Facilitation Micro-Skills Seminar

Reconstructing the idea of leadership Empowerment, stewardship, chosen accountability An interview with Peter Block, Author of Community: Structure of belonging

An interview with Peter Block

Peter Block is an author, consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. His work is about empowerment, stewardship, chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community.

Peter is the author of several best selling books. The most widely known being Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used (1st edition 1980); Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest (1993) and The Empowered Manager: Positive Political Skills at Work (1987).

His latest book is Community: The Structure of Belonging (Berrett Koehler 2008). He has also authored. The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters, which won the 2002 Independent Publisher Book Award for Business Breakthrough Book of the Year. Freedom and Accountability at Work: Applying Philosophic Insight to the Real World, was co-authored with consultant and philosopher Peter Koestenbaum (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 2001).

The books are about ways to create workplaces and communities that work for all. They offer an alternative to the patriarchal beliefs that dominate our culture. His work is to bring change into the world through consent and connectedness rather than through mandate and force.

He is a partner in Designed Learning, a training company that offers workshops designed by Peter to build the skills outlined in his books

In this interview we discuss the following questions:

What are the patriarchal beliefs that dominate our culture?

You speak to us about bringing change into the world through consent and connectedness rather than through mandate and force. How does one make that transition?

In our heavy policy driven world, speak to us more about the ‘Real change comes from connection and relationship, not better leaders or new policies.”

What does it mean to “lead powerful conversations that engage and empower participants to take responsibility for their own future?”

What constitutes a good/powerful question?

How does one gain the perception to focus on people’s gifts rather than deficiencies, especially when the experience clearly dictates the latter?

Speak to us about accountability as a citizen.

What does your quote “What takes place in the culture is a projection of what is taking place in our hearts...” say about our culture?

What can we do to discover our own questions?

How do I become an “engagement manager”?

How can we as facilitators be useful in our communities?

Click here for the recorded interview and notes: $17.95

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About Peter Block: 
Peter serves on the Boards of Directors of Cincinnati Classical Public Radio, Elementz and InkTank. He is on the Advisory Board for the Festival in the Workplace Institute, Bahamas. He is the first Distinguished Consultant-in-Residence at Xavier University. As a citizen of Cincinnati, he is currently involved in projects focusing on people on the margin and supports the Urban Opportunities Alliance, a cooperative group of six efforts to value the possibility of youth and families in Cincinnati. With other volunteers Peter began A Small Group, whose work is to bring into conversation other groups not in relationship with each other, through the powerful tools of civic engagement.

He has received national awards for outstanding contributions in the field of training and development, including the American Society for Training and Development Award for Distinguished Contributions; the Association for Quality and Participation President’s Award; and Training Magazine HRD Hall of Fame.

Peter’s office is in Mystic, Connecticut. You can visit his websites at www.peterblock.com, www.designedlearning.com, and www.asmallgroup.net. He welcomes being contacted at pbi@att.net.