Thriving in Uncertainty

with Glenda Eoyang and Wendy Morris

March 1-3, 2010
The Waegwoltic, 6549 Coburg Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia

This two-day workshop is designed to help you and your organization successfully navigate and thrive. You will leave better prepared to act with courage and clarity in environments of uncertainty. Based on principles of chaos and complexity, and rooted in the practical wisdom of human system dynamics, this interactive workshop invites you to practice what you learn as you wrestle with your own "wicked issues" during the workshop. You will gain practical tools and methods that you will be able to apply immediately in your own work environment.

Through exercises that engage diverse learning styles, you will learn to

• Recognize predictable, unpredictable, and emergent situations and learn how to adapt your actions to each
• Use a variety of tools and methods to see, understand, and influence patterns in surprising situations
• Apply new tools to old issues as well as the new challenges of an uncertain world
• Develop and implement an adaptive action plan to respond to your most challenging situations

This workshop includes an experiential learning component. We will use creative process to embed new concepts and provoke fresh insights. Come prepared for engagement, learning and surprise!

The Goal

Prepare leaders to see, understand, and influence the complex dynamics of uncertain environments, including markets, social systems, politics, emotions, and organizations.

Each participant will be encouraged to bring at least one sticky issue to address in the course. In a workshop environment, each of the concepts and tools will be immediately applied to help each leader see, understand, and influence their own uncertain situations.

The workshop will be held at The Waegwoltic, 6549 Coburg Road. See map.

About the Workshop Hosts

Dr. Glenda Eoyang is a pioneer in the field of complexity and human systems dynamics (HSD). Glenda is a gifted teacher and practitioner who blends remarkable theoretical insights with extraordinary practical experience to help others observe, decide, and act in the most complex and challenging situations. She leads a network of 135 certified Human Systems Dynamics Professionals who use HSD theory, models, methods, and tools to engage creatively with individuals, groups, and institutions.

She consults and teaches internationally on topics including systems thinking, performance management, conflict resolution, racialization, violence prevention, and emergent evaluation. She has authored three ground-breaking books that bring her dynamical systems insights to life for first-line managers, organization development professionals, and anyone who wants to take responsible action, even when they cannot predict or control the systems that surround them.

Glenda is an associate of the Center for Evaluation, Planning, and Assessment at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Director of Center for the Human Systems Dynamics at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN; Scientific Advisor to the Plexus Institute; member of the Circle of Scholars of The Union Institute and University; recipient of the 2010 Organization Develop Network Sharing the Wealth Award; and founding Executive Director of the Human Systems Dynamics Institute.

“The depth and breadth of Glenda's knowledge and expertise are astounding. Her energy and enthusiasm for her work are evident in every conversation. She has a unique gift: the ability to connect with others in an open, intuitive way that allows for mutual learning and growth.” – Dr. Mallary Tytel, President and Founder, Healthy Workplaces, LLC.

Wendy Morris, MA is the Founder of the Creative Leadership Studio, advancing the work of organizations, communities and individuals through arts-based approaches to leadership development and intentional change.

A pioneering leadership and innovation educator, coach and consultant, Wendy draws upon a robust body of knowledge developed over 20 years of ongoing action research. Internationally she leads programs on Powerful Presence at The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and Creative Leadership for Innovation through TMI Malaysia.

At home in Minnesota, USA, she facilitates The Forum for the Practice of Leadership Development, a professional development program for leadership educators from all sectors, sponsored by The University of Minnesota's Center for Integrative Leadership in collaboration with the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs and the Carlson School of Management.

Her work is informed by her experience with hundreds of businesses, communities and organizations in a wide range of contexts. Her consulting clients include large companies looking for new ways to cultivate leadership and innovation (Cargill, Target, General Mills, American Express), leading edge consulting firms, communities and cities seeking creative approaches to community development, and progressive non-profit organizations addressing complex challenges from environmental justice to youth violence.

Wendy's work has been recognized by over 25 awards for excellence in leadership, interdisciplinary practice and artistic production including major fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work is informed by 18 years of training in mindfulness (Vipassana) meditation.

“Wendy is working at a master level... People breathe when Wendy's around. They change the way they interact which frees up potential for innovation and creativity that wouldn't have been there otherwise. Her ease in her own skin makes other people be at ease in theirs.”
– Patricia Neal, Co-Founder and President, Heartland Inc., convening communities of practice for leaders