A book review by:
Jari Kaivo-oja
Research Director
Ph.D. (Reg.Studies, Reg.Science, Loc.Studies, Env.Pol.)
M.Sc. (Economics, Journalism & Mass Communication)
Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), Turku School of Economics and
Business Administration
Andersson,
Cristina (2005). The Winning Helix. The Art of Learning and Manifesting Your
True Potential. In Collaboration with Collin Hansen. Develor. Finland.
A new clear point of view to the world of proactive
action and learning.
Cristina Andersson´s book the Winning Helix –
the art of learning and manifesting your true potential is a very interesting
piece of work with a large number of dimensions. For a researcher of the future
an essential dimension is self-development and learning new things related to
future studies. The proactive model of operation presented consider as well
individuals and societies and learning organizations.
Even though the future researchers have written
much about the importance of proactive operation, a very scarce amount of
theoretical and applied literature exist. The concept of visionary leadership
always contains an idea of proactivity, but in the end proactivity should be
made concrete on the individual level. The theories of individual proactive behaviour have been
quite thin so far. The book written by Cristina Andersson deals mostly with
theory and practice of individual proactivity. In this respect the book gives a
lot of new things to think about also for the researchers of the future.
One of the main questions of the book is: “How
can a person create resources to proactive operation with well founded
motivation?” The answer to this challenging question can be found very
skilfully presented in the book; where together with musician Collin Hansen,
Andersson brings along the important element of dialogue. Along the scientific
development of the future studies a domain of knowledge and research has been
formed; where one has moved step by step from the era of separate oracles
towards the era of extensive dialogue. In this sense the book has adapted a
very fine and a concrete way to show the importance of dialogue in the
proactive way of operations.
Even at present time one can still bump into
researchers, who discuss mainly with themselves and concentrate on emphasizing
on their own learning process and the results produced by it. This is often
seen in a tragicomic way when a swollen ego of
the researcher quotes himself even in scientific connections. In these
situations the fact that a dialogue is necessary for learning and development
is easily forgotten. Without active dialogue learning can hardly be created,
not to mention the proactive way of operation. Emphasizing the significance of
a coaching-dialogue for the new proactivity is a part of the structure and the
mode of the actualization of the book.
The work of Cristina Andersson can also be seen
as a basic manual for self-management. For the sake of profound psychological
basic understanding this book is good reading for all representatives of the
creative class. The book crystallizes in a new way both the latest knowledge of
learning, leadership and cognitive-psychological literature. It is also
interesting that the book contains a new and exciting evolutional theoretic
approach, which is not applied too strictly but creatively. The pivotal
starting point is the cyclic nature of life and the idea of the S-curve which
is familiar to the researchers of the future.
The beginning of the book concentrates on
defining the foundations of proactive operation, especially willpower.
According to Andersson willpower is composed of both volition and intention.
Willpower can be created either with the help of coaching or through mental
factors. Coaching includes elements like interaction skills, learning skills
and cognitive skills. The mental elements include the willingness to win, the
state of flow and fighting spirit. Andersson concentrates on describing very precisely
the definition of willpower, that is also used within future studies as a basic
definition for strategic leadership.
The central theme of the book is the Winning
Helix -model that combines willpower, mental elements and coachability skills.
Important basic concepts are also winning awareness, mobilizing energy and
dynamic attunement. All these concepts are useful when defining proactive
behaviour.
A synergetic whole produces a synergetic
learning experience.
The structure of the book is a shining example
of how a book can be structured pedagogically to serve learning and self
development. The book contains nothing unnecessary, but on the other hand the
reader doesn’t remain lacking anything special. Every chapter of the book has
it’s own function and thus is suitable to be read in individual chapters; yet
the entirety of the book offers a synergetic whole to the reader.
Part I of the book focuses on defining the
basic concepts of the Winning Helix model and the winning code. Part II the
familiarizes the reader with the Double Helix model, which has the idea to
strengthen the learning process based on action. Part III presents a model how
human and social energy can be mobilized to execute the Double Helix model. In
addition to these parts the book contains an epilogue, bibliography and
definition of the concepts. All parts are carried out with great care, quality
and thought.
As a common conclusion of the offerings of the
book I can state that Cristina Andersson has managed to develop her own general
theory of proactive operation and a new synthesis of many already existing
scientific theories and models. So it’s no wonder that the book has earned a
exceptionally wide international attention and it is being translated into
Spanish.
The book is good and rewarding reading to all
interested in motivational proactive future researchers. After finishing the
book the reader is remains in interested expectation for Cristina Andersson´s
next book.
Turku, Finland; January 14, 2007