Small steps, short breaks

Dear readers,

This editorial accompanied me on a ten-day hike. Our shared aim: to experiment with taking small steps and taking short breaks during the particularly strenuous climbs – which were steep and long. Our aim – inspired by the words of the Scottish hiking pioneer Nan Shepherd – was not simply to reach the end of each stage, but also to appreciate the moment and our surroundings.

What we’ve learnt: Small steps are less tiring than big ones. They get us into a flow more quickly, feel more secure on various surfaces and make it easier for us to steady ourselves when we wobble. Short breaks steady our breathing and are restorative. They allow us to look back at what we’ve achieved, look ahead to what lies ahead, and see what wasn’t visible before. As I continue my hike through the Balkan mountains, this editorial takes a different turn – towards processes of transformation, resistance and conflict. It highlights what is obvious but often takes a back seat in the day-to-day reality of change: they all need the time for small steps.

To this end, let’s delve into this issue of SOCIUS: Nicola explores the nature of resistance in transformation processes, whilst Lysan and Wera Stein invite you to the SOCIUS lab „Organisation in Motion“ in Leipzig, Christian, together with Nicola, is launching the third „Zwischenraum“ salon focusing on „Legacy“, and the time is also drawing nearer to reflect on your own conflict management skills – to name just a few of the things we’ve put together for you. 

One of my favourite aspects of the allegory of walking and change: small steps and short breaks create moments – both in processes of transformation and when dealing with conflicts – to find the right words and to listen to the quieter voices in the team. To allow emotions and bodily responses to be expressed in a thoughtful way. To seek solutions that will serve as many people as possible for as long as possible. Small steps and short breaks as a critique of power that is not so small after all.

As summer gives way to autumn, we hope you find the courage to pause and reflect, discover inspiring new perspectives, and enjoy the SOCIUS brief!

Hannah Kalhorn