Examples of the 10 Elements of Adaptive Cultures at Work! Part Two

Screen Shot 2020-03-09 at 2.19.22 PM.png

What It’s About: NorQuest team members are working together to build an extraordinary and adaptive culture. They understand that in the midst of post secondary education disruption, they need to create more value, reduce risk, and navigate exponential technology. They have given my team the privilege of applying a body of work that has taken me years to develop; what I call The 10 Elements of Adaptive Cultures. As promised in previous blogs, I will from time to time share with all of you how we are implementing the framework. The following is a summary of just a few things we are doing, part two: (Check out part one here in case you missed it).

6. Acute Listening and Talking Back.

A. We engaged 25 culture champions in a culture assessment process by interviewing a wide representative group at the college.

B. We openly and transparently shared the results which included unvarnished conclusions (both positive and critical).

C. We started a weekly, live, unscripted, open video exchange between executives and the entire college, where any question can be posted and discussed in an unrehearsed way.

7. Growth and Disruptive Mindset.

A. We continue to challenge the status quo at every part of the college including two major initiatives involving redesigning the learner experience, and reimagining the way learning is delivered.

B. Sameness is being challenged everywhere throughout the college with questions like “how might we?” and “have you considered?”

C. We are using the constraint and reality of reduced government funding to openly explore new ways of both running the college and delivering learning that transforms peoples’ lives.

8. Peer to Peer Power.

A. We are aggressively applying and exploring a more collaborative and communication platform (currently using Teams and considering moving to the G-Suite).

B. More authority is being given to the next levels of leadership so that they might make more day to day operating decisions.

C. We are challenging NorQuesters to make the purpose and values more real through daily practice and peer feedback, rather than waiting exclusively for top down initiatives to lead the way.

9. Play and Experimentation.

A. An innovation studio similar to Google’s “garage” has been established to actively and intentionally promote play and experimenting. For example, gamification, 3D printing, Virtual Reality, etc.

B. Teams are piloting new ventures (for example, ESports, digitally bringing basic health care skills to the developing world, micro badging, health care living labs, etc).

C. The college is funding a Q prize where the winning team will be awarded up to $100k to implement its moonshot idea.

10. Psychological Safety.

A. The entire leadership is openly increasing self-awareness and asking for personal feedback during one-on-ones.

B. We are working hard to take blame, finger pointing and unreasonable perfection off the table, with the top executives leading through personal example.

C. The college is promoting a work from anywhere (WFA) mindset to create greater conditions for self-autonomy and accountability. This provides a foundation for a more results based organization.

This concludes a high level summary of how NorQuest is applying the 10 elements in advancing culture. Within 24 months, the culture will be more adaptive, engaging and productive. More people will be productively contributing to the right stuff in the right way. It’s very gratifying to see 1,000 very capable people, many of whom have advanced degrees, coalesce to help thousands of people transform their lives for the better. In the very near future, people from elsewhere will be lining up to learn how NorQuest is having such a positive impact on learners and each other. That will be a story NorQuesters will happily share.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: Projects like this make 24 months extremely exciting, I look forward to hearing more about how all of this continues to develop in adaptive, engaging and productive ways.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Examples of the 10 Elements of Adaptive Cultures at Work! Part Two

Search Blog Posts:

Follow Us: