfied,andhappystates ofarousal.Others,however,mightbepushedtotheupperleftquadrantofhighactivationand feeltense,nervous,stressed,orupsetarousal.Researchshowsthatmiddle-agedAmericans andpeoplefromEasternculturespreferthelowerrightquadrantofpleasant,lowarousal. Anotherconsiderationisthatthemoreneuralenergyweexert,bearinginminddifferent levelsofaffect,themoreofadrainthereisonourbodybudget,withpeoplehavingunique thresholdstostressandburnout.87 PennStateUniversityhasanonlineinteractivemodelof thecircumplexifyouwishtoexploreitfurther.88

ManosTsakiris,whostudiesneuralandcognitivemechanismsofself-awarenessandsocial cognition,usestheterm‘visceralpolitics’tochallengethehistoricalandscientific understandingofthe‘rationalhumanbeing’,andarguesthatweare“primarilyembodiedand affective.”Notonlydoweviscerallyrespondtoeventssuchaspandemics,climatechange, racism,andprecariousworkconditions,butalsototheintensitiesofpoliticsandhow politicalpowerplaysout inourlives.Heexplains‘visceral’inasense“thatemotional experiencearisesfromhowourphysiologicalorgans—fromourgutsandlungstoourhearts andhormonalsystems—respondtoanever-changingworld.”Thus,ourpoliticaldecisions andbehaviourarenotsomerationalandobjectivefactorindependentofemotion,but“our feelingsaffectandareaffectedbypoliticaldecisionsandbehaviour.”89

Mobilisingiswheretherubberhitstheroad,andactionistaken.Itiswherethewingsof livedexperienceareearned.Powerfulforcesplythefieldofcatalyticworkandcanexistboth outsideandwithinacatalyticteam.Payingattentiontothenatureofpowerandgaining masteryisvital.Attractinganddeployingresourcesisfundamentaltocatalyticworkbutcan alsobethesourceofconflictaspeoplecompetetowieldinfluence.

Amplifying Impact and Succession

Successionaimstoignitemorecatalysts,andhelpthemstepintothe vanguardofchangeanddevelop(k)newformsoftakingeffectiveaction. Intentionalsuccessionisakeypartofhowimpactisamplifiedinan integratedecosystemthatfeaturesrotationalroles.As#BlackLivesMatter co-creatorPatrisseCullorssays,“Goodleadershipisbeinginterestedin buildingupmoreleaders...Wedeveloptheserelationships[to community]thataredeeplyreciprocalaswebuildoutanewvision.”90 Amplifyingimpactis lessaboutexpandinganindividual’sfieldofinfluenceandmoreaboutmultiplication:that’s trueperpetualmomentumandempoweringothers.Indigenousmovementsare intergenerational,whereonegenerationofcatalystshaspassedtheflametothenext.For example,theNativeAmericanNDNCollective,whoorganise‘LandBack’protests,write:

ResistanceandmovementbuildingarewithinourancestralmemoryasIndigenous people,andourverysurvivalisbecauseofthathistoricresistance.Oursurvivaltoday asculturallydistinctIndigenousnationsisstillincumbentuponourcommitmentto ongoingresistanceascolonisedpeoplefightingforjusticeandequityinourown lands.91

Succession

Rotationandintentionalsuccessionarenotwithouttheir‘rub’betweenstylesofleadersand betweengenerations,whetherthat’stechnologicallysavvyyouthandelderspreferring traditionalmethodsoftransmission,thoseeducatedinWesterninstitutionsandcultural knowledgeholders,andurbanandruralupbringings.ForbesBerthoudrecountsaconference in2017whensomeofthosefrictionsemerged:

Civilrightsleadersrecallamorenuanced,organised,andnonviolentmovement, whilemillennials,withamoredirectandconfrontationalapproach,seethemas havingjoinedanestablishmenttheyhadintendedtofight.Theyseethecivilrights movementashavinglittlerelevanceandhavingachievedfewconcretedevelopments thatcurrentlybenefittheirgeneration.BlackLivesMatteractivistsstatedthatcivil rightsactivistsinteractedwithandadvisedthemasparents,notaspartnersandpeers. Astrongresistancetobeingtoldhowto“do”activismemerged.92

Raisingthenextgenerationofleadersisacentralpartoftheworkifyouwanttomakesure thefightcontinues.BoydBroughtonisnotaffiliatedwiththelocaltribewherehelives,and heisacutelyawarethatheneedstogrowleadershipsothattheycantakeupthetaskof buildingupthehealthandsocialservices:“…becauseI’mnotNgātiWhātua(thelocaltribe), oncetheyhavesomeonebetter,it’sonlyrightthatIleave.I’mtryingtobuildupalltheNgāti Whātuasoldiers.Theyhavetheirowndifferentbitofmagicinthem,andasaresult,youget differentformsofleadership.”

Thiscanmeanspecifictrainingtoengagenewcatalystsinthework.KateHiltondrawsupon adistributedleadershipmodelthatplacessuccessionattheheartoftheirtraining.Theyinvite participantswhoworkinhealthservicestoimagineasnowflakemadeofnodes,witheach nodebeingapersonworkingindependentlytothewhole.Theyareheldtogetherbytheir orientationtothecentre,representingthecollaborativeleadershipteamthatholdsthevision andfacilitatescoordinatedaction.ThenKateinvitesthecatalyststoimaginethecentre withoutthemselvestheresotheycanstarttoseehowsuccessionmightlookwhenit’snot attachedtoaparticularperson.Inotherwords,sometimeswecanbecaughtupinbeing

essentialtoasystemwedon’tlooktodothatdaywhenwemightnolongerbethere.The snowflakevisualisationhighlightsnotonlytakingtimetoexploresuccessionbutalsoto makesurethatthe purpose istheenduringaspectthatpeopleorientto,notindividuals,“First ofall,”Kateasks,“howdoyougetoutofthecentre?Andthen,howtomaketheworkyou dothecentreofit,andthepurposethateveryonesharesthecentreofit.Youeventuallyhave togetoutofitifit’sgoingtosurvivewithoutyou–iftheworkisgoingtohavealifeofits own.”

Differentagegroupscanbringdifferentformsofknowledgetothetable,andallshouldbe honouredintheirownway.DominicCampbelllookstoeldercatalysts,thoseseasoned campaignerswhohaveaccumulateddeep-seatedknowledge:“Ivalueolderradicals,theidea ofhowyoupassthatknowledgeacrossthegenerations.Howdoyoumaintainaradical legacyoveralongtime,like120years?”AmandaSegnini,meanwhile,watcheshowyouth mobiliseandsharepower.ThefoundingmembersofherenvironmentalNGOeschewedthe word‘leader’andcalledthemselvesfacilitators.Whentheyneededasuccessionplanfornew facilitatorstojoin,theyplannedtorotatethecommittee—threepeople wouldleave,andthree newpeoplewouldcome on.Theinvitationtoapplywasavailableto anyoneinthenetwork, includingvolunteers.Theycarefullydesignedasuiteofactivitiestohonourandbefairto eachapplicant:“Wecreatedathree-monthmentoringprocess,whereallthevolunteerswould meetusonlinetofindoutwhatwedoandourrolesintheorganisation,includingthe administrativeaspects.”Afterthislengthyprocedure,theyhadsevenapplicantsforthethree places.Theydevelopedanimmersionweektoensuretheapplicantshadarealisticpictureof whattheroleentailed.Theteamdesignedsomechallenges,suchascasescenarios,thatthey workedthroughwithcollectivedecision-making.AsAmandasays,“Itwasalotofwork,but wewantedtoshowtheprosandconsofbeingontheFacilitatorCommittee,buttheideawas thatthroughthismethod,peoplewouldknowiftheywantedtobepartofit.Wealsowanted toensurethenewteamhadtherightskills.”Ultimately,theapplicantsthemselveshadthe finalword:“TheFacilitatorCommitteedidn’tmakethefinaldecision.Peopleputthemselves forwardornot.Intheend,wedidn’thavetomakeanydecisions.Threepeopleput themselvesforward,anditwasthefirsttimepeoplewhowerenotfromSaoPaulowereon thecommittee.”Thiscarefullycraftedsuccessionplanoffersanexampleofanequitable, honest,transparent,andcollectivepowerapproach.

Successioncanmeanensuringanequitableapproachtoopportunity.Successionisnotonly abouthandingthereinstoanotherpersonorpeoplebutistiedtotheissuesofpower,equity, andopportunity.WhenDorahMaremawasthrustontheglobalstagetobeaspokesperson forwomenofAfrica,therecameamomentwhensheneededtopushbackagainstthepower dynamicofspeakingonsomeoneelse’sbehalf—acommondilemmainthiswork.In2008, DorahattendedherfirstUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange (UNFCCC)ConferenceofParties(COP)gatheringinBali.Gatheredattheconventionwere womenfromacrosstheworldwithagoalofcreatingamovementcalledGenderCC-Women forClimateJustice.AsDorahexplains,therewasanexpectationthateachwomanwould standandspeakabouttheircountry’ssituation:“Irememberhavingafeelinginsideofme thatsaid,‘Ireallycan’t.I’mnotabletospeakonbehalfofSouthAfricanwomen.Ihaven’t spokentothem,andthus,Idon’tfeelIhaveamandateatthistime.”Shechampionedan approachthathadintegrityforherinstead: “Isaid,‘GivemeachancetogobacktoSouth Africaandheartheirstoriestounderstandhowtheyareaffectedbyclimatechange.They maynothavetherightlabelsaswe’reusingthemregardingclimatechange,suchas adaptationandmitigation.However,thesecommunitiesliveveryclosetotheenvironment andwitnessandexperienceclimatechange’sdailyimpact.”Thatwatershedmomentigniteda four-yearjourneyintothelivedrealitiesofwomenalloverSouthAfricatohearfirst-hand

howclimatechangewas impactingthemandhowtheywere,orweren’t,coping.Onlyafter thislisteningtourdidDorahfeel“qualifiedtoattendtheUNFCCCCOPmeetings,standon thevariousplatforms,andspeakaboutwhatIwaslearningfromwomenincommunitiesof SouthAfrica.”Crucially,inthecontextofthisexplorationDorahsetupthenextphase:“I eventuallystoppedattendingandsentthewomentospeakforthemselves.So,UNFCCC COP17,heldinDurban,SouthAfrica,wasfullofgrassrootsSouthAfricanwomenwho spokeforthemselves.Sincethen,werotationallyarrangedforwomentoattendthese internationalplatforms;manyhaveneverbeenonaplane,andmanyhaveneverbeenoutside thecountry.”

Coaching and Mentoring

Mentorsandcoachesformavaluablepartofacatalyst’sCircleofStrengthandcomeinmany forms.Theformatforamentoringandcoachingrelationshipcantakeplaceinthecontextof community,placesoffaith,familiesandkinships,professionalnetworks,andnature. Methodscanbeoral,written,learningbydoing,observing,shadowing,guidedthrougha clearstructureongoalsandmeasurements,oranopen-endedinquiry.Someculturesmay preferobservationandlisteningtoelders,andothersmightencourageinterrogating,asking questions,anddebating.Coachingandmentoringisanopportunitytotakestockofoneself andconsidertheteam’sneeds.

LeNhanPhuongcoachesdoctorsinSoutheastAsiaconfrontingsystemicinequities.He likescoachingbecauseitengageswithlivedexperiencesandreal-lifesituations.Heexplains, “Icantalkinaclassroomandsay,'thisisimportant,'butitwouldn'tmatterasmuchtopeople iftheycan’trelateittosomethingintheirlife.”Toomanyworkinginthemedicalprofession don’tfeeltheycanputtheirownwell-beingasapriority,especiallythoseonthefrontlineof healthcrisessuchaspandemics,malnutrition,famine,HIV,andmalaria.Manycatalystsare exhaustedandontheedgeofburnout.Phuongsayscoachingcan“helpthemseethatthe sufferingthey'regoingthroughisfromwithinandconnectedtowhattheydointheworld. Badthingshappenallthetimeinlife.So,howdowedealwiththat?Howdoesitaffectus? Whatperspectivearewelookingat?Arewelookingatitfromaveryemotional,veryangry perspective?Revenge?Torightsomewrongs?Orcanwesay,'Okay,istheresomethingto learnhere?HowcanIlearnfromit?HowcanthisexperiencehelpmebethepersonIaspire tobe?'”

CyanBrownwasatfirstscepticalaboutthevaluesofpeergroupmentoring.Afterreceiving trainingontoolsandprinciples,though,shediscoveredhowprofoundtheprocesscanbe.For severalyears,shehasmeteverymonthwiththreewomenfromallovertheworld,whichhas become“aspacewherewecontinuallyreflectonthefactthatthepersonalandprofessional worldscannotbeseparated,particularlyaswomen,andthatourwellnessisessentialforthe workwedo.”Thereisalinkbetweencoachingandwell-being,andCyan’speergroup challengeandencourageeachothertoplacetheirpersonalwellnessandhealingatthecentre, sothattheycangivetheirbestto what and how theydotheirwork.

KateHiltonbelievesthatcatalystswhowanttoseeachangeintheworldmustbewillingto changethemselves,andcoachingandmentoringcanbehelpful.Shereflects,“Ithinkthatto enablepeopletochange,totrysomethingdifferent,certainconditionsneedtobeinplace. Oneistheconditionofpossessingthewilltochange.”Successionisembeddedinher coachingpractices,“I’mcoachingthem,andthey’recoachingtheirteams.It’satransparent methodthatthey’retaughtfromdayone.”This co-coachingstylemeansthecoacheeis learningskillsandpassingthemontobuildacollectivefieldaroundthecohortthat strengthensthelearning.

Atage17,SamHughesturneduptohisfirstdayofworkatNewZealand’slargestdairy manufacturer,Fonterra,wearinghisschooluniform.AsaMāoriboywithouttheright clothes,itneverparticularlybotheredhimthathewasdifferent.Hejustassumedthatwas howitwouldbebecauseofhisupbringing.SamwasputintotheHRdepartmentandrecallsa momentwhen“aladywalkedpastmydesk.IwastalkingaboutportableDVDplayersand sayingpeopleshouldgetiPodTouches,whichwerebigthen.”Thewomanstoppedand wantedtoknowwhathewastalkingabout,andhereplied,“DVDplayersareathingofthe past.”ShehandedSamthecompanycreditcardandtoldhimtoheadoutandpurchase18 iPodTouches.NotonlyhadSamneverhadacreditcardbefore,hewasblownawaythatshe trustedhimwithhers.Shethenaskedhim,“‘CanyoudoanythingonWord?IfIscribbleona pieceofpaper,couldyoumakeitintoadocumentformebythreeo’clockthisafternoon?’I said,‘Yeah’,andshegavemethescribbledpieceofpaper,andImadeitintoadocumentfor her,includingdiagramsthatshehadsketched.Thensheasked,‘WhatareyoulikeinExcel?’ Isaid,‘Yep,good’.Andshegavemethesenumberstocrunch.’”Thewomanwastheglobal generalmanagerforcorporatemarketing,andthatwastheinceptionofalife-changing mentoringrelationshipforSam.

BoydBroughtonfindsthatalotoftheyoungerpeopleheworkswithtrytoemulatehisstyle, andhesaystothem,“No,youfindoutwhatyourmagicis.TakewhatI’mgivingyou,but you’lltakedifferentleadershippiecesfromeverywhere.There’snoonerightwaytolead. Youneedtofindyourmagicandputyourlittlebitofmagicintoyourformofleadership. Becausewecangiveyouallthescienceaboutleadershipintheworld,butthere’salittlebit ofmagicthateachofushasthat’sdifferent.”OneofhisstaffisayoungmanwhomBoyd describesas“militant”.“Hegoesintoamuseumandsays,‘thatbelongstoNgātiWhātua’ (theyoungman’stribe).HegoesintoParliamentHouseandsays,‘Thatpaintingoftupuna (ancestor),that’smine.Iwantthatback.’”Boydseestheyoungman’s“littlebitofmagicasa militant.Andthatmagicissustainable.Hewillneverstrayfromwhathispeoplehavetaught himandwhattheysaytheyneed.Buthealsoneedstofindotherleadershipformssohecan lightenupbecausehedoesn’tgetwellreceived.”Theyoungmanhasbeenraisedtobe steepedintikanga(culturalways)andspeakste reo,theMāorilanguagefluentlyand beautifully.But,asBoydsays,“combinedwithhismilitantbehaviour,peopleputupbarriers insomeareas,sotheydon’tworkwithhim.AndI’mjusttryingtogethimtorecogniseit.To gethimtothinkabouthowheapproachespeopleandhowhemightmakesomeofhiskōrero (conversation/talk)lessthreateningbecausewhenyouknowitcomesacrossasthreatening, youcanadjustyourdelivery.”Boydhasbeeninvolvedinhelpinghismenteecarveouta pathwaythatsuitshiscallingandnotwhatotherpeoplewanthimtodo.Theyoungmanis nowinvolvedinkaitiakitanga,stewardshipthroughrongoā(traditionalMāorihealing), maramataka(traditionalcalendar)andhelpingthetaiao(environment).Therewillcomea day,Boydbelieves,whenthisyoungmanwillsucceedhimandtakeupaleadershiprole.

Results and Change

ThefinalsectionoftheCatalyst’sWayisaboutchangeandtakingstockofresults.Results canbeincremental,smallshifts,suchasholdingacommunitymeeting,tweakinganarrative, andframinganissue.Or,resultscanbemoresubstantive,suchasachievingasignificant policychangeorcompletelyrebuildinganinstitutionalsystem.Oritcanbeassimpleas identifyingblindspots,asBoydBroughtonexplains:

Wewouldsitintheofficeandsay,“Lookwhatwe’vedone;we’vesentthisout, we’vegotfruitparcelsouttopeople,we’reawesome.”Thenthemarae(Māori communityhub)wouldgo,“We’vegotalistofpeopleyou’vemissed.They’renoton yourlist,andyet,heretheyare.”AndIwaslike,actually,wegotblindspots.There’s

nobetterwaytofigureoutyourblindspotsthangettingfeedbackfromyourwhānau (families)inthecommunity.Andsothat’swhatwedo.Iseethegaps,haveacrack, andcontinuouslylearnto lookatblindspots,lookatthestrengths,andlookatthe opposition’sweaknesses.

Therearemanychangemodels,withKotter’seightstepsbeingwellknownandinterwoven throughtheCatalyst’sWay:(1)establishasenseofurgency,(2)createaguidingcoalition, (3)developvisionandstrategy,(4)communicatethechangevision,(5)empowerbroadbasedaction,(6)generateshort-termwins,(7)consolidatechangeandproducemoregains, (8)anchornewapproachesintheculture.93 Theseeightstepsprovidetouchstonesthatare pertinentatthispointtoconsider:Whataresomeshort-termwinsthathavebeengenerated? Havethesebeencommunicatedinternallyandexternallythroughmediachannels?What changesmightneedtobeinstilledinyourapproach?Whatvictories,bigandsmall,have therebeen?Whatfailureswerethere,andwhatcanwelearnfromthem?Whathasbeen strengthened?Whatneedsstrengthening?Whatdoweneedtopassontootherstoempower them?Whatnewstoriesandtestimonieshaveemerged?Whatdowewanttotakeintothe nextrotationofTheCatalyst’sWay?Waddellorganisestypesofchange,asshowninTable 4,acrossthreedimensions:incremental,reformandtransformation,whichcandriveinsights intohowtheneedlehasshifted.94

WADDELL’STYPESOFCHANGE

Incremental Reform Transformation

CoreQuestion

Howcanwedo moreofthe same?

Arewedoing thingsright?

Whatruleshall wecreate?

Whatstructures andprocessesdo weneed?

HowdoImakesenseofthis?

Whatisthepurpose?

Howdoweknowwhatisbest?

Tounderstand andchangethe systemandits parts

Opens

to

Toinnovateandcreate previouslyunimagined possibilities Power

Opensissuestothecreationof newwaysofthinkingabout power

Table 3: Steve Waddell’s Types of Change (2019).

Amplifyingimpactandintentionalsuccessiongohandinhand,asdoresultsandchange.For catalysts,changeistheresult—andchangeneverends.Resultsarenotanendgamebutan ongoingcycleofeffort.Coachingandmentoringarepartofhowsuccessionworksinthis space,wherecatalystshavecoachesandmentorsandprovidethistonewgenerationsof catalystscomingthroughtheranks.Influenceisthroughmultiplying,notbyexpandingone’s powerandengulfingothers.

TAKE-a-WAYS

Inthissectionisacollectionof‘TAKE-a-WAYS'fortheelementscoveredinSection1. ‘Take-a-Way’isaplayon Taking the Catalyst’s Way.Theseofferreflectiveexercises,tools, andpracticestobuildlearningandappliedknowledge.TwoCatalyticCanvasessetoutthe majorpiecesofworkcoveredandincludea'belowthesurface'aspectasareminderofthe personalchangeandtransformationthatemergefromtheprocess.CatalyticCanvasPart1 appearsintheBridgeofPraxisTAKE-a-WAYSasanoverviewofthebuildingblocks coveredthusfar,includingareminderofthetransformationstakenforward.Thesecond CatalyticCanvasappearsintheAmplifyingImpactandSuccessionelementoftheTAKE-aWAYSandfeaturesthekeyaspects coveredinthelefthemisphereanddovetailstothefirst canvas.

TAKE-a-WAYSCentreoftheSpiral

● Reflectonyourpurpose(present)andvision(perpetuity).

● Writedownwhat’smostimportanttoyou.Whatdoyouhopetocreate,change,or maintain?Whowillyouserve?Howwillyouaccomplishthat?

● YourFlameofActivatedHope.Whatpreciselyisthechangeyouwishtoseeinthe world?

● Whatdomainwillyoumainlyworkin,suchasthemedicalfield,education,justice, health,environment,business,government,andcreativeavenues?

● Whatisthecommunityofinterestyouareinserviceto,suchastheunhoused, malnourished,poor,underprivileged,displaced,abused,marginalised,andaddicted? Arethereparticularcommunitiesyouareengagedwithorwanttoengagewith?Our storytellersworkincommunities,includingamongIndigenouspeople,withwomenin Africanvillagesandurbansettings,andrefugeecampsinSoutheastAsia.

● Whatskills,talents,expertise,andknowledgedoyouhaveorneedtoachievewhat youwant?

● Putalltheabovetogetherinasimplestatement.Forexample,“Iwillcommunicate effectivelyandpowerfullythroughpolicyadvocacyinserviceofgenderrightsin SouthAfrica.”

● Shareyourstatementwithcolleaguesandmentorsforfeedbackandtohelpyourefine it.Brainstormwaystoapplythisinyourdailylifeandtotakethestepsyouneedto take.

● Boydremindedhisstaffto‘lookup’.Explorehowactivatedhopeshowsupinyour lifeandwork.

