Falling Up

I just checked, and it appears I’ve already been graded for my blog participation this semester, but I just feel weird about not posting a final post.  I need some closure, people!

I think ADLT623 (org learning) has been one of the most interesting courses I’ve taken.  I think I say that every semester.  But truly, given the current business atmosphere, the information was so timely and the discussions were so rich!  We had our very own case study, unfortunately.   I usually classify courses into “information based” or “skill based”; you learn stuff, or you learn how to DO stuff.  This was more of the information based kind…I learned lots of great stuff, but…what do you do with it, other than write analysis papers?  I am grateful that I took it at the same time as my Consulting Skills course.  The combination of learning about how organizations learn and grow, and how culture shapes those efforts came into play as I’ve gone through my consulting project, where I’m exploring how an organization can learn…and grow…  What a great overlap! It’s nice to have new knowledge and skills that I can not only use in the future, but, tomorrow too.

The downside of learning all of this is the discontent it sets in my head whenever I see my own company acting in disfunctional, anti-learning ways. But I recognize that while I am a part of that culture, I can choose which part I am.  Erica said it better in her blog, about being a rock in the stream and letting some of what happens rush by.  I can’t say I’m looking forward to fighting the good fight at my organization, but I can say I’m prepared.

I just wanted to share that I had my teambuilding session today with my consulting project clients, and it was a success!  My definition of success?  I went in prepared, I was comfortable and confident about the planned activities, the participants were engaged, the dialogue was open and thoughtful, the feedback I received was useful and meaningful, and the clients were very satisfied, it seems.   A highlight for me was that, at the end of the program, a participant told me that I seem like I’ve been facilitating my whole life.  That was great to hear!   I also enjoyed tying in aspects of Appreciative Inquiry and other change strategies (think: lots of sticky notes on the walls) and engaging in some collective meaning-making.  Best of all, the participants seem to have left with several new ideas of how they can work more collaboratively, which is their goal. 

I have already identified some things I could have done differently or better.  The main critique is that participants indicated that they would’ve enjoyed learning more about their co-workers that they don’t know much about.  I did some ”get to know you” activities in the beginning, but decided to cut one due to a time shortage that I perceived.  Based on the feedback, I should’ve left the activity, as it would’ve met a very basic desire of the group.

But overall, I’m happy.  I feel successful, and it was fun.  AND, I can move on to the feedback meeting now…hooray!

Here are some glimpses of the day…

“Team Write”:  each group had to write a section of an Emerson quotation using this crazy device that looks simultaneously like a jellyfish and a pineapple slice. 

Here are all of the groups’ portions of the 2 quotations by Emerson.  They read:

“Do not be too timid and squeamish.  All of life is an experiment.  The more experiments you make, the better.”

“Not in his goals but in his transitions is man great.” 

And now for some collective meaning-making…