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Amplifying Our Impact: Strategies for Unleashing the Power of Relationship
November 5-7, 2007 • The Westin Seattle • Seattle, Washington, USA

Pre-Conference Workshops

PRE01 – The Art of Hosting and Convening Conversations in Organizations and Communities CANCELLED

 

PRE02 – The Change Lab: Putting the U-Process into Practice
Sunday, November 4, 9:00–5:00; $895
LeAnne Grillo and Joe McCarron, Generon Consulting

 Online Registration is now closed

Today's most pressing challenges are characterized by high dynamic, generative, and social complexity. The "Change Lab," an advanced problem-solving approach based on the U-Process, helps organizations and multistakeholder groups address complex issues in a systemic, creative, and participatory way. In this fast-paced, experiential session, you will take part in a "mini-lab," in which you will practice the capacities needed to navigate the "U," individually and collectively. Build your toolkit as you move from sensing-developing an in-depth understanding of a system's current reality; to presencing- connecting to your innate capacity for innovation; and finally to realizing-designing and testing alternative solutions that can dramatically shift the system.

LeAnne Grillo wears multiple hats at Generon Consulting, from managing the gatherings involved in delivering a Change Lab to developing client relationships and coordinating consulting projects. She is actively involved in the Sustainable Food Lab project and other client engagements. Previously, she was vice president and conference director for Pegasus Communications. LeAnne has served as president of the New England Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and worked for the Patriots’ Trail Girl Scout Council.

Joe McCarron is managing director of Generon Consulting, where he holds leadership roles on several projects in both the corporate and public service practices. He serves on the core team for the Bhavishya project, an ongoing initiative focused on reducing the level of child malnutrition in Maharashtra, India. Joe's previous experience includes many years as a volcanologist and earth scientist for the British Antarctic Survey and Shell International. Joe has a Ph.D. in earth sciences from Cambridge University.

 

 

PRE03 – Mastering Uncertainty
Sunday, November 4, 9:00–5:00; $895
Eamonn Kelly and Kristin Cobble, Global Business Network

 Online Registration is now closed

Back by popular demand, 2006 keynote speaker Eamonn Kelly and colleague Kristin Cobble will help you explore what your organization must understand and how it must act in light of the increasing uncertainty in our world. In this highly interactive workshop, we will examine four core hypotheses. First, the scope and scale of uncertainty is rapidly increasing. Second, most organizations haven’t concentrated on the development of mindsets, skills, and behaviors to master this new reality. Third, we often devolve to “coping mechanisms” that can compound rather than resolve the challenges we face. Fourth, there are alternative strategies and approaches that we can deploy. Participants will identify new approaches to help deepen their organizations’ competency in mastering uncertainty.

Eamonn Kelly is the CEO of Global Business Network (GBN) and a partner of the Monitor Group. He has helped dozens of the world’s leading corporations, governmental agencies, and major philanthropic organizations to understand and master risk and uncertainty. Previously, Eamonn directed strategy at Scottish Enterprise, the renowned economic development organization. His latest book is Powerful Times: Rising to the Challenge of Our Uncertain World (Wharton School Publishing, 2005).

Kristin Cobble is a leadership and organizational development practitioner at GBN. She joined GBN after serving as the director of strategic change for Banana Republic, where she partnered with the president to create a high-performing leadership team and a more innovative and collaborative organizational culture. Prior to that, Kristin had her own consulting firm. She has authored several articles on organizational learning, systems thinking, conflict, and coaching.

 

PRE04–Theory U in Action: Leading from the Future As It Emerges
Sunday, November 4, 9:00–5:00; $895
C. Otto Scharmer, MIT Sloan School of Management

 Online Registration is now closed

The ability to sense and actualize emerging opportunities is at the heart of every innovative institution and community. In this workshop, you will learn how to deal with uncertainty, and how to sense and seize future opportunities. The workshop is based on the groundbreaking book Theory U by Otto Scharmer and Presence by Senge, Scharmer, et al. During the workshop—through lectures, small group processes, and experiential exercises—you will explore: (1) ways of enhancing your ability to sense, presence, and realize the future as it emerges; (2) practices that enable you to be calm, observant, and focused; (3) how the practices are being used in organizations; and (4) resources for networking and sustaining the practices in your own life and work.

C. Otto Scharmer is a senior lecturer at MIT and founding chair of ELIAS, an innovation platform linking global institutions from business, government, and civil society to prototype profound system innovations. He is visiting professor at Helsinki School of Economics and founding chair of the Presencing Institute. Otto has consulted with global companies, international institutions, and cross-sector change initiatives around the world. He has co-designed and delivered award-winning leadership programs for clients including DaimlerChrysler, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Fujitsu. Otto is the author of Theory U: Leading from the Future As It Emerges (SoL 2007) and co-author of Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations and Society.