Hi Everyone...
I'm finally signing on to the blog. (thanks Neeraj!) I just wanted to say how great it is to be
communicating with you all.....can't wait to see what we create!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Mandy/Cliff e-mail Exchange Re Use of Values Assessment Tool for Offsite
Hi Mandy. Sorry we’re having a hard time coming together. I’ve responded to your questions below. Where I am on whether to use the tool or not at this point is generally “I’m on the fencepost.” I’m not married to the idea of using it, certainly. Below I’ve played devil’s advocate on both sides of the question. I hope you find this thinking useful in the absence of a more fluid telephone discussion.
MANDY Question 1
1 - the values assessment looks like a tool for culture change. From the examples I've seen I am having a hard time imagining how it would be helpful to a group that's establishing something brand-new. I imagine you have some ideas about that. I'd like to hear your thoughts.
CLIFF Answer
You are correct, and…yes, I have some thoughts. It has great use as a culture change tool, which is a common and recognized need in organizations (and so a good marketing approach). However, what it is, essentially and simply, is a values assessment (change effort pending or not) which helps individuals, groups, teams, and organizations identify “what is” at any given moment in time. It has great use in the forming stage of organizations, for example, as a tool used pre-mergers (a term I detest b/c mergers are often described as “merger of equals” which is BS – one or the other is acquiring the other, but I digress). In the “merger” example, you have two groups with established cultures coming together to form one entity. It’s extremely useful to identify in that case who brings what values to the table for the new culture, and to acknowledge those strengths. And of course, the Desired Culture is a great place to start a conversation about how to create that vision for a newly forming post-“merger” organization. In a way, we’re a bunch of individuals merging. When I read Sartaj’s note on the google group today, I was aware that we are already having a discussion about individual values (what we bring and the Current Culture embodied by values we think we are seeing, hearing, and feeling). Let me pull a piece from Sartaj’s message to illustrate:
“ One "fear" I have heard from some is whether this is too "spiritual" to be successful in a "material" world. We need to fuse the material- spiritual to achieve perfection with this effort. In that context, I am all for using the existing best management/governance practices, operational processes and technology to get to where we would like to.”
One benefit of assessing values is that it would identify and illustrate this perceived imbalance if it exists, very powerfully. We might see a concentration of values in Levels 5-7 and a lower concentration of values (and perhaps some potentially limiting values) in the Levels 1-3 if we were exclusively spiritually focused. Also, it would be useful to compare the consolidated Personal Values with the Desired Culture. The discussion then, becomes more focused (values, while ambiguous in some ways, are still measurable by consensus) and the group can have very focused and meaningful conversations about what these words mean and how to achieve “full spectrum consciousness.”
MANDY QUESTION 2
2 - I'm wondering if the tool might be more useful once we've made some calls about who's participating and at what level. It strikes me as a very defining sort of activity. I'm not sure this is the right time in the group's history to get to that level of specificity. Maybe it would be more useful once there is an established core group who is definitely in and ready to define things at a further level of detail.
CLIFF Answer 2
This is a great insight and it’s certainly one way to proceed. Another way to look at it is that we’re all making a certain commitment and investment to come together around an idea. While I want to avoid sounding like a sales-person for this tool, it may provide a useful way to get important information “out” for focused discussions about “what is” and what the desired future is so that individual can make educated decisions for themselves about whether or not to participate.
MANDY Question 3
3 - in your experience, how does the analytical nature of the tool fit with the distinctly non-analytical nature of "values"? I don't know if this question makes sense... might be an easier one to discuss in conversation rather than in print.
CLIFF Answer 3
No, I completely get your question and it’s brilliant. You are so right, values are very personal and non-analytical. “Accountability” in one culture or organizational system as compared to another may look very different. However, the tool provides a way to direct energy around common terms, from which individuals, teams, and organizations embark on a language clarification process around key terms. This process in and of itself, has the effect of surfacing and dealing with underlying assumptions and beliefs, and creating improved intentionality for decisions and actions. In some ways, again, this is already happening in ad hoc discussions in our common blog/google groups space. For example, Sartaj, in his recent communication surfaced the paradox of structure and emergence regarding how the agenda will be treated:
“Now on the specifics of the agenda vs. open-space (not sure if this is what it is officially called) my philosophical view is to hold the paradox of "intentionality" and "letting-go" (or not being attached to a process or outcome) in operation. (I met a terrific person at a strozzi course this past week who is a quaker and I was fascinated to hear about how they stay silent in their meetings till they "quake" and are called by the Divine-my word, to channel God's message.)
How about us all holding a very structured intention (which is to decide whether one is in or out of Begumpura for now) and an agenda that has a lot of space for what Mike is saying (be quiet and see what emerges) but also makes sure we address some key questions (in a very rationalistic, conventional but "open to the flow" way) that people want to know answers to (at least directional answers) before they are ready to commit to make this a go? I also like Mandy's notion of touching base every so often to see where we are individually and what questions we are sitting in that will help drive us to our decision.”
I guess this makes me question doing a values assessment if we are already surfacing values and fears – in ways that are transparent. We’re not that large a group and the blog/communications/retreat may be serving the purpose of language and values clarification just fine. Personally, I’m intrigued by the conversations that are happening already. My experience in most organizations -- new and mature -- is that there isn’t the level of honesty present that we seem to have (and honesty involves competing values of “candor” and “diplomacy”). One example of this is how the issue of balancing tangibles and intangible considerations such as mission/spirituality AND reality/material considerations. This process along is surfacing our need to manage a key polarity around a value of traditional “tight” approach to “taking care of business” and a more “loose” emergent approach that sets us apart from the norm. The upside of the value of “tight” is that we have CLARITY. The upside of “loose” is we have FLEXIBILITY. However, there are legitimate fears expressed regarding the downside of the “tight” approach – that we aren’t unique or that we’re acting rigid – not the desired spirit for Begumpura. There are also fears that being overly emergent and spiritual could lead to us being an ambiguous group of naïve daydreamers. Every organization deals with this polarity (more or less well), and we seem to approaching it head on. For me, this is the biggest reason not to proceed with an assessment in the short-term is that we’re essentially assessing our values openly on an ongoing basis.
Gotta run for now. I hope this helps in the time before our call!
Cliff
MANDY Question 1
1 - the values assessment looks like a tool for culture change. From the examples I've seen I am having a hard time imagining how it would be helpful to a group that's establishing something brand-new. I imagine you have some ideas about that. I'd like to hear your thoughts.
CLIFF Answer
You are correct, and…yes, I have some thoughts. It has great use as a culture change tool, which is a common and recognized need in organizations (and so a good marketing approach). However, what it is, essentially and simply, is a values assessment (change effort pending or not) which helps individuals, groups, teams, and organizations identify “what is” at any given moment in time. It has great use in the forming stage of organizations, for example, as a tool used pre-mergers (a term I detest b/c mergers are often described as “merger of equals” which is BS – one or the other is acquiring the other, but I digress). In the “merger” example, you have two groups with established cultures coming together to form one entity. It’s extremely useful to identify in that case who brings what values to the table for the new culture, and to acknowledge those strengths. And of course, the Desired Culture is a great place to start a conversation about how to create that vision for a newly forming post-“merger” organization. In a way, we’re a bunch of individuals merging. When I read Sartaj’s note on the google group today, I was aware that we are already having a discussion about individual values (what we bring and the Current Culture embodied by values we think we are seeing, hearing, and feeling). Let me pull a piece from Sartaj’s message to illustrate:
“ One "fear" I have heard from some is whether this is too "spiritual" to be successful in a "material" world. We need to fuse the material- spiritual to achieve perfection with this effort. In that context, I am all for using the existing best management/governance practices, operational processes and technology to get to where we would like to.”
One benefit of assessing values is that it would identify and illustrate this perceived imbalance if it exists, very powerfully. We might see a concentration of values in Levels 5-7 and a lower concentration of values (and perhaps some potentially limiting values) in the Levels 1-3 if we were exclusively spiritually focused. Also, it would be useful to compare the consolidated Personal Values with the Desired Culture. The discussion then, becomes more focused (values, while ambiguous in some ways, are still measurable by consensus) and the group can have very focused and meaningful conversations about what these words mean and how to achieve “full spectrum consciousness.”
MANDY QUESTION 2
2 - I'm wondering if the tool might be more useful once we've made some calls about who's participating and at what level. It strikes me as a very defining sort of activity. I'm not sure this is the right time in the group's history to get to that level of specificity. Maybe it would be more useful once there is an established core group who is definitely in and ready to define things at a further level of detail.
CLIFF Answer 2
This is a great insight and it’s certainly one way to proceed. Another way to look at it is that we’re all making a certain commitment and investment to come together around an idea. While I want to avoid sounding like a sales-person for this tool, it may provide a useful way to get important information “out” for focused discussions about “what is” and what the desired future is so that individual can make educated decisions for themselves about whether or not to participate.
MANDY Question 3
3 - in your experience, how does the analytical nature of the tool fit with the distinctly non-analytical nature of "values"? I don't know if this question makes sense... might be an easier one to discuss in conversation rather than in print.
CLIFF Answer 3
No, I completely get your question and it’s brilliant. You are so right, values are very personal and non-analytical. “Accountability” in one culture or organizational system as compared to another may look very different. However, the tool provides a way to direct energy around common terms, from which individuals, teams, and organizations embark on a language clarification process around key terms. This process in and of itself, has the effect of surfacing and dealing with underlying assumptions and beliefs, and creating improved intentionality for decisions and actions. In some ways, again, this is already happening in ad hoc discussions in our common blog/google groups space. For example, Sartaj, in his recent communication surfaced the paradox of structure and emergence regarding how the agenda will be treated:
“Now on the specifics of the agenda vs. open-space (not sure if this is what it is officially called) my philosophical view is to hold the paradox of "intentionality" and "letting-go" (or not being attached to a process or outcome) in operation. (I met a terrific person at a strozzi course this past week who is a quaker and I was fascinated to hear about how they stay silent in their meetings till they "quake" and are called by the Divine-my word, to channel God's message.)
How about us all holding a very structured intention (which is to decide whether one is in or out of Begumpura for now) and an agenda that has a lot of space for what Mike is saying (be quiet and see what emerges) but also makes sure we address some key questions (in a very rationalistic, conventional but "open to the flow" way) that people want to know answers to (at least directional answers) before they are ready to commit to make this a go? I also like Mandy's notion of touching base every so often to see where we are individually and what questions we are sitting in that will help drive us to our decision.”
I guess this makes me question doing a values assessment if we are already surfacing values and fears – in ways that are transparent. We’re not that large a group and the blog/communications/retreat may be serving the purpose of language and values clarification just fine. Personally, I’m intrigued by the conversations that are happening already. My experience in most organizations -- new and mature -- is that there isn’t the level of honesty present that we seem to have (and honesty involves competing values of “candor” and “diplomacy”). One example of this is how the issue of balancing tangibles and intangible considerations such as mission/spirituality AND reality/material considerations. This process along is surfacing our need to manage a key polarity around a value of traditional “tight” approach to “taking care of business” and a more “loose” emergent approach that sets us apart from the norm. The upside of the value of “tight” is that we have CLARITY. The upside of “loose” is we have FLEXIBILITY. However, there are legitimate fears expressed regarding the downside of the “tight” approach – that we aren’t unique or that we’re acting rigid – not the desired spirit for Begumpura. There are also fears that being overly emergent and spiritual could lead to us being an ambiguous group of naïve daydreamers. Every organization deals with this polarity (more or less well), and we seem to approaching it head on. For me, this is the biggest reason not to proceed with an assessment in the short-term is that we’re essentially assessing our values openly on an ongoing basis.
Gotta run for now. I hope this helps in the time before our call!
Cliff
Begumpura Conference Call, 3/25 – High-level notes
The call began at 11:00am, Anne started the group off with a meditation, concluding with a request for each person to consider what they were experiencing about the group, and to hold that.
Attendees: Sartaj, Mandy, Gary, Anne, Chris, Jeff, Neeraj, Cliff, Neil, Mike, Kelly, Vikas, Yvonne, Bill
Introductions: The group provided information about themselves and their interest/energy around Begumpura.
NOTE: On the Begumpura blog, each of us has the ability to create a profile that mimics the information we shared yesterday, plus the ability to upload a picture.
REQUEST of Members:
It might be very helpful for other members if we each take a moment to populate this area. May I make a request for each of us to create their bio on the blog by April 20th, to provide all of us the opportunity to refresh our memories from the call in advance of the retreat (and have that information to refer back to later)? Several of our members have already done so – CHECK THEM OUT! (me, Jeff, Vikas, Gary, Neeraj)
To Create your Bio, go to the blog and click on your name under “About The Authors” and click EDIT my Profile
OFFER to Members:
If any of you need assistance, I will be glad to help you get your bio populated, please just contact me, 202/494-2849 or ckayser@xperienceit.com.
Retreat Logistics was discussed
The question of the dinner at Sartaj’s house – was that the beginning of the retreat? Answer, NO. It was an opportunity to meet and travel together, essentially facilitating travel. The official start of the retreat is Sunday morning at 9:00am.
Dates:
April 27th Sunday, 9:00am start
April 29th Tuesday, 2:00pm end
Cost Sharing Questions:
Ivonne agreed to be the accounting person for the group with assistance from Vikas. Ivonne will make any necessary requests on details regarding submission of receipts to be reimbursed, etc.
Key Objectives
1) Get to know each other through a mix of inner and outer focus
2) Look at the issue of commitment to Begumpura
3) Look at capacity and what energies may be missing – gaps
Discussion:
Ambitious agenda – could be difficult to split time on community, structure, revenues, practices, etc.
Question of “commitment” and what allows for confidence to commit at that point
Metaphors: Marriage, dating, internet dating
Hierarchy of needs—easier for some to commit when basic security questions have been answered, easier for others to commit when spiritual questions have been answered
“Progress” contributes to commitment and “reflection” also contributes to commitment
Iterative process, circular that will deepen over time as it evolves
Day one—get to know each other
Cliff, Neil, and Sartaj
Day two—outer focus structure items
Gary, Neeraj and Sartaj
REQUEST of Group—Confirm attendance for the Retreat by March 28th!
