By Elizabeth Doty

"Yours is the voice that can help ignite the contagious upward spiral of confidence that our country desperately needs." --Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, Letter to America, Sept 2011

Last September, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz called business leaders and fellow citizens to help turn the tide of uncertainty that has such a grip on our country. "We must be catalysts for change. . . . Waiting for Washington to act is not a plan of action," he says.

Why is the CEO of a major public corporation asking everyday citizens to help shift the country's cultural climate? And what does he mean by an "upward spiral"?

An upward spiral is the antidote to a downward spiral: a way to reverse destructive cycles that drag groups down to their lowest level. Any leader with a vision knows exactly what I mean. How do you get your team to care? Your banker to take a risk? Your customers and partners to trust that you will deliver?

Knowing how to reverse downward spirals and mobilize upward spirals can revolutionize how you lead, in business and in life.

Save the Date: Peter Senge and Robert Fritz Host "A Community of Creators"
Friday, May 25, 2012, 9 am-4 pm
Westin Waterfront Hotel, Boston, MA
Sponsored by Pegasus Communications and the Society for Organizational Learning

Join Peter Senge and Robert Fritz in an exploration of how we can collectively engage in a creative change process to realize accomplishments we care about. Details to come . . .

Systems Thinking in Action Conference: The Power Is in the Connections
November 12-14, 2012
Downtown Marriott Hotel
Indianapolis, Indiana

What's different about the Systems Thinking in ActionŽ Conference?

Peer-to-Peer Sharing
Cross-Sector Perspectives
Heart, Head, and Body Engaged

Yes, you'll learn new skills and tools for improving your results through systems thinking and related disciplines. But ideas won't be crammed into your head without the chance to absorb them.

You'll enjoy sessions that offer a deep dive, and extended time between sessions for reflection and sharing. Skilled facilitators will help build a robust container for learning using graphics, music, movement, the arts, conversation, and more. You will leave this conference energized and equipped to create lasting value for your organization or community.

Need more reasons to register? How about three of the leading speakers on leadership, change, and workplaces and communities that work for all: Margaret Wheatley, Peter Block, and Peter Senge.

Register for Systems Thinking in Action 2012--and connect to the power of systems thinking!

By Marty Jacobs

Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 50th birthdays with a hot air balloon ride. Although the intent was for pure fun, systems thinking crept into my experience. How? To be honest, I saw systems everywhere I looked: in the patterns on the ground, the reflections in the bodies of water, and the interconnectedness of the natural environment. Here are some of the "Aha!" moments from our flight.