Who doesn’t want a brighter future?
How can we co-create one now?
Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t want a brighter future? Sadly, though, these futures can often feel wistful, distant ideas, beyond our reach, shaped by and belonging to others more than us.
We believe that this does not need to be true. We believe that bright futures are available to all of us right now if we are open to them.
The way we see the world, what we focus on, depends on the way we see problems and opportunities.
As humans we have agency in what we create, design, build, do, don’t do, and in the way we are with others.
As humans we have so much energy, motivation, capacity. We can also change the way we see and understand.
Our futures may not even be bright. They might be Bold. Easier. More colourful. Resonant. Tangible. Compelling. Disruptive. Challenging. Collective. Beautiful.
Whatever it may be, we can harness so much power from people. We can shape it now.
How do we see the world?
As humans, we are collectively making a world that we do not want. In our workplaces, in our lives, and in what our governments do and don’t do.
The core challenge is one of our imagination - what if we could step outside of ways of being and working, and see alternatives?
The way we see our problems, opportunities, systems is our choice. That choice matters.
We can stop telling and persuading people to change because this doesn’t work well. Instead we can motivate and energise around what we want to create and see in our world.
With the right guidance, we can improve our collective sense making, and unleash our potential.
We can accept and harness that change happens at the speed of trust.
These ideas shaping who we are, and are reshaping the way we can see and understand the world. Here is more information on their origins and pioneers.
We work with individuals and teams, companies, government, and NGOs
Trust and understanding are fundamental. Between people, teams, groups, partnerships. Between people, purpose, work, processes, strategy.
When trust and understanding isn’t there, we have intractable problems, with tools that don’t quite cut it.
When we build trust and understanding, we have opportunities, pathways forward that people believe in.
We lift the sense of what’s possible, discover new ways of working, create change that people believe in, and that sticks.
Individuals and Teams
We offer coaching, advice, guidance, wisdom.
Trust and understanding are the gateways to success in anything. Just think about what happens, and what kind of problems we get when these are absent.
And what kind of opportunities are there when trust and understanding is growing.
We help you get unstuck, and generate momentum. We help you to see new ways of seeing and understanding what’s in front of you, what’s possible.
And from there, new approaches and solutions emerge.
Companies
We can do better than ‘try harder’ with project management, change management and transformation.
We can explore the relationship fabric and challenge the deep code of the organisation to unlock new ways of working that are meaningful, and that people can believe in.
If people are our greatest asset, how do we access them and what they have to offer?
How can we can find the energy and motivation for change? how can we harness this for innovation, new ways of working, and real change?
Government & NGOs
Often these organisations know the complexity and long term view. But are not the decision makers (that’s communities, elected officials) and have to adapt to changing circumstances outside of their control (funding, priorities, emerging needs….).
How can we lift the way we understand what’s happening, visualise the more opaque parts of our systems, so that we can be more honest in how they operate?
How can we re-imagine what’s possible with more participants joining in?
How can be steward our systems to harness the power of all those involved, and increase participation?
How do we work?
We listen. To you, to what’s really happening, what’s driving the agenda.
We reflect back what we’re hearing. This can be challenging, provocative even. But surfaces the relationship fabric and underlying beliefs that are shaping the agenda.
We surface new ways of understanding the world, generate new possibilities, and connect with the motivations of people.
We give you what you need whether that’s a report, project management, strategic collaboration, visualisations to support change… Whatever is use
We provide strategy development - innovation & improvement - engagement - coaching & mentoring - change management - leadership development - investment approaches - portfolio management
Our value is in people doing better work, more often, solving problems in ways that make sense, with trusting relationships. You might measure this as improvement, new approaches, implementing change, benefits realisation, engagement, efficiency, effectiveness, productivity
Who are we?
Rob Cousins
Rob has spend his adult life seeing the best in people, and finding ways for this to come to life, whether as individuals or collectively.
Finding ways forward when stuck. Having a bigger vision for yourself, or what your doing. Exploring pathways forward with confidence. Bringing people together to act in concert.
Trained in psychology, Rob has worked in many sectors, including finance, government, health & wellbeing, health & safety, and outdoor adventure sports.
Rob is in love with what’s possible, and an absolute believer in people.
Collaborators
So many people want to do good in the world, and are connecting to work on projects that matter, in ways that make our world better.
We won’t trail-blaze our brighter futures alone. Brighter Futures Now is a collection of like-minded collaborators. Here are some of them.
Encouraging dialogue that helps build our collective wisdom, improve our information diet, and build our sense of what’s possible with each other.
The amazing Freda Wells curates this incredible contribution to lifting our sense of what is possible amongst us.
Goodlife Collective
Open Change
Exploring what’s possible when the focus in on empowering people, Open Change is bringing the power of better conversations to leaders, workplaces, teams, and anyone who wants more from what we do.
Nonsuch Consulting
It’s nice to find a consulting company going for a radically different view. Nonsuch is looking to make infrastructure planning about what people and communities need, which radically changes the way we think about it, plan for it, and involve people in what that is about.
Our Clients
We have worked with the private sector, central and local government, as well as NGOs and the charity sector.
Let’s bring your brighter future closer to you, now.
Not sure where to start? We’re here to help.
Everyone’s path is unique, and circumstances different. Reach out with any questions, thoughts, ideas and provocations.
We’d love to hear from you.