In this issue of Leverage Points, we're delighted to feature our video interview with Systems Thinking in Action keynote speaker Andy Hargreaves. In the video, Andy outlines the principles of what he calls "sustainable leadership," a concept that is as relevant in education as it is in other sectors. He also gives an overview of his research on a "Fourth Way" of improving public education--an integration of government policy, professional responsibility, and public engagement in service of a compelling shared vision. Finally, Andy gives a brief preview of his new research on businesses, schools, and sports teams that perform beyond expectations. Enjoy!

Systems Thinking in Action:
Fueling New Cycles of Success
November 8-10, 2010
Boston Marriott Copley Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts

Click here to download our new conference flier!

We're pleased to announce the addition of two renowned forum speakers to the conference line-up, as well as a few new features to help you put your learnings into action back in your home organization.

FORUM SPEAKERS
Barry Oshry
"Middles" as System Integrators: Converting Middleness into Organizational Power

Robert Fritz
The Structural Dynamics of Leadership




NEW CONFERENCE FEATURES
Deeper Dives
Following the afternoon keynotes on Monday and Tuesday, you will have a choice of three 90-minute follow-up sessions, in which facilitators will lead a deeper exploration of the content of the keynote presentation through different lenses/disciplines. Facilitators include Bob Putnam, George Richardson, Judy Ringer, Tracy Benson, and Adriano Pianesi.

Integration Cafés
After the "deeper dive" sessions, participants will reconvene in the ballroom, where World Café cofounder David Isaacs will facilitate a process of "harvesting" ideas for applying new principles in your own work and lives.

Bringing the Conference Home
Wednesday, November 10, 2-3:30 pm
Do you feel "full" at the end of a great conference? One way to make sense of a powerful experience is to reflect with others, taking time to "digest" what you've learned, discover what has heart and meaning for you, and consider applications to your work/life. This optional closing session is facilitated by Deb Gilburg.

Register now for the conference. Teams save even more. Contact Mark Alpert at 1-781-398-9700 for information about team discounts.

By Gregory Hennessy

There's been a lot of media coverage lately about an apparent dispute between meteorologists and climatologists regarding the evidence of climate change (here's an example). Precipitating the most recent storm of opinion has been the release of a survey by the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. Of the nearly 600 members of the American Meteorological Society who completed at least part of the survey, nearly half responded that they did not believe global warming was happening (25%) or that they did not know whether it was happening (21%). Given the visible role that meteorologists play in informing the public (they are largely TV weather forecasters), their perspective plays an important role in how the public forms its opinions on climate change.

On several occasions, I have heard a meteorologist defend denial of climate change through some variation of the argument "I know all too well that beyond four or five days out, our forecast models are meaningless . . . how on Earth am I supposed to believe a model that goes 40 or more years into the future?" For example, see CNN's Chad Myers. (In this particular clip, Mr. Myers goes so far as to accuse climatologists of inventing climate change for their own personal financial gain). And in a sense they are right--it would be foolish to use a short-term local forecast model to evaluate what might happen 40 or more years into the future. But that doesn't mean that NO model can be used to forecast 40 years out.