Edgewalkers

Serving Those Who Walk Between the Worlds

Edgewalkers

Theory X and Theory Y

By Judi Neal, Ph.D.

The first management theory I was taught was Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y. He developed this theory in the 1950s and it still has value today.  The theory states that your management style is based on your beliefs about why people come to work. Theory X managers believe people are basically lazy, dislike work, and are only motivated by money. This set of beliefs leads to a high-control, autocratic management style. Theory Y managers believe that workers are internally motivated, and they find meaning in the work they do. Therefore, Theory Y managers are more participative, less controlling, and more relational. Research has shown that participative management tends to get much better organizational results than autocratic management. 

What does Theory X and Theory Y have to do with faith? People usually associate the word “faith” with religious faith, but James Fowler, author of Stages of Faith, defines it more broadly as the “universal quality of human meaning making.” He encourages us to examine which “centers of value” we put our trust in. This could be religion, as in the commonly accepted use of the term “faith.” Other centers of value are family, money, or power. In Theory Y, the participative manager puts her faith in the people who work for her. 

Mel Toomey was a mentor to me, and the co-author of our book Integrating Change. One of the things he taught me was “Everyone wants to make a difference.” For him, this was an article of faith. I once had someone assigned to work for me in a support position who seemed not to be very interested in getting the things done that I needed. Mel encouraged me to see reframe how I saw this person. I found myself interacting with her in a much more compassionate way when I asked myself the question, “How does she want to make a difference?” Soon we found projects that allowed her to have an impact in ways that mattered to her, and that served my goals. I developed faith in her.

These days I find myself asking what Americans have faith in. Are we a Theory X country that believes that people are basically lazy, that they are only motivated by money or fear, and therefore must be highly controlled by an autocratic leader?  Or are we a Theory Y country that believes in the intrinsic motivation of citizens, the American pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit? Do we believe that some people are inherently better than others and that they should autocratically rule, or do we have faith that the best decisions are made when everyone has a voice? And finally, do we believe in an angry and punitive God, or do we put our faith in a loving God that wants the best for all His children. Theory X or Theory Y? Which do you believe?

“The Necessity & Significance of Freedom & Autonomy, Sovereignty & Liberation Now!”

by Patricia Campanile Senior Associate Edgewalkers International

We would all probably agree that we are living in unprecedented times in both our outer realities and inner consciousness. Daily we are being presented with truths and revelations, chaos and revolutionary shifts. What do we believe, how do we act, who do we trust, where do we go, and when?

Dr. Judi Neal, author of “Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build Bridges and Break New Ground” explains, “In my vision, Edgewalkers are supporting people to fully be themselves and to fully use their gifts so they can then make a positive difference to others. As Edgewalkers, we strive to have the freedom and autonomy to be all we can become. The purpose of realizing our full potential is so that we can fulfill our responsibility for healthy self-care first and then for selfless service to others.”

As an Edgewalker or someone who has committed to their own transformational journey, it is essential that we live in authentic alignment with our integrity to the best of our ability. Integrity is one of the Edgewalker qualities and defined as “a commitment to live in alignment with your core values, to align your words and your behavior, and to keep your word.” Now more than ever it is vital that we go within and identify and connect with our values and personal sense of freedom and autonomy, sovereignty and liberation. Sovereignty and self-liberation teach us to be in harmony with ourselves and the universe as a whole. It means choosing to be free from any self-inflicted negativity which cages our potential to outshine the universe. To be autonomous and sovereign means you have free will and can stand behind your actions and values.

Why is this significant now? Self-directing freedom and especially moral independence and personal autonomy are important because they lead to enhanced expressions of creativity and original thought. This in turn can result in increased productivity, innovative ideas and solutions, and an overall high quality of life. I sense and feel that we are being called to live and work from a higher consciousness in order to shift individually and collectively and create different results. As Albert Einstein said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Freedom is the fuel, a condition in which people have the opportunity to think differently, speak, act and pursue happiness without unnecessary external restrictions. Freedom is important because its opposite is detrimental to our well-being and inconsistent with our true nature. Liberating ourselves from our own fears, limitations and judgments where we are NOT in alignment with our true, essential nature, allows us to be ourselves and work together while maintaining autonomy and respecting our differences.

It is important to remember and integrate what many great leaders have stated that “with great freedom comes great responsibility.” As citizens, we are obligated to use our freedom not only for our own personal good, but also for the greater good. Some people who have written about freedom say that “freedom without responsibility is anarchy” or “freedom without responsibility is chaos.” The desire for freedom as an end in itself is a lower point on the consciousness scale. It is an “everyone for themselves” and “survival of the fittest” point of view.

Dr. Judi Neal shares that ” Edgewalkers are committed to the grander scheme of things, to do our part to elevate the collective level of consciousness, to take a stand for compassion, social justice, and a sense of oneness.” As a certified Edgewalker Coach, Facilitator and Senior Associate I am honored and excited to be a part of our global Edgewalker community. It is not an accident if you are one of the individuals in our world fortunate enough to live in a community, society, country where you are free and available to show up and speak up, shine your light, contribute your unique gifts and live your highest purpose. By embracing your freedom with responsibility, liberating your autonomy, and standing in your sovereignty you can and will make a difference on our planet! The time is NOW!

‘What’s Alternative About Alternative Strategy?’​ asks Edgewalker, Susan Furness

The old way still might work.

