Greetings.
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Gosh as I wrote this, and then edit, it became one of those long posts. I
am NOT trying to make the key list of major posters as much as I am trying
to test out some of my thinking. ;-) Comments would be most desired and
appreciated as I have been working to add more context to my thinking
about my tools. When it comes to metaphors, I become quite interested.
Anyway...
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Winfried Dressler and Eugene Taurman were discussing some of At's postings
and Winfried shared a metaphor (in What is leadership? LO22068) that got
my attention.
For those of you who have gotten my Square Wheels illustration (including
Winfried and Eugene), I'd like to try this thinking out:
Winfried wrote:
>There are two processes to be distinguished:
>
>a) the scientific process consisting of observation, speculation,
>falsification (how the wheels turn)
>
>b) the creative course of time, consisting of a meandering of the
>scientific process between divergence (chaos of becoming, high entropy
>production) and convergence (new emergences growing to maturity) (how the
>car moves).
>
>I == car (the deeper the creativity, the more inclusive becomes the "I")
>scientific process == wheels (triangle? round?)
>entropy production == motor (that, which is dangerous without the cruise
>control system)
>essentialities == cruise control system (that, which is useless without the
>motor)
>creative course of time == the road I take
>divergent mode of driving == exploring the landscape
>convergent mode of driving == arriving, knowing to come home
>immergence == getting lost - leading to a standstill without arriving
>free energy == fuel (the station is at home)
>relativity with respect to equilibrium == time to build a house
>
>LEADERSHIP == driving the car (personal) or bus (public)
>requires BOTH:
>
>Scientific thinking == input to the cruise control system from the wheels - -
>knowledge on how to move
>
>AND NEW:
>
>Intuitive thinking == input to the cruise control system from looking at the
>landscape - knowledge on where to go to.
I = the wooden wagon -- the vehicle for the journey forward which, at the
moment, is more than suitable to handle the load
mud = incentive for creativity (the deeper the mud, the more incentive for
change, the more inclusive becomes the "I")
scientific process == primarily the Square Wheels (triangle or round at
different times) - the process is in need of constant improvement since
any round wheel will become Square over time as knowledge changes. The
process is also independent of the mud, the people, the round wheels
entropy production == teamwork at the back (which is dangerous without
leadership at the front)
essentialities == things influencing the pace of the group (internal and
external)
creative course of time == the road we take, maybe one of our personal
choosing or one determined by The Boss and The Organization. There may be
a new road, but we may have to stay the old course because of policies and
practices
divergent mode of moving == exploring the landscape, stopping for
"creative pauses" or talking between the front and back of the wagon
convergent mode of moving == arriving, knowing the destination
immergence == getting lost or going uphill - leading to a standstill
without arriving
free energy == motivation of the workers based on all sorts of causal
factors, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and synergies
relativity with respect to equilibrium == time to load the wagon
LEADERSHIP == pulling forward with vision, but somewhat isolated.
Scientific thinking == might then become the objective process by which
progress is observed, including measurements and all that, plus the
observation of systems and the environment.
AND NEW:
Intuitive and creative thinking == is akin to the discovery that the Round
Wheels, already in the wagon, might make the journey less difficult or the
people more effective. These can be personal in nature or focused on the
team's performance.
--Scott Simmerman <SquareWheels@compuserve.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>