Dear readers,

We can feel the rapid shift in conditions all around us. Not only politics, but also organisations, associations, clubs and authorities – all of them are currently under even greater pressure to change than was already the case. Funding is drying up, business models are faltering, value creation and impact logic are changing dramatically (not only in the automotive industry), the behaviour of younger target groups is noticeably changing (e.g. becoming more digital), there is a shortage of skilled workers, AI is causing turmoil – in short, the playing field is changing fundamentally.

Some players feel they need to reinvent themselves, whether in terms of their value creation or their internal structures and processes. But what does such a renewal require?
We are currently working intensively on this question. As a collective, we are gathering different perspectives and researching them together – in order to remain creative and provide guidance on this key issue.

Some of the contributions in this letter give you an insight into this inner dialogue:

My blog article deals with theoretical and practical ideas on how organisations can deal with conflicting forces in renewal and innovation processes – for example, between the Preserve and the Change. I demonstrate how polarisation tendencies do not necessarily lead to division, but can be used as productive tension in the clarification process – to spark an integrative energy of renewal that inspires many.

In his blog article, Andi Knoth presents a realistic and encouraging approach to strategy work in times of change. He highlights how organisations – instead of creating extensive strategy papers that quickly become outdated – can better chart flexible, evolutionary development paths in which promising patterns are strengthened and broadened step by step.

In her blog article, Joana Ebbinghaus gives us an insight into her time off. It also deals with the experience of letting go of the logic of usefulness that we seek in everything we do – even during breaks.
What does this have to do with renewal and change? From our point of view, a great deal. Because renewal is inconceivable without letting go. There is no creative act without the moment of relinquishing control. And in order to let go, we need to trust ourselves or others. 

We wish you much inspiration while reading and a peaceful, relaxing holiday season – a time when you can take a step back from the big, pressing issues of the day. May it offer space for encounters, community and what often gets neglected in the hustle and bustle of the year: pausing, taking a deep breath, finding peace together.

Yi-Cong Lu,

Andi Knoth, Nicola Kriesel, Julia Hoffmann, Joana Ebbinghaus, Denise Nörenberg, Lysan Escher, Hannah Kalhorn and Christian Baier