We
hope you enjoy reading the email version of the Syntax newsletter.
We are experimenting and would appreciate your feedback. A
special hello to Syntax graduates, and a reminder to renew
the practices that you have found most valuable. Just email
us at syntaxoffice@syntx.com
if you want to be removed from this list. We are celebrating
Syntax's 21st birthday, looking back on wonderful
relationships with individuals and client organizations since
our founding in Washington, DC in April of 1981, and looking
forward to expanding the influence of Syntax in the workplace.
Thank you for being part of our network of friends and Syntax
users!
Dalai
Lama Frames Sept. 11 Tragedy
"We will set the course for tomorrow, today. At this
hour. In this moment. Let us seek not to pinpoint blame,
but to pinpoint cause. Unless
we take this time to look at the cause of our experience,
we will never remove ourselves from the experiences it creates.
We must choose to be a cause in the matter."
—The Dalai Lama, after the events of September
11, 2001
Why Does Collaborative Leadership Matter…
To You…NOW?
By Lucy Freedman
A simple reflection answers that question: when you hear the
term collaborative leadership, do you put yourself
in the shoes of the collaborative leader? Or do you read it
as something that those people in leadership should
adopt?
Your answer is the benchmark of the need for an essential
evolutionary step. When everyone is aware of being a leader,
assuming responsibility for communicating effectively, we'll
have evolved to reach the potential of what collaboration
can be.
Our flowing information economy replaces hierarchy with networks.
"Personal power" exists in a new context. If you
are reading this newsletter, you may be one of what demographers
call "cultural creatives." That means that you are
questioning old assumptions, seeking to improve society, and
designing a lifestyle that is mobile, information-rich, and
rather untraditional. You are likely to hold the ideal of
workplace collaboration more consciously than many.
In a world where we need to act in concert, not to destroy
but to enhance life, whether
or not this description fits you, recent events have shown
us serious consequences of breakdowns in mutual understanding
and collaboration
there is plenty for all of us to do just to bring forth sustainable
human and natural co-existence.
The self-indulgent 80's, and I don't know what to call the
90's yet, are over. It's time to apply what we've learned,
and to extend our learning well beyond where we've been.
Meg Wheatley wrote a stunning article, "Bringing Life
to Organizational Change" that you can access on the
web at www.margaretwheatley.com/articles/life.html,
where she points out that participation by each member of
an organization is the only thing that keeps both alive.
She says that you can only learn to thrive by using principles,
not rules or formulas. Each person, each member has a unique
role and perspective which is essential to the whole. As Meg
reminds us, no one actually carries out instructions as someone
else gives them anyway. We each add our bit, and even though
people who run organizations may be frustrated by this, the
result is demonstrably better when the right people have input
to how things are done. Chaotic systems have always been the
norm even when we have pretended, in our Newtonian consciousness,
that we can impose linear plans on living systems.
Collaborative Leadership is an expression that describes active
involvement in the new pattern of organization. It brings
with it a call for the skills and capacities to bridge differences
and take action. How many of us, and people with whom we work,
recognize that we need practice in personal / interpersonal
skills, and that we need to do this consciously, together?
The attitudes and skills of Collaborative Leadership are the
underlying behavioral structure represented by Syntax. Whatever
your `personality style' or `learning style' or perceptual
bias, you are always called upon to PLAN, LINK, BALANCE, INFORM,
and LEARN. The additional leverage of having a common language
for collaborating is enormous. Syntax helps weave mutual understanding
into the fabric of organizational life.
One of the most enlightening moments in our many years of
Advanced Learning Institutes came when Chris Thorsen, an Aikido
master and consultant, taught us the concepts of WAZA and
DO. Practicing techniques, following instructions, learning
a discipline these are in the world of WAZA.
The incredible experience of flow that comes in the pursuit
of mastery, the in-the-moment heightened presence that cannot
be summoned on demand of our conscious minds, is referred
to as the DO (pronounced "doe"). We know that the
conscious practice of Syntax is in the world of WAZA, and
the intent of practice is to be available for the experience
of the DO.
Personal responsibility, or Collaborative Leadership, is more
than just an attitude. It's willingness combined with capabilities.
Syntax was developed so that you can equip yourself efficiently,
simply, and with lots of real-world practice to be a learner
of collaborative leadership, someone who doesn't wait for
others to "get it" or to change, but who says, "What
do we want? What will that get us and others? How will we
know when we get there?"
Thank you for being one of those people. We are grateful for
the many opportunities we have to pass the message along.
When you are ready to work consciously on these principles,
to engage in the WAZA, and to share them with others, we invite
you to join us in a learning partnership. Meanwhile, know
that you have like-minded allies over here!
