As usual, the interactive online dialogue series hosted by Otto Scharmer registered full house just 12 hours after the event details were published online. Guest speaker at the session this time was Kenneth Hogg from the Scottish Government.

A starting point for the dialogue that took place during the June DoTS session was Otto’s latest article. It is part of a larger and ongoing conversation on deep axial shifts that was launched last April, and that will be continuing to run monthly until December 2019.

 

FRAMING

The attendance list registered participants from all continents, for a total of over thirty countries around the world.

Taking part in the session were participants from cities as far apart and diverse as: Göteborg, São Paulo, Hanoi, Lima, Melbourne, Windhoek and Ottawa - to name but a few.

Where does the future of politics lie, and what is our individual and collective scope of action? What part are we each called to play in the new global movement of awakening that is happening across the planet?

 

PART 1 - OPENING DIALOGUE

Otto Scharmer, in kicking off the session, asked Kenneth Hogg the following: “A core question for you has been ‘how do we lead change when we know that more of the same won’t get us the outcomes we want, and when our contextual operating environment is no longer familiar or predictable?’ Can you tell us more about your journey to this point, and why this question is important for you?”

Kenneth shared his personal background. He is a Director in the Scottish Government, recently served as chief executive officer of the Scottish Police Authority – a big organisational and ecosystem leadership challenge, and previously has held 3 Director roles in the Scottish Government. Kenneth was responsible for leading that Government’s innovative approach to public service change and reform, empowering communities and democratic renewal.  He has worked with local government, health services, NGOs and the private sector. In 2015 Kenneth worked with the Presencing Institute to support the introduction of U.Lab in Scotland as a platform for community-led change. 

Kenneth explained how Scotland’s National Performance Framework has introduced the dimensions of kindness, compassion and dignity to the field of performance. “Love”, “respect”, “full potential” and “health” are some of the key words used to describe the national outcomes Scotland is aiming to achieve. Kenneth warmly invites us to explore further the framework overview and data published on this page: www.nationalperformance.gov.scot

 

PART 2 - BREAKOUT SESSION

After Otto’s dialogue with Kenneth, the participants were divided into virtual breakout rooms to hold a dialogue in groups of five. Attendees were instructed to each introduce themselves and then share the personal experiences and thoughts that might be sparked by these questions:

 

• Where do you see this kind of political shift happening in your own context?
• Share an example of citizen activation and polarization that you have witnessed, or are part of?

 

PART 3 - PLENARY DIALOGUE

Some questions and remarks that were shared back during the plenary phase:

“There really is more to change than just on governmental levels.”

“Brexit has exposed how broken the UK ‘democratic’ model is, and the need to get beyond political tribes”

“I believe there are 4 levels of change: 1. Government for sure to write laws and policy. 2. Exploitation Levels...those who abuse those policies. 3. Change on community levels, and 4. Change in the individual.”

“The shift being talked about is from focusing on structures primarily to culture--that is, how people are living and relating in everyday life and community. Is this a useful perspective?”

“We ended with a question: what to do when we feel there might not be an entry point into a system?”

“Beautiful experience just being together.”

“We met on the importance of compassionate mindfulness and coherence as a process going mainstream.”

“We saw a need to engage locally AND get beyond left-right conflict to targeted problem solving of local problems.”

“There's a huge need to engage actively as citizens, governments may not transform themselves unless we engage.”

“Learnings: stay passionate and compassionate even when stuck, or the conversation is rough leading to nothing.”

“I feel a bubbling energy, like water just starting to cook.”

 

SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED BY KENNETH

Q: “What can be learnt from Extinction rebellion as a social movement to support political shift? also the role of deliberative democracy and citizens assembly as a new way of doing democracy- which is one of their key demands?” 
A: The Scottish Government recently announced the establishment of a citizens assembly to help shape Scotland’s future.  More information is available here: www.gov.scot/news/citizens-assembly-of-scotland 

 

Q: “How did Scotland get the voting age down to 16 and is it working better than when it was 18?”  (In the referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country, held on 18 September 2014,16 year olds were able to vote for the first time.) 
A: This decision was made possible by the UK Parliament agreeing that the Scottish Parliament should be able to decide the miniumum voting age, and by the Scottish Parliament voting to lower the minimum age from 18 to 16. 16 and 17 years olds engaged enthusiastically with the referendum: 89% of all 16 and 17 years olds resident in Scotland registered themselves to vote.  After the referendum, the voting age for all elections to the Scottish Parliament and for local government elections in Scotland was lowered to 16.

Q: “I would love to know more about how the performance framework in Scotland came about and how it is working” 
A: You can find out more here: www.nationalperformance.gov.scot

Q: “I would love resources, guidance on how we can co-create effective, horizontal, collective decision making.” 
A: Some relevant independent reports about experience in the UK are available here: www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/project/enabling-state  and in the work of Oliver Escobar at the University of Edinburgh www.pol.ed.ac.uk/people/academic_staff/oliver_escobar 

 

VIDEORECORDING

You can view a videorecording of the session here:

 

 

COMING UP NEXT

Join Episode 4 -- “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: the new economic coordinates”

Our fourth session, to take place later this summer (July or August, date still to be confirmed), will feature guest speaker Shoshana Zuboff.

We will be sharing more details very soon.

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