Critical Response Paper: "Presence"

 
1. Summary of Book's Message
 
The message of this book is that there is hope for us to create the world we want, if we are willing to
break from our existing patterns and habits.
 
We all have the ability and need to change, to create the best lives we can for ourselves and our world.
But we don't always embrace the need or value of change and when we do, we often get blocked by our
existing biases. We tend to see and react to our present based on our past. The experiences of our past
develop patterns of thought and habits of action that can be obstacles in finding and achieving positive,
lasting change. The first step in solving many of the problems we face as individuals and as larger
societies, is to let go of how we see the world today and enable ourselves to see it in new and different
ways.
 
A corollary to this is that we see ourselves different in relation to other people and the rest of the world.
A bias we have is to see ourselves as individuals, separate from each other and separate from the
systems we live and work in. We forget that our actions have consequences that can be far reaching, as
in global commerce systems that link a cup of coffee in America with poverty in Africa. We need to start
seeing ourselves as part of these systems, as part of the problems our world faces rather than as
unaffected observers on the outside looking in.
 
2. Sub Themes of Book
 
i. We're Blind to the World
ii. Importance of Being Connected
iii. We Exist in Living Systems
iv. Discovering & Guiding is More Powerful than Controlling
v. The Universe Wants to Help Us
 
 
We're Often Blind to the World
 
Our bias is to focus on our perspective of the world which is based on what we have experienced in the
past. Thus creates a filter that can prevent us from seeing any reality other than that which we know
through our own lives, blinding us to any other reality or possibility offered by the world.
 
Importance of Being Connected
 
Another bias we humans have is seeing ourselves as separate entities, independent, autonomous
individuals. We forget, as humans, we are all connected as part of the same living system. By the same
thinking we are all part of larger networks, which, if we acknowledge them, can offer much knowledge
and power. A third aspect of connectedness is that, our behaviors have consequences that can reach far
beyond our realization. Ignoring this can be detrimental and can lead to many of the issues we now face.
 
We Exist in Living Systems
 
Many of our scientific, business and other organizational systems are built with machines in mind. They
see people as generic, replaceable components. They also see the whole as nothing more than the sum
of the parts. Yet we exist in living systems which are themselves entities and have characteristics that
exist only due to the unique mix of their parts and how they interact and relate. Living systems are
complex, intelligent and evolving systems.
 
Discovering & Guiding is More Powerful than Controlling
 
Too often as we focus on accomplishing things or managing change, we want to create a definite plan
and map out every step of its implementation. This requires knowledge we usually don't have before a
project is begun and therefore may lead to missteps. A better way is to start with a vision as a guide and
discover how to implement as you proceed.
 
The Universe Wants to Help Us
 
As we discover and commit to the vision we want to purse, the Universe will actually turn our way and
provide resources to help us. It's as if the energy we produce by finding a clear vision attracts the
attention of the Universe and it responds.
 
 
3. Similarities to Appreciative Inquiry
 
The ideas presented in Presence remind me of the change model, "Appreciative Inquiry". Some
similarities include the ideas of wholeness, collaborative conversations and being guided by an image or
vision but not a complete plan.
 
Wholeness
 
In Appreciative Inquiry, they refer to the "Wholeness Principle" which relates to people hearing "the
whole story". This means they're open to more than their own experiences and world view. They have
the opportunity to understand many different perspectives, not just their own. This seems similar to the
redirecting that happens as we move down the left side of the U.
 
Collaborative Conversations
 
Appreciative Inquiry is based on conversations and dialogue that help people and organizations
transform themselves. The act of having these focused conversations surfaces ideas and awareness and
brings people to a new state of understanding, which positions them for positive change. The book,
Presence, is itself a perfect example of these sorts of collaborative conversations that move groups of
people to new ideas and conclusions, which they might not have reached on their own.
 
Incomplete Visions
 
The "Anticipatory Principle" in Appreciative Inquiry tells us images can be our guide to creating the
future we want. Inherent in this principle is the idea that such images are not complete. But they are
shared and bring people together to get them moving in the same direction, much like visions that are
discovered as we up the right side of the U.