tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8250237476473458838.post5404481777804898342..comments2023-04-20T08:58:35.362+01:00Comments on Thinking Practice: Eclecticism and the creative case for diversityMark Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228485200990607961noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8250237476473458838.post-7728160128800152272013-02-20T18:24:27.328+00:002013-02-20T18:24:27.328+00:00Oh no, first I inadvertently spread fear, now guil...Oh no, first I inadvertently spread fear, now guilt. What next? (I go quiet, perhaps.)<br /><br />I think one thing which was good about the way the organisers set these sessions up was that they were not consultation events, but conversation in and of themselves, exploring the themes in whatever way people felt best. Consultation has its place, but is essentially about testing or diagnosing rather than listening and exploring. I think it is best done as a mutual learning experience - and can be done in ways that make that more likely - but rarely is. The listening and sharing has to be multi-directional, I think, which is why Open Space can be useful.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments. Mark Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15228485200990607961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8250237476473458838.post-32110366622334276892013-02-20T09:09:31.041+00:002013-02-20T09:09:31.041+00:00Thanks. I can't really comment more because I ...Thanks. I can't really comment more because I didn't attend - I can't remember hearing anything about it until reading your post, but I still managed to feel guilty!<br /><br />In the past year I've attended several other, similar events though. If this one was as structured as you say, I guess it had a greater chance of being constructive compared to most of the ones I've been to, where I was led to believe I might learn something as part of the consultation process, only to find that, in return for tea and biscuits, attendees were in fact there to provide all the answers. On the whole I've come away with the feeling that the events were pure tick box exercises. And the biscuits weren't great either... ;)f:luxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13783572597289061149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8250237476473458838.post-28676877695232810002013-02-19T15:40:02.091+00:002013-02-19T15:40:02.091+00:00Of course, those are other potential reasons, yes,...Of course, those are other potential reasons, yes, and maybe it does sound a bit harsh. It's impossible to make sure everyone hears about something, although I know all the NPOs in the North East were invited, probably repeatedly. And of course diaries can get in the way too.The events were free, btw, although time is often more precious.Mark Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15228485200990607961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8250237476473458838.post-21318780306321325892013-02-19T12:58:07.605+00:002013-02-19T12:58:07.605+00:00Hello, your opening suggestion that any orgs not a...Hello, your opening suggestion that any orgs not attending these events may have thought themselves somehow above this sort of thing is a bit harsh, no? Other explanations include perhaps not knowing about them, not being able to afford the time and/or cost of attending.f:luxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13783572597289061149noreply@blogger.com