www.gurteen.com

Blog Post

We are volunteers not conscripts

Posted to Gurteen Knowledge-Log by David Gurteen on 24 May 2011

 



Title

We are volunteers not conscripts
WeblogGurteen Knowledge Log
Knowledge LetterAppears in the Gurteen Knowledge Letter issue: 131
Posted DateTuesday 24 May 2011 21:23 GDT
Posted ByDavid Gurteen
Linkshttp://www.johnniemoore.com/blog/archives/002766.php ... 
http://www.euansemple.com/theobvious/2007/3/13/my-favourite- ... 
CategoriesBusiness Management
PeopleEuan Semple, Johnnie Moore 

This post from Johnnie Moore and another post from Euan Semple both resonated with me recently.

Managers really have to start treating people like volunteers and not conscripts. Or as I so often put it "We must stop doing things to people and start to work together."

Its a principal I apply in my Knowledge Cafes. People are not forced to come and then I quite deliberately do not force people to join in or try to manipulate them or the conversation in any way. (And yes I am aware it is impossible to entirely do that :-) )

I tell them that if they just wish to just listen that is perfectly OK. And the final part of my Cafe, where I go around the circle and ask people to share one actionable insight with the group, I also give people the change to opt-out by saying "pass".



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
Friday 29 March 2024
01:37 PM GMT