Introducing Holono-Me: Partnerships for a better society
Holono-Me is a new venture that has been set up by 3 educational leaders seeking to engage as consultants to share their experiences and appetite for looking at problems in new ways, to consolidate and grow partnerships, nurture self-directedness within organisations, and offer support for dynamic and evolving relational systems.
The word Holono-Me is derived from the word “holon” indicating the relationship between part and whole at the same time. In organisations, the tension between the needs of the individual and the system within which he or she is nested is itself an evolving partnership. This partnership gives rise to problems that are both unique and complex. They require an understanding of the current reality and what might be possible in order to proceed and, most importantly, remind us that there are different ways of reaching a desired outcome.
Each of the Holono-Me partners has breadth of experience working as leaders and governors with not-for-profit organisations tasked with allocating significant resources and engaging with a wide range of external consultants to develop strategic initiatives. Each of us is able to report varying degrees of success. We can each acknowledge consultants that have been knowledgeable, some entertaining and some who have left us with much to think about. Others have made little or no impact on what happens next. So why is that? For us, the most successful and enduring change projects have generally had three things in common:
- There has been a genuine attempt by the consultant to meet us where we are to design the ongoing relationship around our needs and not the consultant toolbox
- There has been a recognition of horizontal expertise in which the consultant has held our system as naturally intelligent and surfaced internal wisdom, enabling us to be more self-directed to carry on work started in partnership, independently
- Clarity and purpose about the outcomes of the partnership have developed, leading to clear forwarding actions that we are accountable for
Using the Holono-Me principles of partnership, we are hoping to build a client base seeking opportunities for sustainable change. Through the blog, we will share some of our own experiences (past and present), offer perspectives about building partnerships, share our successes and moments we are less proud of, and write about what we are learning along the way. We look forward to having you as a part of this journey.