Ep. 90 adrienne maree brown on Emergent Strategy and being in right relationship with change
May 31, 2023
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adrienne maree brown, a writer, podcaster, and musician, discusses being in a right relationship with change, embracing discomfort and navigating tension, pleasure activism, reflecting on icons and inspirational figures, leadership within the new ways of working, and taking control of one's life.
Being in right relationship with change involves acknowledging and expressing our feelings in real time, embracing authenticity and adaptability.
Leadership should be a listening role that fosters curiosity, collaboration, and growth, unlocking individuals' capacity and providing guidance and support.
Deep dives
Embracing Change and Softening Hold on Plans
Adrian Marie Brown highlights the importance of being in right relationship with change, emphasizing the need to acknowledge and express our feelings in real time. She encourages feeling and processing emotions before trying to logically navigate through them. Brown also advocates for having a softer hold on plans and being more present and adaptable as life requires a different level of presence. She shares personal experiences of responding to unexpected events and highlights the importance of creating containers for ourselves to embrace change and respond authentically to the world.
Leadership and Pleasure Activism
Brown discusses leadership as a listening role, where leaders ask questions and unlock individuals' capacity, providing guidance and support. She emphasizes the importance of a humble leadership approach that collaborates, fosters curiosity, and supports people in their growth. Furthermore, Brown introduces the concept of pleasure activism, which celebrates pleasure and joy as radical acts of freedom. She highlights the significance of embracing and openly discussing various pleasurable experiences to reduce shame and create spaces for people to be in authentic relationship with each other.
Promising Examples of New Ways of Being Together
Brown references several examples of promising initiatives and movements. She mentions Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD), which integrates organizing, embodiment, and political education to improve community and personal well-being. She also discusses the Embodyment Institute and their work to make somatic practices accessible to more people. Additionally, Brown highlights organizational shifts towards shorter workweeks, like the four-day workweek adopted by ALAD Media Projects. She applauds efforts to prioritize self-care and create spaces conducive to well-being and co-creative work.
Practices for New Ways of Working and Leading
Brown suggests cultivating practices that foster wisdom and connection with oneself and others. She recommends tarot readings, engaging with nature, and seeking guidance from friends or mentors. Brown also encourages seeking feedback and practicing accountability by regularly asking others how interactions and relationships are experienced. Additionally, she suggests focusing on individual front lines, areas that challenge personal comfort zones, and finding ways to make a positive impact in those areas. Brown concludes by emphasizing the importance of reading and expanding knowledge.
I'm thrilled to have adrienne maree brown on the podcast, someone who 'grows ideas in public' through her writing, her podcasts and her music. Ideas like Emergent Strategy, Pleasure Activism, Radical Imagination and Transformative Justice.
We talk about what it means to be in right relationship with change, how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, sustainable relationships, Pleasure Activism, three thoughts about leadership, what adrienne would do if she was mayor of a large city, and finally some of her favourite practices at the moment.