“But what do you do”?

If you work in any kind of organizational learning and design, you are likely to get this question. I asked my kids: “how would you describe what I do?”

“Coaching?” one of them offered tentatively.

“I honestly have no idea. I don’t think it is an actual job,” The more sarcastic one said.

So, I started thinking about what it is that I do.

I teach.

I design.

I coach.

I advise.

It was in a conversation with a colleague yesterday that brought some clarity to my thinking. She used to describe herself as a math teacher. As she honed her skills in Habits of Mind, and then coaching, and then the skills of collaboration, she saw herself less as a teacher.

“I see myself as a facilitator of learning”, she said, “because my job was not to tell the kids what they learn, my job was to help them want to learn!”

A facilitator is, by definition, a person who makes an action or process easy or easier. This function is one that anyone who works in the realm of culture, organizations and learning would likely resonate with: making the process and skills of working with people easy or easier.

At Thought Architects, we are the facilitators of human ways of working. At the core of people thriving is the ability to change, adapt and successfully navigate new and uncertain situations. We are all equipped to achieve success with change. People have grown up, moved out of family homes, established a new life, perhaps become parents, perhaps changed cities or countries, maybe changed careers. Adaptation is the very foundation of being human.

But people talk about “change fatigue”, “slowing down”, or “just stay still for a moment”. This is not part of life in any way.

It is the work of Richard Boytzatis that centers what we do. There are two networks in our brain that are essential for adaptation: the default mode network (DMN) and the task positive network (TPN). The TPN is exactly what it sounds like – It is an analytical network. The TPN becomes engaged when people are doing focused and goal-directed activity. It is the “get things done” parts of the brain coming together to focus.

The DMN is the learning network. It is the network that, when activated, puts ideas together in novel ways. It is the “aha” network. It is only activated when people are relaxed and in a stress-free state.

Here is the thing: the networks are antagonistic….and, it is the DMN network that allows people to be open to new ideas, things and people.

Now think of our days. We spend time making lists, finding ways to be productive, fixing problems, trying to focus and we can’t deal with all of the change. Of course not. Too often the opportunities to engage the DMN are missed. It is “fluffy”, or “not real work”.

Until someone figures out how to re-wire our brains, I argue that engaging both networks is necessary to thrive in our workplace.

That is what we do at Thought Architects. We teach practical ways of working that allow people to thrive and grow through change. We are facilitators of human ways of working.

My kids still won’t understand.