As technological developments and globalisation have increased, so has the degree of connectedness between our systems. While this provides many benefits, it has also served to amplify the complexity of the environments in which we all operate. 

The challenges that exist in 2020 cannot be addressed through the action of uncoordinated individuals. Furthermore, we desperately need our citizens to develop the capacity to move beyond co-operation and towards deep collaboration. This will require them to be comfortable exploring diverse perspectives as well as debating and arguing rather than prematurely reaching consensus or becoming increasingly polarised. Examples of such challenges include climate change, inequality and more recently Covid-19. 

In this talk, Chris will provide examples of ways he is working with school leaders, teachers and students (as well as groups outside of the education sector). These examples will demonstrate approaches to pedagogy and collaboration that can help any team (leaders, teachers or kids) develop capabilities that will help them to maximise the potential of diversity as they build collective intelligence and make better decisions together. This will include some consideration of the metaphors that underpin our approaches. Is the best way to focus on catering to the needs of “individual clients” or act in ways that support a prospering ecosystem?