Description of Challenge
Today, in most social systems, we collectively produce results that no one wants. These results
show up in the form of environmental, social, and cultural destruction. The ecological divide (which
disconnects self from nature), the social divide (which disconnects self from other), and the
spiritual divide (which disconnects self from self) shape the larger context in every large system
change today.We know about what leaders do and how they do it. But we know very
little about their inner place
“The ability to shift from reacting against the past to leaning into and presencing an emerging
future is probably the single most important leadership capacity today.” Otto Scharmer
Solution
Successful leadership depends on the quality of attention and intention that the leader brings to
any situation. The nature of the inner place in leaders is something of a mystery to us. At its core,
leadership is about shaping and shifting how individuals and groups attend to and subsequently
respond to a situation. Learning to recognize the habits of attention in a business culture requires,
among other things, a particular kind of listening. Theory U, initiated by Otto Scharmer, speaks of
four different types of listening: downloading, factual listening, empathic listening, and generative
listening.
In summary, Theory U illuminates a hidden dimension of leadership—the inner place from which
leaders operate. Profound change today not only requires a shift of the mind, it requires a shift of
will and a shift of the heart a deeper shift called “presencing.” A blend of the words “presence”
and “sensing,” presencing signifies a heightened state of attention that allows individuals and
groups to operate from a future space of possibility that they feel wants to emerge. Being able to
facilitate that shift is the essence of leadership today.
References
Website : www.presencing.com
www.ottoscharmer.com/
Books : Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges Paperback by C. Otto Scharmer
Articles:
https://www.presencing.com/sites/default/files/pagefiles/Theory_U_Exec_Summary.pdf
Submitted by Luea Ritter, Still Consulting / Wind Harvest International
Developed in collaboration with
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