On Thu, 27 Jul 1995, Richard Karash wrote:
> Replying to LO2244 --
>
> In doing exercises to get people more skilled in seeing systemic
> considerations, I often ask people to find the humorous examples, "What
> are Shifting the Burden examples around here? This is our chance to laugh
> a bit at ourselves."
>
> But, later, when we really are trying to understand what's happening, it
> can be quite serious. I feel that solemn notetaking, outlines, etc. can
> occur in a vision-driven organization and that it takes a vision-driven
> organization to be ready for seriously unmasking the current reality
> through such an examination.
Indeed. If there was any lasting point to my "schematic" story, it's
exactly that: the moment of vision or insight manifests itself in jokes,
humor, and wit, and the serious work can then follow.
Come to think of it, I've been in at least one situation where humor was a
constant presence -- but as a mask for lack of vision. And it was good
humor, not bitter or black. It represented a kind of polar opposite to
the example we're thinking of here: the group "couldn't get serious" about
itself.
Regards
Jim Michmerhuizen
web residence at http://world.std.com/~jamzen/
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