● ExploreyourCircleofStrength.Doyouhaveacommunitythatprovidesthelevelof supportyouneed?Doyouprovidethatspaceforothers?Forinspiration,reviewthe

FoundationalStoryteller’sthoughtsonhowtheirCirclesofStrengthcarriedthemin theirlowestmoments.

● Exploreyourknowledgecode,whichmayrequiresiftingthroughfragmentstopiece togetherthewisdomwithinyourculturaledifice.Aknowledgecodecanbean assemblageofsignificantsayings,proverbs,dreams,andsignsthathavemeaningfor us.ReflectonLance’sstoryaboutdecolonising,piecingtogethertheirknowledge codefromthefragmentsthatremain.Indu’sstoryinvitesustoconsiderhowwe practisecultureintentionally.Kai’sstorycallsustoconnecttoaplaceaspartofour knowledgecode.

● Chooseatleastthreevaluesfromthetablebeloworaddyourown(inyourlanguage) andwriteastatementthatwillorientyou.Forinstance,Durkhanaisays,“I’m committedtotheideaofbeingopenallthetime.Thereisvalueinknowingwedon’t knoweverythingandputtingthatfirstasaprimarydriverofourbehaviour.”

● ExplorePhuong’scomment,“Ihearmanypeople talkaboutkindness,compassion, andrespect.Andyet,whenIlookatwhattheydo,theyhaveverylittlecompassion andkindnessforthemselves.”

Acceptance

Accountability

Appreciation

Assertiveness

Authenticity

Balance

Belonging

Boldness

Calm

Caring

Certitude

Charity

Cheerfulness

Citizenship

Clarity

Commitment

Compassion

Competence

Confidence

Considerateness

Contentment

Cooperation

Courage

Courtesy

Creativity

Curiosity

Decisiveness

Dignity

Diligence

Discernment

Empathy

Endurance

Enthusiasm

Equitableness

Excellence

Forgiveness

Fortitude

Friendliness

Fairness/Fair-mindedness

Faithfulness

Flexibility

Forbearance

Generosity

Gentleness

Gratitude

Growth

Helpfulness

Honesty

Honour

Hope

Humanity

Humility

Idealism

Imagination

Intelligence

Joyfulness

Justice

Kindness

Love

Loyalty

Mindfulness

Moderation

Modesty

Nobility

Non-Judgmental

Openness

Optimism

Orderliness

Participatory

Patience

Peacefulness

Perceptiveness

Perseverance

Purposefulness

Reciprocity

Recognition

Reliability

Resilience

Respect

Responsibility

Righteousness

Steadfastness

Strength

Tact

Thoughtfulness

Tolerance

Transparency

Trust

Trustworthiness

Truthfulness

Understanding

Unity

Vision

Wisdom

Valuesinyourownlanguage andculture:

TAKE-a-WAYSRelationships

● ReadAgustin,Durkhanai,SamandLance’sexcerptsofpersonalchangeandconsider yourjourneyoftransformationandanyunpackingandreclaimingyouwishtotakeup.

● ReadIndu,Kai, andAmanda’sreflectionsonprivilegeandconsiderhowprivilege presentsitselfinyourownlife.Aretheremoreopportunitiestoharnessthisprivilege tocontributetochangeacrossthelevelsofinterbeing,self,community,andworld?

● ConsiderOluo’spassageandthesnippetsofinsightfromtheFoundationalStorytellers intotheircommunities.Whatdoyoucelebrate aboutyourselfandyourcommunityof belonging?

● ReflectingonyourFlameofActivatedHope,dothefollowingrelationalmapping exerciseandthentakestockofyourcatalyticrelationships.Aretherenewareasand spacesforyoutoexpandorletgoof?Reflectingonyourpurpose,vision,knowledge code,andvalues,aresomerelationshipsnolongeralignedwithyourFlameof ActivatedHope?Arethererelationshipsyouwouldlikemoreconnectionwith? Perhapstherearedomainsyouneedtoengagewithmore.

TAKE-a-WAYSChamberofDiscomfort

● Inthecontextofyourcatalyticwork,brainstormallthediscomfortsthatcomeup.Try tobeasunfilteredaspossible.Discomfortsbringingmoreawarenessto:

● Reflectonyourlistabove.Studyanypatterns:mental,spiritual,emotional,and physical?Particulartypesofcontextsandencounters?InternalorExternal discomforts?

● Whatwouldyoubeseekingandencounteringtotakethenextstepinyourjourneyasa catalyst?Brainstormpracticalstepsyoucantaketoplungeconsciouslyinto discomfort.Forexample,visitingplacesofworship,schoolsandorganisationsthat bringupdiscomfort,orreadingbookswrittenfromperspectivesthatyoudon’t typicallyagreewith.Dominicprovidedtheideaofpractising“divinedisgruntlement” toextendtheedgesofconversationsandDurkhanaiconsciouslychoosestobe unstructuredandopen.

● RevisittherelationalmappingexerciseinthepreviousTAKE-a-WAY.Considerany newdomainsyououghttobeengagingwithintermsofyourFlameofActivatedHope (e.g.,certainstakeholders)buthavebeenavoidingbecauseofdiscomfort.

● Whatareyourresponsestoeachofthedifferentperspectivesintheangercasestudy? Arethereedgesofgrowthforyouaroundangerandtransformativepossibilities?

Inquireintothenatureoffear-basedsilencesfrom‘Whatsilencecanteachusaboutrace andleadership.’95 Circletheonesthatyouwanttoworkonandtakeforward.Considerany hiddenassumptionsthatmaybeunderlyingthesesilences.96

Silence of Safety Thissilencecanbeaguardfornotwantingtosaythewrongthingorafear ofbeingattackedorjudged.Thisslipperysilencepresentsasamaskofself-protection.

Silence of Discomfort Westaysilentbecauseitistoouncomfortabletospeakoutandbea voiceforchange.Itisquietlysuppressiveofothersandsupportsbiasandprejudice.

Silence of Performative Niceness Seekstoappealthrough,“I’magoodpersonwithgood intentions.”Underlyingthiskindofsilenceisananxietythatwemaybemisunderstoodand comeacrossasbadpeople.Avoidingdiscussionsonimportantissuessuchasgender,race, andotherformsofdiscriminationisawaysomepeopleseektoholdontotheirself-imageas agoodpersonwithoutinquiringintotheirownbiasesandcapacityfordiscrimination.

Silence of Status and Privilege Thesilencethatpreservesstatusandprivilegeisepidemicand isaformofsilencewhereinpeoplegoundergroundlesttheirstatusbechallenged.Theyare ontoagoodthinganddon’twanttomakewayforothers,eventhoughsuchbehaviourmay beunjustandunfairtoothers.

Silence of the Majority Thesilentmajorityisanexampleofsolidaritythroughbeingsilent. Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

Silence of the Bystander Thesilentmajorityactsasacollectivebystanderwhosilently observesunjustthingstakingplaceandfailstointerrupt.

Silence of Selective Perspectives Wepickandchooseourperspectivestosuitourpersonal gain.Wedon’twanttoknowaboutotherpeople’sversionofhistory,lifeexperiences,or culturaloutlook.

Silence of the Outsider/Othering Thewallofsilencethatmeetstheoutsidercanbedeafening andimpenetrable.Therearemanywaysofothering.Excludingsomeonefromyourgroupisa commonway.

Silence of Loathing and Hate Thefinalsilencesareprejudice,loathing,andhate,e.g.,sexism, chauvinism,andmisogyny.Thissilenceisoppressive,evendeadly.

Reflectonsacredsilencesandthepoweroflistening,collectiveintelligence,andspiritual recalibration.Chris,Kate,Kai,andDanasharedinsightsintothisformofsilence.Consider howmeetingsandgatheringsmightbecultivatedtocreatesacredsilences.

TAKE-a-WAYSDis-Covery

To‘dis-cover’refersto: uncover,takeoff,fragmentandpullapart.Inthecontextofcatalytic work,itistobewillingtoloosenandcrackopeninwaysthatwillletthelightofnew perspectivesandpossibilitiesin.

