Organizing reflection 9

This is a post in my series on organizing ”between and beyond.” Other posts are here. The purpose of this post is to reflect on subjects occupying my mind. I make no claim to fully believe what I write. Neither do I pretend that others have not already thought or written about the same subject. More often than not, I take up, combine, and add to already existing thoughts and ideas.

What is on my mind?
There are no formulas—except that this is a formula!

I attribute this idea to Skye Hirst. It’s based on her long experience working with clients. I think there’s much truth in this idea. We have an overreliance in tools, methods, and techniques. I see it in my working environment.

I think this is related to what Nora Bateson writes about in her new book Small Arcs of Larger Circles: Framing Through Other Patterns. The solutions expected, and ways predicted, are often far removed from the options that surface when viewed from a wider context.1 Nora Bateson has spent much time defending the possibility that trying to solve a problem by going directly at it is only occasionally effective.2 She usually receives bewildered looks and a plea for methods and techniques. But, so often, we instead make more a of a mess.3 Relying on formulas is a way of short-circuiting which is often destructive.

Notes:
1 Nora Bateson, Small Arcs of Larger Circles: Framing Through Other Patterns (Triarchy Press, Second edition, 2017), p.77.
2 Ibid..
3 Ibid..

Related posts:
Organizing in between and beyond posts


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