[TT 033] positive organizations, sustainable stewardship, visual story, psychedelic software, fabric sculptures
Howdy Thrivers,
I'm on break between academic quarters and have found myself in 3 states over 9 days - yowza. This has been a beautiful time to reflect (10Q closes today!), to see epic mountain beauty, and to connect with those dearest to me.
Professionally, I'm in an exhilarating and overwhelming phase of divergent exploration. I know this is a critical and unavoidable part of the process, though that doesn't make it any easier ...
With eyes scanning the horizon, let's focus on this week's Thriving Thursday
On positively creating positive organizations
Creating corporate or organizational structures that elicit the desired behaviors and outcomes is exceptionally hard. It's so hard, in fact, that it's an entire branch of social science called Positive Organizational Scholarship (think positive psychology for businesses).
One of the foremost leaders in that field is Gretchen Spreitzer who founded the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan. For anyone looking for resources in creating or managing empowering and uplifting organizations, this is an incredible resource. They even put out a free Facilitation Guide to prime leaders on best practices.
For a more academic lens, check out Gretchen's 20-year retrospective and especially the 1100 page (!!) Handbook of Positive Organizational Scholarship (both are a decade old and a little dated, but still valid). For a little taste, I found the table of contents that brings up many valuable considerations. How the design of a workspace or community space incorporates:
- Positive Individual Attributes - Prosocial motivation, Purpose, Engagement, Proactivity, Creativity, Curiosity
- Positive emotions - Energy, Emotions, Wellbeing, Passion, Emotional intelligence, Group emotions
- Strengths and virtues - Virtuousness, Forgiveness, Humility, Compassion, Hope, Courage, Justice, Integrity, Positive ethics
- Positive relationships - Quality connections, Reciprocity, Intimacy, Civility, Trust, Perspective taking, Humor, Psychological safety
- Positive HR practices - Career development, Mentoring, Socialization, Diversity, Communication, Conflict resolution, Negotiating, Work-family dynamics
- Positive organizational processes - Symbolism, Resourcefulness, Design of work, Mindful organizing, Org identity, Org boundaries, Innovation
- Positive leadership and change - Org development, Appreciative inquiry, Authentic leadership, Implementing positive change, Peak performance, Strategic change
- Positive lens on problems & challenges - Managing the unexpected, Healing after trauma, Organizational recovery, Responding to crisis, Resilience under adversity, Responding to stress
On the sustainability of steward ownership
One of the most fundamental and existential considerations of any modern-day corporation is producing profits for shareholders. Whether it's a publicly traded firm, an investor-backed company, or a privately held business of any size, the modern capitalist model points first and foremost to making money.
Oftentimes, making money comes at the expense of [employees, environment, native populations, communities, and much more ...]. This is what's often referred to as "extractive" economics that removes value from a system and disburses it to shareholders and owners elsewhere.
I was recently introduced to the model of steward ownership as defined by the Purpose Economy group. Steward ownership is defined by 2 primary standards
(1) Self-governance — Control remains inside the company with the people directly connected to stewarding its operation and mission. With the control of the company held in a trust, it can no longer be bought or sold.
(2) Profits serve purpose — Wealth generated by these businesses cannot be privatized. Instead, profits serve the mission of the company, and are either reinvested in the company, stakeholders, or donated. Investors and founders are fairly compensated with capped returns/ dividends.
Their team recently did a research study in the US and I resonate deeply with 2 of their core findings:
- We need different legal structures to uphold the standards above
- We need alternative sources of capital that are aligned with the standards above
In some ways, it's terrifying to step out of the old world order of "profit-maximizing firm" as it's a fundamental shift away from everything I've known and seen in the business world. At the same time, that format is clearly extractive and destructive, so it cannot sustain.
As I formulate the container of GIFT, I will look to the principles of regenerative economics (mentioned in TT 031), steward ownership, and positive organizational design. So much to think about and internalize there ...
On one visual story of the multiverse future for the psychedelic industry
Bennet turned me on to We will call it Pala - a beautifully told story that can engender lots of different responses.
What do you think? I'll share my gut reaction and response next week.
On software made for psychedelic providers
I'm continuing to learn more about interesting software companies in the psychedelic industry.
Maya Health is another electronic medical record for psychedelic clinics (similar to Osmind). I recognize the main founder and a lot of the team from Baker (a loyalty software and one of the first big software exits in the cannabis industry). I'm especially impressed by their explicit commitment to purpose over profit and how they've articulated their North Star Pledge. I hope to see more companies being so explicit about their ethical commitments.
Mind Leap takes more of an app approach with a particular focus on meditation and integration after a psychedelic experience. It seems like their version is more about self-service before, during, and after an experience.
The Third Wave is focused on psychedelic education, microdosing, and a directory of providers. Particularly noteworthy is their section on psychedelic guides that offers education on 19 different psychedelic substances. The directory portion reminds me of Psychedelic.support and Psychable, both of which also offer a directory of providers.
Much like what I experienced firsthand in the cannabis industry, I expect many more software companies will crop up as the legal psychedelic gains momentum.
On breathtakingly delicate fabric sculptures
I had no idea that I'd ever hear the words "fabric" and "sculpture" in the same sentence. Mariko Kusomoto does absolutely stunning work recreating the delicate intricacy of underwater scenes with fiber textile sculptures. This interview gives a good insight into Mariko's history and thought process (though sadly not her creation techniques)
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I'm off to play this weekend with some incredible musicians, artists, and performers. And then back to the classroom for another stimulating quarter of growth.
Until next week,
~Henry