technology > epistemology > cosmology
epistemology: how is it what we know what we know. holistic ways of knowing/being (mind,body, emotion, kinetic, spiritual).
cosmology: our view of the universe. evolutionary an dliving systems. evolving notions of the world. (very much alive)
ontology: what is the nature of being. human being *and* becoming. dynamic, developmental. we can learn, and unlearn. self-organize).
technology/methodology: operational metaphor of gardening + collective leadership. that intentionality create the conditions. we cannot predict everything that will ensue (pleasant surprises, unpleasant surprises).
Tilling the Soil
context matters, context matters … context matters.
the right conditions for collective leadership — we are moving away from individualistic approaches that lionize the individual.
a metaphysical posture of what is happening… not at all what we are talking about. different ways to organize ourselves, as the old ways become obsolete. they no longer facilitate teh kinds of change we are seeking.
John Hegel: people, narrative, platforms >> purpose, direction, desire.
the power of collective leadership:
PEOPLE: considering the who. the tools of stakeholder analysis. IISC commitment to stakeholder analysis.
- who is responsible [for key desciions]?
- Who might block what we are trying to do?
- Who has relevant expertise, information, experience?
- Who are implementers of key decisions?
- Who will be affected by what we are trying to do?
- Who will need to be informed about our outcomes?
… INVITATION: making the right kind of invite. shifting away from the industrial model that allows “an organizer to get warm bodies into a room to impress the politician.” We are not trying to go for mass, we want critical connections. ccritcal combinations.
Peter Block’s HIGH THRESHOLD INVITATION — what is the invitation to support people to PARTICIPATE AND OWN the relationship to tasks, and processes that lead to success? Be specific and provide some hurdles.
… NARRATIVE: what holds people together. purposefulness to make change. “Narrative functions around the very nature of leadership itself. Shifting in more and more of our collaborative work.”
leadership is a shared endeavor. it cannot be incumbent on a single org or leader to lead the work. across n’hood boundaries, geographical boundaries to move forward.
shared + rotated: provocateur , implementer, weaver, coordinator,
convenor, facilitator, designer.
IMAGING: imagine how living systems actually work. when the thrive. how they thrive. how to tap into that thriving nature. [VISIONING: can serve us, except when not grounded in reality.]
- How do living systems actually work?
- What do they look like when they are thriving?
- What would this system look like when thriving?
- How do we re-build resilience?
STORYTELLING: at the individual levels of stories.
metaphorically: stories of tools, precipitation, germination, and harvest.
In the student immigrant movement, they will not do much without being able to tell stories together. Storytelling as a skill and a process becomes more important than the bullet–point-memo. The complexity taht we are dealing wiht needs to be dealt with in storytelling.
PLATFORM: Open Space. World Cafe. Future Search.
… so different form a panel of presenters.
** not without social media. at IISC, we use SalesForce chatter.
Beyond people and networks … the holy grail is governance. Can be a scary word when talking about networks and distributed leadership. The structures put in place. “As smart … will require some deisgn, direction, decision-making
ingredients of (Design Principles)
Adaptability. Emergence. Contribution. Resilience. Diversity.
a resource that we are turning to: Sociocracy … “We the People” a guide to sociocratic principles.
http://www.sociocracy.info
http://www.carolsanford.com
Berkana Institute — ‘The Art of Hosting’ (on social technology)
edgeperspectives.typepad.com
Fritjof Capra — The Hidden Connections
Pegasus Institute …
slides to be available on LLC site.
Draw pictures as you experience it … all of your stories are true.
Storytelling as way to alleviate shame. storytelling provided shared awareness, of oppression and abuse at hands of the system.
METAPHORS:
- industrial complex
- Obama campaign, administration’s Promise N’hood grants.
- silver bullet, silver buckshot(?)
washing dishes: a father’s glimpses 