Attendees: Sartaj, Mandy, Gary, Anne, Chris, Jeff, Neeraj, Cliff, Neil, Mike, Kelly, Vikas, Yvonne, Bill
Introductions: The group provided information about themselves and their interest/energy around Begumpura.
NOTE: On the Begumpura blog, each of us has the ability to create a profile that mimics the information we shared yesterday, plus the ability to upload a picture.
REQUEST of Members:
It might be very helpful for other members if we each take a moment to populate this area. May I make a request for each of us to create their bio on the blog by April 20th, to provide all of us the opportunity to refresh our memories from the call in advance of the retreat (and have that information to refer back to later)? Several of our members have already done so – CHECK THEM OUT! (me, Jeff, Vikas, Gary, Neeraj)
To Create your Bio, go to the blog and click on your name under “About The Authors” and click EDIT my Profile
OFFER to Members:
If any of you need assistance, I will be glad to help you get your bio populated, please just contact me, 202/494-2849 or ckayser@xperienceit.com.
Retreat Logistics was discussed
The question of the dinner at Sartaj’s house – was that the beginning of the retreat? Answer, NO. It was an opportunity to meet and travel together, essentially facilitating travel. The official start of the retreat is Sunday morning at 9:00am.
Dates:
April 27th Sunday, 9:00am start
April 29th Tuesday, 2:00pm end
Cost Sharing Questions:
Ivonne agreed to be the accounting person for the group with assistance from Vikas. Ivonne will make any necessary requests on details regarding submission of receipts to be reimbursed, etc.
Key Objectives
1) Get to know each other through a mix of inner and outer focus
2) Look at the issue of commitment to Begumpura
3) Look at capacity and what energies may be missing – gaps
Discussion:
Ambitious agenda – could be difficult to split time on community, structure, revenues, practices, etc.
Question of “commitment” and what allows for confidence to commit at that point
Metaphors: Marriage, dating, internet dating
Hierarchy of needs—easier for some to commit when basic security questions have been answered, easier for others to commit when spiritual questions have been answered
“Progress” contributes to commitment and “reflection” also contributes to commitment
Iterative process, circular that will deepen over time as it evolves
Day one—get to know each other
Cliff, Neil, and Sartaj
Day two—outer focus structure items
Gary, Neeraj and Sartaj
REQUEST of Group—Confirm attendance for the Retreat by March 28th!
Monday, March 24, 2008
5 Dynamics
Sartaj mentioned in his email in advance of Tuesday's conference call that I've arranged for the availability of a simple assessment tool from a company called 5 Dynamics (at no charge to us). I was first introduced to this tool in the formative stages of a group of coaches and OD specialists here in Palo Alto. In that group, we found that it can be quite useful in helping members of a group that's forming understand some of the heterogeneity that's present in the group and how that might affect group dynamics. It also has value in understanding how the composition of a group can affect its future ability to execute projects effectively. It also facilitates discussion by providing a shared vocabulary and model.
The 5 Dynamics model is a simple process model. Each "Dynamic" is a phase in the process. Dynamic one is "Explore" - the search for ideas and possibilities. Dynamic two is "Excite" - generate enthusiasm and build support. Dynamic three is "Evaluate" - assess alternatives and create feasible plans. Dynamic four is "Execute". Dynamic five is evaluation - look back and see what you learned. Think of a project as a not-well-defined task to be performed. In this model, creation and launch of Begumpura is a kind of "project". The claim is that availability of sufficient energy for all four dynamics greatly enhances the chances for a successful project.
(For those of you with familiarity of Richard Strozzi-Heckler's concept of the Rhythm of Excitement, the four energy phases in his model appear similar to the first four dynamics in the model underlying the 5 Dynamics tool).
The assessment tool itself is taken on-line and comprises 18 forced-choice questions where you must choose between each of two word pairs. This should take no more than two minutes of your time. The results are available immediately on the 5 Dynamics website. The report generated describes how your energy tends to rise or fall in each of the dynamics. The range is from Extreme (high levels of energy in this dynamic, to the point where you have difficulty leaving it) down to Stress (high levels of stress and anxiety created if you are forced to remain in this dynamic too long). To simplify, the results describe which dynamics you naturally gravitate toward and enjoy, which you can do when you must, and which you find aversive tend to avoid.
In addition to mapping energy onto the four dynamics, the report you'll get gives you a fairly comprehensive narrative description of your learning and working tendencies. Other reports that I can create describe relationship dynamics between specific colleagues or between coach and client. There are also team reports that look at collective energies for the team, based on the results of the individual assessments of team members.
Of course, taking the assessment is completely optional, and the group can decide whether time should be allocated in West Virginia to present and discuss results. On an individual level, the results are easy to interpret. The simplicity of the model and ease with which the results can be interpreted and used are real virtues (certainly compared to something like the MBTI).
I will generate 5Dynamics logins for each of you over the next few days, and you'll each receive an email from 5Dynamics with instructions for logging in and taking the assessment. I'll be notified when each assessment is complete, and I'll subsequently send you some additional background material that I think you'll find useful in understanding the model and results.
The results will all appear in my coaching account on 5Dynamics as well.
Thanks to Leslie Eveland of 5Dynamics for making the tool available to Begumpura retreat participants at no charge.
I'll wait until after the conference call before I do anything further, so please offer your questions or concerns. Plans can change.
Thanks,
Gary Herman
The 5 Dynamics model is a simple process model. Each "Dynamic" is a phase in the process. Dynamic one is "Explore" - the search for ideas and possibilities. Dynamic two is "Excite" - generate enthusiasm and build support. Dynamic three is "Evaluate" - assess alternatives and create feasible plans. Dynamic four is "Execute". Dynamic five is evaluation - look back and see what you learned. Think of a project as a not-well-defined task to be performed. In this model, creation and launch of Begumpura is a kind of "project". The claim is that availability of sufficient energy for all four dynamics greatly enhances the chances for a successful project.
(For those of you with familiarity of Richard Strozzi-Heckler's concept of the Rhythm of Excitement, the four energy phases in his model appear similar to the first four dynamics in the model underlying the 5 Dynamics tool).
The assessment tool itself is taken on-line and comprises 18 forced-choice questions where you must choose between each of two word pairs. This should take no more than two minutes of your time. The results are available immediately on the 5 Dynamics website. The report generated describes how your energy tends to rise or fall in each of the dynamics. The range is from Extreme (high levels of energy in this dynamic, to the point where you have difficulty leaving it) down to Stress (high levels of stress and anxiety created if you are forced to remain in this dynamic too long). To simplify, the results describe which dynamics you naturally gravitate toward and enjoy, which you can do when you must, and which you find aversive tend to avoid.
In addition to mapping energy onto the four dynamics, the report you'll get gives you a fairly comprehensive narrative description of your learning and working tendencies. Other reports that I can create describe relationship dynamics between specific colleagues or between coach and client. There are also team reports that look at collective energies for the team, based on the results of the individual assessments of team members.
Of course, taking the assessment is completely optional, and the group can decide whether time should be allocated in West Virginia to present and discuss results. On an individual level, the results are easy to interpret. The simplicity of the model and ease with which the results can be interpreted and used are real virtues (certainly compared to something like the MBTI).
I will generate 5Dynamics logins for each of you over the next few days, and you'll each receive an email from 5Dynamics with instructions for logging in and taking the assessment. I'll be notified when each assessment is complete, and I'll subsequently send you some additional background material that I think you'll find useful in understanding the model and results.