And if a few tweaks are made, here and there, that could make a positive difference on the outcome.

But as there is no licence on good ideas the competition could be tweaking up the same tree, right?

What we need is a good idea that is very hard for others to apply first, and here’s where to get it.

Look in different places for new answers, or even in new places for different answers. This is the underbelly of Alternative Strategy.

Here’s Six Strategic Nuances nourished by the philosophy of Edgewalkers.org. and taken from Strategic Heartistry, the new world business modelling that never fails to unearth the difference that makes the difference.

  1. USE DIFFERENT WORDS The team energy will shift when alternative vocabulary is used. Instead of asking ‘what is the objective?’, try ‘what is our Intention…?’. Similarly, instead of ‘what outcome are we looking for?’, ask ‘what Impact are we going to make…?’.
  2. NAME THE SAME DESTINATION DIFFERENTLY Traditional strategy often takes a linear path to get from Here to There, but there isn’t a there, because when you get there, you are here. Alternative Strategy keeps a sharp eye on the vision or New Reality by moving from Here to Here.
  3. TAKE DIFFERENT LEAPS INSTEAD OF WELL-TRODDEN STEPS Alternative Strategy names the Reality (nee the Situation Overview), senses the New Reality (the Vision) and makes Quantum Leaps, or small significant steps to extraordinary impact.
  4. LEAD DIFFERENTLY, HEART BEFORE HEAD The Fearless Leader manifests Alternative Strategy by talking in before talking out to him/herself and the team. Listen to the heart first, and then ask the head, because the heart knows.
  5. LOVE DIFFERENTLY BY BEING KIND The Fearless Leader knows that acts of love & kindness evoke acts of love & kindness in others, which provokes a spirit of collaboration, co-creation, inspiration, and courage. Out of courage comes a brave, alternative heart.
  6. MEASURE DIFFERENTLY Alternative Strategy appreciates that Return on Investment is born from ROE – Return on Energy or Engagement. ROE brings a sense of belonging, or the desire to ‘be long in’. ROE + ROI = The Infinite Game.

Thanks for reading. I am self-proclaimed Alternative Strategist because the strategist in me just won’t buzz off and let me be something different, so I am Being Different by fusing Strategy with Spirituality at the intersection of Digital Technology.

Edgewalker Love

Photo by Elias Maurer on Unsplash

Judi Neal, Ph.D., President & CEO, Edgewalkers International

On this Valentine’s Day 2022, I’m taking a moment to reflect on Edgewalkers and love. Love is the basis of all relationships, beginning with self-love. You cannot give what you don’t have, so it is essential that you build the strongest relationship possible with yourself first if you want to be a good partner. The first quality of an Edgewalker is self-awareness. Different forms of contemplative practice, or what Chris Laszlo calls “direct-intuitive” practices, provide the doorway to increased self-awareness. In my research on Edgewalkers, the practices that were mentioned most frequently were spending time in nature, journaling, and dream work. And there are countless practices that include playing music, running, martial arts, Lectio-Divina, tarot cards, and more.  The key is to find the practice or practices that work for you. If the practice increases your self-love and your sense of joy and aliveness, then that practice is a fit for you.

One of the most frequent questions I get at the end of an Edgewalker workshop has to do with relationships. “What if I’m an Edgewalker and my significant other is a Placeholder?” “I’m single and am an Edgewalker.  Should I be looking to date other Edgewalkers?” “I’m a Guardian and my significant other is a Flamekeeper. What should I be paying attention to for our relationship to be healthy?” (Click here for Archetype of Change definitions).

The is important to remember the five Archetypes of Change (Edgewalker, Flamekeeper, Placeholder, Hearthtender, and Guardian) are not personality types or labels. They are lenses through which we typically see our reality. They are a worldview, and an orientation to change. Our worldview can alter depending on the situation. I might be an Edgewalker (embracing change and the future) at work and a Hearthtender (being of service) at home. Or I might be a Guardian (protecting from something going wrong) when I’m preparing to take a trip, but an Edgewalker ready for adventure when I arrive. So, it is not accurate to say “I’m a Guardian and my significant other is a Flamekeeper,” although it is a useful conversational convention.

Unlike astrology, where you might be advised that certain signs are better for your love life, there is no “better” or “worse” in Archetypes of Change pairs. Each pairing has its own challenges and opportunities. If an Edgewalker is married to another Edgewalker, you can expect constant change, experimentation, creativity, and adventure. This might work well in the early stages of their relationship, but if they decide to settle down and raise a family, they will need to shift their orientation more towards the Flamekeeper (core values) Archetype and the Hearthtender Archetype.

Since opposites attract, it is not unusual for Edgewalkers to find themselves in relationships with either Placeholders (keeping things the way they’ve always been) or Guardians. Edgewalkers eat change for breakfast, and Placeholders and Guardians are uncomfortable with change.  Compassion, understanding, and respect for differences are key to making relationships work when two people have such different worldviews. The key is to find the gift in each other’s Archetype, and to use those gifts to balance and deepen your relationship.  

As we mature and increase our spiritual intelligence (see our webinar with Cindy Wigglesworth), it becomes easier to see the world from another’s eyes and to expand our own vision of reality as a result.  Both the physicists and the mystics tell us that at the deepest level, reality is Love. And today is the perfect day to celebrate that reality. Happy Valentine’s Day!