Back in the ’80s when I was working on a feature for the Financial Times, I was covering how a corporation was changing the way the employees solved problems, felt safe taking risks and moved toward more effective personal communications strategies.
The company was using an outdoor education facility as well as using indoor workshops led by Ian Thomson. Thomson led numerous organizations through corporate paradigm shifts helping companies and individuals within the companies navigate the unknown with more confidence, more team support.
At the time, the work he was doing triggered powerful breakthrough thinking. Now I am back looking at Thomson leading a paradigm shift in the world and I am recording the effect for another publication.
What I find interesting is that the very thing that Thomson was teaching back in his 20s is the way he has chosen to live. He has pursued a very different career from his days at Outward Bound, but he continues to walk his talk. He’s found a like-hearted business partner in Doug Hooper, and though they are based here on Bowen, they are part of the global paradigm shift. Their story depicts risk taking and leadership and the power of an idea whose time has come. Their achievements are remarkable.
This story has been on the back burner for a while because the Paris talks have pushed them into a place of prominence. Paris provided the political will, now it’s up to these guys to figure out how
Canada can take some concrete steps.
Enjoy this week’s Undercurrent,
Louise