The results will all appear in my coaching account on 5Dynamics as well.
Thanks to Leslie Eveland of 5Dynamics for making the tool available to Begumpura retreat participants at no charge.
I'll wait until after the conference call before I do anything further, so please offer your questions or concerns. Plans can change.
Thanks,
Gary Herman
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thanks for the feedback on the initial high-level agenda. Here's a more detailed view of how we could potentially spend each day. If you've done something that has worked particularly well in the past please throw it into the mix and we can evaluate it as a group. Below are the suggested activities that have been discussed. We may not do all of them (we may not have time!)
What I'd like to do is get a sense of where your interests and priorities lie. Which seem like the highest value or most important activities to you? There are obviously infinite variations and many ways to go about what we're trying to accomplish, so please keep the end in mind as you evaluate. Which of these will best help us get to the desired end result?
Before you read on, I'd like to point out that there's an alternative approach to this entire project. Rather than plan a detailed agenda in advance, we could all agree to do some deep thinking on the key questions before we arrive, and then just show up and see what emerges naturally. This is far simpler. It is also what my friends who work in applied improv would advise, and they're some of the most brilliant and successful people I know.
Of course, there's also a middle path. We could simply be very, very clear about our objectives and what we are trying to accomplish together in these three days, and then loosely hold a structure without being attached to it, allowing our activities to bend and flex in the moment as circumstances dictate.
More than the specific details, I think it's a good idea for us to agree on our basic approach to how (and whether) we plan to stick to the plan. This is actually probably the most important thing to decide, since it sets expectations and groundrules for how we'll work together.
Daily
morning walk or yoga
morning meditation
downtime, rest, and play
food food food!
check-ins (to help us course correct along the way)
Day 1
Focus on our "inner game." Get to know one another. Aim to arrive at a collective set of values or principles that will guide our actions.
Kickoff - conditions of satisfaction
Preparation: Define the critical few things (2-5) that would make this three days a success for you. Someone compiles the results prior to the retreat.
Action at the retreat: Share the collected results and use that to frame our time together. Determine what agreements or groundrules we need in place in order to work together for these 3 days.
Share spiritual autobiographies
Preparation: write or outline the story of your spiritual development. What are your sources of spiritual inspiration? What does "spirituality" (too often an empty term) mean to you? How has this evolved over time & life circumstances?
Action: each individual shares their story with the group. (You don't need to read what you've written; just come having thought it through so you're prepared to speak about it.) About 10-15 minutes per individual, depending on how many people we have. Discuss and summarize the common themes that arise among us as a group. If necessary we could break into smaller groups to share and find common themes, then come back to the whole group and report.
Values assessment
Preparation: take an online values assessment (about 15 minutes). Cost is $50 per participant. www.valuescenter.com
Action: Cliff, who recommended this option and has used this tool before, has offered to lead us through a 90 minute facilitation based on the data from the results. Cliff says "This piece deals with the "inner" element and would be an excellent "grounding" element for the group."
Begumpura principles
Preparation: all the conversations on day 1
Action: summarize the high-level principles, values, or themes that are common among us and that we can use as a compass for our work with each other and in the world. (Remember, this is not going to be the final word - just the first pass!)
Day 2
Focus on our "outer game." Who are our clients and how do we help them? What services will we offer?
Sartaj knows a facilitator that he has suggested for this day.
Hedgehog concept
Preparation: read the Hedgehog chapter in Good to Great. Answer these questions: what are you deeply passionate about? What can you - and we together - be best in the world at? Someone can collect the results and summarize.
Action: Discuss the collected results. What does that say about what we ought to do together as a collective? If we take passion and excellence as our driving factors, what wants to emerge from this group?
Customer/market focus
Preparation: Who are your clients today? (Demographics) What are the top 3 problems they're trying to solve by coming to you? What clients do you want to serve with Begumpura? What are their top 3 problems? Someone collects & summarizes this information prior to the retreat.
Action: Discuss the results of the summary. What is the world calling for? Who is the target market for Begumpura? What are the unsolved or poorly solved needs in that market?
Offering categories
Preparation: Day 2 discussions
Action: Arrive at the first pass of 3-5 offering categories or buckets with some possible options in each one. (For example, Category: Executive Coaching. Possible offerings: family business, C-level execs, emerging managers.
Day 3
Focus on community/organization and next steps. How will we work together? Who's doing what?
Begumpura Vision
Preparation: previous 2 days
Action: Each individual answers the two questions below, for themselves, including their own hopes, dreams, visions, and lives. Could possibly do a future state visualization as a group. Share answers and identify common themes.
Community
Preparation: gives and gets. What are you prepared to give to this organization? What do you want to get from it?
Action: Talk about our individual gives and gets. How shall we function together as a group from this point forward? Who wants to be involved, and in what manner? What skills do we need, but currently lack?
Next steps
Preparation: previous 2 days
Action: Identify the shortlist of next steps - the critical few things that will keep us moving forward. Assign small teams to tackle follow up on specific questions and action items.
What I'd like to do is get a sense of where your interests and priorities lie. Which seem like the highest value or most important activities to you? There are obviously infinite variations and many ways to go about what we're trying to accomplish, so please keep the end in mind as you evaluate. Which of these will best help us get to the desired end result?
Before you read on, I'd like to point out that there's an alternative approach to this entire project. Rather than plan a detailed agenda in advance, we could all agree to do some deep thinking on the key questions before we arrive, and then just show up and see what emerges naturally. This is far simpler. It is also what my friends who work in applied improv would advise, and they're some of the most brilliant and successful people I know.
Of course, there's also a middle path. We could simply be very, very clear about our objectives and what we are trying to accomplish together in these three days, and then loosely hold a structure without being attached to it, allowing our activities to bend and flex in the moment as circumstances dictate.
More than the specific details, I think it's a good idea for us to agree on our basic approach to how (and whether) we plan to stick to the plan. This is actually probably the most important thing to decide, since it sets expectations and groundrules for how we'll work together.
Daily
morning walk or yoga
morning meditation
downtime, rest, and play
food food food!
check-ins (to help us course correct along the way)
- On a scale of 1-10, how are we doing at meeting your conditions of satisfaction for the retreat?
- What concerns need to be addressed to make it a 10 for you?
- On a scale of 1-10, how ready are you to join forces with Begumpura?
- What concerns need to be addressed to make it a 10 for you?
Day 1
Focus on our "inner game." Get to know one another. Aim to arrive at a collective set of values or principles that will guide our actions.
Kickoff - conditions of satisfaction
Preparation: Define the critical few things (2-5) that would make this three days a success for you. Someone compiles the results prior to the retreat.
Action at the retreat: Share the collected results and use that to frame our time together. Determine what agreements or groundrules we need in place in order to work together for these 3 days.
Share spiritual autobiographies
Preparation: write or outline the story of your spiritual development. What are your sources of spiritual inspiration? What does "spirituality" (too often an empty term) mean to you? How has this evolved over time & life circumstances?
Action: each individual shares their story with the group. (You don't need to read what you've written; just come having thought it through so you're prepared to speak about it.) About 10-15 minutes per individual, depending on how many people we have. Discuss and summarize the common themes that arise among us as a group. If necessary we could break into smaller groups to share and find common themes, then come back to the whole group and report.
