Active AimA Journey and Destination

“Change” has been the big topic of conversation for some time now. For the most part, the change that everyone writes about and talks about is economic change. There has been much written about the change from a manufacturing economy to a service economy and there has been much written about the movement of manufacturing jobs off shore, but I want to concentrate on another kind of change. Willis Harman wrote a whole book about it in 1987 entitled, “Global Mind Change.” To paraphrase a line in this book, society’s experience shapes it’s science and science shapes the experience of it’s society.

We have been educated to assume that our scientific view of reality is correct. Harman suggests that there may be other views of reality that are complementary. He continues by proposing a reunion of science and metaphysics. He states, “The fundamental change that we are suggesting is happening in Western society can be put in terms of these metaphysics. Essentially, it is a shift of dominant metaphysic from M-1 to M-3.”

Where:

M-1. The basic stuff of the universe is matter-energy. Consciousness emerges out of matter. Consciousness apart from a living organism is inconceivable.

M-2. Matter-energy and mind-spirit stuff both exist in the universe. Matter-energy stuff is studied with science. Mind-spirit stuff must be studied in other ways.

M-3. Consciousness is the ultimate stuff of the universe and matter-energy comes in some sense out of consciousness.

Margaret Wheatley in her award-winning best seller, “Leadership and the New Science” suggests that, “we let go of the machine model of organizations, and workers as replaceable cogs in the machinery of production, we begin to see ourselves in much richer dimensions, to appreciate our wholeness, and, hopefully, to design organizations that honor and make use of the great gift of who we humans are.” She believes that ownership is essential and suggests that ownership is not only literal owners, but describes personal connections to the organization that inspire people to contribute. Participation in the development of a plan of action creates ownership. In fact, we participate in the creation of everything we observe. In a sense, we are owners of everything we observe.

We have all seen the progression where raw data when properly analyzed and organized becomes information. Information in turn is the basis of intelligence and intelligence the basis of wisdom. Historically, management has worked to control information. Wheatley uses scientific support to suggest that for a system to remain alive, it must have a steady flow of new information.

Much has been written about the fact that information is exploding. We know that more information was produced between 1965 and 1995 than in the preceding 5000 years and that knowledge is now doubling every 5 years. Technology certainly has fostered the explosion, but it has also made this information available to more people as well. It is no longer practical to use a traditional building block approach to information. We need what is described in quantum physics as relational holism.

Wheatley suggests that the new science reminds us that this is a participative universe and that nothing living lives alone. We are constantly called to be in a relationship and through relationships we co-create our world. With that in mind, we make systems stronger by connecting to more of itself. Webs and networks are stronger than single connections. Participation is the key.

The May-July 2004 issue of “What is Enlightenment” has some incredible articles about collective intelligence. In an article entitled, “The Science of Collective Consciousness” Robert Kenny provides strong evidence that collective consciousness exists and can be used to produce benefits. Another great article entitled, “Come Together” by Craig Hamilton, reports, “Call it collective consciousness, team synergy, co-intelligence or group mind – a growing number of people are discovering through their own experience that wholes are indeed far more than the sum of their parts; that when individuals come together with a shared intention, in a conducive environment, something mysterious can come into being, with capacities and intelligences that far transcend those of the individuals involved.”

While we may not yet be able to exactly define collective wisdom or how it works, it is working. There are a bunch of collective intelligence initiatives underway including: World Café, Laboratory for Social Intervention, Open Space Technology, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, Dynamic Facilitation, Deep Dialogue, Appreciative Inquiry, Global Leadership Initiative and others. This is not the product of some well-meaning, goody-goody types, but rather the output of some of the most influential organizational minds in the world.

My own experience using World Café, Open Space Technology and Appreciative Inquiry to address complex and chaotic situations from a holistic approach has convinced me that collective intelligence and in turn collective wisdom are real and offer incredible potential for all organizations in this time of information overload and complexity.

 Copyright Bob Cannon/The Cannon Advantage, 2003. All rights reserved.

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I’m beginning to wonder if the cable companies can keep up with Satellite TV. The cable industry must find it perplexing to watch the torrid pace of the growth of the world of Satellite TV. The two largest Satellite TV companies are well on their way to 30 million subscribers in the United States. Cable Television had at least a 3-decade head start, but continues to see a steady erosion of their subscriber base.

