LILA ~ Learning Innovations Laboratory at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

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Join us for the LILA Summit

Join us for the LILA SummitThis year at LILA we have been exploring the theme of Navigating the Cs of Change—Members have been applying emerging insights to critical initiatives inside their organizations—rethinking leadership, designing future-ready systems, and shaping strategy for uncertain times. Specifically, we have looked at how organizations can transform conceptions, develop new capacities, and shift complex systems to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Drawing on emerging research from social psychology, political science, ecology, and organizational studies, we have examined how to shift deeply held mindsets, foster the skills needed for adaptive leadership, and influence large-scale systems of work. From grappling with disinformation and shifting values, to building new habits and re-imagining work in the age of AI, this theme surfaced contemporary models of change that better align with today’s ecologies. If you are a senior leader in your organization and would like to attend the LILA summit where you will Interact with other leaders, LILA members and guest faculty including keynote speaker and NYT-bestselling author Scott Sonenshein, get in touch with us and let us know what sparked your More »

Building Growth Minded Cultures with Mary Murphy

Building Growth Minded Cultures with Mary MurphyMary introduced a shift from the traditional fixed vs. growth" mindset model (1.0) to a more dynamic Mindset 2.0 framework. This approach considers how organizational culture, leadership practices, and situational triggers influence whether individuals adopt a fixed or growth mindset. One key takeaway? Sustainable change happens at the micro-culture level—shaping local team dynamics rather than relying solely on individual mindset More »

Competitive Learning Ecologies - Michael Kenney

Competitive Learning Ecologies - Michael KenneyMichael Kenney Professor, University of Pittsburg conducts research into the adaptive strategies and learning processes of illicit organizations, particularly focusing on Colombian drug trafficking networks and terrorist groups. He examines how these entities modify their behaviors in response to experiences and new information, embedding this knowledge into their routines and procedures. This adaptability enables them to persist despite aggressive law enforcement More »

Theory U: A Framework for Leading Change Otto Scharmer

Theory U: A Framework for Leading Change Otto ScharmerDr. Otter Scharmer introduced Theory U, a framework for transformation that guides individuals and organizations through a process of deep awareness and renewal to the LILA community More »

Polarity Mapping with Barry Johnson

Polarity Mapping with Barry JohnsonMany of the challenges we face in organizations are not problems to be solved. Rather they are polarities that need to be managed. Dr. Johnson defines polarities as interdependent pairs of values, both of which are neutral or good, which comprise an interdependent energy More »

 

Upcoming Events

Sept  26, 2024 – Member call

OCT 28-29, 2024  (Mon/Tue) Gathering – In person: TRANSFORMING CONCEPTIONS

Nov 21, 2024 – Member call

DEC 18-19, 2024 (Wed/Thurs) Gathering – Virtual: DEVELOPING CAPACITIES

Jan 16, 2025 – Member call

Feb 13, 2025 – Member call

March 19-20 2025 (Wed/Thurs) Gathering – in person: SHIFTING COMPLEX SYSTEMS

April 10, 2025 – Member call

May 15, 2025 – Member call

JUNE 11-12, 2025 (Wed/Thurs) – Virtual SUMMIT: NAVIGATING THE Cs OF CHANGE

This Year’s Theme: Navigating the Cs of Change

For 25 years the LILA community has examined a range of strategic challenges organizations face as they aim to develop and perform in today’s complex world. Looking back at our topics over the years, one theme continues to resurface: how can organizations effectively navigate change? Leaders continue to struggle to transform their culture, support employee development, accommodate emerging technologies, and adapt to changing demographics. Shifts since the pandemic in where and when we work continue to challenge organizations. The world continues to change and, along with it, so must organizations. The question is: what contemporary models of change are best suited to tackle changing mindsets, processes and practices, and the social systems of work?

This theme will revive past powerful insights on navigating change and update them with emerging insights from research in social psychology, political science, ecology, and organizational development. It will highlight ecological and iterative models of change that better fit the increasing complexity organizations and their leaders face. It will examine three “Cs” of change –how we change conceptions, capacities, and complex systems –that touch on the cognitive, behavioral, and socio-structural facets of a changing work life.

Join Us

Once a year, LILA offers membership to a limited number of senior leaders from global organizations. If you are interested in participating in LILA there are three levels of levels of engagement.

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Harvard Graduate School of Education