Posted by: phynbarr | August 5, 2011

I wrote this in 2004 when attending an IAF Conference

At Phoenix if I remember correctly. If not, it was Baltimore. Must have kept it for a reason

“I had a really great day today at the “Worldly Wisdom” pre-conference workshop. It was al about narrative & story-telling in the organisation (run by Mary-Alice Arthur I think).

I created my title “Subtle Spanner of Change”. Note the wordplay. “The spanner that knocks or turns or makes change” (remember the story of the plumber who came and charged £100 to knock once on the pipe. The bill said “For knocking the pipe – £1. For knowing where to knock – £99). & “the one who spans”

Then there was the story of the Emperor’s Seed. All the seed had been boiled so that the only true pot was the empty pot (remind you of any corporate meetings you’ve attended?) bringing elements of truth, honesty & persistence

Then we each told stories in a series of story circles. The learning points from this were :
: clear vision leads to action
: a birth process is not an easy one. Expect difficulties
: at the moment of the most difficulties comes transformation
: model what you want to grow
: the answer is within
Don’t go for gurus

After lunch came Haikus. I loved creating Haikus, here’s a few samples

Dark red rock
Looping the labyrinth
Of the Soul

Acres of departure
Feeding the gloom
Glow-worms of desire

Glimmering hare
Leaves untouched
The oceans of plane / pain

Speed of change
Drags tortoise feet
Through primordial mud

Distributing information
Accumulates sands
Of time in the storm

Then we used Soul Cards as an oracle to answer a question and learned that everything can be seen from at least 2 perspectives

Finally there were various suggestions of what’s new in organisational storytelling

I loved this workshop. This is what I want to do

Subtle Spanner of Change”

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