CREATING CRITICAL MASS
Purpose:
This process provides an experiential metaphor to the actions and impact of creating critical mass. It explores the leadership behaviors and emotions experienced when you shift your actions to influence the actions of others towards a new outcome.
Background:
How does one woman, in one of the best known cities in America, teach convicted felons basic work and social skills while housing them in one building without guards, without therapists, and without locking the doors? How did one man change the drinking habits of nearly 120 million people in 23,000 remote villages in Africa and Asia and completely eradicate a debilitating water-born parasite? What did it take for one doctor to stop the rampant spread of AIDS within four years in a country where sex is an economic driver? And how did another doctor convince his colleagues that their hand washing habits were killing nearly 100,000 people unnecessarily each year in American hospitals? The answer is the same in each case: they created critical mass.
Creating critical mass often begins with the vision or purpose of one individual. Yet, it is more than one’s conviction toward a new vision that will drive change. While a strong belief is important, creating critical mass is also about identifying the key behaviors that need to be changed while simultaneously engaging others in those behaviors to create new, better outcomes. It is also about creating an environment in which the new behaviors will thrive and spread among others who are impacted by the results.
In this process you will have the opportunity to experience the essence of creating critical mass while exploring your own leadership behaviors and the actions of others so you can apply the learning to create critical mass within your business and personal life.
Source
Patterson, K., Grenny, J., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., Switzler, A. (2008). Influencer: the Power to Change Anything. New York: McGraw-Hill.
