The Innovation Show

EP 150: Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change with Greg Satell

Mar 17, 2019

Greg Satell, an expert in creating movements that drive transformational change, discusses the power of cascades in driving change. He explains the principles of successful movements, the difference between Boston and Silicon Valley as technology hubs, the significance of connections and networks, the power of relationships in network structures, and the role of values in shaping actions.

44:06

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Episode guests

Greg Satell

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Quick takeaways

Successful social and political movements share common principles with corporate turnarounds - uniting small groups with a common purpose can drive transformational change.

Effective leaders play a crucial role in driving cascades by providing a sense of shared purpose and consciousness within the network, and by connecting people and cultivating relationships within the organization.

Deep dives

The Power of Cascades for Transformational Change

Cascades have the ability to drive transformational change. By uniting small groups with a common purpose, these loosely connected networks become immensely powerful. Successful social and political movements, as well as corporate turnarounds, share similar principles. Leaders play a crucial role in providing a sense of shared purpose and consciousness. The Occupy movement failed due to a lack of clear goals and the absence of influence on institutions. In contrast, successful transformations like Stanley McChrystal's efforts in the military involved instilling a strong shared purpose and promoting connections between teams. Networks require a mix of strong relationships and new connections to foster creativity and adaptability. Building a network with a common purpose is essential for achieving change.

Introduction

2min

Transformation and Success: Lessons from Change Makers

23min

The Difference Between Boston and Silicon Valley as Technology Hubs

5min

Connections and Networks: Coupled Oscillation, Social Distance, and Common Purpose

6min

The Power of Relationships in Network Structures

3min

The Genome of Values: Rules for Adaptation and the Role of Constraints

6min

If you could make a change—any change you wanted—what would it be? Would it be something in your organization or your industry? Maybe something it’s in your community or throughout society as a whole?

Creating true change is never easy. Most startups don’t survive. Most community groups never get beyond small local actions. Even when a spark catches fire and protesters swarm the streets, it often seems to fizzle out almost as fast as it started. The status quo is, almost by definition, well entrenched and never gives up without a fight.

In this groundbreaking book, one of today's top innovation experts delivers a guide for driving transformational change. To truly change the world or even just your little corner of it, you don’t need a charismatic leader or a catchy slogan. What you need is a cascade: small groups that are loosely connected but united by a common purpose.

As individual entities, these groups may seem inconsequential, but when they synchronise their collective behaviour as networks, they become immensely powerful. Through the power of cascades, a company can be made anew, an industry disrupted, or even an entire society reshaped. As Satell takes us through past and present movements, he explains exactly why and how some succeed while others fail.

We welcome Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker and Innovation Advisor Greg Satell welcome back to the show.

We talk: