"Soak time" is a great phrase for capturing a respect for the time
and process that integration takes. The time might be very short -
but it is nonetheless necessary.
In talking with a number of biologists and ecologists from Santa Fe,
many examples in the natural world were shared. People in these
areas of study have no trouble understanding the concept. It's
everywhere in their world. Rest time, sleep time, gestation and many
more are part of all natural cycles of both learning and
regeneration.
Given an earlier post suggesting learning was a process of
integration, then some "soak time" must be a necessary part. As one
with an athletic background, I'd also include practice time as part
of "soak time". I mention it because I'm amazed at how little space
there is for practice when people say they are pursuing mastery. In
sports or the performing arts, they'd be laughed at. In business,
it's taken for granted that there is no time for this.
"But there is no time." they protest, "We're in a competitive
marketplace that doesn't pay for practice." But the marketplace does
pay for (effective) practice. It pays more for better that can only
be produced with practice/learning.
In handling this "time trap", has anyone investigated the idea of
organisational time being a funtion of promises? That is, if you
keep making promises that don't allow for "soak time" then you don't
have time for it. But it's not because "there isn't any time". It's
because _you_ have not allowed for it. Worse, in most cases, it's
because the system has promised your time for you and hasn't allowed
for it.
-- Michael McMaster Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk