Shared Practices for Transformation

In the Palgrave Handbook of Learning for Transformation, my co-editors and I returned to the most common understanding of the meaning of Transformation-- the classical Greek definition. Metamorphosis. As noted in the Handbook, the meaning of metamorphosis is a change in form or structure:

“Form, in our view, includes meaning structures and frames of reference that are most commonly related to the process of transformative learning, while we also recognize form as structure, relationship, systems, cosmologies, conflicts, landscapes, and materiality, transformation unsettles common sense assumptions and opens new possibilities for forms of action.” (p.5)

But how do we make the practical journey between forms? Transitioning between forms is far from easy and what I characterize as Grey Zone Change. Fundamental to all forms of transformation are certain core skills: listening, questioning and co-creating across difference.

In this post, I summarize the skills of Transformational listening, Transformational questioning and Co-creating, without which innovation, bridging divides, transcending challenges and moving forward as a human society will not be possible.?

Transformational listening and questioning moves beyond techniques for listening and question-asking to a holistic sensing of the full context of the interaction or situation, in the past, present and future to develop a narrative understanding of the situation. I call these the shared practices that are the minimum specifications for navigating the grey zone. They are shared practices because everyone involved and interested in achieving a shared purpose must practice them:

Listening Deeply

Asking Powerful Questions

Co-Creating Actions

I have developed practices for these tools of transformation, influenced by the work of Chené Swart (2013, 2015) on Narrative Practices, Robert Marshak’s work on Deep Listening and Transforming Talk (Marshak 2004, 2020) and the community of Human Systems Dynamics Professionals as part of my praxis of Transformation...see full post here...