Vantage Point

Table of Contents

Endorsements

VANTAGE POINT

Disclaimer

Contents

How to get the most from this book!

Introduction

What’s in it for you?

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities!

What this book will cover

PART 1: FOUNDATION

Chapter 1: The journey, how did we get here?

Chapter 2: The Foundation of Inside-Out Leadership

Chapter 3: Why Inside-Out Leadership

Chapter 4: Who do You Choose to Be for this Time?

Chapter 5: The Path of the Soul!

Chapter 6: Look at what is doing the creating, not what is created!

PART 2: IMPLICATION

Chapter 7: Complexity through the eyes of the Deeper Mind

Chapter 8: Navigating at the level of Mental Models

Chapter 9: Implication followed by Application in Action in

Chapter 10: Being a Creative Force

Chapter 11: Building better lives, better organisations, and a better worldna

PART 3: IMPACT

Chapter 12: Being more effective and impactful in the world in

Chapter 13: The Premise of the Art and Skill of Inside-Out Leadership In

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities - Revisted

Chapter 14: The Art and Skill - Grounding & Impact

Chapter 15: Building wise, fluid, and human-centric entities

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities - Final Revisit

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

References

"In these extraordinary times, the need for exceptional thinkers and organisations has never been greater. While many leadership books follow the well-trodden ground, today's complexities and challenges necessitate a fresh perspective on leadership.

Mike Schwarzer's book, 'VANTAGE POINT: cutting through the bullsh*t of a complex world,' serves as both the torch and compass that illuminate the way and guide us as we step into uncharted territory, embark on new explorations, and pioneer innovative paths.

Consider it the 'secret sauce' that empowers leaders and managers to rise above the noise and illuminate their path forward."

Gabriella Sprott, Director & Co-Founder @ ShowMe Exchange, Australia

"'VANTAGE POINT' is a breath of fresh air in these uncertain times. As a leader in the not-for-profit and community-based sector, I know how challenging it can be to navigate the intricate business terrain we find ourselves in.

This book is like a treasure map, guiding us to venture beyond the familiar, challenge the status quo, and embrace the unknown. For those willing to look, in this book, you’ll find a beacon of wisdom that shines a light on our path ahead in these uncertain times.

If you want to have a greater impact on our growth as a leader, improve your ability to guide others, and make operational and strategic decisions, this book will be your trusted compass on this journey!"

Nunzio Giurastante, National Manager, Grow Fit Fund, Australia

"Sit down with a good cup of coffee and prepare to challenge yourself and your thinking.

Mike takes us on a journey through concepts that challenge our thinking and our beliefs. A couple of times I had to stop, scratch my chin, sit back and ponder before… ping… the idea hit me between the eyes.

He adds enjoyable stories along the way to demonstrate how to bring these concepts to life. This book isn’t one to pick up if you are looking for a 5 minute how-to guide. This is a book to explore, ponder and grow with."

Michelle T Holland, Author of the international bestseller, Culture Inc and Founder & Director of SynergyIQ, Organisational Consulting Firm, Adelaide, Australia

"Mike has a deep understanding of people, organisations and how they both tick; the reasons why they struggle, and how to help them to thrive.

The pages of this book contain a blueprint & roadmap for doing precisely that. Immerse yourself in his gentle wisdom, and watch your results, and your experience of creating them, transform."

Jonny Bowden, Executive Coach, Swindon, UK

"In this rapidly evolving digital and dynamic environment that continues to disrupt how we conduct business, I see it as crucial for any leader to approach leadership with an open mind and develop an adaptable mindset.

‘VANTAGE POINT’ challenges conventional thinking and urges us to question our beliefs and assumptions. 

It's not for everyone, but if nothing else, it encourages us to step back and take an elevated perspective through which we can rise above the noise that clouds our judgment and see the world with greater clarity."

