Greater complexity affects all of us, and when we add some new skills, we are able to transform to meet the challenges of complexity with ease and confidence.

1. C O MP L E X I T Y
as an Opportunity for
Transformative
Learning
Sylvia Gaffney, Ph.D. & Bernice Moore, Ph.D.
May 2011
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Monday, October 17, 2011

2. TODAY’S
Session
✴ Interactive & fast-paced with mini-lectures &
practical experiences woven throughout
✴ Understand theoretical framework &
relationship to transformative learning
✴ Explore complexity
✴ Discuss role of mindfulness & neuroscience
✴ Experience mindfulness practices
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Monday, October 17, 2011

3. COMPLEXITY
as the Driver
✴ Acceleration of change
✴ Global shifts & changing markets
✴ Evolving technology &
breakthrough science research
✴ Massive amounts of & sources
for information Complexity
is Stressful 3
Monday, October 17, 2011

4. FUNDAMENTAL
Ch a nges
✴ Less mechanistic to more systemic
✴ Rapid & unpredictable
✴ Changes & complexity causing STRESS
✴ Opposite of required critical skill sets
✴ Different kind of leader needed
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Monday, October 17, 2011

5. EVERYTHING
is Increasingly
Complex
✴ Disconnect between meaning
structures & our complex world
✴ Causing disorienting dilemmas
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Monday, October 17, 2011

6. OPPORTUNITY
Because of Increasing
Complexity
✴ Transform through the trigger
✴ Shift & expand meaning schemes
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Monday, October 17, 2011

7. The
TRANSFORMATION
Needed
✴ Developing the WHOLE person
Mind - Body - Spirit
✴ Concept not new in TL thinking
✴ Mindfulness research
✴ Advances in brain science
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Monday, October 17, 2011

8. DO
& Debrief
✴ Effects of complexity
in & on your life
✴ Organizing complexity
‣ How hard is it to describe?
‣ What does it take to create it?
‣ Who needs to be involved to make it happen?
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Monday, October 17, 2011

9. COMPLEXITY
Thrive Dive
or
✴ Our research ndings
‣ Some organizations invite & engage with complexity
✴ IBM study ndings
‣ Creativity & innovation is a way to lean into & work with
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Monday, October 17, 2011

10. MINDFULNESS
Moment-to-moment awareness cultivated
by paying attention to things we usually ignore
Mind-Body-Spirit experience of wholeness
Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Monday, October 17, 2011

11. Many Ways to Practice
MINDFULNESS
✴ Attention to the Present Moment
(both inside & out)
✴ Breath Work
✴ Yoga
✴ Silence
✴ Contemplation
✴ Meditation
✴ Tai Chi
✴ QiGong
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Monday, October 17, 2011

12. The Process of
MINDFULNESS
✴ Attention
✴ Awareness
✴ Concentration
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Monday, October 17, 2011

13. MAGNIFICENT
Brain
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Monday, October 17, 2011

14. KEYSTONE
to our
Body
&
Being
✴ Working with & changing our brain
✴ Creating new connections
‣ Neuroplasticity
✴ Responding more adaptively 14
Monday, October 17, 2011

15. TRIUNE
Brain
✴ Brain stem
✴ Limbic area
✴ Cortex
adapted from the book Mindsight by
Daniel Siegel, M.D.
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Monday, October 17, 2011

16. New Neural
PATHWAYS
✴ Neurons, dendrites,
synapses - creating new
connections as we learn
✴ Mirror neurons - our ability
to viscerally connect with
another person
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Monday, October 17, 2011

17. MYSTERIOUS
Brain
✴ Least known organ of body
✴ Breakthrough advances in
brain research
✴ Brain & Body interconnected
✴ Neuroscience Research
legitimizes practice in business
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Monday, October 17, 2011

18. EXPERIENCE
Leaning In
✴ Paying attention inside & out
✴ Simple exercises to reduce stress
‣ Intentional & visible
‣ Intentional & NOT noticeable
✴ Relax & Breathe 18
Monday, October 17, 2011

19. Sharing Your
THOUGHTS
✴ Questions
✴ Comments
✴ Connections
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Monday, October 17, 2011

20. Pulling in a
SMILE
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Monday, October 17, 2011

21. NAMASTE
I honor the place in you
where the universe resides
a place of peace
a place of joy
a place of truth
When you are there
I am there
We are One
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Monday, October 17, 2011

22. Thank you for the honor of
LEARNING with Us
Sylvia Gaffney, Ph.D. Bernice Moore, Ph.D.
sylvia@gaffney.com bernice@ico-consulting.com
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Monday, October 17, 2011

23. RESOURCES
& References
Cozolino, L. (2006). The neuroscience of human relationships: Attachment and the developing social brain.
New York: Norton.
Dirkx, J. M., Mezirow, J., & Cranton, P. (2006). Musings and re ections on the meaning, context, and process
of transformative learning: A dialogue between John. M. Dirkx and Jack Mezirow. Journal of transformative
education (4)123, 123-139.
IBM Corporation (2010). Capitalizing on complexity: Insights from the global chief executive of cer study:
an IBM study. Somers, N.Y.: IBM Global Business Services.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and
illness (2nd ed.). New York: Delacort Press.
Langer, E.J. & Moldoveanu, M. (2000). The construct of mindfulness. The journal of social issues, (56)1, 1-9.
Retrieved EBSCO Host, April 12, 2011.
Mezirow, J. (1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Siegel, D. (2010). Mindsight: The new science of personal transformation. New York: Bantam.
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Monday, October 17, 2011