In a relatively short amount of time, the satellite industry has evolved from a wild idea from the science fiction Arthur C. Clarke in the 1940’s to its current status as the main force in home entertainment and a crucial information delivery technology. The space program spurred the growth of the satellite industry, and it was also impacted by a variety of factors such as the recent advances in digital video technology, smaller dishes and better hardware, and the efforts of visionary individuals such as Charlie Ergen, the founder of Dish Network.

Just this month, Echostar Communications Corporation, the parent company of Dish Network announced that DISH Network(TM) has passed the 12 million-customer mark. Such massive, almost exponential growth endows the Dish Network company with the mantle of the fastest growing pay-television provider in the nation since the first year of the new millennium. I’m not surprised, because when potential subscribers see the crystal-clear digital picture, they jump on board very quickly.

Dish Network has grown from one million satisfied customers in 1997 to more than twelve million today. They are obviously doing all of the right things! With more 500 channel choices, including more than 60 international channels in over than 25 languages, exciting sports packages, the great HD programming, and local channels availability in 164 cities, they will continue to dominate the industry.

No one else in the satellite TV business has the research and development of cutting-edge technology of Dish Network. Their stellar work in the areas of set-top box engineering has attracted attention from the experts throughout the industry and has captured the praise of millions of satisfied customers. Dish Network recently introduced the first full feature digital video recorder (DVR) that records satellite-delivered high definition TV channels. Dishnetwork also now boasts the first DVR set-top box that provides the unique ability to record a couple of shows at the same time as well as allowing for independent viewing of live satellite television programming and recorded events on two or more televisions.

Good news will continue to roll out of Englewood, Colorado, the home of

EchoStar Communications Corp. For example, they just announced that its Dishnetwork satellite TV service has unveiled its new high-definition television package, called DishHD, with the most High-Def programming anywhere in the pay-TV industry. DISH Network is expanding its extensive HD channel lineup this year with the addition of five new original VOOM channels, which brings the total to 15, as well as other HD networks including ESPN2 HD and Universal HD.

The satellite television industry has grown to over 27 million subscribers, and with good customer service and the clear digital picture it will continue to set records as one of the hottest and fastest growing consumer electronics products of all time.

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In the past, we developed teams by putting people together and letting them spend time learning about each other before we charged them with completing assignments. In spite of all our best effort, some teams were more successful than others.

In order to be honest and forthcoming with others, a level of trust must exist. The less we trust, the more guarded and self-protective we become. That’s one of many reasons it’s a challenge to work effectively in teams. The challenge increases tremendously when the people involved haven’t been given the opportunity to get to know each other personally.

Today’s workplace consists of people who have never met each other working on projects. Indeed many of them live in other countries. Those that might live close to their corporate headquarters often telecommute and are rarely available for face-to-face meetings.

In addition, the team is frequently led by a project manager – who has a dotted line relationship to the others and thus very little authoritative leverage. The project manager can only manage through persuasion and negotiation – two methods requiring a high level of trust.

Trust is not easy to develop in the best of circumstances – when working with distant teams the problems increase tremendously.

Professor Larry Leifer at Stanford University discovered that when he had students working in teams from different locations members, complained that they were doing more work than other teammates. When camcorders were placed in their cubicles so that they could see each other at work, the complaints diminished considerably. Apparently, the very act of seeing someone situated at their keyboard increased the belief that they were working hard.

Visual clues are critically important. The more contact we have with another human being (assuming that they are basically trustworthy), the easier it is to trust them. One could even hypothesize that at some unconscious level, our sense of smell plays a part in what has to be seen as primarily an emotionally (psychologically) based decision.

Sound or voice quality is less effective than visual clues. When we know someone only due to our telephone interaction with them, we develop less personal or positive feelings than when we actually sit across the table from them.

We also have the variable of “low-context” and “high-context” cultures. Low context cultures are those in which business is conducted without developing personal relationships. This is akin to our decision to buy something from a discount or big box store. High context cultures are those in which relationships are developed long before the business discussions commence. You might relate this to your decision to work with a consultant, or a decorator, or even shopping regularly in a small private boutique store. This adds another dimension to the problems of building trust between people here in the states and their counterparts in Asia or other parts of the world.

Given these problems, here are my top seven tips to developing trust in distant teams:

1. Allow members of the team to take the time to get to know each other on a somewhat personal level.

2. Have in-house discussions, at all locations, about what is proper to ask and discuss and what crosses the line into intrusive or inappropriate.