Values assessment
Preparation: take an online values assessment (about 15 minutes). Cost is $50 per participant. www.valuescenter.com
Action: Cliff, who recommended this option and has used this tool before, has offered to lead us through a 90 minute facilitation based on the data from the results. Cliff says "This piece deals with the "inner" element and would be an excellent "grounding" element for the group."
Begumpura principles
Preparation: all the conversations on day 1
Action: summarize the high-level principles, values, or themes that are common among us and that we can use as a compass for our work with each other and in the world. (Remember, this is not going to be the final word - just the first pass!)
Day 2
Focus on our "outer game." Who are our clients and how do we help them? What services will we offer?
Sartaj knows a facilitator that he has suggested for this day.
Hedgehog concept
Preparation: read the Hedgehog chapter in Good to Great. Answer these questions: what are you deeply passionate about? What can you - and we together - be best in the world at? Someone can collect the results and summarize.
Action: Discuss the collected results. What does that say about what we ought to do together as a collective? If we take passion and excellence as our driving factors, what wants to emerge from this group?
Customer/market focus
Preparation: Who are your clients today? (Demographics) What are the top 3 problems they're trying to solve by coming to you? What clients do you want to serve with Begumpura? What are their top 3 problems? Someone collects & summarizes this information prior to the retreat.
Action: Discuss the results of the summary. What is the world calling for? Who is the target market for Begumpura? What are the unsolved or poorly solved needs in that market?
Offering categories
Preparation: Day 2 discussions
Action: Arrive at the first pass of 3-5 offering categories or buckets with some possible options in each one. (For example, Category: Executive Coaching. Possible offerings: family business, C-level execs, emerging managers.
Day 3
Focus on community/organization and next steps. How will we work together? Who's doing what?
Begumpura Vision
Preparation: previous 2 days
Action: Each individual answers the two questions below, for themselves, including their own hopes, dreams, visions, and lives. Could possibly do a future state visualization as a group. Share answers and identify common themes.
- If Begumpura was hugely successful (a 10, on a 1-10 scale), what would that look like to you? What would be your ideal role in that success? (Possible future state visualization?)
- If Begumpura ends up a spectacular failure in your eyes, what would that look like? What caused it to fail? What is the impact to you of that failure?
Community
Preparation: gives and gets. What are you prepared to give to this organization? What do you want to get from it?
Action: Talk about our individual gives and gets. How shall we function together as a group from this point forward? Who wants to be involved, and in what manner? What skills do we need, but currently lack?
Next steps
Preparation: previous 2 days
Action: Identify the shortlist of next steps - the critical few things that will keep us moving forward. Assign small teams to tackle follow up on specific questions and action items.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Begumpura Exploration Retreat - Draft Agenda from Mandy
Primary Objective: Determine who is in (and not) for the next phase(s)
To achieve this objective, we need to:
Get to know each other, and,
Begin to characterize what Begumpura is and will be
To accomplish this, what questions do we need to answer?
1 – who are we as individuals? As people and as professionals?
2 – what are the basic values or spiritual underpinnings that will guide us?
3 – what are we actually going to DO together - what does this look like in action?
Suggested Timeline
Day 1 – focus on our "inner game." Get to know one another. Aim to arrive at a collective set of values or principles that will guide our actions.
Day 2 – focus on our "outer game." Who are our clients and how do we help them? What services will we offer?
Day 3 – focus on community/organization and next steps. How will we work together? Who's doing what?
Additional Thoughts
We should each plan on doing some preparation prior to the retreat. This may involve writing, answering questions, filling out online surveys, or reading articles. The aim is to come well prepared, having thought in advance about what each of the key questions means to us as individuals.
We need to bear in mind that initial meeting is only a first pass and is meant to be iterative. We definitely won't get all the answers in three short days. We should expect to reach a few critical high-level conclusions at the retreat, and then do further work to continue clarifying and fleshing out the details over the coming months.
The agenda is ambitious. We need to leave time to breathe, process, digest, and develop relationships. Ample breaks, open space, and unscheduled time should be built into the schedule. We'll need time to just relax together and play.
To help us adjust our plans & conversations on the fly, let's build in a regular check-in – once or twice a day – to answer these questions:
- On a scale of 1-10, how ready are you to join forces with Begumpura?
- What concerns need to be addressed to make it a 10 for you?
---------
Sartaj and I have discussed specific activities for each day, but before I share those suggestions, I'd like to gather some feedback on how this basic structure looks. What aspects do you agree with? What seems to be missing? I'll post the specific agenda ideas in a day or two. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Mandy
To achieve this objective, we need to:
Get to know each other, and,
Begin to characterize what Begumpura is and will be
To accomplish this, what questions do we need to answer?
1 – who are we as individuals? As people and as professionals?
2 – what are the basic values or spiritual underpinnings that will guide us?
3 – what are we actually going to DO together - what does this look like in action?
Suggested Timeline
Day 1 – focus on our "inner game." Get to know one another. Aim to arrive at a collective set of values or principles that will guide our actions.
Day 2 – focus on our "outer game." Who are our clients and how do we help them? What services will we offer?
Day 3 – focus on community/organization and next steps. How will we work together? Who's doing what?
Additional Thoughts
We should each plan on doing some preparation prior to the retreat. This may involve writing, answering questions, filling out online surveys, or reading articles. The aim is to come well prepared, having thought in advance about what each of the key questions means to us as individuals.
We need to bear in mind that initial meeting is only a first pass and is meant to be iterative. We definitely won't get all the answers in three short days. We should expect to reach a few critical high-level conclusions at the retreat, and then do further work to continue clarifying and fleshing out the details over the coming months.
The agenda is ambitious. We need to leave time to breathe, process, digest, and develop relationships. Ample breaks, open space, and unscheduled time should be built into the schedule. We'll need time to just relax together and play.
To help us adjust our plans & conversations on the fly, let's build in a regular check-in – once or twice a day – to answer these questions:
- On a scale of 1-10, how ready are you to join forces with Begumpura?
- What concerns need to be addressed to make it a 10 for you?
---------
Sartaj and I have discussed specific activities for each day, but before I share those suggestions, I'd like to gather some feedback on how this basic structure looks. What aspects do you agree with? What seems to be missing? I'll post the specific agenda ideas in a day or two. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Mandy
Monday, March 10, 2008
Thanks!
Sure appreciate you getting this set up, Neeraj! And thanks for all the flurry of activity, everyone. Looking forward to our call on 3/25.
Retreat Logistics #4 -- Driving Directions to "Kayser Ridge"
Directions to “Kayser Ridge”
375 Breakthrough Lane
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Cliff’s CELLPHONE: 202/494-2849
Maryland Route
· CAPITAL BELTWAY / I-495 N toward FREDERICK / BALTIMORE. 1.5 miles
· Merge onto I-270 SPUR N via EXIT 38 on the LEFT toward ROCKVILLE / FREDERICK. 2.0 miles
· I-270 SPUR N becomes I-270 N. 29.1 miles
· Merge onto I-70 W toward HAGERSTOWN. 52.3 miles
· Merge onto US-522 S via EXIT 1B on the LEFT toward HANCOCK / WINCHESTER.
