Workshop Overview:

In this gentle yet engaging workshop, I will deliver a 30-minute comedy show based on real-life stories of people and organizational transformation in Japan. As an organizational development consultant, I have found that textbook approaches or ideal case studies rarely succeed in practice. Instead, meaningful transformation often begins when we let go of preconceptions, abandon rigid frameworks, and embrace a perspective that reveals the humorous and paradoxical realities of organizational life.

Using a storytelling style infused with comedy, I will share three unique cases from Japan:

1. A long-standing Japanese corporate giant.
2. A small, rural enterprise striving for relevance.
3. A dynamic global media startup.

These stories will highlight the absurdities and paradoxes that shape organizations and their members. This light-hearted exploration invites participants to reflect on the paradoxes they encounter in their own environments and how reframing and connecting these contradictions creatively can spark transformation.

Following the comedy session, participants will engage in a 30-minute World Cafe discussion to reflect, explore, and share insights:

1. Comedy Reflection (5 minutes): Share initial thoughts and reactions to the stories.
2. Discussion Round 1 (7 minutes): Identify paradoxes in your workplace, organization, or with your clients. How might these paradoxes hold potential for transformation?
3. Seat Change (3 minutes): Transition to new groups for fresh perspectives.
4. Discussion Round 2 (7 minutes): Explore how reframing paradoxes could inspire change and identify resources for transformation.
5. Group Sharing (8 minutes): Share key takeaways and emerging themes with the larger group.

Through laughter, connection, and shared insights, this workshop aims to provide participants with a fresh perspective on the complexities of organizational life and equip them with new approaches for navigating their own paradoxes.

Why This Workshop?

This workshop embodies the theme of “Finding Wholeness for an Integral Age” by illustrating how meaningful transformation begins when we focus on the inherent wholeness of people, teams, and organizations. My experience as an organizational consultant has shown that true change doesn’t come from external solutions, idealized best practices, or pre-designed plans. Instead, it emerges from uncovering the paradoxes and overlooked resources already present within the individuals and systems themselves.

Transformation often requires unlearning—letting go of rigid frameworks and “correct” thinking—to observe the paradoxical dynamics of human behavior and organizational life with fresh eyes. By embracing the humor in these paradoxes, we can uncover hidden potentials and connect seemingly unrelated contexts to create new possibilities. For example, a leader might display radically different personas at work and at home, or a team’s energy might shift dramatically between discussions on work and personal matters like dieting. These contradictions, when viewed holistically, reveal the resources and pathways for genuine growth.

Through this workshop’s unique combination of comedy and dialogue, participants will not only laugh at the absurdities of organizational life but also reflect on how recognizing and embracing paradoxes in their own environments can lead to greater wholeness and transformation. This process is not about seeking answers externally but about rediscovering what has been within all along. By focusing on wholeness with curiosity and humor, we can unlock the hidden potential already present in our teams and ourselves.