Indirect Work: A Regenerative Change Theory for Businesses, Communities, Institutions and Humans

Do you want to be a more effective change agent in some area of life, and are you willing to explore and experiment with a different theory of change to test it for yourself? If so, I highly recommend Indirect Work!Carol Sanford uses interesting real life examples to illuminate the theory of change concepts she presents in this book. She also invites, even challenges, the reader to engage deeply with the content in a very practical way by pausing to reflect and do the short developmental exercises offered between chapters.Consciously working through the exercises as I progress through Indirect Work is shifting my patterns of thought. My mind is opening to new perspectives as I discover my own best (frequently surprising) answers, and I am seeing potential and options I was previously blind to. I am feeling more relaxed and confident. I'm not sure why. I am making subtle spontaneous choices that are transforming the quality of my relationships and day to day life in deeply meaningful ways. I suspect I will be using this book as an ongoing resource for a long time!

We believe our ability to make a little difference is limited. But what if you could change the world for the better by re-conceiving what you do?I’ve previously recommended Carol Sanford’s book, THE REGENERATIVE LIFE.Her new book, Indirect Work, offers up clear and practical approaches to test any change theories you have before you start or to examine what you do now.This book is designed to disrupt you and give you a way to engage in deep reflection. If all goes well, you will start to question a few things. There is a great need for improvements not in parts but instead for shifts in whole systems.The old way of cutting problems into parts, improving them in isolation, will no longer suffice. If we work inside whole systems, beneficial change will be the cascade.As Indirect Work tells us"“Once you are grounded in a living systems reality, you make different choices, not only about the way you work but also about what you choose to work on.”Read and share Carols new book Indirect Work!

There is a lot of discussion about transitions: "Transitioning away from Fossil Fuel", "Transitioning to Net Zero", "Transitioning to Renewable Energy", "Transitioning to a more healthy and just food system". Yet, despite the genuine desire for change, there seems to be an acceleration away from the positive changes being pursued and an increase in what isn’t wanted. I believe that we are at a critical moment where we have an opportunity, a need, and a genuine desire for Transformation (not simply transition). After reading this book I have started to see more clearly why this is occurring and have been so uplifted through learning a more effective way. This book offers the most powerful and coherent Change Theory I’ve ever experienced, along with practical insights that I’ve been able to apply in my life, family, business, and beyond. I think this is a must read for anyone seeking to make a difference in the world and build the capabilities required to do so in a more meaningful way.

I enjoyed this book and its way of showing a road to a different leadership role. The idea of hidden variables as the explanation model for reasons for higher levels of living (or basket ball playing) is helpful. And the exploration of these hidden variables are both interesting and reasonably straight forward to apply.After having read the book I pay attention in a different way to what is going on and how I can contribute indirectly and invisibly - but felt. I believe that these ideas have made me more effective in service to the greater good.I am happy with the time I spent in the company with this book.

This book brings together all of Carol's past works, notably the Regenerative Life. This is a deeper dive into Carol's thinking about what is necessary for humanity to reach its most total capacity. The more we understand that we are part of the living ecology on this planet, the greater possibility we will survive as a connected human community in synergy with all life. Carol presents a simple way of understanding how we can actualize our human potential. The use of the "Intermezzos" helps to explore the content of each chapter and gives the reader the time to reflect on how they can find their meaning within their work and lives outside of work. I highly recommend Carol's Indirect Work.

The future of real systems change is INDIRECT.Transforming society, culture, the global economy, and humanity's impact on the planet cannot be achieved by "scaling good ideas" or "replicating best practices" – it requires a higher-order technology of design and action.This book offers a crystal-clear image of that technology, with lucid storytelling and disruptive provocations that will literally re-generate the way you think.Don't read this book if you're satisfied with the way things are in the world. But if you really do want to make meaningful and lasting change, this book will shift how you see yourself and the systems you are working to transform.

I find myself blown away this morning as I read Carol Sanford's new book, Indirect Work. The chapters on Culture and Consciousness give voice and in some ways, permission to embrace, an approach to leadership that I practiced and often defended, imperfectly, as I grew my first non-profit, Entreamigos, into being.Although I have never met Carol, I admire her tenacity to present and defend these ideas that we can choose to approach our work, our life and our relationships from an entirely whole systems approach. I sometimes feel like we have to compromise, or bridge, or to use an education term - to scaffold. I still believe that we do, but we couldn't evolve our ways of being and working if we didn't have a vision of what could be possible and for this I am wholeheartedly grateful for Carol's leadership.

Carol incentives the reader to analyze the content she writes and build our own way to be regenerative. Much more powerful than just give ideas for other to repeat.

Indirect Work is not only a fascinating and enjoyable read, Sanford has also designed it masterfully to offer an opportunity to develop some of the very capabilities that her theory of change requires of us. If you say you want to affect regenerative change, and if you're willing to do the work, Indirect Work is a great resource. I would argue that it describes one of few change theories out there that can actually take us beyond good intentions (which as most of us have experienced, often lead to degenerative outcomes).

As a coach, I strive to find tools that enable my clients to evolve from within. This book is a personal development companion which has been written not to be read to knowledge but to be reflected along with. Evolving our own thinking, growing a new mind is really what is needed at this point in history. Highly recommend it.

Un libro realmente poderoso que, si realizas el trabajo que te pide -y es imprescindible hacerlo-, te devuelve con creces. Una oportunidad real de transformar la manera en la que piensas y operas en el mundo, adaptada verdaderamente a la naturaleza de los retos que enfrentamos. Habrá un antes y un después en el movimiento de la cultura regenerativa tras Indirect Work, ya que su poder educativo hacia el diseño y la acción consciente es inmenso. Un imprescindible de Carol Sanford, siempre llena de experiencia testada en organizaciones de máximo nivel y sabiduría eterna. Carol se eleva ya al máximo nivel de guía, curiosamente, dándonos a cada uno de nosotros con humildad y rigor la llave para ser nuestros propios guías.

Very well written, thorough and well designed. I really enjoyed reading and regularly challenging myself to do the developmental exercises, called Intermezzos. I am using the book as a way to resource my own development; to inspire me and to disrupt me, in a helpful way. Reading this book helped me to ignite my growing enthusiasm and commitment to giving this 'Indirect Work' approach a really good go in my life. Lot's of exciting work and discovery ahead. Thanks Carol Sanford and Ben Haggard. Enjoy.