· Continue through Berkeley Springs, go approx. 10 miles – Pass Cacapon State Park, go another mile or so
· You will approach a sharp turn at the State Fish Hatchery – SLOW DOWN, YOU’RE ABOUT TO TURN INTO “MORGAN’S RIDGE” directly across the street on the right (there’s a big blue house across the street—if you passed it, you’ve missed the entrance)
· Enter Morgan’s Ridge and take a left on Breakthrough Lane.
· Follow Breakthrough Lane until you see a fork in the road (Breakthrough Way) -- STAY TO THE LEFT— Proceed up the hill.
· When you see a RED GATE, you’re there (I don’t have the #375 anywhere yet). If you’re not comfortable driving up the hill, call my cell 202/494-2849 and I’ll shuttle you up.
Virginia Route via DC
· 66 West for about 75 miles
· 81N to Winchester
· Look for the Berkeley Springs / Romney Exit 310, take it, you should be on Rt. 37 North
· Pass Winchester Hospital on the right and take the next exit for Berkeley Springs, Rt 522
· Follow Rt. 522, pass Shawnee Springs Market on the right (good pies), keep going and pass Liberty gas station (no pies, but subs and pizza)
· Cross the WV line and look to the left—the part of the mountain to the right of the telephone wires is Kayser Ridge! Keep going and slow down when you see signs for the State Fish Hatchery. When you see a big blue house, turn LEFT into the parking lot across from it—that’s Morgan’s Ridge
· Enter Morgan’s Ridge and at the first opportunity to turn left, do it --it’s Breakthrough Lane.
· Follow Breakthrough Lane until you see a fork in the road (Breakthrough Way) -- STAY TO THE LEFT— Proceed up the hill.
· When you see a RED GATE, you’re there (I don’t have the #375 anywhere yet). If you’re not comfortable driving up the hill, call my cell 202/494-2849 and I’ll shuttle you up.
375 Breakthrough Lane
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Cliff’s CELLPHONE: 202/494-2849
Maryland Route
· CAPITAL BELTWAY / I-495 N toward FREDERICK / BALTIMORE. 1.5 miles
· Merge onto I-270 SPUR N via EXIT 38 on the LEFT toward ROCKVILLE / FREDERICK. 2.0 miles
· I-270 SPUR N becomes I-270 N. 29.1 miles
· Merge onto I-70 W toward HAGERSTOWN. 52.3 miles
· Merge onto US-522 S via EXIT 1B on the LEFT toward HANCOCK / WINCHESTER.
· Continue through Berkeley Springs, go approx. 10 miles – Pass Cacapon State Park, go another mile or so
· You will approach a sharp turn at the State Fish Hatchery – SLOW DOWN, YOU’RE ABOUT TO TURN INTO “MORGAN’S RIDGE” directly across the street on the right (there’s a big blue house across the street—if you passed it, you’ve missed the entrance)
· Enter Morgan’s Ridge and take a left on Breakthrough Lane.
· Follow Breakthrough Lane until you see a fork in the road (Breakthrough Way) -- STAY TO THE LEFT— Proceed up the hill.
· When you see a RED GATE, you’re there (I don’t have the #375 anywhere yet). If you’re not comfortable driving up the hill, call my cell 202/494-2849 and I’ll shuttle you up.
Virginia Route via DC
· 66 West for about 75 miles
· 81N to Winchester
· Look for the Berkeley Springs / Romney Exit 310, take it, you should be on Rt. 37 North
· Pass Winchester Hospital on the right and take the next exit for Berkeley Springs, Rt 522
· Follow Rt. 522, pass Shawnee Springs Market on the right (good pies), keep going and pass Liberty gas station (no pies, but subs and pizza)
· Cross the WV line and look to the left—the part of the mountain to the right of the telephone wires is Kayser Ridge! Keep going and slow down when you see signs for the State Fish Hatchery. When you see a big blue house, turn LEFT into the parking lot across from it—that’s Morgan’s Ridge
· Enter Morgan’s Ridge and at the first opportunity to turn left, do it --it’s Breakthrough Lane.
· Follow Breakthrough Lane until you see a fork in the road (Breakthrough Way) -- STAY TO THE LEFT— Proceed up the hill.
· When you see a RED GATE, you’re there (I don’t have the #375 anywhere yet). If you’re not comfortable driving up the hill, call my cell 202/494-2849 and I’ll shuttle you up.
Retreat Logistics #3--Lodging and Food
Hello all, Cliff here...I know some of you, and can’t wait to meet the rest of you!
I want to provide a bit of information and seek information regarding lodging and food, respectively. For the time being, I will do as Vikas has done, which is to provide this information both via e-mail and blog, until we are sure all are using the blog. Below, you will see "here's what I need" so please respond to me directly regarding these items. Thanks!
Lodging
Some information about accommodations is available on my website, http://www.xperienceit.com/. The following information may be helpful to you all to get a feel for what the space offers:
- Master Bedroom has a full bathroom, three separate sleeping areas w/queen size beds (one is a loft reachable by ladder), a sleeper sofa, and plenty of floorspace for air mattresses/futon arrangements – for “overflow” participants. (Capacity potential =APPROX. 4-6)
- Second Bedroom also has a full bathroom, a queen sized bed, and a sleeper sofa(Capacity potential=APPROX. 2-3)
-Loft (semi-private, above the Great Room) has a full bathroom, a queen-sized bed and a sleeper sofa, and private patio (Capacity potential =APPROX. 2-3)
-Great Room (semi-private and has access to the bathroom adjacent to the Second Bedroom) has 2 sleeper sofas and a “sleepable sofa” (Capacity potential=APPROX. 2-3)
-Lower Level. This is the Conference Room which has a separate room for breakout space, both of which convert to sleeping areas in the evening. The Lower Level has a full bathroom, queen-sized bed, two sleeper-sofas, a sleepable sofa, its own kitchen, and plenty of floorspace for air mattresses/futon arrangements – for “overflow” participants (Capacity potential =APPROX. 4-5)
(TOTAL Capacity=APPROX. 20)
Notes regarding Lodging:
-Most often, the women get the Master Bedroom and Second Bedroom and the men get the Loft, Lower Level and/or Great Rooms.
All accommodations are shared (-- I like to provide this reminder!)
-Most of the basics in the way of toiletries, sheets/towels/washcloths/etc., are available onsite. However, it would be helpful for those traveling locally to bring your own pillows, towels, sheets, etc. (I have a retreat immediately following Begumpura, so for me, this is expecially helpful)
-The site uses a septic system, which means certain items like paper towels, etc. should never be flushed -- please utilize trashcans.
-The wind on “The Ridge” tends to pick-up suddenly, so if any of the 10 sets of French Doors are opened, they need to be secured with a weighted prop immediately or they risk being slammed-shut and damaged when the wind kicks-up suddenly.
-West Virginia has a reputation for its “red clay mud” so plan your footwear accordingly!
-The temperature and weather has a tendency to vary greatly – think “layers” and what you would want to have in the case of a sudden drop in temperature, rain, or winds.
-We generally try not to wear shoes (particularly muddy boots) in the house – so casual indoor shoes or thick socks or house slippers or the like might come in handy.
