October 2006

In this Issue:
We Are What We Do
Poetic Licence

We Are What We Do

We Are What We Do is a grass roots movement inspiring people like us to use everyday actions to change the world. Founded by David Robinson and Eugenie Harvey, it began as an innovative inner city charity running grass-roots community-based projects in east London, and has rippled into a global tsunami of good works that will indeed make the world a better place.

WAWWD has published three charmingly upbeat, beautifully illustrated little books called Change the World for a Fiver, Change the World 9 to 5 and Change the World for Ten Bucks. They offer 50 simple, everyday actions that can improve our environment, our health, and our communities.

Change the World for Ten Bucks was launched in Vancouver last week for Canadians, and as 14 year old Becky Green says, “This is a wonderful little book for people who want to make big changes in our world right now – without turning their lives upside down.”

For example, Action 35 in Change the World says, “Write to someone who inspired you,” and you can peel off a postcard with the same message on it, ready to mail. Rather viral, I’d say -- which reminds me, remember last year I wrote a story about sending a note of appreciation to someone in government? Have you done it? Now would be a good time.

You can sign up to the 'personal actions tracker' on www.wearewhatwedo.ca suggest an action, and dare a friend to take a specific action. As of Oct. 15, 4960975 actions have been completed.

Actions from Change the World 9 to 5 include:

* Find out where your lunch has come from
* Calculate your carbon footprint
* Enjoy a Fairtrade brew
* Praise people
* Speak rather than email
* Be nice to temps
* Learn to save a life
* Smile when you answer the phone
* Support small businesses

Change the World makes a great gift for your family (including kids), friends and co-workers. If you are in Canada visit www.wearewhatwedo.ca to purchase your copies, otherwise please visit www.wearewhatwedo.org.

Poetry in Motion

QuickMuse is a fascinating mix of poetry and improvisation where poets are assigned a topic and have 15 minutes to create on-the-spot verse. The "playback" feature lets you watch the poems unfold, second by second.

I have seen painters create art, and dancers and choreographers work out a dance, but never have I seen a poem being born. Here, for instance, is Paul Muldoon caught in the act: Muldoon has been described by The Times Literary Supplement as "the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War."

You can also watch Robert Pinsky (United States Poet Laureate, 1997) compose his poem.

I was touched by the experience of watching poems unfold. There was something naked and vulnerable about the poets as I watched letters, words, hesitations and re-writes appear on my screen. The moments of silence seem long, and yet Pinsky for example, produced his piece in 7.11 minutes. We don't have much patience for moments of empty space in North America, yet it is precisely the pregnant pauses, or musings, that give birth to creations.

Ken Gordon, the editor of Quickmuse asked me for my thoughts on the connection between QM and the workplace, for a Fast Company Magazine story. What can business people learn from QM and improve?

Hmm. I said that when so much of organizational life is scripted and controlled, it is a relief to create a place and space for improvisation. Improvisation frees us from being perfect, being in control, thinking ahead and second guessing. It can feel like jumping into the abyss at first, but once you jump, fear turns into excitement and your imagination kicks in. It's liberating and energizing to be present in the moment.

The basic rules for improv are to make your partner look good, say "yes and" not "yes but", and build on the ideas of others. Improv teaches us to create, collaborate and innovate on the spot. Improv also teaches us about trust, risk-taking, resiliency and agility, all of which prepare us for thriving in rapidly changing environments. When innovation takes us into new and unknown territory in the workplace we are prepared for a script-less situation. Improv skills help prevent crash landings.

Ken notes that improvisation in the workplace occurs every day, even hourly. He says, “Most of us resort to reflexive cliché when asked to speak extemporaneously. The trick is to believe enough in your own vision to throw away your notes and to speak, as they say, your own mind. My hope is that watching cliche-killers such as Pinsky at work will make people think twice about their spontaneous performances in meetings with clients.”

His article appears in the October issue of Fast Company Magazine, and yes, he did quote me.

Can we talk?

I was interviewed about the value of workplace conversations in Can we talk? an article by Sarah B. Hood, published last month in Canadian Business Magazine.

Happy Creating,

Linda Naiman