Peter Nicolaidis, Managing Director, Grandeur Wellington, McLaren Flat, South Australia

"In this book, Mike Schwarzer opens the door, with wisdom and grace, to inside-out leadership, a concept that posits our experiences, perceptions, and leadership capabilities are generated from within, rather than being influenced primarily by external factors.

With empathy and kindness, he invites and guides the reader on the path to understanding that our feelings, actions, and leadership styles are a reflection of our internal thought processes and state of consciousness. The reader thus comes to view leadership as an internal, personal journey rather than just a set of external strategies and skills.

The essential message of hope that this book brings is that if leaders focus on the inner workings of their mind and their consciousness, they can become better equipped to create sustainable, innovative, and empathetic solutions, leading to more effective and humane organizations and communities, and, ultimately, a better world."

Paula Anastasiade, Organizational Change Manager, Bucharest, Romania

VANTAGE POINT is a personal invitation to embark on a journey of fresh perspectives and an elevated mindset. It calls on leaders to question limitations, operate in the sweet spot between chaos and order, and ignite transformation.

Mike’s insights challenge the status quo, embracing a new era of leadership in a changing world. His book invites active participation in awakening our consciousness and shifting from problem-solving to creating. This transformative shift opens doors to innovation beyond conventional boundaries. You’ll find clarity and insight to navigate the labyrinth of complexity, leaving the shackles of stale thinking behind. Through wisdom, inspiration, and heightened awareness, Mike beckons readers to explore the uncharted territories of their own potential and absorb and embody the principles shared. Storytelling and practical examples illuminate the path to a VANTAGE POINT; transcending the ordinary to stand at the intersection of vision and action. Mike encourages a profound conversation with our own potential.

VANTAGE POINT is an immersive experience, a compass for those ready to transcend the ordinary and lead with audacity.

Rich Liotta PhD, Psychologist, New York, USA 

"Mike's book, Vantage Point, takes a bold approach in cutting through the bullsh*t of a complex world, offering a refreshing perspective. In an environment where complexity reigns and traditional leadership paradigms fall short, his message is simple: 'think less, see clearer, lead wiser.' This philosophy encourages readers to rise above the noise rather than getting bogged down by it.

Reading through Vantage Point is like putting on a new pair of glasses that provides a clear view beyond boundaries and limitations uncovering hidden gems of truth. The book's practical value extends beyond mere teaching; it transforms, equipping leaders to confront today's challenges with simplicity, fostering easy connections, and helping them identify blind spots without overthinking.

In a world that demands wiser leadership, Vantage Point serves as a guiding light. It's not just relevant; it's indispensable for navigating the uncertainties that organizations face today."

Patrik Fordell, Unit Manager, Aged Care, Stockholm, Sweden

Disclaimer

The information in this book is based on the author's knowledge, experience, and opinions. The approaches and methods described in this book are not intended to be a definitive set of instructions. You may discover other methods and materials to accomplish the same end result. Your results may differ.

Copyright © 2023 Mike Schwarzer

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

For more information contact: mike@mikeschwarzer.com.

Book cover design by book_maker1 on Fiverr

Book cover graphic by LoganArt on Pixabay

www.mikeschwarzer.com

Contents

How to get most from this book!

Introduction

So, what is wrong with this paradigm?

Focusing on the NATURE of things!

Doing the Right things!

Wisdom is real time, here and now!

Yeti Wisdom Metaphor

What’s in it for you?

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities!

What this book will cover

PART 1: FOUNDATION

THE SPACE FOR PRESENCE OF MIND, INSIGHT, AND INFLUENCE!

Chapter 1. The journey, how did we get here?

Did you deliver the package or did the package deliver you?

Good leaders help people to grow … period!

The key to the kingdom!

Transitioning from a Mastery Model to an Insight Model

What if you have found the TERRITORY?