--------------------
Food
I have lots of experience providing food for groups that have used the space; the range goes from groups bringing high-end chefs or utilizing catering all the way to groups seeking to keep costs down by “going-it-alone.” We’re doing the later.
For Begumpura I plan to assume the “general chef” role simply because I know the kitchen/grills, etc. It may be helpful for you all to know my philosophy here, which is to “provide the basics in abundance” both in the approach to shopping for food items and to keeping people well-fed and reasonably gastro intestinally-satisfied during the retreat. I accomplish this by keeping things “simple-and-easy” for breakfast and lunch and attempting “restaurant-quality dinners.” I keep a variety of quality snackable/munchables available at all times to ensure there is something available, always. This approach balances maintaining focus on the work at hand, providing reasonable enjoyment of the retreat, and accommodating what is often a wide variety of dietary preferences, vegetarian and non-vegetarian considered. Here’s what you can expect generally:
Breakfasts
-Coffee and teas of exceptional quality
-Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
-Several cereal and milk options (soymilk, 2%, skim, etc.)
-A variety of yogurts
-A variety of breads, bagels and spreads
Lunches
-A variety of “quick-and-heat able-eatable” options (think “Trader Joe’s/Whole Foods oven-ready)
-Pre-made pasta and other salad choices
- Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
- A variety of local freshly-baked pies
Dinners
-Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
-Think GRILL (!) With a cornucopia of meats and meatless options, vegetables
-Pre-made pasta and other salad choices
- A variety of local freshly-baked pies/ice-cream/yogurts/sorbets
Here’s what I need:
-Identify any food allergies that any of you have so that I can properly direct purchases of food for the cooking
-Please identify for me any food preferences you have so that I may direct my purchases
-Consider bringing certain items you want, want to share, or simply “can’t live or be without”
-Offer me any suggestions you have for making the “food” experience better during your stay
-Please send my any general questions or inquiries to ckayser@xperienceit.com
I want to provide a bit of information and seek information regarding lodging and food, respectively. For the time being, I will do as Vikas has done, which is to provide this information both via e-mail and blog, until we are sure all are using the blog. Below, you will see "here's what I need" so please respond to me directly regarding these items. Thanks!
Lodging
Some information about accommodations is available on my website, http://www.xperienceit.com/. The following information may be helpful to you all to get a feel for what the space offers:
- Master Bedroom has a full bathroom, three separate sleeping areas w/queen size beds (one is a loft reachable by ladder), a sleeper sofa, and plenty of floorspace for air mattresses/futon arrangements – for “overflow” participants. (Capacity potential =APPROX. 4-6)
- Second Bedroom also has a full bathroom, a queen sized bed, and a sleeper sofa(Capacity potential=APPROX. 2-3)
-Loft (semi-private, above the Great Room) has a full bathroom, a queen-sized bed and a sleeper sofa, and private patio (Capacity potential =APPROX. 2-3)
-Great Room (semi-private and has access to the bathroom adjacent to the Second Bedroom) has 2 sleeper sofas and a “sleepable sofa” (Capacity potential=APPROX. 2-3)
-Lower Level. This is the Conference Room which has a separate room for breakout space, both of which convert to sleeping areas in the evening. The Lower Level has a full bathroom, queen-sized bed, two sleeper-sofas, a sleepable sofa, its own kitchen, and plenty of floorspace for air mattresses/futon arrangements – for “overflow” participants (Capacity potential =APPROX. 4-5)
(TOTAL Capacity=APPROX. 20)
Notes regarding Lodging:
-Most often, the women get the Master Bedroom and Second Bedroom and the men get the Loft, Lower Level and/or Great Rooms.
All accommodations are shared (-- I like to provide this reminder!)
-Most of the basics in the way of toiletries, sheets/towels/washcloths/etc., are available onsite. However, it would be helpful for those traveling locally to bring your own pillows, towels, sheets, etc. (I have a retreat immediately following Begumpura, so for me, this is expecially helpful)
-The site uses a septic system, which means certain items like paper towels, etc. should never be flushed -- please utilize trashcans.
-The wind on “The Ridge” tends to pick-up suddenly, so if any of the 10 sets of French Doors are opened, they need to be secured with a weighted prop immediately or they risk being slammed-shut and damaged when the wind kicks-up suddenly.
-West Virginia has a reputation for its “red clay mud” so plan your footwear accordingly!
-The temperature and weather has a tendency to vary greatly – think “layers” and what you would want to have in the case of a sudden drop in temperature, rain, or winds.
-We generally try not to wear shoes (particularly muddy boots) in the house – so casual indoor shoes or thick socks or house slippers or the like might come in handy.
--------------------
Food
I have lots of experience providing food for groups that have used the space; the range goes from groups bringing high-end chefs or utilizing catering all the way to groups seeking to keep costs down by “going-it-alone.” We’re doing the later.
For Begumpura I plan to assume the “general chef” role simply because I know the kitchen/grills, etc. It may be helpful for you all to know my philosophy here, which is to “provide the basics in abundance” both in the approach to shopping for food items and to keeping people well-fed and reasonably gastro intestinally-satisfied during the retreat. I accomplish this by keeping things “simple-and-easy” for breakfast and lunch and attempting “restaurant-quality dinners.” I keep a variety of quality snackable/munchables available at all times to ensure there is something available, always. This approach balances maintaining focus on the work at hand, providing reasonable enjoyment of the retreat, and accommodating what is often a wide variety of dietary preferences, vegetarian and non-vegetarian considered. Here’s what you can expect generally:
Breakfasts
-Coffee and teas of exceptional quality
-Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
-Several cereal and milk options (soymilk, 2%, skim, etc.)
-A variety of yogurts
-A variety of breads, bagels and spreads
Lunches
-A variety of “quick-and-heat able-eatable” options (think “Trader Joe’s/Whole Foods oven-ready)
-Pre-made pasta and other salad choices
- Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
- A variety of local freshly-baked pies
Dinners
-Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses
-Think GRILL (!) With a cornucopia of meats and meatless options, vegetables
-Pre-made pasta and other salad choices
- A variety of local freshly-baked pies/ice-cream/yogurts/sorbets
Here’s what I need:
-Identify any food allergies that any of you have so that I can properly direct purchases of food for the cooking
-Please identify for me any food preferences you have so that I may direct my purchases
-Consider bringing certain items you want, want to share, or simply “can’t live or be without”
-Offer me any suggestions you have for making the “food” experience better during your stay
-Please send my any general questions or inquiries to ckayser@xperienceit.com
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Retreat Logistics (#2 - Meeting Supplies Needed)
Hi Everyone -
The purpose of this post is to provide info and solicit input in terms of meeting materials / support needed during the April retreat.
Cliff - Please rectify any errors I make here or provide additional perspective.
Cliff has an LCD projector available on site. There will also be wireless networking on the premises by then so I think it would be a good idea for folks to bring their laptops. There is a giant wall-sized whiteboard available.
I also think it would be a good idea to videotape the proceedings. This has 2 benefits. One, we don't have to worry too much about taking notes. Two, when Time, Newsweek, Businessweek, Fast Company, HBR et al want to run a story in 2010 about Begumpura, we will have good audio-visual fodder to share!
