I recently came across Charles Handy’s work, a business philosopher, and author of The Age of Paradox. He uses the idea of life cycles (for businesses and for individuals) following the shape of an S-shaped curve, a sigmoid curve, where there is an initial dip followed by growth and decline. In order to minimize the impact of the eventual decline, Handy proposes that the second sigmoid curve be started before the first curve has reached its peak, when growth is still occurring. Human nature is to start the second curve on the declining part of the curve, not the rising part of the curve.
Handy’s sigmoid curve is significant for Boundary Crossers in two ways:
• Boundary Crossers, by the nature of operating in more than one world, have started a second curve. In fact, they may have started multiple second curves. Their challenge is more of which second curve to focus on rather than starting a second curve too late. What they do with the second curve, what barriers they encounter, how they progress on the second curve is specific to the individual and not something tied to boundary crossing.
• Boundary Crossers, with their ability to see multiple sides of an issue and constant exposure to disparate worlds, are uniquely positioned to start the second curve for an industry, discipline, or organization. Additional references on Second Curve thinking in the context of organizations:
- The Encyclopedia of Leadership, Section 3.2, The Sigmoid Curve: Anticipating and Preparing for Change Despite Current Success
- Elephants and Fleas: Is Your Organization Ready for Change? by Charles Handy.
More postings on Second Curves to follow…..