www.gurteen.com

Blog Post

Peter Block: Lecture-style seating is a parade ground with comfort!

Posted to Gurteen Knowledge-Log by David Gurteen on 27 January 2014

 



Title

Peter Block: Lecture-style seating is a parade ground with comfort!
WeblogGurteen Knowledge Log
Knowledge LetterAppears in the Gurteen Knowledge Letter issue: 163
Posted DateMonday 27 January 2014 17:15 GMT
Posted ByDavid Gurteen
PeoplePeter Block

In the introduction to my April 2013 Knowledge Letter I mentioned Peter Block and Ken Everett sent me the email below in response.
Hi David,

Glad you highlighted Peter Block.

I became an admirer when I attended a presentation in a BIG ballroom thing at ASTD 2008.

He immediately pointed out the 'military' nature of our arrangement--in rows, facing the O-I-C, looking at the backs of heads.

He highlighted that this was a parade ground...with comfort.

And useless for real communication.

The auditorium, he said, should only be used for performances!

He then got us to break the rows of chairs (literally--they were connected) into groups of 3 or 4...and to discuss a question.

Transformational!

Keep up your good work.

Best wishes, Ken

Credit: Ken Everett

It reminded me of a Knowledge Cafe I ran at an ECKM conference in 2007 in a University in Barcelona where the chairs were actually screwed down to the floor ... so we went across the road and held it in a real Cafe!


error

If you are interested in Knowledge Management, the Knowledge Café or the role of conversation in organizational life then you my be interested in this online book I am writing on Conversational Leadership
David Gurteen


Follow me on Twitter

How to contact me


My Blog

Gurteen Knowledge Community
The Gurteen Knowledge Community
The Gurteen Knowledge Community is a global learning community of over 21,000 people in 160 countries across the world.

The community is for people who are committed to making a difference: people who wish to share and learn from each other and who strive to see the world differently, think differently and act differently.

Membership of the Gurteen Knowledge Community is free.
Knowledge Community



     

home
back
contact
request help
visitor book
Thursday 5 December 2024
04:41 PM GMT