Comments on: Manifesto for an Emerging Consultant Counter Culture http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/ The people woven web Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:48:28 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Stowe goes Consulting 2.0 | socialwrite.com http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-9366 Stowe goes Consulting 2.0 | socialwrite.com Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:02:54 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-9366 [...] is going all the way with the New Consulting Counter Culture and is starting The Brannan Street [...] [...] is going all the way with the New Consulting Counter Culture and is starting The Brannan Street [...]

]]> By: Remarkk! » Enterprise Camp Toronto, unconference edition http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-7243 Remarkk! » Enterprise Camp Toronto, unconference edition Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:44:16 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-7243 [...] But before we get too breathless, we accept that the new paradigm is not exclusive of the elements of the old paradigm. Rather, they will coexist in a complex hybrid system which is very fluid. These are not mutually exclusive practices, these are different orientations which lie on a continuum. But the trends for the future are clear and the changes they will bring will be very significant and permanent. How to Get There from Here? A meta-innovation for the adaptation to the Enterprise 2.0 paradigm is a new form of consulting, what Jevon has coined “Consulting 2.0“. I think of this term as describing agile networks of independent consultants who understand and work in the new paradigm and who bring unique mixes of skills from classical process engineering, product design, technology, marketing, organizational development and other domains that can be deployed to assist established organizations to solve problems with new tools in new ways. [...] [...] But before we get too breathless, we accept that the new paradigm is not exclusive of the elements of the old paradigm. Rather, they will coexist in a complex hybrid system which is very fluid. These are not mutually exclusive practices, these are different orientations which lie on a continuum. But the trends for the future are clear and the changes they will bring will be very significant and permanent. How to Get There from Here? A meta-innovation for the adaptation to the Enterprise 2.0 paradigm is a new form of consulting, what Jevon has coined “Consulting 2.0“. I think of this term as describing agile networks of independent consultants who understand and work in the new paradigm and who bring unique mixes of skills from classical process engineering, product design, technology, marketing, organizational development and other domains that can be deployed to assist established organizations to solve problems with new tools in new ways. [...]

]]> By: Open Space World » http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6983 Open Space World » Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:40:56 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-6983 [...] Jevon MacDonald writes in his Manifesto for an Emerging Consultant Counter Culture writes about Johnnie Moore and Open Space Technology: [T]he law of emergence means that those of us who work on a project, and invest heavily in it, must most often step out of the way at the last minute, because by then we have our own ideas, and we have to trust the people involved to come to the truth themselves. [...] [...] Jevon MacDonald writes in his Manifesto for an Emerging Consultant Counter Culture writes about Johnnie Moore and Open Space Technology: [T]he law of emergence means that those of us who work on a project, and invest heavily in it, must most often step out of the way at the last minute, because by then we have our own ideas, and we have to trust the people involved to come to the truth themselves. [...]

]]> By: Remarkk! » Big Idea Watch 2007 http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6400 Remarkk! » Big Idea Watch 2007 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 02:29:46 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-6400 [...] In this post, I share a short list of big ideas that I’d like to research and perhaps pursue this year in partnership with like-minded individuals and organizations. (Is this Consulting 2.0?) These aren’t problems I’ll solve in 2007 (or even a lifetime), but are fascinating puzzles worth pursuing right now in theory and in practice. These are the big ideas worth watching, with big implications. [...] [...] In this post, I share a short list of big ideas that I’d like to research and perhaps pursue this year in partnership with like-minded individuals and organizations. (Is this Consulting 2.0?) These aren’t problems I’ll solve in 2007 (or even a lifetime), but are fascinating puzzles worth pursuing right now in theory and in practice. These are the big ideas worth watching, with big implications. [...]

]]> By: socialwrite.com » Manifesto for an Emerging Consultant Counter Culture: Why Change? http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6334 socialwrite.com » Manifesto for an Emerging Consultant Counter Culture: Why Change? Sat, 16 Dec 2006 21:33:25 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-6334 [...] My earlier post about the change in how consultants will operate in the future helped me get some long standing ideas out “on paper”, but not everything I have been thinking about got in there, so I will keep posting as things come to mind.. [...] [...] My earlier post about the change in how consultants will operate in the future helped me get some long standing ideas out “on paper”, but not everything I have been thinking about got in there, so I will keep posting as things come to mind.. [...]

]]> By: Jevon http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6315 Jevon Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:47:51 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-6315 <blockquote>"I think the theme that’s coming out strongest for me is to challenge the notion of separation, in which we think of the other person as the problem, to be either dismissed as stupid or difficult, or solved/cured etc. . . . experiencing ourselves and the other as parts of the same system, and act from that sense of connectedness. Seems to me that’s a similar notion to the one you’re evoking here."</blockquote> I think this is key: seeing yourselves "in the same boat" as we say and investing accordingly. The consultant has the luxury of being paid no matter what, so it is only fair that he/she put their (our) career on the line each time. Reputation is currency, and we invest accordingly. <blockquote>"Going forward, I think I’d like to generalise less about big organisations "</blockquote> I agree, and it is what I tried to do here: focus on what is really working so we can see some sort of framework, or even just "sense" emerge. I admit, I did take a slight masterbatory detour. <blockquote>"Not sure how I feel about the wrestling metaphor: as someone bad at games at school, I am delighted. As a facilitator I panic slightly as it’s not quite what I do. (I hope.)"</blockquote> Well then, why do you always show up in latex and a mask? And that damn theme music you play everywhere you go!

“I think the theme that’s coming out strongest for me is to challenge the notion of separation, in which we think of the other person as the problem, to be either dismissed as stupid or difficult, or solved/cured etc. . . . experiencing ourselves and the other as parts of the same system, and act from that sense of connectedness. Seems to me that’s a similar notion to the one you’re evoking here.”

I think this is key: seeing yourselves “in the same boat” as we say and investing accordingly. The consultant has the luxury of being paid no matter what, so it is only fair that he/she put their (our) career on the line each time. Reputation is currency, and we invest accordingly.

“Going forward, I think I’d like to generalise less about big organisations “

I agree, and it is what I tried to do here: focus on what is really working so we can see some sort of framework, or even just “sense” emerge. I admit, I did take a slight masterbatory detour.

“Not sure how I feel about the wrestling metaphor: as someone bad at games at school, I am delighted. As a facilitator I panic slightly as it’s not quite what I do. (I hope.)”

Well then, why do you always show up in latex and a mask? And that damn theme music you play everywhere you go!

]]> By: Johnnie Moore http://socialwrite.com/2006/12/15/manifesto-for-an-emerging-consultant-counter-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-6311 Johnnie Moore Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:00:30 +0000 http://socialwrite.com/?p=112#comment-6311 Hey Jevon, you and Euan have got me think what an interesting conversation there is to be had on Consulting 2.0. Loved this post, and it's got me all reflective. So, reflecting on my year, I think the theme that's coming out strongest for me is to challenge the notion of separation, in which we think of the other person as the problem, to be either dismissed as stupid or difficult, or solved/cured etc. I know Rob didn't warm to the Senge book on Presence, but I did enjoy its notion of experiencing ourselves and the other as parts of the same system, and act from that sense of connectedness. Seems to me that's a similar notion to the one you're evoking here. It's easier said than done, as it means foregoing the slightly masturbatory pleasure of a good rant against those who, by my own lights, dont "get it". But fun to try, even as experiment. Going forward, I think I'd like to generalise less about big organisations (including big consulting firms) not getting it. It seems to me that in doing so, I instantly turn thousands of individuals into 1) a lumpen mass and 2) a *stupid* lumpen mass. So it's easy to cheer you on the "people, not the brand" theme, and recognising the person who's hiring. Organisations can be changed by anyone within them, I find there's less magic than I hoped in the CEO's office. (Actually, organisations are constantly changing as the individuals change. Maybe we need to think of organisations as verbs, not nouns.) Egotistically pleased to be referred to in your reference to Open Space. Not sure how I feel about the wrestling metaphor: as someone bad at games at school, I am delighted. As a facilitator I panic slightly as it's not quite what I do. (I hope.) Hey Jevon, you and Euan have got me think what an interesting conversation there is to be had on Consulting 2.0. Loved this post, and it’s got me all reflective.

So, reflecting on my year, I think the theme that’s coming out strongest for me is to challenge the notion of separation, in which we think of the other person as the problem, to be either dismissed as stupid or difficult, or solved/cured etc. I know Rob didn’t warm to the Senge book on Presence, but I did enjoy its notion of experiencing ourselves and the other as parts of the same system, and act from that sense of connectedness. Seems to me that’s a similar notion to the one you’re evoking here.

It’s easier said than done, as it means foregoing the slightly masturbatory pleasure of a good rant against those who, by my own lights, dont “get it”. But fun to try, even as experiment.

Going forward, I think I’d like to generalise less about big organisations (including big consulting firms) not getting it. It seems to me that in doing so, I instantly turn thousands of individuals into 1) a lumpen mass and 2) a *stupid* lumpen mass. So it’s easy to cheer you on the “people, not the brand” theme, and recognising the person who’s hiring. Organisations can be changed by anyone within them, I find there’s less magic than I hoped in the CEO’s office.

(Actually, organisations are constantly changing as the individuals change. Maybe we need to think of organisations as verbs, not nouns.)

Egotistically pleased to be referred to in your reference to Open Space. Not sure how I feel about the wrestling metaphor: as someone bad at games at school, I am delighted. As a facilitator I panic slightly as it’s not quite what I do. (I hope.)

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