Contextuality means exploring the larger context and placing our collaborative change initiatives within it. This can start as a simple stakeholder mapping and it can grow into an elaborate diagnosis of intervention patterns that could enhance impact. Understanding the context and its dynamic interaction patterns of institutions, stakeholders, mind-sets and trends, helps us recalibrate our theory of change. Paying attention to how our collaboration effort is embedded in a particular context makes us realize how we can move beyond parallel, isolated, and uncoordinated efforts into our impactful contribution in a complementary transformation system.
Considering the larger context; taking a systemic view; observing trends and developments; ability to gain perspective; seeing a broader picture; openness to see multi-level interactions; capturing the essence of something; ability to sense what is needed in a situation; responsiveness to the needs of the larger whole – the organization; cooperation system; society; the world
Mutual Support can create magic if we help each other living up to our potential – as individuals, collaborative groups, initiatives, organizations, or even countries. Acknowledging each persons and each stakeholder’s potential to contribute to impact empowers and strengthens delivery capacity. This leads to the realization that our contribution becomes more successful if other people’s contributions are also delivered with high quality. When we begin to empower others, we notice that mutual support is serving us, the other - and the larger impact.
Appreciation; giving and receiving support; enhancing one’s own and others’ strengths; offering help and contributing knowledge and expertise; encouraging self-organization; attention to energy levels; attention to one’s own vitality; contributing to others’ vitality; seeing deeper connections; ability to renew in places of beauty; feeling connected with a deeper life force
Contribution is an orientation towards positive impact that seeks tangible results. It means being inspired by purpose and meaning, while shifting from the questions “What is in it for us?” to the questions “How can we best contribute?”. The passion to contribute creates energy because it focuses attention. It organizes life, creates order in our collaboration journey, and attracts people and opportunities. If we gain clarity in what way we can contribute to a situation or more broadly to a sustainable world with our skills, assets, competencies and resources, we gain the strength to follow through.
Being inspired by meaning; focusing on purpose; balancing success with significance; wanting to make a difference; knowing one’s strength; pursuing one’s special contribution; following a calling; attention to one’s potential; refining one’s own, team’s, organization’s, or system’s contribution to a sustainable world; focusing on the common good
Peter is the Executive Director of DiversAct, an international NGO in Europe. The mission of the organization is to put biodiversity and natural resource management high on the public agenda.
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Andrea is the sustainability manager of a European energy supply company that intends to enter into the renewable energy field, but still runs coal and a few nuclear energy plants.
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Celine is a water engineer and the chair of the inter-ministerial coordination committee for the implementation of the drinking water policy in an African Country.
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Nadeem is leading a complex strategic sustainability initiative between NGOs, development cooperation, the public sector and the private sector.
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Mike is the CEO of medium-size textile company. When he joined the company, sustainability issues were still seen as belonging to the communication department.
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