A higher-level eco-system of consciousness

Maneuvering life through the ego mind

Navigating life through the deeper mind

Capacity for Insight – Your Ultimate Leverage Point

Chapter 2. The Foundation of Inside-Out Leadership

What is Inside-Out Leadership

A New Way of Thinking about Leadership

The Inside-Out Understanding

The Path of Least Resistance

Intention versus Attention

The 3 Principles

The Domain of Living Adaptive Systems

Inside-Out Distinctions

Your Organisation – A Living ‘Adaptive’ System

Chapter 3. Why Inside-Out Leadership?

Little Mind does not have an Innate ‘Bullsh*t’ Detector!

Divine Intervention to the rescue … stepping beyond the realm of the ego mind!

A Question of Integrity and Ecology

Little Mind’s other Important Role

Chapter 4. Who do You Choose to Be for this Time?

Chapter 5. The Path of the Soul

People are not broken; they work perfectly well!

As leaders and facilitators of change …

3 paths that guide our beingness in the world

The path of the soul is our natural state … it’s our default setting

But something happens when we walk the path of the soul

What OFF moments will tell us

So, what about the ON moments?

Learning with Curiosity, Playfulness and Knowing Nothing

When the soul does the heavy lifting

Where did the insight come from?

How do we know when we are online?

The Orientation of the Inside-Out Leader

How can we observe this intelligence at work?

Thought-created world

Wisdom-created world

The Raft & the Roller Coaster Metaphor

Chapter 6. Look at what is doing the creating, not what is created!

What is doing the creating versus What is created

PART 2: IMPLICATION

SEEING AND SOLVING COMPLEX PROBLEMS THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR DEEPER MIND

Chapter 7. Complexity through the eyes of the deeper mind!

Expanding perception

Opening the door for insight to emerge

The extended Iceberg Model showing the Deeper Mind

What level of consciousness and intention drives the system?

Chapter 8. Navigating at the level of Mental Models and the Deeper Mind

Mental Models – Intellect

The Web of the Mind Model

Making the Invisible Visible

Seeing more than meets the eye!

A word of caution

Learning and seeing the map, gives us leverage

Conceptual versus embodied understanding

Deeper Mind – Universal Intelligence

The Deeper Mind - Web of Mind Model

The Biggest Little Farm

Three dots aligned

Chapter 9. Implication followed by Application in Action

Seeing with fresh eyes

Living systems don’t always follow the rules of the rational mind

What I learned about systems from my chiropractor

Natural Range of Movement

Study of Wellness versus the Study of Disease

Our role as Inside-Out Leaders

Matching and mismatching count in leading and coaching change

Chapter 10. Being a Creative Force

Are you advancing or oscillating?

How does structural tension work?

What’s a rubber band got to do with anything?

Becoming a creative force

Advancing versus Oscillating – Implication versus Application

Structural tension is a perpetual process

Conception – Assimilation – Completion

Creative versus reactive-responsive orientation

Chapter 11. Building better lives, better organisations, and a better world

Missed Opportunity – The New Manager

A serious case of ‘bullsh*t’

What I saw from the top of my hill

PART 3: IMPACT

A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT - THE ART & SKILL OF INSIGHT-OUT LEADERSHIP

Chapter 12. Being more effective and impactful in the world

The secret is in what you SEE

How can we be more effective and impactful in the world?

Listen to life beyond what you already know!

Emerging Insights, Implications and Transformational Change

Higher Vantage Point and Leverage – ‘Insight-Implication-Transformation’ Process

3 Levels of Inside-Out Leadership Transformation

Focus on grounding and implication

Germ Theory: from Insight to Implication to Transformation

Hanging out in the space and appreciation of ‘nothingness’

Our natural state and self-correcting system

Snow Dome Metaphor

Selling from a space of nothingness

Chapter 13. The Premise of the Art and Skill of Inside-Out Leadership

The Captain and the Ocean Metaphor

Rising above and transcending what we see as problems

Navigating VUCA from the Inside-Out Perspective!

