Theory U: More Important Than Ever in These Times
In a world where certainty is becoming a luxury and the unexpected is knocking at every door, the way we lead, relate, and create needs a radical shift. We no longer have the luxury of simply fixing symptoms or controlling outcomes—we’re being asked to transform. And that’s why Theory U is more relevant now than ever.
For me, Theory U is more than a methodology or a leadership tool. It’s a way of being. A living, breathing compass in moments where maps fail us—where complexity, polarity, or simply “not knowing” is part of the terrain. It came into my life at the perfect time, when other theories were no longer sufficient for the puzzles I was encountering. It met me where I was and offered a path forward. And it keeps doing that.
Theory U, developed by Otto Scharmer and his colleagues at the Presencing Institute, is often described as a process for profound innovation and change. But at its core, it’s about reconnecting with what wants to emerge. It invites us into deeper listening—to ourselves, to each other, and to the systems we’re part of. In my experience, it turns a group into a field, a conversation into a presence, and an issue into an invitation.
When I use Theory U with clients—be it during a cultural merger, a leadership crisis, or a project involving systemic transformation—I often introduce it as a dialogue processor. Like an "intel chip inside," the U becomes our shared internal architecture for sensing into what’s next. And something extraordinary happens when we drop the need to fix and instead create space for what wants to unfold.
Even cynicism transforms. It reveals itself as wounded idealism, and from that place, real conversations start to flow.
Examples that Keep Me Inspired:
Teams navigating grief after being disbanded or outsourced, finding closure and empowerment by simply staying with the discomfort and letting something new emerge.
Leaders who suddenly drop out of their roles, not due to failure but due to a calling they couldn’t ignore—finding their way back through observing, sensing, and prototyping a new path.
Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and educators who step into shared learning communities to explore what leading from presence really means—not just for themselves but for their entire field.
And always, always, there is the moment where something shifts. A collective “though” arises. Not thought. Not feeling. Something deeper. As if the soul of the system is given a seat at the table.
Theory U is one of the three cornerstones in my work. It helps navigate the “WE” space—where shared meaning and collective intelligence reside. The second cornerstone, inspired by Rijnlands organiseren, deepens my understanding of the interdependence between individual behavior and systemic context. And the third cornerstone is deeply personal: a process I call YODTUM—Your Own Door to Unique Manifestation. This is where leaders connect with their essence, confront their fears, and begin to act from their highest truth instead of old survival strategies.
When guilt or shame block progress, Theory U creates a space of compassion and curiosity. A space where people remember: we are not our past behaviors, but our present intentions.
Because these times demand more than coping—they demand transformation. We are “building the bridge while walking on it,” as I often say. And Theory U helps us walk that bridge with grace, courage, and humility.
If you, like me, are sensing that we can’t go back to business as usual, that something deeper wants to come through—whether in your leadership, your community, or your own inner life—then perhaps it’s time to take the U-journey. Not just as a theory, but as a living practice.
I’d love to walk it with you.
Warm regards,
Andrea
About the Author
Lead True Global Leader Andrea Henning’s vision is that when people discover their authenticity and dare to follow their bliss they are happier and more successful in their lives while serving as an inspiration to their communities.
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