Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations, and SocietyPresence is an intimate look at the development of a new theory about change and learning. In wide-ranging conversations held over a year and a half, organizational learning pioneers Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers explored the nature of transformational change—how it arises, and the fresh possibilities it offers a world dangerously out of balance. The book introduces the idea of “presence”—a concept borrowed from the natural world that the whole is entirely present in any of its parts—to the worlds of business, education, government, and leadership. Too often, the authors found, we remain stuck in old patterns of seeing and acting. By encouraging deeper levels of learning, we create an awareness of the larger whole, leading to actions that can help to shape its evolution and our future. Drawing on the wisdom and experience of 150 scientists, social leaders, and entrepreneurs, including Brian Arthur, Rupert Sheldrake, Buckminster Fuller, Lao Tzu, and Carl Jung, Presence is both revolutionary in its exploration and hopeful in its message. This astonishing and completely original work goes on to define the capabilities that underlie our ability to see, sense, and realize new possibilities—in ourselves, in our institutions and organizations, and in society itself. |
From inside the book
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Page 6
... asking people , " What is this ? " Invariably , they would respond , " It's a hand . " He would then point out that the cells that made up that hand were continually dying and regenerating themselves . What seems tan- gible is ...
... asking people , " What is this ? " Invariably , they would respond , " It's a hand . " He would then point out that the cells that made up that hand were continually dying and regenerating themselves . What seems tan- gible is ...
Page 11
... asking each person , " What question lies at the heart of your work ? " Together , the two groups illuminated a type of learning that could lead to the creation of a world not gov- erned primarily by habit , All learning integrates ...
... asking each person , " What question lies at the heart of your work ? " Together , the two groups illuminated a type of learning that could lead to the creation of a world not gov- erned primarily by habit , All learning integrates ...
Page 20
... , the plastics and materials couldn't be recycled, and the appliances couldn't be remanufactured. I had asked for .1 room where I could open the windows. They didn't have any because they relied on central. 21 l'resence.
... , the plastics and materials couldn't be recycled, and the appliances couldn't be remanufactured. I had asked for .1 room where I could open the windows. They didn't have any because they relied on central. 21 l'resence.
Page 22
... sustainably harvested , the plas tics and materials couldn't be recycled , and the appliances couldn't be remanufactured . I had asked for a room where I could open the windows . They didn't have any because they relied on 22 Presence.
... sustainably harvested , the plas tics and materials couldn't be recycled , and the appliances couldn't be remanufactured . I had asked for a room where I could open the windows . They didn't have any because they relied on 22 Presence.
Page 24
... asked . " As he showed , this sort of fear is usually met by denial or simply makes us feel hopeless . " " But that doesn't have to happen , " Joseph replied , " I've seen many instances where imagining alternative futures , even ...
... asked . " As he showed , this sort of fear is usually met by denial or simply makes us feel hopeless . " " But that doesn't have to happen , " Joseph replied , " I've seen many instances where imagining alternative futures , even ...
Contents
5 | |
21 | |
27 | |
Seeing from the Whole | 41 |
Seeing with the Heart | 53 |
The Generative Moment | 71 |
An Emerging Understanding | 83 |
The Wedding | 105 |
27 | 203 |
Presence | 213 |
With Man Gone Will There Be Hope | 235 |
23 | 249 |
29 | 256 |
Acknowledgments | 263 |
About the Organizations | 271 |
33 | 274 |
Becoming a Force of Nature | 115 |
Leadership Becoming a Human Being | 177 |
Science Performed with | 187 |
Reader Comments | 285 |
Other editions - View all
Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future Peter M. Senge,C. Otto Scharmer,Joseph Jaworski,Betty Sue Flowers No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
action arise asked awareness Baja basic become Bell's theorem Betty Bohm Bortoft Brian Arthur Buddhism C. O. Scharmer called capacity commitment connection conversation create crystals cultivation culture David Bohm deeper Eleanor Rosch environmental example experience feel felt field Fifth Discipline Francisco Varela fundamental global Guatemala happens heart human Humberto Maturana idea implicate order inner innovation institutions integrative interviews John John Milton Joseph larger intention leaders leadership letting go living systems look meeting mind morphic fields move nature Organizational Learning organizations Otto Otto's ourselves person Peter presencing problem prototyping reality realized redirection relationship says scientists Senge sense shift simply social started story talking Taoist theory there's things thought Tibetan Buddhism tion told transformation understanding Varela vicara vision W. H. Murray what's whole wisdom worldview York
Popular passages
Page 78 - We did not put our ideas together. We put our purposes together. And we agreed, and then we decided
Page 5 - Our normal way ol thinking eheats us. lt leads us to think of wholes as made up of many partss the way a ear is made up ol wherlss a ehassiss and a drire train.