Subject: FW: NEW FEATURE -- News and Views and
Invitations for March
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D-Letter
from DUBLIN
CONSULTING
March 2007
Dear Lance,
Welcome to the March issue of the D- Letter.
In this issue I am introducing the Myth Buster.
Each issue will highlight a persistent myth about learning and/or
change and offer you specific, actionable suggestions on how you can
be a myth-buster in your organization.
In this issue I also want to share with you my take on 'creative
abrasion' and 'appreciative inquiry', draw your attention to our
'dozen-zero universe', invite you to my next 'Let's Get Serious'
Webinar on Learning Architectures, and continue to share with you my
perspective on what it means to be a Chief Solution Architect. I
also want to remind you to use the Quick Links to check out April
events and recent articles, and get fast access to other resources.
Thank you for joining me. As always, I welcome your comments,
feedback and participation. Don't hold back.
1 Teradollar = 45,095,828 Toyota Priuses & 31.3X
endowment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
1 Teraflop = 100,000,000,000 pocket calculators and 1
Xbox 360
Source: Wired Magazine, March 2007
Myth Buster
MYTH: Everyone knows what e- learning is.
TRUTH: e-Learning means different things to
different people. And, their expectations for the e-learning
you are providing to them are set by the definition that is in
their minds, not yours.
ACTION: Define e-learning for your organization,
now. Publish and distribute this definition. Put in on your
Intranet. Put it on the portal to your LMS. Put it at the
beginning of every e-learning course. Put it in every
presentation you make. Broadcast it widely. Repeat it often.
P.S. If you have any learning or change myths you'd like me
to address or you'd like to share, please email me. I welcome
your participation.
NEW TIME ... Let's Get Serious About Learning
Architectures
On this Thursday, March 22nd join me for the third and
final webinar in my Winter Series, Let’s Get Serious
About Learning Architectures: The Foundation for
Organizational Learning and Workforce Performance.
Your organizations’ needs are constantly changing. But, do
you have a well thought out learning architecture in place
that can ensure your learning approaches are keeping pace? Or,
have you followed a ‘ready, fire, aim’ approach with really no
plan? In order to remain competitive and serve a more diverse
employee audience, organizations today need to have a
comprehensive, integrated foundation – a learning architecture
- that truly supports learning and performance. It’s important
to build this architecture on the effective use of traditional
approaches such as instructor-led training, mentoring and
coaching, and now, e-courses or e-learning. But, it’s critical
to understand and incorporate new approaches such as
simulations and games, blended learning, formalized- informal
learning, WEB 2.0 technologies, and new forms of
learning-at-the-speed of work. This is the session for those
ready to take a serious look at your organizations’ overall
approach to organizational learning and on-the-job
performance.
You and your colleagues are invited to join me for this
FREE webinar on Thursday, March 22nd. Note the time for
this webinar is from 3:00 - 4:00pmEST.
I look
forward to 'seeing' you online.
P.S. If you want to review a recording of the other
webinars in this series, click on the Quick Link.
By working at the intersection of
creative abrasion and appreciative inquiry , I am able to
generate truly innovative and powerful solutions for my
clients. This approach is not for the faint of heart though it
is not careless. This approach is not for those who already
know 'the answer' though it thrives on tension. In fact, this
approach leverages what appear to be dichotomies producing
'productive friction'.
Creative abrasion is the process by which divergent views
shape a distinctive and successful solution. 'In its most
energetic form, [it] brings two teams, people, or ideas
together like flint on steel. It creates sparks that ignite a
wildfire of ideas or innovation.'
Appreciative inquiry is the 'coevolutionary search for the
best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world
around them' that is based on 'the art and practice of asking
questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend,
anticipate, and heighten positive potential'.
P.S. All quotes above are from Denham Grey's
"Knowledge-at-Work' blog, which I highly recommend.
On My Mind
I have had many titles in my career - and have been called
a fair number of names - but I've finally found one that I
feel suits me best. I am a 'creative abrasionist' with the
leanings of an 'appreciative inquirer'.
Now, there really are no such terms (at least that I could
find from a Google search or in Wikipedia). I made them up.
Yet, I like what they mean to my work and to me, and how they
sound.
"In the quietest form, creative abrasion is the catalyst
for producing a pearl. The oyster is so bothered by the
unpleasant abrasive effect of the sand inside its smooth
shell, that it works on the sand to smooth its rough edges and
coat it with essence of pearl. The result? A beautiful,
valuable gem."(Beth Agnew)
"Appreciative inquiry is based on the premise that from the
moment of inquiry, the individual, team and organization
experience a change. By using a strength- based approach, the
social structure, whether it be a team or organization, moves
in a positive direction accepting change guided by the initial
input." (Denham Grey)
Working at the intersection of creative abrasion and
appreciative inquiry can produce amazing results. At this
intersection the energy level of the conversation is raised.
Alternative assumptions and frames of thought are advocated
for. The status quo and current mindsets are challenged.
Tension and conflicting viewpoints are introduced. And, at the
same time, the positives are found and built upon. The
conversation is re-framed from an inclusive perspective. There
is praise as well as critique. There is truly deep
dialog.
I firmly believe the most powerful insights and, therefore,
most innovative solutions are born at the edge of this type of
constructive chaos.
I look forward to hearing from any other 'creative
abrasionists' amongst us. The exchange will surely be
fun!
