Day 2 ⏐ Session 2
The Long Game:
the principles of shifting systems
The initiative to shift a system can come from many sources and takes many forms. In this session we hear from system shifters, working closely with government systems to shift their sense of purpose by turning problems into possibilities. A conversation with Insider-outsiders who are working to reshape existing systems to produce better outcomes: Elana Ludman, Graham Boeckh Foundation (CA) on its pioneering model for building local mental health systems, Julie Repper, ImROC (UK) on their work supporting the spread of the Recovery College model for mental health in a vast national health system, Ahmet Günes, Lead the Talent (DK) and Nathalie Nguyen, Gentofte municipality (DK).
“When you’re trying to shift the system, you’re not entirely neutral… you have a vested interest in trying to move the system in a different direction.”
Emerging questions
How do you open up systems to new ideas from the outside?
How can you connect to other players in the landscape in how you do your work?
Quotes from the session
“If you are engaged in system change, it can feel quite isolating, like being in the middle of the washing machine trying to make sense of where things are going.” (Jennie Winhall)
“What we do need to do together is to find ways of connecting, connecting across roles, partly so that we can accelerate this process of system change and partly so that we can gather together around what we might think is a shared picture of a preferable future.” (Jennie Winhall)
“We started from a really strong commitment to recovery… We can recover meaningful lives. We may not always get rid of symptoms, but we can recover meaningful lives and we want the chance and the information to do that and we want to have much more power in conversation.” (Julie Repper)
“We're really clear about the principles underpinning recovery colleges… [courses are] always collaborative, so they're co-produced, the courses are co-delivered, and they're always co-received.” (Julie Repper)
“We definitely see our role as, of course, ‘System Integrator’, but also as ‘Facilitator’.” (Ahmet Günes)
“Creating relations of trust is absolutely central to being able to take on larger goals. The relationship between trust and possibility. So once you get a deeper relationship with citizens, where they don't think you're out to get them… it becomes possible to start discussing new things.” (Charlie Leadbeater)
“I think what's key in developing these trusting relationships that we're looking for is the facilitation by an organisation which doesn't have vested interests… providing a safe forum where people can evolve ideas and really generate something new.” (Julie Repper)
“When you're trying to shift the system, you're not entirely neutral… you have a vested interest in trying to move the system in a different direction.” (Elana Ludman)
“There's convening for a conversation, but there's also convening around a sense of common cause or creating some common cause out of the conversation” (Charlie Leadbeater)
“Don't ask ‘what's the problem, how to fix it?’, ask ‘what's the possibility and who cares about it?’ And so I think that care is also a thing in system entrepreneurship” (Charlie Leadbeater)