Words have no meaning

A different question when we see VUCA with inside-out eyes

Countering VUCA with Vision, Understanding, Clarity and Agility

Foresight, Insight, Clarity, and Flexibility

The rock, the playdough, and the boundless space

The four pillars as a function of our Deeper Mind

Wise words from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Slow down, to speed up

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities – Revisited

Chapter 14. The Art and Skill - Grounding & Impact

The power of deep listening

Moving beyond technical leadership

Where does your energy flow?

Mind Tachometer Metaphor

As a transformation leader, what is your intention?

Vantage Point Exercise: What’s your highest WHY?

When you see the world with clearer perception

Be mindful of what you think and wish for

The Chef and the General Manager

Expanding your perceptual bandwidth

Vantage Point Exercise: Seeing Things Others Don’t’ See

Seeing the genius in your people

Rock solid confidence in your people’s capacity for insight

The role of seeing the genius in your people and in each other

How to look beyond external characteristics

The genius in me recognises the genius in you

Vantage Point Exercise: Unleashing universal genius

Creating the space for quiet conversation and insight

Be aware of the matrix

We need all perspectives, not just a few

The role of the wise leader

Listening deeply and pointing awareness

Holding the space for each other

Why hold the space, listen deeply, and point awareness?

A vantage point of clarity and wisdom

Vantage Point Exercise: Creating the space for insightful conversations

Chapter 15. Building wise, fluid, and human-centric entities

Transforming into a wise, fluid, and human-centric organisation

Pointing your attention toward the deeper nature of the system

The Invisible Threads: Understanding the organisational genetic code

Naturally emerging culture: collaboration, experimentation, and learning

Your Business, A Living ‘Adaptive’ System

What does a wise and fluid organisation look like?

The Model: Your Business, A Living ‘Adaptive’ System

Vantage Point Exercise: Wise and fluid mind, wise and fluid organisation

(Part 1 – The Wisdom of the Ecosystem)

(Part 2 – Universal Wisdom Alignment)

Learning Opportunity: Creating Possibilities – Final Revision

Epilogue: Beyond the Bullsh*t of Complexity: A Wise Leader’s Vantage Point for Clarity!

Acknowledgements

About the Author

References

How to get the most from this book!

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink, nor can you make it SEE the water! Mike Schwarzer

Welcome to VANTAGE POINT, a book about leadership guided by a higher ground of clarity, wisdom, and insight.

It explores a fresh new way of thinking about leadership that will allow you to ‘cut through the bullsh*t’ of today’s complex, disruptive, and turbulent world and focus your energies on the things that count.

This book will expand your perceptual possibilities and allow you to see the world and its complex problems with new eyes. You will see things that you have never seen before!

It will give you the means to Think Less, See Clearer, and Lead Wiser!

What it is pointing to underpins everything you are and everything you do as a leader and as a human being.

Depending on the depth of your understanding, it has the potential to profoundly change the quality of your life, the way you think and do things, and your impact on the lives of others in meaningful and enriching ways.

A word of caution: The direction I am pointing you in may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those of us accustomed to reading, comprehending, and making intellectual sense of things, and drawing comparisons to what we think we already know and currently understand.

If you prefer to stick with what you already know and are content with the status quo, this book may not resonate with you, and that's perfectly fine.

However, …

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into awareness. Lao Tzu

As you embark on this journey, I want to direct your attention beyond the surface-level words and content.

While you may find the information interesting, useful, or entertaining, the true essence lies not in the words themselves but in the direction they point.

As Alexandra Trenfor famously said, they guide you to where to look, but not what to see!

What I'm presenting in the book is not a conventional subject, nor one typically appreciated solely on an intellectual level in written form. It often finds expression through stories, metaphors, analogies, and thought-provoking questions.

In many ways, it reveals itself in moments when we're not actively seeking it. It is in these unassuming moments that what we seek becomes apparent, hidden in the very spaces between the letters and words.

Ultimately, my goal is to challenge you to look beyond the surface and discover the profound messages tucked away within.

Therefore, read it, as best as you can, with nothing on your mind.

I encourage you to approach this book with an open mind and without preconceptions. Don't get lost in the words or try to intellectually decipher everything. Instead, focus on grasping the essence.

This is not an academic or instructional book; it's about tuning into a deeper common sense.

With that in mind, I invite you to explore the concepts I present and put them to the test for yourself.

All you need to do is be present and open to whatever thoughts arise in your mind.

You may hear some noise from mental interference come and go … just stay engaged in the process, stay in the game.

As the opening quote and its implied metaphor suggests, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink nor see the water.

Implication versus Application

Metaphorically, this book is less about drinking the water (the application) and more about pointing you to the water and its fundamental nature (the implication).

Once you truly see the water, you'll instinctively know what to do with it.

There is not always something to do, but there is always something fresh to be seen! Michael Neill

The aim of the game is to take you beyond the limitation of intellectual and mechanistic thinking and beyond what you already know. Where you can see the world and the way you operate with fresh eyes, experience deep insights, and have profound shifts in your understanding of how life and the human experience works.

It's worth mentioning that I've had insights after revisiting something multiple times.

Therefore, I encourage you to read this book, or specific sections, more than once.

As you can see in the content pages, I have broken down each chapter with subheadings as reference markers, to make it easier for you to navigate back to the areas of interest to you.

If reading an entire book is not your preferred approach, pick the headings that speak to you and explore from there.

At times, I will reiterate some of the key messages across several chapters. Partially in the context of what is being discussed. But also, as an opportunity to see a little deeper in where the words are pointing.

Furthermore, I have included signposts at various chapter sections that link forward to other chapters exploring related topics in greater depth.

There's no need to jump ahead and then backtrack. Simply read on, knowing that there is more to come.

Enjoy your journey through VANTAGE POINT, and may it provide you with the insights and wisdom you seek.

Introduction

The world has changed Mrs Jones. If we play by old rules, we lose new battles! Quote from the Alex Rider TV Series, Prime Video

The world is changing ... okay, that is nothing new. But climate change, global health threats, the constant risk of war, technological advancements, and the resulting social, political, and economic disruptions are occurring at an unprecedented pace.

These factors significantly impact the ability of leaders, organisations, institutions, and communities to keep up with their operating environments.

The global pandemic, the rise of digitisation, and artificial intelligence have revealed our vulnerabilities and our limited capacity to respond and adapt to the uncertainties and complexities we face.

Many of our organisational structures, thought processes, and ways of operating still rely on linear, mechanical, and hierarchical thinking, often referred to as the Newtonian or 'cause and effect' paradigm.

While this approach may have served us well in the past, it is no longer sufficient in the face of rapid change. As the above quote says, "... If we play by old rules, we lose new battles!"

So, what is wrong with this paradigm?

Paradigms are useful for making sense of the world … but not to be confused as absolute truth! Mike Schwarzer

In his book ‘One From Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organisation’ (2005), Dee Hock, the founder and first CEO of VISA, …

… recognised that our relentless pursuit of command and control, coupled with our inability to process the increasing volume, speed, and complexity of information from a rigid mindset, threatens not only our ability to sustain businesses and livelihoods but also humanity's very existence as we know it.

As Hock points out, in bygone centuries, the world moved much slower.

The speed and volume of data (collection of raw and unorganised facts) and information (facts that are organised and put into a context) that societies and their ‘powers that be’ were exposed to was significantly less than today.

Hock categorises data and information as lower cognitive forms.

This slower pace allowed people the time to digest and process the data and information they encountered. Gradually, they would transform it into knowledge by integrating it with other information.

They would then develop an understanding of that knowledge in relation to other knowledge. Ultimately, they would gain deeper insight or wisdom about that understanding.

Hock categorizes knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as higher cognitive forms.

In other words, people in the past had a thorough understanding of what they knew because they had the luxury of time to acquire this understanding, and, more importantly, wisdom.

As the following description illustrates, the fundamental characteristics of the opposite ends of the spectrum¹ are starkly different: