guiding principles

Our guiding principles have emerged from our work for a range of clients and in a variety of areas.

• start from the evidence | discourage people from getting side-tracked by hobbyhorses by focusing on shared experiences
• particular moments can be specially revealing | turning points, the moment when those involved felt most proud or most frustrated, and so on
• texture is vital | facts may win people’s minds but they won’t win their hearts; images and stories will
• don’t focus just on the leadership team | they may have most of the power and resources but frontline employees and middle managers have much to contribute; their support is essential to the success of any solution
• most people aren’t stupid | encourage them to explore the evidence themselves and draw their own conclusions
• participation builds understanding | and not just understanding, but ownership and commitment too; the best way of getting these is by giving participants a stake in what you are creating.

Turning points are at the heart of most good stories and are often a focus for our questions.

photograph by aftab