Being Liminal

"The One where Brian and Martin realise they haven't been very 'liminal' in their approach to researching liminality"In response to both Listener and Guest feedback as well as some of our own reflection on what we've learnt so far from our guests  - this episode is a moment for us to reflect on our need to pivot our approach to the research and exploration that we are doing.  We said we would do this in the open and part of that means recognising and leaning into when you might have been about to head off in the wrong direction.  Ahead of the forthcoming episodes with Andy Thornton from the RSA and Ola Gwozdz - Data Philosopher, we discuss how we've had to shift our perspective on where to take the podcast next in order to stay true to our exploration of leadership in Liminal Spaces.  Far from our initial framing of  liminality in business transformation alone, this episode discusses our need to recognise and explore first of all  that we all traverse through liminal phases at different junctures of our lives. As we open up about this newfound perspective, the conversation takes a interesting turn  where we discuss the constraints that structures can impose, hindering decision-making and suppressing innovation. Change is a constant, but navigating it can be a herculean task. This episode forces us to look at a fresh approach to change, as we delve into 'abundant edges' and how those who thrive amidst chaos are often the most adaptable to new insights. We also indulge ourselves with engging parallels between Isaac Asimov's Foundation series and our  conversations with Andy from the RSA. Wrapping up the  episode, we broach the subject of success metrics and their potential misalignment. Is exceeding expectations always a success? Or does true transformation originate from the margins? We explore these thought-provoking questions, and share our take on the need for a paradigm shift in our thinking. Hopefully this sets a transitional scene for the episodes yet to come.  As always we'd welcome your feedback.Being Liminal Is a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadley as they develop the content that will form their new book: Being Liminal. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: http://www.beingliminal.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/being-liminal/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

How do you leverage a moment of potential transformation?  How do you support fundamental change in an organisation that sees the need but doesn't know how to realise it? In our discussion with Professor Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design at the Royal College of Art, we challenge the notion that organisations don't want to change and discuss how design can be a crucial catalyst for business transformation. We delve into the mindset gap that executive leadership are asking for help to bridge, and how the RCA is training service designers of the future to become the catalyst for change in those organisations.Ever wondered about the integral role of service design in strategic change? Our conversation with Clive takes you on a journey tracing the evolution of service design from product design, marketing, and customer experience. Discover how design influences human decision-making and how crucial tools like visualization, experimentation, and prototyping shape strategic changes. We emphasize how important it is for designers to have a champion to help position design further upstream in the process.Moving towards the future of design and design education, we confront the British culture's fear of creativity and its implications for potential design leaders. We also address a growing concern - the overly production level focus of Design, and yet, the significant yet unmeasured impact they can potentially have on businesses. Join us for a session filled with thought-provoking insights - a must-listen for anyone interested in design, leadership, and business transformation.To find out more about the RCA and the Service Design course Clive leads:https://www.rcaservicedesign.com/To find out more about Clive, his experience and how to contact him:https://www.clivegrinyer.com/Being Liminal Is a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadley as they develop the content that will form their new book: Being Liminal. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: http://www.beingliminal.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/being-liminal/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

What if you could transform your business while also putting ethics at the forefront? That's exactly what we tackle in our conversation with Cennydd Bowles, a designer and technologist turned ethicist, and author of Future Ethics. Cennydd sheds light on the importance of weaving ethics into the fabric of transformation and how ‘designed futures’ can help uncover potential harms. In an age where technology overwhelmingly shapes our experiences, we touch on the philosophical underpinnings of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics - and how these frameworks can guide our decision-making processes. We particularly discuss how AI and machine learning often lean towards a utilitarian approach and what that signifies. Moreover, we delve into the imminent ethical dilemmas that leaders in transformation programs might come across and how to make 'ethics' more digestible for businesses.We also navigate the landscape of design and its impact on technologists, exploring how they can foresee the implications of their work. We throw light on how designers can reclaim their craftsmanship in today's commoditized world and the ethical repercussions of this shift. From discussing the role of design systems to the influence of generative AI on digital product design, we leave no stone unturned. Finally, we discuss practical tools that businesses can use to anticipate the effects of their decisions, and how a risk management program can help assess the severity of risks and recalibrate their mission statement to mirror their intent rooted in values.Join us as we endeavor to translate ethical values into operational principles and help businesses navigate the ethics labyrinth.Cennydd Bowles Personal WebsiteCennydd on LinkedInCennydd's Book - Future Ethics - sample chapter and links to where you can buy the bookLiminal Leaders Is a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadely as they develop the content that will form their new book: Liminal Leaders. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: www.liminalleaders.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/liminal-leaders/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

