This slide deck outlines a presentation by Meg Walker and Morey Bean highlighting the use of MIT's Presencing Institute's Theory U, with an emphasis on learning generative listening skills.

1. Imagine the Past
Remember the Future
Mindfulness
for
Placemakers

3. 11:45-12:00
Our Creative Intentions
“The next Buddha is in the Sangha.”
--Thich Nhat Hahn

4. 11:45-12:00
Introductions & Intentions
12:00-12:30
Our Case Study Problem Seeking
12:30-12:35
Guided Imagination Meditation
12:35-12:50
Crystalizing Ideas
12:50-1:00 & Onward!
Our Collective Artwork
CREATIVE MINDFULNESS FOR PLACEMAKERS
Workshop Schedule
https://www.presencing.org
Otto Scharmer, Director

5. Intention statement by case giver:
Take a moment to reflect on your sense of calling. Then
clarify these questions:
1. Current situation: What key challenge or question are
you up against?
2. Stakeholders: How might others view this situation?
3. Intention: What future are you trying to create?
4. Learning threshold: What do you need to let-go of –
and what do you need to learn?
5. With “how to help” in your mind: Where does the case
giver need input or help?
Coaches listen deeply and may ask clarifying questions
(don’t give advice!)

6. 1. Listen with your heart to what you’re hearing.
2. Listen to what resonates: What images, metaphors, feelings
and gestures come up for you that capture the essence of what
you heard?
3. Each coach shares the images/metaphors, feelings and
gestures that came up while listening to the case story.
Having listened to all coaches, the case giver reflects back on
what s/he heard.

7. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
http://www.thedesigngym.com/the-four-levels-of-listening-how-you-can-listen-your-way-to-innovation/

8. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
http://www.thedesigngym.com/the-four-levels-of-listening-how-you-can-listen-your-way-to-innovation/
LEVEL 1: DOWNLOADING
In this mode, you’re gathering facts, but selectively…you’re listening to double-check what
you already know and not expecting any surprises. Talker is just talking and listener is just
listening.
HOW TO MOVE PAST THIS MODE:
As a listener, you can break downloading with a step back from
details to the bigger picture.

9. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
LEVEL 2: CONVERSATIONAL
We’re mostly listening *in order to respond*. In a conversational mode of listening we try to
notice new things, pick out details and be generally attentive. In a good conversation, both
parties speak a fair amount and listen a fair amount. No one is keeping track…until someone
realizes that the other is taking advantage of the situation.
HOW TO MOVE PAST THIS MODE:
Instead of a 50/50 split, try to talk 10% of the time! Use silence
selectively and don’t try to fill the pauses in the conversation.

10. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
LEVEL 3: EMPATHIZING Empathic listening is listening for
the place the other person is speaking from. It’s not about
facts, but about experiencing/sensing an emotional
connection. You go past the facts of “Downloading”
listening and begin to understand the context of the facts.
“TELL ME MORE…”

11. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
LEVEL 3: EMPATHIZING Empathic listening is listening for the place the other person is speaking
from.
1. PAY ATTENTION
Give the speaker your undivided attention, and let distracting thoughts go. You
may start to build counter arguments or piece things together…you should let that
effort relax. Focus on being present.

12. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
LEVEL 3: EMPATHIZING Empathic listening is listening for the place the other person is speaking from.
2. SLOW DOWN AND BE PATIENT
Learn the power of the pause and don’t rush to fill the silence. Allow the other
person an extra second to think. You’ll get more unexpected information from
what comes after the silence than the follow up question you’re polishing in your
head.

13. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
LEVEL 3: EMPATHIZING Empathic listening is listening for the place the other person is speaking
from.
3. DEFER JUDGMENT
Personal assumptions and filters can distort what we hear. Listen to
learn, instead of judge.

14. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
HOW TO MOVE PAST THIS MODE:
Empathy implies that you’re over there, and I’m here, listening to you. You
can use Empathy to drive the desire to innovate and a reason to try…with
stories of real people affected by real challenges, much more than dry
facts. But in order to change how things are done, we need to be
surprised. That’s the next mode of listening.

15. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
In Emergent Listening, you both enter a realm of possibility…and commitment to
that possibility. That’s when we begin to form insights, not just about the present
problem, but pathways to the future. We get excited about the possibilities!

16. 12:00-12:30
CO-SENSING Generative Listening Problem Seeking
In Emergent Listening / Generative Dialogue, you both enter a realm of
possibility…and commitment to that possibility. That’s when we begin to form
insights, not just about the present problem, but pathways to the future. We get
excited about the possibilities!
Generative listening is connecting to the emerging future – to a future
possibility that links to your emerging self; to who you really are.
--Otto Scharmer, Presencing Institute
WHAT IF WE…

17. 5. 10min Generative dialogue
All reflect on remarks by the case giver and
move into a generative dialogue on how these
observations can offer new perspectives on the
case giver’s situation and journey.

18. 12:00-12:30
Our Case Clinic & Problem Seeking
From Meg Walker, Architect & Artist
Issue:
The City of New York has commissioned me to provide a public work of art for Fort Green
Park. They haven’t restricted me to a particular medium, i.e. mural, sculpture, performance.
They only told me to reflect an element of community peacemaking in the art piece.
My issue is: How can I best represent the cultural soul of the Fort Green Park and its in my
work of art. I need your help…

19. 12:00-12:30
Our Case Clinic & Problem Seeking: Art for Ft. Green Park

20. 12:00-12:30
Our Case Study & Problem Seeking

21. 6. Build on each other’s ideas. Stay in service of the
case giver without pressure to fix or resolve his/her
challenge.
Prototyping by Case giver: How do I now see my
situation and way forward?
Closing: Thanks & acknowledgment: An expression of
genuine appreciation to each other.

22. WALIS JOHNSON
walisjohnson@gmail.com
MOREY BEAN
Morey.bean@gmail.com
MEG WALKER
meg@megwalker.com

23. MOREY BEAN
Morey.bean@gmail.com
MEG WALKER
meg@megwalker.com
https://www.presencing.org/#/resource/tools/case-clinic-desc
https://uschool.presencing.com/tools/ulab-2016