Hosting Conversations about Questions that Matter
Dear Ulrich, Sabine, Chris, Charles, Valerie, Ilona, Amy, and John,
I am writing to send my very best wishes for a deep and generative dialogue when you and other friends meet for the European Salon in the next few days. Please share my heartfelt greetings from afar with everyone there.
As I pause to contemplate the conversations you'll be having about dialogue, leadership, and community, I find myself thinking about the news articles I've scanned just this morning -- on planetary limits to growth, on the pathologies of the financial sector, on what's required for stability in Afghanistan, on health care reform in the United States, on California's "water wars" -- and I realize how central the practice of "conversational leadership" is if we are to co-evolve our collective capacity to address any of them in ways that draw on the insights and contributions of all who care, and not just those who agree with us.
I think about my work with leadership teams striving to become more collaborative and am keenly aware of the creative energies seeking positive expression at every level of our organizations and communities. These are so readily apparent when we turn to one another in conversations about the questions that truly matter -- with curiosity, commitment to a greater common good, and disciplined faith in the possibility that we're wiser and more creative together than we are alone. In such conversations, I'm always impressed both by how strong and how tender we human beings are, as we open our hearts and minds to one another and grow our capacity to learn, love, co-create, and trust.
I also think about the need for compassion, for ourselves and others, as we try to navigate turbulent, uncertain waters of both our inner and outer worlds together.
All this is to say that the questions you're exploring lie at the heart of our capacity to shape healthy relationships, resilient communities, innovative organizations, and life-affirming futures together. Figure it out for all of us, won't you? :-)
Thank you for convening these essential conversations. Like many others, I am "listening in" at a distance and will look for the harvest.
Warm best wishes,
Tom
I am writing to send my very best wishes for a deep and generative dialogue when you and other friends meet for the European Salon in the next few days. Please share my heartfelt greetings from afar with everyone there.
As I pause to contemplate the conversations you'll be having about dialogue, leadership, and community, I find myself thinking about the news articles I've scanned just this morning -- on planetary limits to growth, on the pathologies of the financial sector, on what's required for stability in Afghanistan, on health care reform in the United States, on California's "water wars" -- and I realize how central the practice of "conversational leadership" is if we are to co-evolve our collective capacity to address any of them in ways that draw on the insights and contributions of all who care, and not just those who agree with us.
I think about my work with leadership teams striving to become more collaborative and am keenly aware of the creative energies seeking positive expression at every level of our organizations and communities. These are so readily apparent when we turn to one another in conversations about the questions that truly matter -- with curiosity, commitment to a greater common good, and disciplined faith in the possibility that we're wiser and more creative together than we are alone. In such conversations, I'm always impressed both by how strong and how tender we human beings are, as we open our hearts and minds to one another and grow our capacity to learn, love, co-create, and trust.
I also think about the need for compassion, for ourselves and others, as we try to navigate turbulent, uncertain waters of both our inner and outer worlds together.
All this is to say that the questions you're exploring lie at the heart of our capacity to shape healthy relationships, resilient communities, innovative organizations, and life-affirming futures together. Figure it out for all of us, won't you? :-)
Thank you for convening these essential conversations. Like many others, I am "listening in" at a distance and will look for the harvest.
Warm best wishes,
Tom
Tags: European_Salon, dialogue, leadership, theworldcafe, worldcafe
Replies to This Conversation
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Permalink Reply by juanita brown on -
Me too!
Juanita -
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Permalink Reply by Christine Whitney Sanchez on -
Sending warm wishes to you for generative conversations, heart connections and fun!
May your personal and collective harvests be bountiful.
From the brilliant, cooling desert,
Christine -
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Permalink Reply by Hanno Langfelder on -
Beautiful words! Thank you!
A thought just struck me.... as we continue into this century of uncertainty and potential conflict our relationships will become ever more important, especially between conflicting parties. Maintaining contact as a prerequiste for a peaceful resolution.
I have the image of holding onto a person and screaming in the persons face at the same time.
Cheers!
Hanno -
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Permalink Reply by Amy Lenzo on -
What a lovely contribution to our conversations, Tom. Thank you so much! I know we will all be inspired by your insight and wisdom.
I'm here in Vienna - a day early because of the particulars of my flight, and enjoying this beautiful city ... anticipating being in Reichenau tomorrow and beginning this exciting conversation with all who show up, or connect in with us on Saturday for the online Cafe. An unexpected delight is that it is snowing here!!! I'm woefully under-dressed for the occasion, but no less charmed.
I hold you all with me on this journey, as we explore the new and different ways 'community' is configuring itself in our lives.
Amy -
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Permalink Reply by juanita brown on
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Hi Amela,
Please give my fond regards to the group gathered in Vienna and my very best wishes for a rich and productive time together.
My respect and appreciation,
Juanita -
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Abby on -
Sitting here in chilly beautiful Boston, Massachusetts so grateful to be tapping into this conversation from afar. I am moved by the work you / we are doing and send my heartfelt wishes for a rich and generative discussion flavored with many fun times of coming together in joy.
I am curious if we will have another virtual conversation as we did a few weeks ago, leading up to this Salon. More and more I am convinced at how rich our collective connection can be even over the phone. Thank you to those who organized that conversation weeks ago and to Christine and Gabrielle, for the beautiful work on the Maestro conference yesterday!
Please let me know if and how we will be connecting. Blessings to you all. Lisa -
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Permalink Reply by Amy Lenzo on
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Lisa,
Yes, we will be having another online salon - tonight! I see you have already signed up for it, and we look forward to the weaving that will happen between us then. We'll be using MaestroConference, which is very easy - just like a conference call.
Warmest Wishes,
Amy -
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Permalink Reply by Ulrich Soeder on -
Dear Tom,
thank you for your wonderful thoughts! Good to hear from you all!
We have just arrived in the hotel in Reichenau. I have been on workshops the last days in Frankfurt and flew in to vienna last night.
Now is the time to get centered on the Salon! this is how our meeting space looks like. I took this one with the camera in my computer, so sorry for the quality.
I am going to share my thoughts during this Salon, if I find the time ; )
And thank you for your support. It feels great to have this wonderful crowd behind us while we are meeting here in person.
With a deep bow!
Ulrich -
Photos
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