Notebook
This is a curated space where I gather reflections, articles, event reports, provocations, and fragments from across my work. Expect me to dip into futures, storytelling, sustainability, experiential formats and more.
What if we all took small but consistent action to tackle today’s sustainability challenges?
The “protected status” of heritage buildings means that solar photovoltaic panels are seldom seen on roofs, but ...
What “spiky” means in futures facilitation
Wes Kao wrote a piece about“spiky points of view”, and it got me wondering what a spiky point of view might be in ...
Sitting with uncertainty longer than feels comfortable
One of the hardest parts of facilitating futures work is knowing when not to move the group on.
A thought about used futures
Many futures conversations fail not because people lack imagination, but because they’re trapped in “used ...
Never surrender a good question
Jane Hirshfield tells a story about a man who travels far to ask a wise teacher a question. When he finally asks ...
Using framing to unlock change
Research into the science of framing and how it can help us to be heard and understood. When we change the story ...
Make BIG changes by starting a tiny push
Let’s talk about physics and how one small action (yours) can end up making a significant difference (for yourself ...
Place vs space
One of my favourite questions in place-based futures work is simple, but deceptive. I ask, “Whose futures are ...
What if public transportation was free & effective?
Michelle Wu, Boston's new mayor, and her focus on free public transportation prompt some "what if" and "why not" ...
What if we cut down on food waste?
Some musings on food waste.
Whose futures are visible here?
One of my favourite questions in place-based futures work is simple, but deceptive. I ask, “Whose futures are ...
What if?
I am privileged to be able to spend my days working with scientists who want to learn how to turn their academic ...
Hope is not optimism
In futures work, hope is often misunderstood. It’s sometimes treated as optimism, which is a belief that things ...
When infrastructure assumes constant uptime
A lot of modern infrastructure quietly assumes constant uptime. The internet. Our power systems. Our payment ...
What facilitation makes possible in futures work
Good facilitation in futures work isn't about adding polish. It changes what becomes possible.
Futures work is not about predicting the future
One of the most persistent misunderstandings about futures and foresight is that it’s about prediction.
Why the future is plural (and why that matters)
In futures and foresight workshops, participants often talk about THE future. Practitioners tend to insist on ...
Look UP! That’s what I am taking from “Don’t look up”.
Some thoughts about the film, "Don't look up".
What if climate change is a hoax?
What do you take away from the inimitable Joel Pett's cartoon?
(© Joel Pett - for more of his work, see: ...
How can you foster a culture of communication in your organisation?
Could an open-door policy be the answer?
How can you make sure that everyone contributes in a meeting?
Plan the meeting to make sure that you are crystal clear on the purpose. That's one approach.
How can you diffuse drama in your team?
A quick overview of The Karpman Drama Triangle.
What if there was a process for giving kind but honest feedback?
Liz Lerman’s deceptively simple Critical Response Process or CRP.
What if it was possible to have productive, conflict-free conversations?
How we say things is just as important as what we say.
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