3. Share pictures – not only of the staff, but also of their families. Most people are family-oriented and grow to like (and trust) each other when they start to see pictures of their children and to hear stories about them.

4. Send your managers to the locations of their team members whenever possible. Although this is an expense, the potential value in developing trust, respect, and therefore greater levels of understanding and productivity is immeasurable.

5. Teach cultural diversity. Let the people in the various locations around the world learn as much as possible about the behaviors, customs, and expectations of those in other areas with whom they work.

6. If you have telecommuters who can be brought into the office once or twice a month, be sure to have as many face-to-face meetings as possible with them.

7. Use videoconferences and video-cams where feasible.

In other words, break some of the old rules that demand full focus on work related conversations only. Take the time and create the structure that enables people to develop relationships that lead to trust. This leads to cooperation, understanding, and higher productivity and creativity.

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Everyone in life wants to be a success. Success is a state of mind. You are able because you think you are able!

Different people perceive success differently at different points in their lives. When you are younger you identify success with a high flying career and oodles of disposable income. On the flipside, as you grow older you are more susceptible to fall prey to the fallacy of success being the proportional to your social standing.

Whatever your definition is, it sure is susceptible to change and there’s always scope for improvement.

One thing that is common amongst everyone is that everyone wants to be successful and conforms to the fact that there’s nothing so fulfilling in life!

Just take time out and think what success actually means to you. Jot down your definition of success in the space below or on a piece of paper. Think hard and think clear. Make sure you are specific.

Do not carry on reading this until you have done so.

If you haven’t filled in the above space do it now! Don’t cheat yourself! A number of factors influence your definition of success.

How is your definition of success formed?

- Your upbringing
- Your beliefs
- Your traits
- Your attitude
- Your peers
- Society
- The crests and troughs you have been

Subconsciously you have encompassed all of the above factors while putting down what success means to you.

All of the above will contribute as to what success means to you.

Success is not necessarily achieving every goal you set, but how enriched you came out striving to achieve it. Don’t shun your mistakes; take them in your stride because these are nothing but valuable life lessons, which in hindsight look like golden words of advice thrown at you by life itself.

There is a myth that states that people are born winners or born losers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There are techniques, methods and ways of behaving that will enable and help you to succeed. Certain latent attributes can determine whether you will succeed or not. These are not attributes you need to inculcate; we all have them. All you need is a little clarity of thought and voila the revelations will rain in!

You owe it to yourself to get the most out of your life. The worst thing that you can do is to look back in 40 or 50 years time and say, ‘I wish I had done this’ or ‘I wish I had done that’

So don’t shy away from treading where your heart is set! Making sure, you are in the right career will solve half of your life’s problems.

If you feel life hasn’t been too fair with you, don’t lose hope it’s never too late to make a stint in the marathon called life, just needs a little revving up, and you have come to the right place!

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No matter if you are renting or buying your home, everyone ends up with a clogged kitchen sink once in a while. Hiring a plumber to take care of a job can be expensive. There are several techniques you can use before you call in an expert.

It is wise to have some kind of drain cleaner on hand and to use it regularly to clean your pipes. This will prevent a completely clogged drain. Whether is a completely clogged drain or just a partial clog, your first remedy should be a plunger. These are easily found in several hardware stores and should be a part of your household tools. A plunger uses suction and pressure to loosen a clog. To make your job easier, coat the outer rim with petroleum jelly.

Start by placing the plunger over the drain, making sure the bowl or sink is filled with some water. Vigorously work the plunger up and down several times. When the clog has been removed, water should rush out of the bowl or toilet.

As talked about, having a drain cleaner on hand can be very useful. This should be your second course of action. Remove any standing water from the basin. Be sure to follow all directions on the cleaner bottle. Let the cleaner sit for several hours or even overnight before rinsing it away. If the drain is still clogged, flush the drain with very hot water and repeat.

If by chance the above methods fail, you can check the U-trap. This is part of the pipe that is shaped like a “U” is located under the sink. There will be a plug that you can unscrew with a wrench. Be sure to have a bucket to catch excess water. Take a piece of wire to scrub the inside of the trap, put new gaskets on to maintain a watertight seal.

If none of these procedures work, call the plumber. You may have a more severe problem that a plumber will be more capable of handling.

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