Jack's Wisdom

[Larry Peterson]

Before I head off to another week of separate and contiguous OS events.

"Helping leaders and managers understand this is step one, I think, in a
way that cultivates their trust with us and our trust with them. The
next step is asking them a question like: what would you do if you could
tap into a power that you couldn't control but that would make you more
effective and happy about yourself in your role as leader/manager? If
they express interest in the power, my role is to then to help them
discover just that. I become their trusted guide in a new land."

I have made that offer many times.  Many now call "trusted guide"
coaching, I prefer guide because it is more accurate.  However, I can
give advice and comfort but I am not leading in their organization,
going ahead, except in relation to spirit  --- they have particular
content as well as process and spirit issues to "lead".   For them the
two are inextricably mixed.

One client saw this clearly when I wrote and article on this
organization.  When he went to the next one, he invited me in to Open
Space there and took guidance in that.  He was not willing to take me on
as his longer term "guide".  A few have, but they are embedded in
systems that only allow a certain amount of space for their action.
CEOs have the most and they are pretty particular about who they allow
in their offices for extended conversations.

The current client is able to articulate well (depending on the day) --
transformation, no road map, communities work best when they
self-organize, what OST is about.  She also is not willing to be
"guided" except by her senior colleagues -- she will glean what she can
in side conversations.

I continue to believe based on my experience that folks are at different
places in their ability and willingness to connect to spirit or take
"guidance".  And, that some, but not all will connect to me.

Larry

Larry Peterson
Associates in Transformation
Toronto, ON, Canada
416.653.4829

larry at spiritedorg.com
www.spiritedorg.com

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