Dissidents for Growth
By: Floris Koot
Tags: Diversity, Regional Planning, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Change, Venice

Dissidents for Growth

7 steps to (re)vitalize a whole region.

Learning to see where change begins

Lets start with this question. How to boost, revitalize a region? How can any organization help? What can we learn for our organizations and societies through this investigation?

The Issue of a Hidden Standstill

How to help a region that suffers a little bit from a standstill? We’re talking about Veneto here (as an example, if you don’t live there). As a mayor tourist attraction Venice offers many jobs. The beautiful city is crowded with tourists. Yet, its magnetic attraction does little to stimulate progress and initiatives beyond tourism. Now with the Corona virus hitting this region, suddenly they need to be ready for an unexpected reality. Such troubles can hit any region, or society. So what does it take to be flexible, ready and progressive so creative minds can come up with new ideas when they’re needed the most?

“He who never leaves his country is full of prejudices.” ~ Calro Coldoni (Venetian) Or when we stick to what we know, our window is too small.

How I got involved

Last year I got a call out of the blue from Italy, due to my involvements in innovation of education. Based on an European funding program, I was invited to help with the question above. My focus would be specifically by helping to improve education for professionals in the Veneto region. They wanted a new voice, and I had the honor to be that voice.

When I met the woman who had called me, Giovanna Brunelli, I found not everyone in her organization fully supported her. Though it is a positive and highly professional education, some new ideas met more scrutiny. When we finally met for the first time in Veneto I told her I often work for the dissidents in organizations. She smiled. I could see, this was a role she was also struggling with. Being a dissident is not always a grateful role to play.

Dissidents in organizations.

During my career the dissidents are the ones hiring me the most. What do I mean with dissidents? These are the people who’ll try new ideas, break rules or make short cuts. Their focus is on what, they see, needs to happen. They’ll question or will improve their organization. They often seem to care less about position, about official rules, or even their own career. In general normal people, let alone middle managers, find dissidents disturbing and annoying. They wonder, “How can these dissidents get away with their stuff, while we work so hard on order?” Our minds often see this dissident freedom or truth speaking as attacks. Mind you, good dissidents never play on the person, they play the ball. They seek to make points that should help the whole organization forward, if when the direction may be unclear.

You may disagree, but someone has to try out things. Their actions don’t mean you should change now. Dissidents in organizations are often one person innovation teams. I find they often have a protector, in the top of the organization, who’ll quietly deviate all complains, and thus shields the dissident from most protests. My dissident surely had one. And she had fans too, mainly because of her hard committed work. Through her, and others, I went on to host twice a workshop called “Future Proof Leadership”. And one major point of that workshop is right here:

We need dissidents to evolve!

Dissidents are the voice of alternatives, of diversity, of innovation. Regions, organizations and societies without dissidents, come to a development standstill. Protest is not an attack against order! It is the voice of humans addressing important issues. Dissidence is people breaking rules trying to innovate their environment. People who care less about rules, often are the innovators. They see what’s happening and what’s possible in between the cracks. How can we invent without some unrest, trying out and playing with ideas? As long as dissidents work for a better whole, they need all the space and support they can get.

How dissident thinking can revitalize whole regions.

Often innovation comes to a standstill in times of crisis. And while the pressure often makes us return to the ‘old ways’, it’s then when new ideas are needed the most. Take all the tourists avoiding Venice at the moment. Wait until they come back, or think about new ideas? What small other industries can be started right now? Filming the now empty city to create virtual online tours or games set in Venice might be a good idea at the moment. This is the moment to set up a 3d printing shop, your online magazine, reorganize the product line, etc. Make use of the set back. When the rules don’t work, those trying out what’s outside them, can be your natural guides. One great idea that goes viral can be enough to inspire a region anew.

“Under the pressures which are all too familiar to us, we tend to maintain tunnel vision at times when we really need to step back and contemplate the wider view.” ~ John Cleese

How to boost dissidents, innovators, creatives, rebels & new voices?

So how to increase new ideas being born, tried out? How to boost the dissidents actions?

See setbacks as moments of opportunity. Stress doesn’t change a thing. Nor does, doing more of the same, as old. It’s considering options and new ideas that ignites change. Open your mind. Do not see alternative, different ideas as a personal attack. Almost all people, are good people. When you disagree don’t just react with an automatic no. Rather trust the other wants something positive, you can first learn more about. Then disagree if needs be. Mind you, if you don’t have to live another’s choice, just let them go for it. See yourself as part of a whole. Being a proud Venetian (or whatever region you’re from) should mean more than living in the region and flag waving for a local team. Seeking to only save your own organization will falter in the face of collective interconnected troubles, like virus or climate change. If most businesses around you go down, yours will be hit too. So, better to wonder how you can help the whole and collaborate*). Activate the youth. Invite them to ask their hot questions, organize a hackaton to get new ideas for regional organizations. Get them to dream, experiment with little start ups, make new initiatives easier for them. Boost their, and your own, creativity. Mix for diversity and create settings where new ideas can be born. With the people we often talk to, expressing new ideas is sometimes harder. In new settings, with new people asking essential questions we are more courageous. Often through deep meetings with new people, new projects will be born. So broaden circles and connections. Be more bold, of give space to those who are. Those that ask the big essential questions, and are seen to act for a better whole, often get new projects born. Dissidents that seek to be of service, are those that can become great people. Be that, or support those who are. Make it an adventure. Too often we seek the direct benefits of out actions. Yet, what sells are stories. If our actions are of interest of the media, then our search for change, brings the change. The media will start spreading the word, and this will bring new visitors to see the people who dare. Life is uncertain. Adding a little adventure is inspiring. People flock to inspiring places. Venice of old was such a place. What can modern Venetians add to it?

*) This is actually a very Dutch point. We have a more collaborative culture, since we share a certain danger. If the dykes break we all drown. Hence the Dutch must foremost keep the whole healthy and fit. We also need to be aware of the increase of political frictions between left and right. My tip for this would be, don’t imagine your neighbors as enemies. A good neighbor is better than a far away friend (with a big mouth). So, whatever strong points foreigners make, you need to live it in your situation. That even goes for all the tips above. ;)

Conclusion

All in all, we need outspoken people saying something different, trying something new. We need people stimulating each other to dare something. Regions need to feel themselves like in a new Renaissance. The spirit of change, and experiment, helps with more than dealing with current pressures (then lots of little wars, now climate change and the Corona virus). If you want to ignite such a culture you’ll have to find, support and unleash the dissidents. Have them start collaborating on local, regional projects that they feel make sense. Rather than blocking them, because you don’t get them, give them time and space. If they’re successful it’ll lift your spirits too. It may revitalize your region. And if they fail, well, you told them so, didn’t you?