One difference, however, is that more often people tend to invite the
tyranny of experts, thus even self-inducing a dynamic that impairs
learning. Got a problem? Hire an expert and sit back. This dynamic
which is so common handicaps our ability to respond optimally and
creatively. This is the first lesson I took from At on the tyranny of
experts.
Even more so, I think, when "the problem" and "the solution" is unclear,
i.e., with problems that suggest divergence rather than convergence in
their solutions. How to create learning organizations or learning
communities is such a problem. Such a problem is not conducive to expert
solutions partly because the locus of work must be the community itself,
both in identifying "the problem" (in all its facets) and in achieving
improvement to the situation.
In my experience, "hostility of the insecure" frequently arrives by
surprise. When I experience it directed toward me -- and towards others
-- often it stimulates my sympathetic nervous system. It's hard then not
to respond defensively or even with hostility in return. These feelings
of hostility response in themselves are akin to hostility of the insecure,
I imagine. Both dynamics, tyranny of the experts and hostility of the
insecure, when unchecked easily impair learning.
Quite in another class, I thoroughly enjoy "dialogue with 'experts,'"
that is dialogue with people often who know more than I. In spirit of
dialogue and shared or joint learning, I even can enjoy or happily endure
mis-spellings, typographical errors, and unclear sentences, as well as
neologisms, acronyms, and challenging material. I'll give some place, as
well, to "junk science," anti-science, and non-science.
In the spirit of dialogue, I hope that people will question with respect
what they experience as my shortcomings and seek to understand and
appreciate what I may have to offer.
--All best wishes,
Dan Chay chay@alaska.net
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>