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Keynote Listening

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Neil Davidson

This document discusses the role of a "keynote listener" whose goal is to listen empathetically to all contributors at an event, rearticulate their comments in a way that integrates their perspectives into the broader system context, and help unlock latent potential for growth. The author argues that such a role could help disrupt existing paradigms and power structures in a compassionate way, enabling more transformational dialogue and exploration of alternative solutions to urgent global problems. By temporarily opening minds and creating safe spaces for respectful self-differentiation and reintegration of ideas, the author believes a keynote listener could help catalyze positive system change without compromising integrity.

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Pathways of Functional Reform? Neil Davidson ¨C Collaborative Innovation Systems ¨C neil.davidson6n@optusnet.com.au Keynote Listening ¨C what can we articulate together that we cannot say alone? Keynote listening requires hearing what all contributors are saying, empathy to sense what they are trying to say, humble rearticulation of integrative comments and presentation within broader systems¡¯ context to give all greater access to what was meant in the context of the whole system. This contribution references my personal journey to understand, develop and refine my gift for active listening and anticipatorily reframing in real time for whole system gain. This ¡®gift¡¯ is informed by an astute awareness of compounding systemic issues, global inequities and likelihood of the catabolic collapse of what many regard as the global economy ¨C an unsustainable growth paradigm occurring on our watch, within the natural systems we depend on for our existence. The situation is urgent. Can one integrative, synthesising voice bringing a systems¡¯ perspective make a difference? Can a stepwise real-time linking and rearticulation of otherwise disparate elements into an elegant whole make more sense to some present and unlock latent potential for personal growth in capability and maturity in individuals in an otherwise undifferentiated audience? If so, how could we take the opportunity offered by the (temporarily?) opened mind/s to explore other, possibly transformational, co-design options, rather than be dragged back into ¡®current reality¡¯ expected/ paid roles in the current paradigm at the expense of the inner/personal-system integrity we might have glimpsed and then dismissed as unattainable ¨C even as we know it is necessary? Can we create safe spaces and places for respectful self-differentiation according to our respective gifts, the discourse ethics for responsible dialogue in different streams, and the mechanisms for re- integration and synthesis, in confluence, for collective benefit? I believe that we can, but it will need resources from outside the hypnotic pull of current paradigm institutional resistance and incentives. [I have examples from numerous different areas: multiple public events that I¡®ve attended and spoken-up at as an audience member (generating collective a-ha moments and applause),roles as a participant-observer in facilitation sessions and training sessions run by a colleague, sitting-in with foreign delegations listening to English presenters, and asking the ¡®dumb questions¡¯ on their behalf, and impromptu leadership dialogues as a mentor within a trans-cultural Linking Leaders for Change project, involvement with cultural feasts with trans-cultural intent at a multi-cultural school. While different, each of these has seen me act as a ¡®strange attractor¡¯ galvanising strong support from those willing to consider the possibility of a different way forward, together. The challenge for me now, is how to translate this tool/ability into fundable opportunities that enable me to survive BOTH within the existing paradigm, AND in the new one we must co-create, without compromising my systemic integrity]
Pathways of Functional Reform? Neil Davidson ¨C Collaborative Innovation Systems ¨C neil.davidson6n@optusnet.com.au Keynote Listening ¨C what can we articulate together that we cannot say alone? Many forums project content to be downloaded by attendees, with no real questions or comments. With silence assumed consent there is no need to think, let alone catalyse transformative thinking. While convenors invite questions, they often constrain comments. To be fair, people are prone to ramble; organisers are constrained for time, and there to protect speakers. However, as ABC¡¯s Q&A shows, well-framed respectful dialogue deepens understanding and allows differences to ¡®emerge¡¯. Peggy Holman suggests three questions people can ask themselves if aiming to engage emergence (enable innovation): ? How do I/we disrupt coherence compassionately? ? How do I/we engage disruptions creatively? ? How do I/we renew coherence wisely? Compounding global issues, the wicked problems caused by role fragmentation, boundary riding of different knowledges, incentives (e.g. payment to ignore those that can¡¯t pay) to maintain cultures of silence (Verhezen), and the absence of a global ethic, mean we urgently need transformative system change. Those capable must disrupt coherence compassionately to enable meaningful dialogue at a higher level ¨C for business as usual will not be enough. I have been actively exploring an emerging role as a keynote listener ¨C injecting myself into it before I was aware others were doing so! ¡°Instead of inviting luminaries to come onto a stage and talk at people, it invites influential people to come to an event, listen to the entrepreneurs and emerging leaders, absorb social media¡¯s reaction, engage with audience members and then, in the moment, react to what they are hearing.¡± http://havaspr.com/us/?p=11895 Keynote listening requires hearing what all contributors are saying, empathy to sense what they are trying to say, humble rearticulation of integrative comments and presentation within broader systems¡¯ context to give all greater access to what was meant in the context of the whole system.

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Keynote Listening

  • 1. Pathways of Functional Reform? Neil Davidson ¨C Collaborative Innovation Systems ¨C neil.davidson6n@optusnet.com.au Keynote Listening ¨C what can we articulate together that we cannot say alone? Keynote listening requires hearing what all contributors are saying, empathy to sense what they are trying to say, humble rearticulation of integrative comments and presentation within broader systems¡¯ context to give all greater access to what was meant in the context of the whole system. This contribution references my personal journey to understand, develop and refine my gift for active listening and anticipatorily reframing in real time for whole system gain. This ¡®gift¡¯ is informed by an astute awareness of compounding systemic issues, global inequities and likelihood of the catabolic collapse of what many regard as the global economy ¨C an unsustainable growth paradigm occurring on our watch, within the natural systems we depend on for our existence. The situation is urgent. Can one integrative, synthesising voice bringing a systems¡¯ perspective make a difference? Can a stepwise real-time linking and rearticulation of otherwise disparate elements into an elegant whole make more sense to some present and unlock latent potential for personal growth in capability and maturity in individuals in an otherwise undifferentiated audience? If so, how could we take the opportunity offered by the (temporarily?) opened mind/s to explore other, possibly transformational, co-design options, rather than be dragged back into ¡®current reality¡¯ expected/ paid roles in the current paradigm at the expense of the inner/personal-system integrity we might have glimpsed and then dismissed as unattainable ¨C even as we know it is necessary? Can we create safe spaces and places for respectful self-differentiation according to our respective gifts, the discourse ethics for responsible dialogue in different streams, and the mechanisms for re- integration and synthesis, in confluence, for collective benefit? I believe that we can, but it will need resources from outside the hypnotic pull of current paradigm institutional resistance and incentives. [I have examples from numerous different areas: multiple public events that I¡®ve attended and spoken-up at as an audience member (generating collective a-ha moments and applause),roles as a participant-observer in facilitation sessions and training sessions run by a colleague, sitting-in with foreign delegations listening to English presenters, and asking the ¡®dumb questions¡¯ on their behalf, and impromptu leadership dialogues as a mentor within a trans-cultural Linking Leaders for Change project, involvement with cultural feasts with trans-cultural intent at a multi-cultural school. While different, each of these has seen me act as a ¡®strange attractor¡¯ galvanising strong support from those willing to consider the possibility of a different way forward, together. The challenge for me now, is how to translate this tool/ability into fundable opportunities that enable me to survive BOTH within the existing paradigm, AND in the new one we must co-create, without compromising my systemic integrity]
  • 2. Pathways of Functional Reform? Neil Davidson ¨C Collaborative Innovation Systems ¨C neil.davidson6n@optusnet.com.au Keynote Listening ¨C what can we articulate together that we cannot say alone? Many forums project content to be downloaded by attendees, with no real questions or comments. With silence assumed consent there is no need to think, let alone catalyse transformative thinking. While convenors invite questions, they often constrain comments. To be fair, people are prone to ramble; organisers are constrained for time, and there to protect speakers. However, as ABC¡¯s Q&A shows, well-framed respectful dialogue deepens understanding and allows differences to ¡®emerge¡¯. Peggy Holman suggests three questions people can ask themselves if aiming to engage emergence (enable innovation): ? How do I/we disrupt coherence compassionately? ? How do I/we engage disruptions creatively? ? How do I/we renew coherence wisely? Compounding global issues, the wicked problems caused by role fragmentation, boundary riding of different knowledges, incentives (e.g. payment to ignore those that can¡¯t pay) to maintain cultures of silence (Verhezen), and the absence of a global ethic, mean we urgently need transformative system change. Those capable must disrupt coherence compassionately to enable meaningful dialogue at a higher level ¨C for business as usual will not be enough. I have been actively exploring an emerging role as a keynote listener ¨C injecting myself into it before I was aware others were doing so! ¡°Instead of inviting luminaries to come onto a stage and talk at people, it invites influential people to come to an event, listen to the entrepreneurs and emerging leaders, absorb social media¡¯s reaction, engage with audience members and then, in the moment, react to what they are hearing.¡± http://havaspr.com/us/?p=11895 Keynote listening requires hearing what all contributors are saying, empathy to sense what they are trying to say, humble rearticulation of integrative comments and presentation within broader systems¡¯ context to give all greater access to what was meant in the context of the whole system.