What if the superpowers needed to navigate today's complex world were already within us? That's what we discovered in our fascinating conversation with Maria Giudice, co-author of "Changemakers," as we discussed the evolving nature of leadership in business transformation and the innate qualities designers possess that make them powerful agents of change. Maria shares her insights on the importance of embracing change agency, risk-taking, intuition, systems thinking, and people-centered approaches to tackle the challenges of our increasingly complex world.We also explored the complexities of driving change in organizations that may not be prepared for it and the importance of setting realistic expectations and goals. With Maria's expertise, we delved into the value of having an executive champion to support you through resistance, and the time and resources it takes to create lasting cultural change. Reflecting on the progress made, we acknowledged that culture change often takes years to take hold but is essential for organizational success.Lastly, we discussed the evolving relationship between design and business, and the potential of designers to be leaders in this interconnected world. Maria shared her experiences of creating organizational change at Autodesk and the importance of fostering empathy and compassion for those with different goals and perspectives. We touched on the shift from the traditional 'rock star' leader to a more inclusive and collaborative approach, and how social activism plays a role in driving change. Join us for this enlightening episode as we learn from Maria's experience and discover our own potential to create meaningful change in the world.You can connect with Maria on LinkedIn:On LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariagiudiceOn Twitter - @mgiudiceOn Instagram - @mgiudiceand you can pick up her book atRosenfeld Mediahttps://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/changemakers/or Maria's Amazon link:https://a.co./d/gAx1NHfBeing LiminalIs a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadley as they develop the content that will form their new book: Being Liminal. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: www.beingliminal.comApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/being-liminal/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

What does it take for businesses to adapt to the rapidly changing expectations on their role in society and what will it mean for how we Design, Build and Lead business of the future? In this first full episode of Liminal Leaders Brian & I dive right into ESG as an example of a force for change in the way business interpret their purpose in Society.   We even dive back into histories of companies like Scottish Widows and Bank of Scotland, and their long-standing commitment to supporting their communities as examples of companies and industries that have deeper roots in build a better society than we may give them credit for today.Together, we explore how investment, regulations, and purpose are driving business transformation, and how design can be a crucial facilitator of change in these systems.Our conversation surfaces the necessity of a systems and design thinking mindsets in mapping ecosystems and establishing relationships within organisations. We also touch on the value of data and its role in informing business decisions, while highlighting the challenges faced by startups in adapting to different systems and regulations. We discuss the importance of considering externalities when making decisions, and how design and data can work hand-in-hand to help organizations understand their impact on the world. The conversation is broad and deep at the same time, setting the tone for a wide range of topics we shall be covering on Liminal Leaders, essential questions about the future of how we build and lead business in the future.Liminal Leaders Is a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadely as they develop the content that will form their new book: Liminal Leaders. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: www.liminalleaders.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/liminal-leaders/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

What if you could elevate your design skills by incorporating systems thinking? We had the pleasure of discussing this fascinating approach with the brilliant Sheryl Cababa, author of "Closing the Loop." Sheryl shares her expertise in design, research, and strategy, providing valuable insights into her journey as a design leader. Whether you are a design, product, technology or business leader - don't miss this opportunity to learn from Sheryl's vast experience in applying systems thinking to various contexts.In our conversation, we explore the role of designers as facilitators in systems thinking, drawing from Sheryl's work on projects like a grocery pickup system. We discuss the challenges designers often face in being part of decision-making processes earlier on and how they can challenge preconceptions about their relevance to these conversations. We also delve into how systems thinking shifts the focus from individual use to broader contexts and the importance of understanding the system before implementing any changes.Lastly, we navigate the differences between cloud and clock problems in design, the challenges of applying an engineering mindset to cloud problems, and the potential barriers caused by incentivizing employees to maintain the status quo. Sheryl shares her insights on how external pressures can lead to internalized needs for certainty, and we explore the connection between what is being measured and the outcomes we desire. Tune in and discover how systems thinking can be applied in the world of design and beyond.You can get a copy of Sheryl's book 'Systems Thinking for Designers' at Rosenfeld Media with the Discount code: cababa-liminalleadershttps://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/systems-thinking-for-designers/ and get in touch with her on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherylcababa/  Twitter: @sherylcababa (though she doesn't check Twitter too often)Being Liminal Is a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadley as they develop the content that will form their new book: Being Liminal. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: www.beingliminal.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/liminal-leaders/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com

Welcome to Being Liminal -this short episode is an overview of what we're hoping to achieve with the podcast.  Because we are also researching and writing a book through this podcast - Episode Zero will set the scene and theme for the episodes that follow which will jump around between topics as we conduct our research. We'd also really appreciate your initial thoughts, ideas and questions that come up from listening into this episode to help us shape our future guest list and discussions.Being LiminalIs a podcast about the changing nature of Leadership in Business Transformation. Brian and Martin explore the mindset and skills currently missing in Business Leadership of Transformation that when present contribute to the 30% success rate of Large-Scale Business Transformation and Change.The podcast explores Systems and Design Thinking as a necessary approach to leading through the Liminal State that is a Transformation programme. Each episode is either a research interview with a Guest Expert or a working discussion session between the hosts Martin Dowson and Brian Hoadley as they develop the content that will form their new book: Being Liminal. This podcast is your opportunity to eavesdrop on their research and writing process.Podcast Website: http://www.beingliminal.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/being-liminal/id1690994247Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aJYpbWWZ85SBt27pfUgDo?si=1ffd9afda4594020Martin Dowson on LinkedInBrian Hoadley on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.beingliminal.com