I want to learn more!!!

Linda

Nice story about the cookie. It’s a good illustration of personal responsibility. Lots of folks have advanced a philosophy of personal responsibility over the centuries. I’m not new there. What I do offer that is new is the discovery and field testing of the Responsibility Process…

And I’m happy to invest thirty or so years raising it up for a global conversation.

You are not “dumping” information, or dictating adherence to a set standard, you are starting a very large (worldwide) conversation!

Here’s a very small and simple story I’d like to share: I was shopping at the supermarket with my son who at that time was small enough to sit in the seat of a shopping cart. He wanted a cookie from the bakery and I gave it to him planning to pay for it later.

In the parking lot, I realized that I hadn’t paid for the cookie. I went back to the cashier, told her what had happened, and paid for the cookie. She looked at me with a funny expression on her face…then thanked me for coming back to pay!

Whenever we take personal responsibility, we have an opportunity to change our and others’ perception of the world. I knew I was taking responsibility for payment, but she surprised me by taking responsibility when she thanked me! No lecture, no guilt, no anger.

And Chris enjoyed the cookie. It was a good day.
Linda

You asked, “How would you like to teach Responsibility?”

I would like to teach what I’ve learned throughout my life and from others through public speaking and writing. I see Responsibility Redefined as a tool, a very excellent tool, to include in my new career. I don’t have a label for it, and may never put a label on it…more opportunity for creativity…to invent my new career.

I first learned of Responsibility Redefined in the business context. My immediate response was: this is not just for business, it’s for everyone.

What I’ve learned so far makes sense and I want to learn more.

I want to attend the November meeting, but have a Saturday committment through December. So I will attend some time in the beginning of 2008. Meanwhile, I’ll join the tele-training.

Warmest regards,
Linda

Here is a sampling of examples:

Alejandro, an internal consultant at a manufacturing conglomerate in Mexico, designed a brief experiential exercise for exposing the natural Responsibility Process to people. It’s a simple exercise — like building a tower with a deck of cards — that has lots of opportunity for failure built in. As mistakes and problems happen during the exercise Alexandro records the comments. Later he writes them on the flip chart and briefly teaches the Responsibility Process. The students then categorize their own comments as Lay Blame, Justify, Shame, Obligation, Quit, Denial, and Responsibility.

Susan, an internal “agile coach” in an information technology department, uses Alexandro’s exercise now in every agile class that she teaches. She relates agility to the Responsibility Process.

Flower and her husband teach Sunday School for High School students. They relate the Responsibility Process to Christian principles and practice.

Ashley is a “lean Software development” consultant. He teaches the Responsibility Process to every person, team, and audience he addresses as fundamental to removing wasted effort and getting lean and agile.

Ashley is responding to my challenge to teach Responsibility Redefined to every audience he faces. I’ve been living with that same challenge for 16 years.

How would you like to teach Responsibility?