From Burning Man to the Boardroom: 5 Insights on Disruption

Author

Charlene Li
September 23, 2024

I had an amazing burn.

This year marked my fourth time at Burning Man, and my third consecutive year. But this time was different—I got to share the experience with my daughter.

People often ask me, "Why do you keep going back to that crazy place?" 😆

The answer lies in the transformative power of Burning Man. It's not just about the art, the music, or the spectacle (though those are incredible). It's about creating a space where judgment is suspended, where we can explore the edges of who we are, and where we can find moments of profound connection and reflection.

Imagine a vast desert expanse, dotted with fantastic art installations, filled with people expressing themselves in myriad ways. It's a place where the usual rules of society are suspended, replaced by ten principles that guide a temporary community of tens of thousands. It’s the ultimate laboratory for innovation.

If it sounds anarchic, it is, in a way. It’s sensory overload for sure—art cars shooting fireworks, immersive installations, constant activity. But there are places of reverence, something approaching religion, that give shape and additional meaning, and the juxtaposition of energy and calm, of expansion and integration, feels vital to the Burning Man experience.

On our first night, my daughter and I ventured out to see the Temple—a sacred space at the heart of Burning Man. We happened to arrive just as it was opening for the first time. As we processed in, surrounded by silence broken only by the clanging of a ceremonial bell, I felt a sense of possibility that I rarely experience in my day-to-day life. In previous years, I'd felt a tremendous sense of loss in that space: Many people put up memorials there or come to name and let go of whatever is on their mind. This time, with my daughter beside me, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and connection. 

One of the things I love the most about Burning Man is that everything there is temporary—even the massive, awe-inspiring Temple will burn at the end of the week. This impermanence encourages creativity, bold experiments, and a willingness to let go. It's liberating to create in an environment where perfection isn't the goal and where the journey matters more than the end result.

As I reflect on my Burning Man experience, I can't help but see parallels to the challenges we face as leaders, particularly as we navigate disruption. The principles that make Burning Man transformative are just as relevant in our organizations as they are on the playa.

Here are five key lessons we can all translate from Burning Man into our leadership:

  1. Embrace the unknown: Create spaces where your team can approach new challenges with openness and curiosity.

  2. Balance chaos and calm: Provide opportunities for both dynamic collaboration and quiet reflection.

  3. Foster psychological safety: Cultivate an environment where people feel safe to express themselves and take risks.

  4. Practice impermanence: Encourage a willingness to let go of what no longer serves your organization's goals.

  5. Integrate experiences: Build in time for your team to process and apply what they've learned from challenges and successes alike.

Burning Man isn't just a festival—it's a mindset. It's about creating a space where we explore, push our edges, and return to ourselves stronger and more aware. As leaders navigating a world of constant change, we could all benefit from cultivating a bit of that Burning Man spirit in our daily lives and our organizations.

So, I challenge you: How can you create a "burn" experience for yourself or your team? It doesn't have to involve desert dust or art cars. It could be a day of radical experimentation, a session of judgment-free creativity, or simply a moment of quiet reflection amidst the chaos.

Remember, the most potent disruptions often start within ourselves. Are you ready to light your own fire?

— Charlene

What I Can’t Stop Talking About: 

  • Improv, AI, and Ariana Grande—All three recognize that a “yes, and" approach is often required. From privacy concerns and healthcare breakthroughs to job shifts and ethical questions, AI presents simultaneous challenges and opportunities. Our job as leaders is to navigate this complex landscape with a "Yes, and" mindset. 

  • The power of your lock screen. How do you keep vacation vibes alive? For me, it's all about my phone's lock screen. RIght now, my screen is a sun-bathed image of Bali's Mt. Batur. It gives me daily micro-doses of wonder and perspective. What's on your lock screen?

  • The art of AI roadmapping. How do you balance AI's rapid pace with the need for a solid plan? Focus on future customers, embrace uncertainty, and assess the triple threat of desirability, feasibility, and viability. It's all about creating an 18-month roadmap that bends but doesn’t break. Here’s how to create yours. 

My Latest: 

  • Catch up on my webinars! You can still review the slides and recordings of my two new webinars. In “Unlocking The Power of Generative AI,” I explain how to set up a generative AI “playground,” three ways to elevate your leadership with step-by-step instructions, and the broad outlines of creating a strategy. In “Developing a Winning Generative AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage,” I walk through the steps needed to create a cohesive AI strategy. 

  • Get updates on my forthcoming book. If you’re reading this, you are the target audience for my new book, Winning with Generative AI. Sign up for updates and early access and join my exclusive LinkedIn launch community.

  • Closing the AI knowing-doing-leading gap. Many executives recognize AI's importance, but they aren't using it daily. In my latest Leading Disruption, I share strategies to bridge this gap: aligning AI with strategic objectives, focusing on problem-solving applications, and creating hands-on AI experiences for leaders. 

  • How will work transform in the AI era? Join me Wednesday, September 25 at 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. EST for my next livestream, where I'll be discussing the future of work in the age of AI. I'll be coming to you live from Las Vegas, where I'm giving the opening keynote at the HR Technology Conference. Catch me on LinkedIn and Facebook Live!

My Upcoming Appearances:

If you want me to speak at an upcoming event or conduct a workshop with your executive team, please drop me a note at [email protected]. 

If this information was helpful, there’s plenty more!

Thank you for subscribing to The Big Gulp Newsletter, which goes out to thousands of disruptors every other week to help you on your disruption journey—plus a curated recommendation list of the things I can’t stop talking about. 

Want more? Check out my weekly publication, Leading Disruption, on LinkedIn.

Charlene Li

If you found this note helpful, please forward and share it with someone who needs the inspiration today. If you were forwarded this, please consider subscribing.