Summer Program Issue

Illuminating the Blind Spot of Leadership
by Otto Scharmer
With the recent publication of Presence and Otto Scharmer's return to Halifax this June, it is not surprising that concepts like the field, presencing, and the U-model turned up in many of the program conversations and collaborations. This article, based on Otto's presentation at the 2003 Summer Program, describes some of the influences that led to the development of the U-model.
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Travelling the U: What Happens When Women Lead from Within
by Susan Skjei
"We sat together in the tenderness and joy of an emerging future in which no one knew exactly what would happen."

Group Poem
by participants in the workshop "When Women Lead from Within"
Voices Across Generations
by Dinah Wakeford
"The sense of lightness, play, contentment, and spark we experienced during this gathering was a reminder that things make more sense when you are in a situation that resembles a real, natural community, with different age groups and people who think differently." —Claudia Chender
Ties that Bind:
Story of a Spontaneous Auction
by Lyn Hartley with Joanne Hunt and Joyce Rankin
"Maria Dolores looked particularly fetching in her red shirt and blue jacket. When David Rome got up to speak, Joyce noticed how good his tie would look with Maria's evening ensemble."

Thank you!
The spontaneous auction at the closing banquet combined with other expressions of support throughout the year have made it possible for the Institute to continue and expand its activities. Many thanks to everyone who contributed so generously.
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 Module Glimpses
The Radical Root
 by Dean Elias
"At the root of the issue of leadership in my country, then, is courage to be, to let our core humanity emerge, and from such a place, have the additional courage to undertake the practice of leadership on behalf of the common good.

Marketing through Stories
by Nadine Tanner
"The key is telling the story in such a way that it authentically portrays the company and product, and at the same time touches a basic, core story within the customer that speaks to what they do and what they want to achieve."

Circle Poem
by participants in the "Convening Strategic Conversations Module
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Offered at the Closing Event
Dream
 by Jane Masters
"The alligator needs to transform from its current physical state to the heaven-seeking dragon."

Hey, You Paradoxical Buddhists!
by Robbie Swale

I came to Nova Scotia with lovely people
With aspirations tall, like a steeple.
Would I gain in Buddhist wisdom?
Would Shambhala change the system?
Would Meg Wheatley light my fire?
Would new science take me higher?
Would the edge of chaos ring my bell?
Would complexity help me sell?

Read more...
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Shambhala Insights
Living in the Question:
From the 2004 Welcoming Address
by Michael Chender
"We could bring together an open heart and sharp intellect. We could bring together feminine and masculine approaches. In the Shambhala meditation tradition, that kind of joining is referred to as warriorship. It is about having the courage, the energy, and the vision to actually go beyond polarization and conflict."
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Letter
Laura's Big Gulp:
An Invitation and Appeal
Laura Whitworth, co-founder of the Coaches Training Institute, led a Bigger Game workshop June 11-12, and then stayed on as a participant for the Core Program, during which she also introduced the Bigger Game in a 90-minute workshop. The Bigger Game is about stepping out of one's comfort zone and into a more daring and purposeful future. Soon after Laura left Halifax, she was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer, and she had surgery the following day. In this letter, she invites friends and allies to join her in supporting a Call to Action marathon that will raise funds for leadership projects that empower people to live their Bigger Game, while giving her personal strength through her own recovery.

Photos from the 2004 Summer Program:
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
Opportunities
Coemergence (www.coemergence.com), a growing knowledge management software company, is seeking to associate with a consultant with strong experience in working with collaborative initiatives inside larger corporations, preferably including a software component. The goal is to strengthen the services side of our innovative ACIS primary intelligence (what is heard and thought of but not in print) solution. If interested, please contact Michael Chender, CEO, at mchender@coemergence.com

Note: This is a new column available to Institute program alumni offering opportunities for employment, consultation, or collaboration.

September 2004, No. 6
. see all issues .

Fieldnotes is back with this special issue featuring stories and reflections from the 2004 Summer Program. We will resume regular publication in October. Please send us your articles, news, and stories.


Photos from the 2004 Summer Program:
Gallery 1
Gallery 2


The 2005 Summer Program will take place June 22-July 1 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the Core Program beginning on June 24. Details coming soon. Note that the July 1 weekend (Canada) and the July 4 weekend (U.S.) immediately follow, so consider piggy-backing a seaside family vacation in the Maritimes.

Brian Bacon returns to Halifax September 22-24, 2004, and will lead a senior-level training session on "Leading with Purpose, Vision and Values." For more information, contact the Institute


The Shambhala Institute has designed a three-day leadership program that incorporates the key principles and practices presented at the Summer Program. This new program will first be offered in Halifax, November 22-24, 2004. Stay tuned for details. If you are interested in bringing this training to your organization or region, please contact us.

The Art of Hosting & Convening Conversations, October 12-15, 2004, at Oceanstone, Indian Harbour, just outside Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hosted by Toke Moeller, Judi Richardson, and Tim Merry. Tuition, $550 USD, accomm. & meals $345-445 USD. Sponsored by The Berkana Institute. For information or to register: Teresa Posakony (teresa@berkana.org; 206 372 3405) or Tenneson Woolf (tenneson@berkana.org; 801 376 2213).

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To subscribe to Fieldnotes: go to http://www.shambhalainstitute.org/world/contact.html

Why Fieldnotes? This newsletter arose from the inspiration to make visible what is otherwise invisible — the rich field of connection, dialogue, and activity that is arising around the Institute's Authentic Leadership programs. This field now extends far beyond the programs themselves, in both time and place. This newsletter also provides a forum for people who are pioneering the emerging field of what could be called "authentic" or "transformative" leadership. It is published September through April, at the beginning of the month.

We'd like to hear from you. The editorial team invites your feedback, letters, and submissions. We are especially interested to hear how you have been applying your learning and insights in your own field of work. The submission deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and space. Please include your daytime contact information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Fieldnotes Team: Susan Szpakowski, Lyn Hartley, Masud Sheikh, Dinah Wakeford & Barbara Zielinski.

Appreciations. Many thanks to our volunteer editors, and to Barbara Bash for her beautiful masthead calligraphy.

Fieldnotes is a publication of the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Shambhala Institute.