Wellbeing Bootcamp

Systems change work involves much more than can be conveyed in a short online bootcamp. Need help navigating all the nuances and complexities as you seek to change your system? We’d be happy to talk.

1. Commit to seeing the world in a full frame

   If you take away one thing from the Bootcamp, we hope it’s that when you start with people, you get new possibilities. Systems change is about far more than identifying problems and creating programs. So in your change efforts, commit to:

   • Truly getting to know people by centering community in your work
   • Examining your assumptions and mental models
   • Seeing how culture, structures, policies and practices may be holding problems in place

2. Design your approach to transformation

   Transformation is a journey and doesn’t happen overnight. We recommend starting by identifying current pain points and/or change efforts that are already underway. Then, when you’re already revamping structures or processes, you can use the five domains of wellbeing and tradeoffs analysis as approaches to help you deliver better outcomes for the change effort you’re already working on — this will make wellbeing feel integrated into the work and build buy-in. Ultimately, by demonstrating success in a first initiative, you’ll create momentum and build toward larger transformation.

3. Choose a place to begin

   So where do you start? Identify an opportunity with the potential for big ripple effects, such as a key pain point that many people deeply want to change; an area facing significant external pressure or accountability for change; or a structure or process that is a top strategic priority for the organization.

4. Integrate a wellbeing orientation into your change effort

   Once you’ve identified a change effort to focus on, use the ideas from the Bootcamp to guide your work, such as:

   • Challenge narratives of deviance and difference that drive us apart and hold problems in place. Ask questions like: Whose perspective is missing? Are we making any assumptions? How would the end result change if we shifted our initial assumptions?
   • Take an asset-based, community-centered approach that ensures the people most impacted by the issues are driving the conversation about needs, solutions, and change.
   • Find others who are hungry for change and partner with them. Not sure where to start? We’ve got a free community you can join.
   • Share stories and examples of how others approached a similar problem.
   • Remind your team that change is only worth it to people, and is only durable, when it doesn’t deeply undermine our wellbeing.

5. Still need help?

   We hope this Bootcamp has been a great way to jumpstart your systems change efforts! If you’re looking for assistance moving your efforts forward, drop us a line and we’d love to explore how FFI might be able to help.