London Leadership Academy Summit
Simon recently spoke at the London Leadership Academy Summit. His experiential workshop on Double Task and Mindful Stories was packed-out. Thanks to all those who came along.
URA Mini-Symposium Initiative 2019, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Professor Simon Bell was invited to speak at the URA Mini-Symposium Initiative 2019 at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. The Symposium topic was: Internet of Things and AI in Agriculture and Simon’s presentation was: Surviving the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence: innovating methods, minds and technologies. The talk covered many Bayswater methods including Socio Technical systems, Double Task, BECM, Fear Analysis and Mindful Stories.
The aim of the talk was to underline how groups can achieve superpowers when dealing with technology.
The superpowers are:
-
- Different thinking
- Willingness to take a risk
- Assessing impact on community &
- Co-dreaming the future
The Symposium
Simon’s presentation
Post graduate students exploring the Mindful stories.
MasterClass in Fear Analysis and using Mindful Stories
Congratulations to these delegates from London Leadership Academy who attended the Bayswater Institute Masterclass in Fear Analysis and using Mindful Stories.
MasterClass in SocioTechnical Systems & the Imagine Method
Congratulations to these Delegates who attended the Bayswater Institute MasterClass in SocioTechnical Systems and the Imagine Method.
Wisdom in Groups events for 2020
The BI is pleased to announce the dates and locations of the 2020 Wisdom in Groups and Wisdom in Groups Intensive events. You are advised to book early.
Congratulations to all those who attended the BI Master Class in Double Task and BECM
Congratulations to all those who attended the BI Master Class in Double Task and BECM (Being, Engaging, Contextualising and Managing) for the London Leadership Academy on September 4th.
The Master Class is the first in a series of three events run by the BI for the LLA in London over the autumn.
Day 1: Double Task and BECM – Looking at the nature of the Group and perception
Day 2: Socio Technical Systems and Imagine – Thoughtful Analysis and measurement of group activity
Day 3: Mindful stories and Fear analysis – Exploring the Fear Mind and the inner journey
Contact the BI for more details about the MasterClasses and future events.
Wisdom in Groups Intensive – Cambridge UK
Congratulations to all those who attended Wisdom in Groups Intensive in Cambridge UK, July 1st – 3rd.
Using Mindful Stories – reading, reflecting, renewing – how is it done?
By Simon Bell
Mindful stories as explored on the Bayswater site are intended to help with the renewal of the self and the group. If the idea of the stories in the first place is to help individuals to find peace with themselves and groups to find harmony, then maybe more needs to be said to explain how? How do we find peace and harmony? Surely, if this could be achieved by simply reading a story now and then, the history of human progress would be rather different?
True.
There is more to it and the stories are not an answer. Rather they are a means to gain insight and agency.
What does that mean?
Well, the stories are fictions. They are not strictly true in the literal sense of the word. They are fictions written to illustrate a number of points. Points which on inspection, lead to other points. I would argue that the stories can be read at four levels and each one allows for a different perspective, a different insight and a different opportunity to grow. The stories occupy a space which allows arms-length assessment to take place, assessment at arms-length from lived reality.
Take the last four audio stories on the Bayswater site: The Child, The Walk, Commuting and Going. Each one might be listened to at any one of four possible levels.
- As a story or fable. Things happen and then they stop.
- As a story pointing to things behind the story. Things happen, puzzling things maybe, unusual things which point to other things, and then they stop.
- As a story within and governing the story. Things happen and the cause of those things, the motivations behind the things on the surface are considered, then they stop.
- As your story. Things happen and these things indicate ideas and concerns in your own life. You make links and drawn out some inferences maybe, then it stops.
Not all stories are appropriate for fourfold analysis, but it can help to try in most cases.
Reading the story in a mindful manner can lead to useful reflections. These reflections once considered for meaning can result in renewal of interest, passion and engagement with tricky items.
By Reading, Reflecting and looking for Renewal peace and harmony for individual and group can become.
Artwork © Rachel Furze
Going – A Mindful Audio Story
By Simon Bell
Going
Let the story sink in. When you are ready, here are the questions for you to consider:
Question 1. What is the main meaning of the story?
What message or core or essential meaning does the story hold for you? Can you set them free? There may be many meanings which occur to you but for now try to prioritise just one.
When you feel clear on this, hold it in your mind and read the next question:
Question 2. How is this meaning of relevance to you?
How does the story impact on your life and your challenges right now? Why is it important to you at this point in your life? What element emerges as being most relevant?
Again, give yourself time to think of your response and when you feel prepared try the next question:
Question 3. Think about what is the main value that you can draw from this relevance of the story. What does this value bring to the concern you identified earlier?
Don’t rush your response. Take time to think about the value. The word ‘value’ has connotations for us. What do we value and what of value is here? When you are set try this:
Question 4. What insight does the identified value provide for you?
Finally:
Question 5. What action might you engage with as a consequence?
Feel free to listen to the story several time and don’t expect instant results from considering a mindful story. The whole point is that the story can act as a gateway to another level. Give yourself time to let the ideas which come from the story settle down. Each time you reconsider you may get to a deeper level of meaning and this could result in new ideas.
I would be really pleased to receive your comments and thoughts.
Artwork © Rachel Furze
Commuting – A Mindful Audio Story
By Simon Bell
Commuting
Let the story sink in. When you are ready, here are the questions for you to consider:
Question 1. What is the main meaning of the story?
What message or core or essential meaning does the story hold for you? Can you set them free? There may be many meanings which occur to you but for now try to prioritise just one.
When you feel clear on this, hold it in your mind and read the next question:
Question 2. How is this meaning of relevance to you?
How does the story impact on your life and your challenges right now? Why is it important to you at this point in your life? What element emerges as being most relevant?
Again, give yourself time to think of your response and when you feel prepared try the next question:
Question 3. Think about what is the main value that you can draw from this relevance of the story. What does this value bring to the concern you identified earlier?
Don’t rush your response. Take time to think about the value. The word ‘value’ has connotations for us. What do we value and what of value is here? When you are set try this:
Question 4. What insight does the identified value provide for you?
Finally:
Question 5. What action might you engage with as a consequence?
Feel free to listen to the story several time and don’t expect instant results from considering a mindful story. The whole point is that the story can act as a gateway to another level. Give yourself time to let the ideas which come from the story settle down. Each time you reconsider you may get to a deeper level of meaning and this could result in new ideas.
I would be really pleased to receive your comments and thoughts.
Artwork © Rachel Furze