Product Description

"I believe we can change the world if we start talking to one another again."

With this simple declaration, Margaret Wheatley proposes that people band together with their colleagues and friends to create the solutions for real social change, both locally and globally, that are so badly needed. Such change will not come from governments or corporations, she argues, but from the ageless process of thinking together in conversation.

Turning to One Another encourages this process. Part I explores the power of conversation and the conditions simplicity, personal courage, real listening, and diversity that support it. Part II contains quotes and images to encourage the reader to pause and reflect, and to prepare for the work ahead convening truly meaningful conversations. Part III provides twelve "conversation starters" questions that in Wheatley's experience have led people to share their deepest beliefs, fears, and hopes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16208 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 182 pages

About the Author
Margaret J. Wheatley is president of the Berkana Institute, a nonprofit education and scientific research foundation supporting the discovery of new organizational forms. She is the author of Leadership and the New Science, a groundbreaking international bestseller. She is also the coauthor (with Myron Kellner-Rogers) of A Simpler Way.

Customer Reviews

Learning together through conversation
Margaret Wheatley has written another beautiful book, and this time the topic is conversation. Meg (as she's known) believes strongly in the power of conversation and dialogue to bring people together and to promote individual and shared development.

She starts the book by explaining her reasons for writing it, and by explaining her view on conversation. She lists a set of principles, which must be emphasized to create deep, meaningul dialogue:
We acknowledge each other as equals
We try to stay curious about each other
We recognize the we need each other's help to become better listeners
We slow down so we have time to think and reflect
We remember the conversation is the natural way humans think together
We expect it to be messy at times

When I think of many of the discussions going on at work, they are diametrically opposite to this. They are fast and goal-oriented, and leave people little opportuniy to learn together. I think we can benefit greatly from learning to slow down and engage in deeper conversation.

The book goes on to suggest a number of conversation topics. The idea is, that you get some people together, and discuss one or more of these topics. Each topic is accompanied by a mini-essay, that you could use to kick off the dialogue. There are ten topics in all for instance "What is my faith in the future", "What do I believe about other" or "Am I willing to reclaim time to think".

Meg Wheatley is also involved in From the four directions, an initiative that promotes circles of conversation to allow people to learn about leadership. Circles of conversation would probably be a good way to think together about the book's topics. I'm part of such a circle here in Copenhagen, and I've found it to be an excellent way of connecting with other people, and of learning more about myself and others.

Like "A simpler way", Turning to one another is an unconventional and beautiful book, that conveys its message through drawings, photos and poems as well as through standard text. I recommend it highly.

A wonderful book of these times - challenging and heartfelt.
This book will provoke and challange you as it did for me.
It awakes a kindels a new perception of what we humans are facing at the moment and what we ourselves with each other can do about it.
A necessary read for all who are taking leadership where ever you are in this world.
- Toke P. Møller