[Ailist] Responsibility/leadership/stories

[sbelgard at comcast.net]

Hi Mike and all--

I just attended a workshop based on the book "Presence" (Senge, Jaworski, Schwarmer, Flowers), led by Betty Sue Flowers and Joseph Jaworski.  The first exercise we did, after a round of introductions and some discussion, was a partner exercise in which we were each asked to recount our life story from 3 different perspectives -- (hero, victim, lessons learned) -- 3 minutes for each viewpoint!  You could feel the shift from positive to negative to creative engagement as we went from one perspective to another. It was a spectacular lesson in the power of story, and the debrief of the exercise demonstrated that it gave people a deep sense of the personal impact of differing perspectives AND the power of choosing a perspective.  We went on at the end of the workshop to build on this growing ability to choose our future stories by standing up and staking out our personal passions (e.g., sustainability as an economic driver,  inclusive community development, purity of water, true educati
on, holistic legal eductaion and practice [which is my personal passion], etc.).  And as we created these worlds through our words, others stood up to show their support and commitment.  

Even though we began by speaking about our individual stories, we learned together that we had an amazing capacity to create new stories for a preferred future.  The lesson for me was  that consciousness of the perspective from which we tell our stories is liberating!
All my best,
Susan
Susan Belgard, JD, CPCC
“Building on the Best in People and Organizations”
Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner & Trainer
Certified Co-Active Coach™
Blue Belt Nia® Instructor
www.coachingthefullspectrum.com
Hour-long CDs:
"AI and Personal Coaching"  --
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=90214,  
AI and organizations  --
"Creating Sustainable Positive Change: 
A Micro-training in Appreciative Inquiry"
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=117283 
AI and body, mind, spirit  --
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=100684 
Workshops, teleclasses and other events:
www.acteva.com/go/SusanBelgard 
sbelgard at comcast.net
925-899-2333
---original message--
> Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:51:45 -0800 
> From: "Mike Sands" 
> Subject: Re: [Ailist] Responsibility/leadership 
> To: , 
> Message-ID: <002801c77dec$060a9860$0601a8c0 at mikee4c33d71da> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 
> 
> Kate - you said, 
> 
> "I end with a story telling game ; you can script this any way you wish 
> > and use it in many different circumstances. The idea is for one person 
> > (usually the Facilitator) to start the story with a carefully designed 
> > opening paragraph, after which the 'ball' of the story is passed from 
> > mouth to mouth, whit each version adding their contribution. The story 
> > keeps changing and develops a great deal of richness as it moves to its 
> > conclusion." 
> 
> I think this is a brilliant idea. In the Vancouver AI Network yesterday seven 
> of us agreed that one indicator of success is when we all feel the magic of 
> creating together - your vehicle seems guaranteed to make "creating together" 
> happen. 
> 
> I would love to see one or more "Paragraph 1's. and even a whole story or 2 - Is 
> there a book in this for you. 
> 
> What a magnificent way to build a reference event for future enjoyment - shared 
> or alone. 
> 
> What a brilliant way to help people know, feel and enjoy the creativity we all 
> have within. 
> 
> Neat idea - thanks 
> 
> Mike 
> 
> PS Does any one else have any stories of making stories - Kate mentioned story 
> making as finish - what about at the beginning of a workshop. 
> 
>