Last week at the E3 Washington statewide summit; teachers, businesspersons and
environmental educators were given the opportunity to attend a presentation by Peter Senge. Peter Senge is a MIT
professor, and author of the Fifth Discipline. Peter’s relevant topic was
building community through collaboration. True collaboration is strategic –
members need each other. I took away several key points about collaboration and
convening groups with diverse members.
Empathic listening
Peter quoted one of his students as defining listening as what he did while he was waiting to talk. Who is not guilty of this? What’s more, Peter points out that most of what we think we hear is not what is being said at all. It is the human condition, neither right nor wrong, to filter what we hear through our emotions. Peter suggests that we ask ourselves what is triggering our responses to what others are saying. Instead of arguing or checking out, Peter recommends that we ask for clarification. Use inquiry rather than advocacy.
Peter quoted one of his students as defining listening as what he did while he was waiting to talk. Who is not guilty of this? What’s more, Peter points out that most of what we think we hear is not what is being said at all. It is the human condition, neither right nor wrong, to filter what we hear through our emotions. Peter suggests that we ask ourselves what is triggering our responses to what others are saying. Instead of arguing or checking out, Peter recommends that we ask for clarification. Use inquiry rather than advocacy.
Dialogue
Peter put forth the difference between discussion and dialogue. He describes discussion as being a ping pong game of volleying opinions.. Peter suggests that we strive for dialogue. Peter explained that the word, dialogue, means “flow of meaning”. Replacing discussion with dialogue means engaging in inquiry based information sharing that result in better understanding between members.
Peter put forth the difference between discussion and dialogue. He describes discussion as being a ping pong game of volleying opinions.. Peter suggests that we strive for dialogue. Peter explained that the word, dialogue, means “flow of meaning”. Replacing discussion with dialogue means engaging in inquiry based information sharing that result in better understanding between members.
Community building through practice
Peter ended the presentation with some practical guidelines for convening diverse groups.
Peter ended the presentation with some practical guidelines for convening diverse groups.
- Ask who is not at the table and who needs to be included.
- Use the World Café method of seating participants at small tables conducive to conversation.
- Check in with participants at the beginning and the end of meetings.
- After a group decision has been made, ask what qualms members have about the decision. This “qualming” exercise can hint at problems that may come up in the future.
- Peter finds it valuable for members to take “learning journeys” together for first hand experiences. Traveling there and back offers time to process and learn from different viewpoints.
- Peer shadowing is another technique that Peter uses. Watching each other deal with day to day events illuminates others positions.
Striving for true collaboration using Peter’s guidelines
offers a fresh and useful approach to community building between diverse
members. Thanks to E3 for bringing Peter
Senge to the E3 State Summit.
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