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Bring
Your Talent to Asilomar Learn and Exchange Ideas with
Top-Notch Corporate Internal and External Consultants
Advance Your Coaching / Consulting Career
Syntax Advanced Learning Institute: July 21-26, 2002
Rich schedule of sessions, one-on-one and group coaching
and demonstrations, personal relaxation and renewal,
process skills based on Syntax's twenty-one years working
with major corporations. Act Early to Save $$! Visit
www.syntx.com for
descriptions and past participant reviews. |
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Bring Your
Personal Syntax to Light
What could people know about your personal patterns that would
help them to work well with you?
What could you know about your own personal syntax
that would help you solve nagging issues such as regularly
getting overcommitted, or creating some other communication
breakdown over and over?
What are the core skills that you need to be a great coach
for yourself and others?
These and other questions are the substance of Lucy Freedman's
radio webcast on Bringing Your Personal Syntax to Light,
originally aired January 29, 2002. She was interviewed
by Dee Kinder, host of the weekly program "Success Becomes
You!" Each week Dee introduces a guest who specializes
in a particular aspect of personal and professional success.Lisa
Marshall, former Syntax VP, is one of the guests, as are Syntax
consultants Karen Bading and Karen Lam.
Highlights of Lucy and Dee's Webcast
Knowing and sharing insights about your own personal syntax
will get you a lot farther than focusing on other peoples'
syntax!
- Talking about what you do want brings it much closer to
reality than talking about what you don't want and hoping
for change.
- If you ask "what and how" rather than "why"
when you want to learn about someone else's knowledge or experience,
you will get higher
quality information.
- Clear requests and agreements and being able to say yes
and no are the keys to life balance.
Knowing your personal syntax and expanding the choices you
can make to upgrade the results you get seems not only to
be a responsibility, but a privilege. Every once in a while,
go to the Syntax "observation deck" to gain insight
on what's going on between you and others.
How to listen via your computer
The Success Becomes You programs are archived so you
can listen at your convenience. If you have an audio player,
you can tune in on your PC or laptop. You can get there through
our website, www.syntx.com,
or go directly to Dee's site, www.Omahasuccess.com,
for the full program schedule as well as information on her
courses and services contributing to success.
Tune in as the next 13-week series begins at www.voiceamerica.com
at 5pm Pacific Time on Tuesdays.
"Love is...
...the act of intelligently and sensibly sharing your knowledge,
networks, and compassion with your business partners."
- Tim Sanders, author of "Love Is the Killer App"
in Fast Company Fast Take E-Newsletter, April 3, 2002
Talk About Manifesting….
Our business manager, Madeleine Wyke, has been expanding her
sights to find ways to use her experience in managing chiropractic
offices to help others. This spawned her Success in Practice
programs for health care professionals and coaches. Once she
set her foot on that path, she was suddenly offered an opportunity
to reach her goal more rapidly to work with an already-successful
chiropractic practice and help open more offices.
Since it was a perfect fit, though a surprise, she has regretfully
resigned from Syntax. We will miss her outstanding support,
willingness to learn, and joyful presence. Our wish is that
the time she's spent at Syntax contributes to her continued
success.
Congratulations, Madeleine!
A Time to Be Lean
Sustainability is an important concern in all aspects
of business today. Researchers Steven Spears and H. Kent Bowen,
authors of Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System
in the Harvard Business Review, September-October, 1999, captured
the four rules which serve as a foundation for "lean"
operation. Here are the four rules, which are both profound
and challenging.
The Four Rules
1. Structure every activity.
2. Clearly connect every customer / supplier.
3. Specify and simplify every flow.
4. Improve through experi- mentation at the lowest level possible
towards the ideal state.
We see at least PLAN, LINK, INFORM, and LEARN.
You can learn more about "lean" at www.leanlearningcenter.com,
where we found a strong resonance with the principles of Syntax.
Lessons Learned
from Learning How to Tango
I think they apply generally!! Take a look!
- Perfect execution is less important than perfect communication
- Don't anticipate, be ready for what- ever comes
- After 3 songs, you're free to change partners
- Always maintain your own balance. If you lean too heavily
on your part- ner, he won't be able to dance with you for
very long
- You'll never dance to any song the same way twice
- Keeping some space between you and your partner allows both
of you more freedom to maneuver
- Body language tells you everything you need to know
- It IS possible to dance your way out of a corner
- Always wear the right shoes.
Just for your information!
From our good friend Mari Novak of KNO Worldwide, who tangoes
all over Eastern Europe and the world. |
