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Scharmer's work has transformed me. Otto Scharmer and his colleagues offer an innovative way of conducting scientific research, pursuing institutional change, and developing transformational leadership. While the book discusses transformation at the corporate level, this model can be applied to any setting. By following the U process, leaders learn how to connect with their authentic self and discover the future that is waiting to emerge. I've been studying Theory U as a graduate student at Naropa University in the Environmental Leadership program and have personally followed this "journey". It is aligned with Buddhist teachings - promoting meditation and deep reflection. This is must-read and a valuable addition to your library collection.
I read this book for the first time a few years ago. Otto Scharmers openness in reveling his own Blind Spots through true life anecdotes made me see some of my own Blind Spots and gave me the will, the commitment and the power to face them. - Behind the Blind Spot lies possibilites to understand what we may be - what kind of a future we can create - in our Full Potential. What makes it special is the mixture of theories and the authors own thoughts, experiences and break through thinking. If you are working with development of organsizations, employees or leaders this book gives you the understanding of the limited outcomes of "Downloading" - which is the most common way of teaching - and what you get out of bringing people through experiences of opening, mind, heart and start to presence the possible future. This combination of theory and anecdotes is stimulating for reflection and starts journeys in my mind.To be more precise, what I found so interesting about this book: - Blind Spots - our inability to see our own weaknesses, what we do not understand and what we hide from. I gave this copey away and now I have got the paperback version - and I am reading it again.I see the book about Theory U as probably the most valuable book about leadership, strategy, change and transition in the last ten years.It is not just interesting when it comes to theory and methods. Facing them and seeing how they stand in the way of my True Self gave me the Willpower and Leverage to Confront them without hesitation or fear.
And, what is even more interesting: How to illuminate thr Blind Spot and make it clear to us how it stands in our way of dealing with life in a constructive way. We all have these Blind Spots - and we are unaware about them. Otto Scharmer calls this Presencing, which is a good descrption for the process the book led me into. This book is a milestone for understanding more of how teaching, laerning happens and that there is more to working with of people, organizations and social systems than we have understood so far.
Theory U is a travel guide to the deep source of my own contribution to the future. It is a handbook for all who wish to focus on the future instead of living in the past. It shows the way to transcend personal interests and move to collective interests. Opening up for the questions of the future asks us to open our mind, our heart and our will.Otto Scharmer has given us a precious gift to explore our own opportunities to make a change for the world of today and tomorrow.
Learning to listen is a passion of mine. Theory U takes that passion to the next level. Having spent much time with self, it is now time to move out into the wider world to ascertin where I fit in. Theory U has embolden me to take that next stepThanks for listening
If you are considering whether or not to buy this book- just do it. A nice blend of practical and theoretical. Its easy to read. It presents ideas using multiple methods- tables, visual maps, stories, interviews, explanations and so on. Always thought provoking- a good book to continually go back to re-read sections as the need arises. Very very well researched.
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