> We are
> dealing with the spiritual heart of individuals and groups. I fear that
> we are encroaching on the ground of the minister and shaman. We are not
> 'just people' when we enter into this work.
When I first saw the word shaman, I thought that you were being
critical, then after thinking about your note, it seemed like you were
advocating being a minister and shaman. Frankly, if someone doesn't
have info from the authority they seek to minister, I'd be leary of
their efforts. How about this: "Sir, what I perceive that you need to
do is sell your belongings, only keep one suit of clothes, go from
business to business and say, 'Sir, what I perceive that you need to
do is sell your business holdings, take all of your employees off the
payroll and go to each one of them and say" At some point, we ought to
say, where would that person get his authority? How would he know
better than me what I need to do? How would he know better than
everyone else what I need to do?
Please take my comments in the context of "my idea of dialogue" and
that I'm not saying that this is the final word or that I'm right.
When I think of the precepts in "The Fifth Discipline" that begin
to be the things "that we want because we want them", it's not obvious
how to or even whether to advocate those precepts to others who have
greater accountability than I within reporting hierarchies. It's not
every day that people in authority are going to say, let everyone
question everything and reason vocally with equal authority, and let
the business processes be subject to the view of every dissident.
Also, for businesses that don't have to make a profit, it may be that
there are a great number of existing limits to new understanding of
"profitability" or greater benefit to customers. How can I watch for
the benefit and continuance of my employers and yet advocate free
dialogue when dialogue is considered by some of its proponents to be
subversive - literally? I'd have to say that I'm still "just a person"
subject to the personal motivations that might not be worthy of being
sold to the franchise, I make technical mistakes, and my opinion is
still "just an opinion". I'm advocating things that I've never
actually seen work; I don't know if they could be repeated if they are
ever accomplished; many efforts have not been equally successful.
-- Have a nice day John Paul Fullerton jpf6745@acs.tamu.edu