SoL Conference Post #1

This week I had the opportunity to attend The Society of Organizational Learning's (SoL) Leading and Learning for Sustainability Conference in Portland, Oregon. The conference was lead by Peter Senge, an MIT professor who wrote The Fifth Discipline and The Necessary Revolution. Senge was also named as one of the 24 people who had "the greatest influence on business strategy over the last 100 years" by the Journal of Business Strategy. Needless to say, this week was an awesome opportunity. Not only to learn more about sustainability and systemic thinking but also to have a chance to learn different listening and visioning practices. This conference happened one year after I graduated college and that I believe is really significant. I'm going to be doing several posts on the teachings and personal applications of this week. I hope it inspires dialoguge and personal reflection for everyone who reads it.

The program objectives where:

1. Deepen connection to source of generative leadership through clarity of vision and purpose and personal sustainability.
2. Appreciate relationship between interior development and external action.
3. Balance between intiating and sustaining systemic change in the long term and building momentum now.

We talk about the difference between "leadership" and "boss-ship." Something I learned is that the original meaning of "leadership" is the ability to help others step over the threshold. Whatever that threshold may be. Over the next three days, I learned that the language we use is very important and that I need to work on selecting the right words to use. Before I had just been concerned with getting my message out there, however, now I've come to realize I need to spend more time on picking my vocabulary wisely. We talked about how the word "sustainability" is not equal to the ability to care and is just an umbrella term for a lot of different things and has a different meaning to individuals. Following that discussion, we talked about if good leaders are born or made. Peter Senge pointed out that your point of view on that question sets up your view on your own personal development. George Marshall, one of only three five star generals in the US Army once said, "Great leaders are born, then made."

We then got into small groups and did our first "check in practice." Called What Do I Stand For, in which in small groups of complete strangers shared what we stand for. Here is what I came up with for myself:

I stand for:

• God
• Human rights issues, particularily around adsocent girls and water rights
• Curiosity and always asking questions
• Social media tools and hearing people's stories

What do you stand for?

Books, Books, Books

I love to read. I love learning. I love the way books feel. I love how they can transport me to different places. I can't wait until I have my own place and I can go to Goodwill, Ikea, hit up garage sales, and Craigslist to get tons of bookshelves to rescue my extensive collection of books from the attic. I'm also one of those people who can be reading more than one book at a time. What are you reading right now you might be asking. Here is what I'm currently working on:

1. A Lion Among Men, by Gregory Maguire, the guy who wrote Wicked. Which is by far my favorite book by Maguire (Wicked that is). This one (A Lion Among Men) is the story of Brr, the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. Once I finish this one, I just need to read Lost, and I'm all caught up with Maguire's writing. Anyone want to let me borrow it? This is my right before bed, read a couple of pages then fall asleep book. [Just checked on Amazon.com, looks like Maguire is coming out with a new book...better get going].

2. The Necessary Revolution, by Peter Senge. This one I'm reading for work, Peter is friend's with my boss, Darcy Winslow, and she is actually quoted in the book! Crazy. I pretty much only read this book while riding to and from work on Max or when I'm waiting for something to happen in the office. Just started reading it. It is helping me wrap my head around this whole "sustainability" thing that I do...

3. Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. My mom loves getting books on CD to listen to on her way to/from work as well. Which I love because I load them up on my iPod and listen to them on Max when I can't sit down and actually read. I've listened to Gladwell's other book Blink. Which I loved! I also want to read (or listen) to Gladwell's other book, The Tipping Point. Once again, anyone own it and want to let me borrow it?

What are you reading right now? Why?