G'day All
Harrison's recent revisiting of Phoenix Rising prompts me to let you know of a forthcoming event for which I welcome support. I have been invited by Lisa Kimball to be a guest in a virtual conference called a Chautauqua. Harrison was one of her previous presenters. Lisa is well known internationally as a pioneer and world leader in getting the best out of groups. She wrote: "Hi Alan! A colleague shared your paper on "the conversing company" with me which i love! I was wondering if we might entice you to be a guest in a virtual conversation in our online Chautauqua? " You can see more about it on her wondrous website Group Jazz http://www.groupjazz.com It is scheduled for mid January. Background to Lisa's invitation: In May of this year I presented a keynote at the 1st World Conference for Systemic Management in Vienna. www.isct.net My paper on what I call "The Conversing Company" is currently available at www.pnc.com.au/~lfell/stewart.html I speak to people who wish, and are ready, to lead organizations in which everyone has a chance to shine, about: . dividends to be obtained through investment in processes which foster conversation among people within and across traditional boundaries. . cogent reasons why this way of being and doing is critical to success in a highly competitive world. . an organisational culture in which people make time to converse in a spirit of "We are here to treat each other well" and "We're in this together." . conversation being the fundamental means by which knowledge is constructed and learning happens. . this culture being created and sustained when sufficient attention is paid to processes which promote conversing. These, in my experience, include OST and World Café www.theworldcafe.com . how such an organization functions day to day. . the immense power and potential of this kind of organization to bring out the best in people - what a great place in which to work! This 'transforming' (rather than transformed; is there such a thing?) organization would have features of what I sense Harrison would characterise as an 'InterActive Organization' and of what Birgitt describes as 'The Open Space Organization.' Participating in Lisa's Chautauqua could be a great opportunity to alert many people world wide about the substantial benefits to be gained from fostering OST and other conversational processes in business, government, NGOs, community, educational, aged care and other settings. Incidentally you may be interested to learn that there is a multitude of Café Conversations happening globally in the month of January. See http://www.theworldcafe.com/ComConversation.html I will keep you informed of developments on the Chautauqua and would welcome any support you give to make the most of this remarkable gift. With best wishes for whatever you and your communities bring forth in the new year. Good to converse, with love Alan Adelaide
