What is an underlying question that gives form
to your work or interest in this field?
Will using Collective Wisdom result in better decision-making
as reflected in a higher success rate?
What is your personal experience of
collective wisdom in groups?
I have been a manager in businesses for over thirty
years and as I look back, most of the successful projects that I have
been associated with were group efforts rather than individual efforts.
Only since I have become involved with Appreciative Inquiry and the
power of inclusion have I begun to see the connectedness in my life
experiences.
What is it about the work in this field that excites
you and connects you to your own deepest self?
There are really two areas of interest for me. I have
been studying decision-making and after completing the book, “Why
Decisions Fail” by Paul C. Nutt, I am convinced that a collective
wisdom approach to decision-making using Appreciative Inquiry would
result in a higher success rate. This area of exploration is too new
to have any statistical results to work with, but there is a ton of
anecdotal evidence to support the concept.
Second, on a personal note, I am fascinated by the seeming
connection between Collective Wisdom and the Bible verse from Matthew
18, 19-20. Are we approaching a recognizable connection to our Higher
Power - God?
I am constantly amazed at how obvious the sense
this work makes and how it has been overlooked for so long. It is incredibly
exciting to be on the leading edge of an awakening that will affect
generations to come.
Please provide a brief storyline or snapshot of
what brought you to this work.
About four years ago some of our friends suggested my
wife and I visit a church in our community. We did and started to attend
regularly. I scheduled a visit with Priscilla Norling, a member of the
staff, and began a spiritual journey that introduced me to David Cooperrider
and Appreciative Inquiry. David introduced me to the works of Willis
Harman, Dee Hock, Margaret Wheatley and others. David’s introduction
sparked a desire to learn more and I began my research into decision-making
and an exploration of all things having to do with spirituality and
connectedness in the workplace.
How would you like to be available to others in
this field? What would be a meaningful connection? Are you available to
talk with others? What contribution might you be able to make?
I am eager to learn and share in any area having to
do with using and promoting collective wisdom in the workplace. I hope
to continue my work around decision-making and would love to learn from
and share with others interested in this area of exploration. There
is an article entitled “1 Sigma Decisions in a Six Sigma World”
on my website
that provides some information about using collective wisdom to improve
the success rate of decision-making.
