Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009
What a ReTreat!
From deer visiting our bonfires (urged out of his own comfort zone by the sound of laughter and pringles?)... to sleeping under the stars in September...to realizing that so many of us were nervous about what would happen over the weekend...to running like gazelles...feeling the warmth of the sun and our new friendships in the silence...the utter stillness of nature... to discovering our inner yearnings and connecting with the power of new relationships.... what a weekend!
And our "present reality" all comes down to this (as author Margaret Wheatley states in her book, "Leadership and the New Science"):
What is critical is the relationship created by two or more elements. Systems influence individuals, and individuals call forth systems. It is the relationship that evokes the present reality. Which potential becomes real depends on the people, the events, and the moment.
We need fewer descriptions of tasks and instead learn how to facilitate people and their process. We need to become savvy about how to foster relationships, how to nurture growth and development. All of us need to become better at listening, conversing, respecting one another's uniqueness, because these are essential for strong relationships.
Power in organizations is the capacity generated by relationships. We look for the fundamentals: Do people know how to listen and speak to each other? To work well with diverse members? Do people have free access to one another throughout the organization? Are they trusted with open information? Do organizational values bring them together or keep them apart? Is collaboration truly honoured? Can people speak truthfully to one another?
Because power is energy, it needs to flow through organizations; it cannot be designated. What gives power its charge - positive and negative - is the nature of the relationship. When power is shared...positive creative power abounds."
At the retreat, I hope you experienced the power of relationships as our class team - and your CAPS team - were forming. Your connection to one another, to the stars/sky and earth, to deer/ducks/loons and bears - all of these created a natural system in the moment.
We were left with 3 questions to think about:
How do we create transformational change in (a) PEOPLE? (b) ORGANIZATIONS and (c) COMMUNITY?
What's your thinking now that you've been at the retreat? Send in a couple of paragraphs now. Click on the "comments" link below.
To sum up, thanks to each of you for a wonderful Retreat experience!
- Maggie
