[Ailist] Responsibility/leadership/stories

Tue Apr 17 12:26:27 MDT 2007

Dear Cheri and all--

I am replying to the full list (and to you personally) because your question to me, "How did I learn about it [the Presence Workshop]" is a wonderful story of synchronicity in itself.

Last Thursday (4/12), I was at the Oakland airport, waiting for the first leg of my flight to board.  An airline rep asked if there were 2 people who would be willing to take a later flight. I didn't have to reach my destination at any precise time, and was tempted by a free flight, a voucher for another and the opportunity to do a good deed, but something made me stay in my seat.  It was as if someone had placed two very strong hands on my shoulders and was keeping me in place.  So I boarded the plane according to my original plan, and later caught my connecting flight to Austin.  

On arrival, carrying my computer and carting a lot of luggage, I made my way over to Supershuttle and signed in.  Our driver quickly corralled a group of us and a friendly women in the back of the van began making room for me and my carry-ons.  Thanking her, I sat instead in another, more accessible seat, next to a woman with whom I began a casual conversation (or so I thought!!).  I learned that she, like me, was from Northern California and a lawyer.  I told her I was also a coach and consultant who used AI in my work, briefly explaining its focus on collaboration and positive perspectives. She pulled out the book "Presence", recommending it to me, and mentioning that she was on her way to The Crossings (a progressive learning center and spa in an exquisite natural habitat in Austin) for a weekend course about the book.  

It did take me several hours to realize that that conversation was why I couldn't volunteer to switch planes in Oakland -- if I had, likely we would not have met in Austin and I would not have known about the course.  I was number 70 of 70 people who registered for the event!  

The second book recommended for the course was, naturally, Joseph Jaworski's "Synchronicity"!

We also had an incredible drop-in visit from Senator [a/k/a/ “Dollar Bill”] Bradley, who is on a book tour talking about "The New American Story".  The book itself is a winner -- and so appropriate for the course and for the people who belong to this elist.  And Sen. Bradley is an incredibly moving story-teller and worth catching at your favorite bookstore or on your preferred interview program.  

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 -------------- 
From: "Cheri Torres" <cheri at mobileteamchallenge.com> 

> Susan, 
> 
> This sounds like a wonderful workshop. Where was it, how did you learn of 
> it? 
> Cheri 
> 
>
> 
> 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 e 
> ducati 
> 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 CoachT 
> Blue Belt NiaR 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. 
> > 
> > 
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