Michael Lissack Flexibility of perspective is critical. You simultaneously focus on ques- tions that matter to you, and keep your awareness open for the unexpected. Like a hunter, alerted to the presence of prey by the snap of a broken twig, you learn to pick out a key piece of vital information in the dizzying flood of words, images, sounds, and numbers that most of us swim in. Most of us have built up a set of strict filters to keep from drowning. We pay attention only to what we think we need to know. Being a planner, therefore, means becoming aware of one's filter and continually readjusting it to let in more data about the world, but without becoming overwhelmed. It's all part of a process of self-reflection: understanding yourself and your biases, identify- ing what matters to you, and perceiving where to put your attention. It takes persistent work and honesty to penetrate our internal mental defenses. To ensure the success of our efforts, we need a clear understanding of the rela- tionship between our own concerns and the wider world around us. When people play with mental models of the world, they are actually creating a new language among themselves that expresses the knowledge they have acquired. And here we come to the most important aspect of institutional learning, whether it be achieved through teaching or through play as we have defined it: the institutional learning process is a process of language development. As the implicit knowledge of each learner becomes explicit, his or her mental model becomes a building block of the institu- tional model. How much and how fast this model changes will depend on the culture and structure of the organization. Teams that have to cope with rigid procedures and information systems will learn more slowly than those with flexible, open communication channels. Autocratic institutions will learn faster or not at all the ability of one or a few leaders being a risky institutional bet. We've used new media technology to engage and capture attention while we've worried less about engaging and capturing the mind. Media have become tools for individual transmission rather than tools for collaborative action. We use media technology to share an experience rather than create a shared experience. The difference is not subtle. It's the difference between passivity and participation, talking and conversation. It's also the reason so
170
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online