Menu

Oh no! Is facebook becoming my blog?

February 23, 2010 By Collaboration 15 Comments

For about a year now I have been cross posting twitter updates and blog posts from here (Parking Lot) to my facebook page.  I have started noticing that people comment much more on facebook than here, with almost every post receiving a comment or a “like.”

What concerns me a little, is that the great conversations that happen on facebook don’t happen here on Parking Lot, and that if you want to read them and take part on facebook, you need to be friended by me in the big blue walled compound.  So I am wondering how to import the conversations from facebook here and vice versa, so I don’t have two things going on at once and so that everyone can play.

Thoughts?

Permaculture principles, learning and graphic recording

February 19, 2010 By Art of Harvesting, Learning 3 Comments

This is my friend Colleen Stevenson, a lovely graphic recorder that I work with whenever I can.  Here she is talking about permaculture principles, something which she knows a lot about, and talking about this large shart she drew to capture and start conversations on how these principles work in learning.

Just some good wisdom

February 18, 2010 By Being, First Nations

From a man I have long loved and admired, Chief Robert Joseph, who spoke these words on receiving an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of British Columbia in 2003.  He is a leader in advocating for the rights and dignity of residential school survivors and a deep and passionate advocate of the work many many people are doing to decolonize the child welfare system here in British Columbia.  Here is some very good advice from him:

I have traveled far and climbed many mountains in my life’s journey. I have seen the darkness of my own abyss. From the depths of my utter despair and hopelessness I saw a miraculous vision. Through this vision I have seen the universe, one whole, one connectedness, one balance!

As I stood in awe of the wonder in my own supernatural moment, I came to know my place and part in this timeless symphony of life and creation. Before that, I was forced to relinquish my own reality for a while. I was taught to dismiss all that was prior to the coming of the first settlers. It was too high a price to exact for my education, for anyone’s education.

I say to all you graduates beware that the price of your education does not become too high. Be true to yourselves. Maintain that balance between heart and soul and do not give away to intelligence only. Do not ever lose sight of who you are, for it is a gift from the creator that will lead you to your higher purpose. Do not give way to racism and intolerance. Do not give way to ignorance and apathy. Hold true to the creed that all persons are born equal and deserve dignity and respect. The quality of life for many may depend on you. Go and make a difference. The whole world waits for you.

via Chief Robert Joseph Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society.

In BC we are blessed to have Elders whose message, teachings and ability to hold compassion and promote peace rivals the Dalai Lama.  So few British Columbians know about these Elders but they are national treasures.  Bobby Joseph is one of these people.

Entering, an improv lesson

February 16, 2010 By Improv, Leadership 4 Comments

Improv again last night here on Bowen Island.  It is such a rich learning space for me in many ways.  Last night, one of our group kept bringing scenes back to the Olympics, and especially the luge.  At times it was funny but it became tiresome in other cases, and in an extended game of freeze tag, when he stepped in, everyone knew where the scene was going.  My learning from that is what it looks like when we come to a situation prepared, with a pre-conceived idea of what will work, being attached to an offering, but insensitive to what is going on or worse, unable to co-create something new.  In aikido the art of entering is known as irimi, and it is a powerful thing to learn. It is about entering from a place of essence rather than a place of having a desired effect.

Making a list and checking it twice

February 15, 2010 By Organization One Comment

Over the years I have really moved away from doing the standard kinds of strategic planning meetings that most every organization seems to do.  I recognize the need for management, but I see many organizations either get locked into a control mindset that limits their options, or create huge lists of things to do that can’t possibily be accomplished.  I am rather inclined to work with organizations that are trying to find ways of becoming strategically adaptable, but most organizations I work with are already there.

Today though I received a call from an organization that I like, that does good work, but are locked into a really traditional set of dynamics about control, managements, roles and responsibilities and planning.  We are planning a two day strategic planning retreat to, as I put it, “make a list and check it twice.”  That is to say that the result of this gathering should be a prioritized work plan.

I don’t want to cast aspirations on the organization, but I sense that bringing a new participatory and strategic adapatation persepctive to planning will be a difficult thing to do all at once.  And so I’m up for some ideas.

This is a small organization that is part community organization and part infrastructure development.  They are governed by an excellent and experience Board of Directors who operate out of fairly traditional governance worldviews.  Their senior staff are longstanding, but they are growing and needing to make some transition plans.

Everyone likes each other well enough and they do good work, so I think the opportunity to spend two days in creative work would be welcome.  I don’t want to sit around a Board table and make a list, but I do want to them to get what they need from the retreat.  I thought I’d ask here, sort of as a public service, because many of us in the world of consulting and facilitation get these kinds of requests, and the same old same old doesn’t always work.

So, hivemind, what are some ideas you all have for helping a small and important organization do some strategic work planning in a new and interesting way?