My humble thought on that front is to use the handycam and tripod I have available. I have only seen 60 minute tapes which means we will need about 30 of them, which sounds klunky. I will try to look for longer tapes. Does anybody have any better ideas on how to capture the retreat for posterity? Does anybody have any audio recording solutions instead? I won't be there for Day 1 but if we decide to go with the handycam/tripod approach, I can hand over the stuff to Mike McGinley in Richmond prior to the retreat (with a demo - if needed - on how to use it).
Cliff has a digital camera available which we can use to take pictures (as well as potentially to create a visual record of whiteboard scribbles).
The supplies that I am planning to procure for the retreat include:
Dry Erase markers and Eraser/Duster (for whiteboard wall)
Flip Charts and permanent markers for those
Notebooks and pens/pencils
Post-its
Note cards
Please provide any other ideas for articles / consumables you think we may need to have a productive and stimulating retreat. Can anyone volunteer to bring puzzles or other stress-busters to break the monotony? Who am I kidding - there will be no monotony!
Cheers,
Vikas
The purpose of this post is to provide info and solicit input in terms of meeting materials / support needed during the April retreat.
Cliff - Please rectify any errors I make here or provide additional perspective.
Cliff has an LCD projector available on site. There will also be wireless networking on the premises by then so I think it would be a good idea for folks to bring their laptops. There is a giant wall-sized whiteboard available.
I also think it would be a good idea to videotape the proceedings. This has 2 benefits. One, we don't have to worry too much about taking notes. Two, when Time, Newsweek, Businessweek, Fast Company, HBR et al want to run a story in 2010 about Begumpura, we will have good audio-visual fodder to share!
My humble thought on that front is to use the handycam and tripod I have available. I have only seen 60 minute tapes which means we will need about 30 of them, which sounds klunky. I will try to look for longer tapes. Does anybody have any better ideas on how to capture the retreat for posterity? Does anybody have any audio recording solutions instead? I won't be there for Day 1 but if we decide to go with the handycam/tripod approach, I can hand over the stuff to Mike McGinley in Richmond prior to the retreat (with a demo - if needed - on how to use it).
Cliff has a digital camera available which we can use to take pictures (as well as potentially to create a visual record of whiteboard scribbles).
The supplies that I am planning to procure for the retreat include:
Dry Erase markers and Eraser/Duster (for whiteboard wall)
Flip Charts and permanent markers for those
Notebooks and pens/pencils
Post-its
Note cards
Please provide any other ideas for articles / consumables you think we may need to have a productive and stimulating retreat. Can anyone volunteer to bring puzzles or other stress-busters to break the monotony? Who am I kidding - there will be no monotony!
Cheers,
Vikas
Retreat Logistics (#1 - Plan for 4/26 Saturday)
Folks -
Per my e-mail, I would love to know your responses to the following questions / proposal for logistics for 4/26 (Saturday):
1. Are you okay with the proposal of meeting for dinner at 6 pm and starting the 2 hr drive for the retreat by 8 pm?
2. If you are flying / driving in to the DC area, can you commit to get there in time for the dinner get-together? Please inform me of your arrival details which I plan to put in a spreadsheet.
3. Do you prefer to rent van or carpooling for the drive from DC to WV?
4. Are you willing to volunteer to drive from DC to WV and if so, how many other people do you think your car can accommodate?
Thanks!
Vikas
Per my e-mail, I would love to know your responses to the following questions / proposal for logistics for 4/26 (Saturday):
1. Are you okay with the proposal of meeting for dinner at 6 pm and starting the 2 hr drive for the retreat by 8 pm?
2. If you are flying / driving in to the DC area, can you commit to get there in time for the dinner get-together? Please inform me of your arrival details which I plan to put in a spreadsheet.
3. Do you prefer to rent van or carpooling for the drive from DC to WV?
4. Are you willing to volunteer to drive from DC to WV and if so, how many other people do you think your car can accommodate?
Thanks!
Vikas
Thursday, March 6, 2008
"Star" bucks, lining-up!
Hello all.
I’ve been saying since I started my external consulting practice that “the stars seem to be aligning” for me, and today was no different. I just met Sartaj at a Starbucks in Georgetown and I find myself now between appointments sitting in a Starbucks in Olde Towne Alexandria feeling like there are chapters of my life about to be written through Begumpura! Sartaj and I were supposed to meet for an hour and instead it was three! It could have been more.
Before I jet out of here for my 2:00pm appt., I wanted to respond to a theme from Sartaj's blog and from a part of our conversation today that deals with Individual and Collective -- but from a polarity perspective.
In the relationship between individuals and the collective, there is a tension between the individual desire for freedom and experience of their own uniqueness (value) on the one hand & the collective desire for equality and connectedness (value) on the other hand. If there is an over-focus on the individual to the neglect of the collective, it can lead to inequality between the individuals and isolation of the individual (fear). If there is an over-focus on the collective to the neglect of the individual, it can lead to a loss of individual freedom and excess conformity (fear). This applies to any level of system. The individual (part) could be a person in a family (whole), a family (part) in a community (whole), a country (part) in the UN (whole).
My hope for Begumpura is to be conscious of this energy, and in an effort to create and fulfill the mission, we intentionally and choicefully identify how we create a virtuous cycle based on our higher purpose that helps us achieve the best of individual and collective. The alternative is a fear-based vicious cycle of fighting between the poles or the zero-sum game of one pole “winning” in a fight between the poles, which always results in the downside of whatever the “winning” pole is.
Gotta run for now. I can’t wait to meet you all and to share my retreat facility with you in crisp spring mountain air!
Cliff
I’ve been saying since I started my external consulting practice that “the stars seem to be aligning” for me, and today was no different. I just met Sartaj at a Starbucks in Georgetown and I find myself now between appointments sitting in a Starbucks in Olde Towne Alexandria feeling like there are chapters of my life about to be written through Begumpura! Sartaj and I were supposed to meet for an hour and instead it was three! It could have been more.
Before I jet out of here for my 2:00pm appt., I wanted to respond to a theme from Sartaj's blog and from a part of our conversation today that deals with Individual and Collective -- but from a polarity perspective.
In the relationship between individuals and the collective, there is a tension between the individual desire for freedom and experience of their own uniqueness (value) on the one hand & the collective desire for equality and connectedness (value) on the other hand. If there is an over-focus on the individual to the neglect of the collective, it can lead to inequality between the individuals and isolation of the individual (fear). If there is an over-focus on the collective to the neglect of the individual, it can lead to a loss of individual freedom and excess conformity (fear). This applies to any level of system. The individual (part) could be a person in a family (whole), a family (part) in a community (whole), a country (part) in the UN (whole).
My hope for Begumpura is to be conscious of this energy, and in an effort to create and fulfill the mission, we intentionally and choicefully identify how we create a virtuous cycle based on our higher purpose that helps us achieve the best of individual and collective. The alternative is a fear-based vicious cycle of fighting between the poles or the zero-sum game of one pole “winning” in a fight between the poles, which always results in the downside of whatever the “winning” pole is.
Gotta run for now. I can’t wait to meet you all and to share my retreat facility with you in crisp spring mountain air!
Cliff
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Initial Post -- Testing out the blog...
I have no idea what I'm doing, and yet I'm having fun figuring it out. It can be frustrating though. For example, how do I enable multiple authors to this blog?
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