Rising tide

15/3/2025

‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’ (John F. Kennedy)

It has been an intense career journey for me. A background in counselling and community development that evolved into coaching and organisation development grew from a natural interest in nature, people and societies; particularly in addressing those things that enhance or inhibit quality of life. My first forays were in animal rights then later evolved into human rights. My early awareness, convictions and actions in these fields were galvanised firstly by living in fear of local school bullies, then of a psychopathic head teacher.

I noticed parallels in what goes on within and between people, and what goes on within and between groups. I also noticed an interplay between individual attitudes and behaviours and those supported by broader social systems. At age 11, for instance, I remember vividly walking home from school, reflecting critically on how a teacher could cane a child within the school without any redress… and yet if they were do that once that same child had left the school grounds, they would be arrested and prosecuted for assault.

This led me to believe that pathology exists not just in individuals but in systems too, systems that create or collude with the darker sides of humanity. As a teenager, I was drawn to study the horrors of the Nazis and the interplay between Hitler, das Volk and the circumstances that led to their catastrophic rise. An encounter with Jesus helped me to reflect more deeply, to see that this dynamic can work both ways. We can equally create the conditions in a person, a system, a society, that nurture and bring out the best.

So, this has been my goal in coaching and organisation development and, more broadly, my work with and for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people and communities in the world. Akin to self-determination theory, how to support the growth of individual spirituality, values and agency in the face of all kinds of challenges whilst, at the same time, to nurture the conditions in which people are most likely to thrive. A rising tide is good, so long as the sea is clean and healthy – and not polluted by deadly toxins.

16 Comments

Marigold Stephenson

15/3/2025 08:42:42 pm

Wow Nick, what a powerful journey you’ve had! Your passion for justice and helping people really shines through. I love how you connect personal experience to bigger societal patterns. Keep shining your light!

Nick Wright

9/4/2025 01:04:06 pm

Hi Marigold. Thank you for encouraging feedback! Jesus is my life and my inspiration.

Clive Renshaw

15/3/2025 08:47:44 pm

Not sure I buy into this "rising tide" idea. Some boats are too broken to float and some folks don’t even have a boat. Interesting read, though.

9/4/2025 02:46:11 pm

Thanks Clive. 'Some boats are too broken to float and some folks don’t even have a boat.' I agree. On that theme, this short related piece may be of interest? https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/context

Dr Percival Lane

15/3/2025 08:53:59 pm

Nick, your observations on systemic pathology align with Michel Foucault’s critiques of power structures and social discipline. The interplay between individual agency and institutional forces is a fascinating paradox.

Your reflections also highlight a critical and often overlooked reality: the structures that govern human behaviour are not inherently neutral. They can be nurturing or destructive, depending on the values and mechanisms that sustain them. Your reference to systemic pathology reminds me of Hannah Arendt’s exploration of the ‘banality of evil.’ The challenge, of course, lies in how we shift from recognizing these patterns to actively transforming them.

Your work seems to sit right at that intersection: fascinating and important. I do appreciate the nuance in your reflections, especially the way you link spiritual growth to social transformation.

9/4/2025 02:49:30 pm

Hi Percival. Thank you for sharing such interesting and helpful reflections and for sharing references to additional research and resources. Thank you for your encouragement too! Much appreciated.

Gus McAllister

15/3/2025 08:58:03 pm

Hey Nick. I came in expecting a blog about sailing and instead I got a deep dive into psychology, social justice and a cameo from Jesus. Didn’t see that coming! But hey, I respect the message, fixing broken systems isn’t for the faint-hearted. Hope you’ve got a good crew because that’s one choppy sea.

9/4/2025 02:50:02 pm

Thanks Gus. You made me smile! :)

Samuel Nwosu

15/3/2025 09:05:33 pm

Hi Nick. Your article here sits well with the evolution of OD thinking, particularly in the context of transformational leadership and human-centred design in organisations. Your insight on the interplay between individual behaviours and systemic structures reminds me of Ron Heifetz’s work on adaptive leadership, where real change happens not just by addressing surface-level challenges but by shifting the underlying systems that shape them.

In my own coaching practice, we often draw from Kegan & Lahey’s (Immunity to Change) framework, recognising that people and organisations resist transformation not because they lack motivation, but because of hidden, competing commitments shaped by past experiences and systemic influences. Your journey from personal reflection on authority and justice to broader organisational and social change embodies the shift we seek in OD: moving from reactive to generative, from compliance-driven to purpose-led. JFK's analogy of the rising tide is powerful. It reminds me of the work of Margaret Wheatley (Leadership and the New Science), who emphasises that systems are living entities, constantly evolving.

If we truly want to lift all boats, we must consider not only the water’s movement but also who controls the currents. Looking forward to more of your insights!

9/4/2025 02:52:52 pm

Hi Samuel. Thank you for your encouraging feedback and for sharing such thoughtful reflections. I hadn't looked at Immunity to Change or Leadership and the New Science for a while. You have prompted me to revisit them.

Eris Donovan

15/3/2025 09:13:11 pm

Hi Nick. You talk about creating conditions where people thrive, but what about the reality that some systems are designed to suppress certain groups? You mention self-determination, but isn’t that a privilege not everyone can access? I appreciate your optimism but I’d love to see more on how you address these deeper inequalities.

9/4/2025 03:00:24 pm

Hi Eris. Thank you for posing those interesting and important challenges. I agree that some systems have the effect of suppressing or oppressing specific individuals or groups - whether by default or design. How to challenge and change such systems can be complex, demanding and risky. I have attempted it through political activism, human rights work and community development. I've learned through painful experience that such systems and those whose interests they serve can push back hard. I'm increasingly convinced they can only be changed by prayer, a willingness to endure personal sacrifice and concerted efforts in alliance with others.

Tasha-Elise Carter

15/3/2025 09:17:36 pm

Thanks for sharing this Nick. Reading it made me think of my own childhood. I had a teacher who used humiliation as a weapon and I remember realizing, much like you did, how unfair and twisted the system was. Your story gives me hope that people like you are working to change these things. Thank you for what you do.

9/4/2025 03:05:21 pm

Hi Tasha-Elise. I'm sorry you had those experiences at school too. I realise how very small my own voice is in the face of such macro-issues - but I still believe it's better to speak than to stay silent...even if sometimes only through the words of a blog.

Dr. Evelyn Hartmann

15/3/2025 09:28:07 pm

Nick, your reflections align closely with my own research on systemic pathology and social determinants of behavior. Scholars like Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline) have long highlighted how systems shape and reinforce individual actions, sometimes in ways that perpetuate dysfunction. Similarly, the field of organizational psychology recognizes the profound impact of institutional culture on individual agency. Edgar Schein’s work on organizational culture and leadership underscores how deeply embedded norms can either suppress or enable human potential. Your emphasis on self-determination echoes the work of Deci and Ryan (Self-Determination Theory), particularly their focus on autonomy, competence and relatedness as drivers of well-being and motivation. However, as you rightly point out, a rising tide only lifts all boats if the waters are unpolluted. This calls for a more nuanced view of leadership and OD, one that acknowledges power structures, implicit biases and the ethical responsibility of those shaping organizational and societal systems. A fascinating and important discussion.

9/4/2025 03:08:05 pm

Thanks Evelyn. Wow - Edgar Schein and Peter Senge. Definitely a blast from the past. Schein was my first 'guru' in the field of Organisation Development - especially Process Consultation (Vol 1) and his work on culture and leadership. Thank you for reminding me of such important thought leaders in this field.

Rising tide

Leave a Reply.

Nick Wright

Archives

Categories

Rising tide

Leave a Reply.

​Nick Wright

​Archives

Categories

Nick Wright

Archives