ReflectontheresponsesyouhavegiventotheTAKE-a-WAYS.Usethispagetodoodle, draw,write,andcapturesomeofyourmaindis-coveries.Adis-coverycouldbetoseethat theloadyouareunderthatpullsyouintoatransactionallifeandtosketchoutpossibilitiesfor moresupportandscaffoldingsoyoucanalsobringyourtalenttotransformationalwork— includingyourownwell-being.Oritmightbeaclearersenseofbeingstuckinaparticular echochamberofdiscomfortandseeingtheneedtomoveonandaddressthatdiscomfort. Newhopesandaspirationsmaybepointingtoareorientationofpurposeandvision.Oryou maywishtodis-coveran‘unlivedself’intheformofapartofyouthatlongstobemore expressed.Perhapsyourdis-coveryistocreatemorespaceforcelebration,joy,andbeauty,or toconnectmorewithyourinterbeingself.

Forinspiration,youmaywanttoread For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet byNativeAmericanPoetLaureateJoyHarjo.

TAKE-a-WAYSHealing

Isthereaknowledgecodeforhealinginyourculture?Phuongtalksaboutacatalysing momentwhenhedecidedtolearnmoreaboutTaiChi.Kairecountshowdancecanhealand releaseasomaticmemory.ForAgustin,walkinginthehillsishealing.Lanceisonapathway tohealingbysheddinglayersofimprintingtogettotheircore.Cyanemphasisesthathealing

emergesthroughrelationships.Danatakestimeto begratefulandconnectwithbeauty,light, support,friends,andcommunity.

Aswellaslookingafterourselveswithhealthyfood,exercise,andsleep,followingisalistof healingpracticesyoucantakesometimetoexploreandpractiseatthispointintheCatalyst’s Way:

● Spendtimeinnature, suchasforest bathing,theocean, river,garden,park,or meadow,gazingat thenightsky

● Music,songand drumming

● Expressgratitude

● Movement,suchas taichi,yoga,hula, salsa,kompaand zumba

● Poetry

● Journalling

● Art,suchaspainting anddrawing

● Performancearts

● Silence, contemplation,and meditation

● Massage, acupuncture, reflexologyandreiki

● Breathwork

● Creativevisualisations

● Invocation,chanting andprayer

● Vibrationand acoustics,suchas Yidakihealing, Binauralbeats

● Ceremonies,suchas medicinewheelsand matsuri

● Kintsugiprocess

TAKE-a-WAYSCreativeStorytelling

OriginStory

● Mentorsand coaches

● Herbalremedies

● Gardening

● Playing

● Swimmingand floating

● Massageandspa

● Digitaldetox

● Joinasupportgroup

● Spendtimewith friends,petsand lovedones

● Gotoacomedy, laughteryoga,a clownworkshop, improvorslam

● WriteyourOriginStory.Trytokeepitunfilteredandfree-flowing,asifyouweretalking toatrustedconfidante.Attheendofthisprocess, identifyanypatternsorthemesthatyou especiallyrelateto.

● Reflectonyourstory.Howhasthisshapedyouandyourwork,thethingsandpeopleyou careabout,andyourflameofactivatedhope?Whatchangeshaveoccurredinyour development?Isthereanythingyouneedtoletgoofthatnolongerhelpsyou?Identify developmentalpathwaysthatyousee.

● (K)newStory.Exploreanydiscoveriesandnewstoriesthatmaybeemerging.Followthe five-stepCatalyticStoryGeneratorbycirclingoneortwofundamentalbuildingblocks fromTheCatalyst’sWay.Therearesparenodesoneachsteptoaddyourown.

Step1.CircleanaspectofTheCatalyst’s Waythatresonateswithyou.Goback throughthatsectionandyourTAKE-aWAYSexercisestogeneratesomedetail foryour(k)newstory.

Step2.Circleathemethatis comingthrough.

Step3.Circleacreativeformyou wouldliketouse.

Step4.Generate!

Step5:Sharethestoryyouhavegeneratedwith others.N.B.Thisworkhasthepotentialtoleadtoa collectivestorytellingprocess.

TAKE-a-WAYSBridgeofPraxis

ThisisthefirstoftwoCatalyticCanvases.Part1isaone-pagesnapshotofthemainaspects coveredthusfar.It alsoanticipatesactionstakeninthenextpart,whichistheaction hemisphere.TheCatalyticCanvasPart1hasa‘BelowtheSurface’aspect,whichremindsus ofthepersonaltransformationswearetakingupandwantingtotakeforward.

TAKE-a-WAYSCollaboration

● EarlierintheTAKE-a-WAYS,amappingexerciseidentifiedthenetworkof relationshipsacrossinterbeing,self,community,andworld.Inthecontextof collaboration,taketimetoconsiderthefollowingdimensionsofyourrelationshipsand networks.

● Low-HighContext.

● Identifyyourdominantstyleoflow,medium,orhighcontext.

● Areyoutakingthisstyleuncriticallyintothemajorityofrelationships?Istherean opportunitytobemoreadaptiveincommunicationapproaches?

● Arethereopportunitiestomixupstylesinyourcollaborationsandreleasethepotential ofdifferentapproaches?Forexample,youmightfindhavingastorytellerwhocan paintacompellingpicturevaluableinsomemeetingsandsomeonewhoisexplicitand matter-of-factmorebeneficialinothers.

● Manyorganisationsandteamsoperateinalow-contextstyleinWesterncountries withoutrealisingitandexpectpeopletoadapt.Createtimeforconnectinginahighcontextmanner,togettoknoweachothermorefullyandtobemorepresentto someone’sexperiencesandhappenings.Amandasharesanexampleinherstoryof howthefacilitatorteamcreatedspacefordeeperconnectioneachweek.

● Itcanbehelpfultosignaltoattendeeswhattypeofmeetingyouarehaving:alowcontext,straight-to-the-agendastyle,orahigh-contextstyleformoreinquiryand connection.

● SamandInduofferacompellinginsightintoprocessesandapproachesthatwork acrosslow-highcontexts.Reviewtheirstoriesandconsiderwhatyoucouldtake forward.Forexample,Samrealisedthatpeopleneededto‘emptythemselves’forthe firsttwomeetingsbeforebeingabletomoveontodevelopmentalwork.Indu discoveredmanyofhercommunity’sengagementswithIndigenouspeopleswere mediatedbyWesternlow-contextapproachesandsawanopportunityfordirect encountersinahigh-to-highcontext.

● Reviewthelistofcommunicationpractices.Developstrategiesforstrengtheningyour skills(coaching,reading,workshops,onlineresearch).

● FromDominic’sstory,weseethepowerofplay,fun,andwhathedescribesas‘porous unions’thatbringavarietyofstakeholderstogether.Developanactionplanofwhat youwanttotakeintoacollaboration.

● AmandaandKatealsospeakaboutconsciously‘de-organising’toallowflow, collectiveintelligence,andorganicorganisingtoemerge.Reviewtheirstoriesand identifywhatyoucandotoloosenupstructuresandprocesses.

● Agustin’sstoryhighlightsthechallengesmanypeopleworkingintheprofessional arenaexperiencearoundcompetitiveness,isolation,andalackofcollegiality.Ifthisis happeninginyourdomain,arethereanyproactivestepsyoucantake?

● Durkhanaipresentsawayoffundraisingconnectedtothecommunityandinvitational inthecontextofherfamily’srestaurant.Shesays,“Don’tmakefundraisingthemain thing,”andremovesthe“alwayscharitable”aspect.Areyourfundraisingopportunities embeddedinacommunitythatprovidesameaningfulcontextofengagement?

● ReviewRadicalInclusion.Aretherepracticesandstepsyouneedtotaketoensure yourcollaborationsarediverseandinclusive?

● ConsiderthecommentsbyGanzthatthe“keytosocialmovementactionis thecraftof gettingcommitments”,whichheaddsisoneoftheskillspeopleseemtostrugglewith most.Securingcommitments,however,iscriticaltothesuccessofasocialmovement and“ittakescourage,training,anddedicationtodevelopamovementcultureofasking forandgettingrealcommitments.”Takestockofyourapproachtogetting commitments.Aretheremoreskillsyoucandevelopinthisarea?Whatmightbe gettinginthewayofgarneringcommitments?

TAKE-a-WAYSMobilisation

● AsyoureadthestoriesbytheFoundationalStorytellers,notewhatresonateswithyou andwhatyouwanttotakeforwardintoyourmobilisingefforts.Boydtalksabout ‘goingoutsidetheirlane’andmeetingcommunitymemberswheretheyareandin whattheyaredoing.Healsoshareshowhepaysattentiontotheculturaland communityinfluencersthatgivesignals.Lanceadvocatesforreproductiverightsfrom thegrassrootstopolicy.Dorahshareshowsheworkedwithmanifestationsofgender andpowerinruralSouthAfricaandprovidesacompellinginsightintowhyshedoes notliketheterm‘empoweringothers’.Cyandiscussesherjourneyfrommovingaway fromthehierarchiesandcommand-and-controlleadershipapproachinhealthto breakingdownthese‘harmfulnotionsofpower.’Samraisestheissueofthepowerto labelandco-opttermssuchas‘equity’thatcangetinthewayofpeople’ssovereignty andpowertodefine.Amandadiscussessafetyandsecurity.ArtistsDominic, Durkhanai,andDanasharehowcreativepowercanbeharnessed.

● Taketimetoexplorepowerdynamics.Reviewthesectionandidentifywaysto strengthenpowerinmobilisingeffortsandreduceoreliminateunequalpower relations.Examinedifferentculturalapproachestopower,taketimetolearnmore,and invitenewwaysofpractice.

● Revisitandreviewactionsandresources.

● Reflectonapast,current,orupcomingmobilisationeffortandidentifyyourplacein theCircumplexofAffect:https://psu.pb.unizin.org/psych425/chapter/circumplexmodels/.Considerinvitingeveryoneintheteamtodothis.Shareinsightsacrossthe groupandexplorestrategiesforsupportingthewell-beingofeachperson.Itcouldbea helpfultooltodecidewhodoeswhat,when,andhowtomaximiseallcontributions regardingdispositions,preferences,andcapacity.

● PowerandArtistry.Dominic,Dana,andDurkhanaiprovideinsightsintocreative activism.Explorehowartandcreativitycanshowupmoreinyourmobilisation efforts.Canyoucreatemoreopportunitiesforthepowerofartistry?

● Whattypesofpowerareshowingupinyourmobilisationefforts?Youmaywanttodo apoliticalmapthatsetsoutthepowerlandscapewithpro-changeatoneendofthe spectrumandanti-changeattheotherend.Onit,placethedifferentstakeholdersyou engagewithandtheextenttowhichtheyareonboardwithyourcatalyticchange effort.Thisprocesscanhelpshowupopportunitiesforcoalitionsanddivergence. Considerhowvision,purpose,andvaluesarealignedasyoumaketheplacements. YoumaywishtoreviewtherelationshipmappingyoudidearlierintheTAKE-aWAYS.Oncecompleted,studyittoseewhatopensupregardingcoalitions,lived

experience,andexpertise.LeeBolmanandTerranceDeal’s2017bookReframing Organisations:Artistry,Choice,andLeadershiphasausefulpoliticalmapand commentary.

TAKE-a-WAYSImpactandSuccession

ThisisthesecondofTheCatalyticCanvases,whichcovers Collaborating,featuring commitmentsneeded,acommunicationplan,andradicalinclusionbuildingonthematerial coveredinthatelement. Mobilising coversactions,resources,andpoweraspects.Thefinal element, Amplifying Impact and Succession,isaplacetonoteyoursuccessionintentions, coachingandmentoringneedsforyourselfandothers,andreflectionsonchange.Aswiththe earliercanvas,thereisaspacetoremindyourselfofyourbelow-the-surfaceintentions regardingdiscomforts,discoveriesand(k)newstories.

Appendix 1: About the Atlantic Institute

TheAtlanticcommunityisaunique,interconnectedecosystemofpeoplepursuinglasting changethatripplesacrosstheworldanddeepintosocieties.TheAtlanticInstitute championsandsupportslocalandglobalnetworksofcatalyststoaddresstheunderlying systemiccausesofinjusticeandoppression.BytappingintotheAtlanticcommunity’s collectivestrength,thedynamicpotentialofpersonalimpactandsystemicchangeunleashes apowerfulforce.TheAtlanticInstituteamplifiestheinfluenceoftheglobalAtlantic Communityofchange-makingFellowsandprogrammesbyprovidingresourcesand opportunitiestoconnect,learn,andacttogether.TheInstitutepromotescollaborationand sharedapproaches,connectstheAtlanticFellowsprogrammecommunitytoabroader networkofequity-orientedinitiatives,andraisesglobalawarenessoftheworkofFellows andtheirprogrammes.Thisglobalcommunityexiststotacklethepersistentinequities throughcollectiveactionandleadershiptoachievesystemschange.TheFellowsare courageous,compassionate,andcollaborativethinkersanddoers.Theycollectivelyseekto bringlastingimprovementstotheircommunitiesandtheworld.Asexceptionalleadersin theirfieldofwork,theyeachcarryadeepresolveforamoreequitableandjustworld.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforEquityinBrainHealthprogramme,housedattheGlobalBrain HealthInstitute,isdedicatedtoprotectingtheworld’sageingpopulationsfromthreatsto brainhealth.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforRacialEquitysupportsaccomplishedleadersfromdiverse backgroundstouncoverandaddresstherootcausesofracialinequalityandengagein strategic,long-term collaborativeeffortsfortransformativesocialchange.Through leadershipdevelopment,communitybuilding,designlabsandnarrativechange,this programmesupportsthepersonaldevelopmentandcapacityofleaders,anditcatalyses broadersocialchangeactivity,basedonaviewthatbotharerequiredtoachieveracial equity.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforSocialEquityisanIndigenous-ledlifelong,collaborative fellowshipprogrammeandplatformforsystemic change.ItharnessestimelessIndigenous knowledge,ingenuity,andcreativitytobringauniqueapproachtotransformativechange. TheprogrammeprovidesaplacetostrengthenanddevelopIndigenoussocialchange capabilitythroughcollaborationandfellowship.Itconnectsindividualleaderstocreatea powerfulnetworkofFellowsimmersedinIndigenousknowledge(groundedinIndigenous waysofknowing,doingandbeing)andtheoreticalandskillsdevelopmentforsocialchange leadership.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforHealthEquityU.S.+Globalprogrammedevelopsleaderswho havetheknowledge,skills,andcouragetobuildmoreequitablehealthsystems, organisations,andcommunities.Healthequityaimstoclosethehealthcaregapbetween wealthyandmarginalisedcommunitiesbyrealisingthebenefitsofpublichealthandhealth care.Theprogrammeaimstocreateaglobalnetworkofcommittedleadersbytrainingthem torecognise,understand,andworktowardsresolvingtheseinequities.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforHealthEquityinSouthAfricaprogrammeisabout strengtheningthecapacitiesofprogressivesocialchangeleaderstotacklethedeepsocial andeconomicinequitiesthatcharacteriseSouthAfricaandthatimpactonthehealthofits citizens. ItcreatesaspaceforFellowstoconnectactionwithadeeperunderstandingofthe systemiccausesofinjustice.Believingthataninclusive,equitable,economicallyproductive andhealthysocietycomesfromactionthataddressespowerandprivilege,theunequal

distributionofresources andopportunities,andequallychallengesracism,classism,sexism andheteronormativity.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforSocialandEconomicEquityprogrammeisbuildingacatalytic, values-ledglobalcommunityofpeoplewhoarecommittedtousingcollectiveleadershipto worktowardssocialandeconomicjusticeforall.Bydrawingontheinsightsofacademic research,innovativesocialchangestrategiesandtheFellows’ownexperienceandexpertise, theAtlanticFellowsforSocialandEconomicEquityprogrammeisempoweringanew generationofchange-makers,includingpolicy-makers,activists,researchers,practitioners andcampaigners,toworktogetheracrossdisciplines,backgroundsandborders.Itsaimsto deepentheknowledgeandpracticalskillsthatFellowsneedtoenvisionandexplore alternativestotheworld’sdeeplyunequaleconomic,political,legalandsocialstructures.

● TheAtlanticFellowsforHealthEquityinSoutheastAsiaprogramme’sgoalistobuilda thrivingandsustainablenetworkofhealthequityadvocatesandchampionstocreatea communityforhealthequityinSoutheastAsiaandChina.Theprogramme empowersyoung leaderstopursueandadvocatesocialjusticeinhealthintheSoutheastAsiaregion.Itis designedtobringtogetheradiversegroupofprofessionalswhodemonstratecommitment, dedicationandenthusiasmforleadingchangeforhealthequity.

Acknowledgements

ThisbookistheproductofmytimeasaLeader-in-ResidencewiththeAtlanticInstitutein collaborationwiththeRhodesTrust,OxfordUniversity(UK).Iamdeeplygratefulforthis uniqueopportunity.IhopethisbookandrelatedtrainingofferingswillcontributetoThe AtlanticInstitute’svisiontoacceleratetheeradicationofinequitiesforfairer,healthierand moreinclusivesocieties.

MyheartfeltappreciationtoeveryoneintheteamattheAtlanticInstitute.Specialthanksto ExecutiveDirectorEvieO’BrienandAssociateExecutiveDirectorKhalilGogafortheir supportofthisbook.TomyLeader-in-ResidencecolleagueWilneidaNegrón,Iamvery gratefulforyourinsightsandfriendship.

Toeachofthe FoundationalStorytellers–Ican’tthankyouenoughforbeingwillingtobe featuredinthisbook.Yourwisdom,careandcourageilluminateTheCatalyst’sWay.Icould nothavecreatedthisbookwithoutyou.

Formyhusband,RodgerSpiller,Ihavemuchloveforyourvisionandsupportofmyroleasa catalyst. Forover20years,youhavechampionedmeincountlessways,including unwaveringbeliefandwiseguidance.Itisagreatjoytoworkalongsideyouoffering leadershipdevelopmenttrainingandcoaching.

Tomyothergreatestfan–mymother,MonicaStockdale–Itreasureyouandyour phenomenalsupport.

Manythankstomyeditorsandproofreaders.JohnMoriartyandMarisaWatsonwho providedmeticulouscopyeditingandproofreading.NinaShieldprovidedinvaluableeditorial expertiseasthebookmetamorphosedintoitsfinalform.

Lastly,thankstoyou,thereaders.Ihopethatthisbooksupportsyourrolesascatalysts. Pleaseshareyourpositiveimpactstorieswithmeandothers.Yourengagementandfeedback helpencouragemetocontinuewritingandsharinginspiringstories.Iwish youallthebestin yourendeavours.

"Whāiatepaetawhiti,kiatata.Whāiatepaetata,whakamauakiatīna."-Pursuethedistant horizonsofyouraspirations,bringthemcloseandholdontight.

Endnotes

1 Pocock, J. (2021). Honour for Hawke's Bay Māori health worker Monica Stockdale, who started addiction service 'from the back of her car'. Hawkes Bay Today. See https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/honour-for-hawkes-baymaori-health-worker-monica-stockdale-who-started-addiction-service-from-the-back-of-hercar/QCW4I423BHU4XQANRBODMTYJ7Y/

2 As cited in Bargh, M. (Ed.). (2007). Resistance: An indigenous response to neoliberalism. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia. p. 128.

3 Macmillan online dictionary. See https://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/catalyst

4 Brazil, R. (2022). Elizabeth Fulhame, the 18th century chemistry pioneer who faded from history. Chemistry World. https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/elizabeth-fulhame-the-18th-century-chemistry-pioneer-who-faded-fromhistory/4015638.article

5 Morse, R. S. (2010). Integrative public leadership: Catalyzing collaboration to create public value. The Leadership Quarterly, 21(2), 231-245. p. 233.

6 Brito, E., & Ball, A. F. (2020). Realizing the theory of generative change using a Freirean Lens: Situating the zone of generativity within a liberatory framework. Action in Teacher Education, 42(1), 19-30. p. 19.

7 Freire as cited in Ibid. p. 25.

8 Agustín Ibáñez, personal communication 29 June 2022.

9 Agustín Ibáñez, personal communication 29 June 2022.

10 Doty, J. R. (2016). Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. Penguin. p. 230.

11 D’Silva, B. The ancient enigma that still resonates today. BBC. See https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220318-theancient-enigma-that-still-resonates-today

12 Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Continuum: New York, London.

13 Evie O’Brien, AFSE presentation on Indigenous Social Change. Atlantic Institute.

14 The Labyrinth Society (n.d.) https://labyrinthsociety.org/about-labyrinths

15 Kegan, R. & Lahey, L. (2009). Immunity to change: How to overcome it and unlock potential in yourself and your organization. Harvard Business Press

16 Spiller, C. and Lindsey, E.(2016). Good Vibrations: Mastering the Wayfinders’ Code for Leadership. ILA Member Connector, Issue 5.

17 Young, J. (2000). What is dwelling? The homelessness of modernity and the worlding of the world. In M. A. Wrathall & J. E. Malpas (Eds.), Heidegger, authenticity, and modernity: Essays in honor of Hubert L. Dreyfus. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

18 Freire as cited in Brito, E., & Ball, A. F. (2020).

19 Ganz, M. (2010). Leading change: Leadership, organization, and social movements. Handbook of leadership theory and practice, 19, 1-10. p. 4.

20 Lauria, M. (2022). Hope is not passive: How activism keeps optimism alive. Fix Solutions Lab. See https://grist.org/fix/advocacy/hope-is-not-passive-how-activism-keeps-climate-optimism-alive/

21 Jackson, S. J. (2021). Black Lives Matter and the revitalization of collective visionary leadership. Leadership, 17(1), 8-17. p. 8.

22 Spiller, C., Barclay-Kerr, H., & Panoho, J. (2015). Wayfinding leadership: Ground-breaking wisdom for developing leaders Huia Publishers: Wellington.

23 Spiller, C., Maunganui Wolfgramm, R., Henry, E., & Pouwhare, R. (2020). Paradigm warriors: Advancing a radical ecosystems view of collective leadership from an Indigenous Māori perspective. Human Relations, 73(4), 516-543. p. 534.

24 As cited in Viljoen, R., & Laubscher, L. I. (2015). African Spirituality, L. I. (2015). Spiller, C & Wolfgramm, R. (eds) Indigenous Spiritualities at Work: Transforming the Spirit of Enterprise, Information Age Publishing: Charlotte, NC.

25 Holiday, R. (2019). Stillness is the Key. Penguin. p. 42.

26 Ospina, S., & Foldy, E. G. (2005). Toward a framework of social change leadership. NYU wagner research paper, (201005).

27 Hanh, T. N. (2021). Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. Random House. p. 14.

28 Mangaliso MP and Damane MB (2001) Building competitive advantage from ubuntu: management lessons from South Africa. Academy of Management Perspectives 15(3): 23–33. p. 24.

29 Newenham-Kahindi A and Stevens CE (2021) Ecological sustainability and practical wisdom from the Maasai and Hadza people in East Africa in Intezari A, Spiller C and Yang SY (eds). Practical Wisdom, Leadership and Culture: Indigenous, Asian and Middle-Eastern Perspectives. Routledge: London, New York. 13–33.

30 An´u Pictures (2016). The song of amergin (duan amhairghine). See: http://www.anupictures.com/project/invoking/ (accessed 25 Jan 2021).

31 Spiller, C. & Nicholson, A. (2023). Indigenous Leadership as a Conscious Adaptive System. Sage Handbook on Leadership: UK.

32 Naidoo, J. (2022). Atlantic Institute Policy launch webinar

33 https://engajamundo.org/en/

34 Brown, K. M. (2004). Leadership for social justice and equity: Weaving a transformative framework and pedagogy. Educational administration quarterly, 40(1), 77-108. p. 90.

35 Rothman, J. (2014). The origins of “privilege”. The New Yorker. See https://www.newyorker.com/books/pageturner/the-origins-of-privilege

36 Ibid.

37 Oluo, I. (2019). So you want to talk about race. Hachette UK. p. 20.

38 García, A. M. & Ibáñez, A. (forthcoming) The Routledge Handbook of Semiosis and the Brain. Routledge.

39 Oluo, I. (2019). p. 211.

40 Bolden, R., Williams, R., & O’Regan, N. (2021). Leading to achieve social change: An interview with Ruth Hunt, former Chief Executive Officer of Stonewall. Journal of Management Inquiry, 30(1), 91-97. p. 94.

41 Just, S. N., & Louise Muhr, S. (2019). “Together we rise”: Collaboration and contestation as narrative drivers of the Women’s March. Leadership, 15(2), 245-267. p. 262.

42 Brown, K. M. (2004). p. 101.

43 Paraphrased from a sermon given by Dr King in Selma, Alabama, on 8 March 1965

44 Spiller, C., Evans, M., Schuyler, K. G., & Watson, L. W. (2021). What silence can teach us about race and leadership. Leadership, 17(1), 81-98.

45 Hanh, T. N. (2021). p. 188.

46 Spiller, C., Evans, M., Schuyler, K. G., & Watson, L. W. (2021).

47 Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann as cited in ibid.

48 Ganz, M. (2010). p. 9. Italics in original.

49 Bolden, R., Williams, R., & O’Regan, N. (2021). Excerpts from p. 94 and p. 95.

50 Oluo, I. (2019). p. 207.

51 Hanh, T. N. (2021). p. 202.

52 Healthline (nd). https://www.healthline.com/health/adrenaline-rush#how-to-control

53 Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Pan Macmillan.

54 Ledwith, M. (2015). Community development in action: Putting Freire into practice. Policy Press. p. 142.

55 Spiller, C., Barclay-Kerr, H., & Panoho, J. (2015). Wayfinding leadership: Ground-breaking wisdom for developing leaders Huia Publishers.

56 Doty, J. R. (2016). p. 154.

57 Kegan, R. & Lahey, L. (2009).

58 Spiller, C., Wolfgramm, R., Henry, E., & Pouwhare, R. (2020). Ko te hautūtanga Māori me te whakatau tikanga whaihua kia houkura ngā ōhanga me te oranga tonutanga: Effective Māori leadership and decision-making for prosperous economies of well-being. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. https://chelliespiller.com/attachments/docs/maori-leadershipand-decision-making-may-20-10.p

59Viljoen, R., & Laubscher, L. I. (2015).

60 Takeda, H. (2015). Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism in Spiller, C & Wolfgramm, R. (eds) Indigenous Spiritualities at Work: Transforming the Spirit of Enterprise, Information Age Publishing: Charlotte, NC.

61 Gladstone, J. S. (2020). Native American transplanar wisdom. in Intezari A, Spiller C and and Yang SY (eds). Practical Wisdom, Leadership and Culture: Indigenous, Asian and Middle-Eastern Perspectives. Routledge: London, New York.

62Parker, P. S. (2020). Ella baker's catalytic leadership: A primer on community engagement and communication for social justice (Vol. 2). University of California Press).

63 Hanh, T. N. (2021). p. 270.

64 Hammond, H. (n.d.). Hope and Activist Burnout. https://commonslibrary.org/hope-and-activist-burnout/

65 Brain Lawler, Global Brain Health Institute, presentation on leadership to AFSE.

66 Barrett, L. F. (2017).

67 Ayubi, D, & Walrath, D. (2020). Re-membering Through Narratives. Atlantic Institute. Oxford: UK. pp. 3, 4

68 Parker, P. S. (2020).

69 Jääskeläinen, I. P., Klucharev, V., Panidi, K., & Shestakova, A. N. (2020). Neural processing of narratives: from individual processing to viral propagation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14, 253.

70 Maitlis, S., & Christianson, M. (2014). Sensemaking in organizations: Taking stock and moving forward. Academy of Management Annals, 8(1), 57-125.

71 Ospina, S., & Foldy, E. G. (2005). p. 29.

72 Reisch, M., Ife, J., & Weil, M. (2013). Social justice, human rights, values, and community practice. The handbook of community practice, 73-103. p. 86.

73 Agustín Ibáñez, personal communication 29 June 2022

74 Ganz, M. (2010). p. 28.

75 Hanh, T. N. (2021). p. 194.

76 Parker, P. S. (2020). pp. 34, 35.

77 Hall, E. T. 1976. Beyond Culture. New York: Anchor Books.

78 Meyer, E. (2014). The culture map: Breaking through the invisible boundaries of global business. Public Affairs. pp. 56-58.

79 Barrett, L. F. (2017). p. 157.

80 Parker, P. S. (2020).

81 Jackson, S. J. (2021). Black Lives Matter and the revitalization of collective visionary leadership. Leadership, 17(1), 8-17. p. 13.

82 Hyde, C. A. (2018). Leading from below: Low-power actors as organisational change agents. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 42(1), 53-67.

83 Parker, P. S. (2020).

84 Hanh, T. N. (2021). p. 275.

85Millington, R. (2020). Activist artists | 11 famous protest art examples. https://ruthmillington.co.uk/11-famous-protestart-examples/

86 Russell, J. A. (1980). A circumplex model of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(6), 1161–1178. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077714

87 Barrett, L. F. (2017). p. 74.

88To access the interactive Circumplex of Affect go to https://psu.pb.unizin.org/psych425/chapter/circumplex-models/

89 Tsakiris, M. (2018). Politics is visceral retrieved from https://aeon.co/essays/politics-is-in-peril-if-it-ignores-how-humansregulate-the-body

90 Jackson, S. J. (2021). p. 14.

91 Pieratos, N. A., Manning, S. S., & Tilsen, N. (2021). Land Back: A meta narrative to help indigenous people show up as movement leaders. Leadership, 17(1), 47-61. p. 53.

92 Forbes Berthoud, D., Taylor, F., & Green, Z. (2015). Psychodynamics of Black Authority—Sentience and Sellouts: Ol’ Skool Civil Rights and Woke Black Lives Matter in Roberts, L. M., Mayo, A. J., & Thomas, D. A. (eds). Race, work, and leadership: New perspectives on the Black experience. Harvard Business Press. pp. 296-297.

93 Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change. Harvard Business Press.

94 Reproduced with permission: Waddell, S. (2019) Achieving transformational change https i2insights.org/2019/03/05/transformational-change/. The original work appeared in Waddell, S. (2007). Realising Global Change: Developing the Tools; Building the Infrastructure. The Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 26(2007): 69–85.

95 Spiller, C., Evans, M., Schuyler, K. G., & Watson, L. W. (2021).

96 Ibid.

Note on style. British spelling throughout regardless of how it appeared in the original.