The Power of Presence
Shifting your Awareness to Transform your Business, Your Life & Our Future
by Peter Senge, Ph.D.
Usually when we see the word "presence" in a title, we can be fairly certain that the central topic is spirituality,
self-improvement, or life enhancement. As it happens, Peter Senge’s use of the word probably does deliver on all of
that, but The Power of Presence is primarily about improving business leadership skills. Yes, business.
Being present, being in the moment, being mindful - these terms are familiar to just about everyone in the
Western world, and we tend to associate them with Buddhism or at least with some form of spiritual pursuit. Senge
wants us to understand that presence, while central to those philosophies, is equally important in the sharp-edged
world of business. He asks how many people enjoy meetings. Is there anyone who answers yes to that? But Senge tells
us that meetings can be interesting, productive, even fun.
"Closed minds produce dull meetings," he says. Open minds, on the other hand, aren’t afraid to expose
vulnerability by admitting to not knowing. Ask questions, Senge urges, but ask real questions, then listen to the
responses. Pay attention to what other people are saying and doing in that moment, rather than replaying your
assumptions while doodling on the agenda.
Simply by allowing presence, we are better able to view the situation from a different perspective. By letting go
of our determination and need to have the answer, we make space for creative solutions. It’s a new way to think about
success, and it’s long overdue.
A lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Visiting Professor at the Helsinki School of Economics, Senge
is also the author of The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. He’s also the
founder of The Society for Organizational Learning, Inc., a nonprofit international membership organization that
connects researchers, organizations, and consultants in over thirty countries in building knowledge for systemic
change. With credentials like those, it’s easy to believe that Senge knows something about business management and
best practices.
While Senge’s presentation in this brief (just over 2 hours) audio work is engaging and motivational, he goes
beyond pep and enthusiasm to give concrete examples of how presence has and can be used to develop a shared vision
and more workable strategies for almost any workplace. The Power of Presence is a valuable resource for every
leader who truly wants to accomplish goals and strengthen teams. |
The Book |
Sounds True |
August 2008 |
Audio 2 CDs / 2.25 Hrs. / 4 Page study guide |
978-1591795285 |
Nonfiction / Business / Mind and Body |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Deborah Adams |
Reviewed 2008 |
NOTE: Reviewer Deborah Adams
is the Flair and Macavity Award winning author of the Jesus Creek Mystery Series: All The
Great Pretenders, All The Crazy Winters, All The Dark Disguises, All The
Hungry Mothers, All The Deadly Beloved, All The Blood Relations, and All
The Dirty Cowards. She was also an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. |
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