September 22, 2004

The answer to how is yes

A friend emailed me this short blurb about a book by Peter Block - The Answer to How is Yes. I'll probably never get round to the book but this summary engages me:

According to Peter Block, people keep asking "how?" as a defense against living their life. In The Answer to How is Yes! , Peter Block puts the "how to" craze in perspective and teaches individuals, workers and managers ways to act on what they know, and reclaim their freedom and capacity to create a world they want to live in. It shows that many of our solutions and efforts to improve keep us paralyzed. Much of our training is not needed. Asking "how?" is waiting for our life to start. The question of "how?" has pre-empted questions of "why?" Most of the existing literature feeds our dependency. The Answer to How is Yes.
For me it links to thoughts expressed by Katherine Stone earlier today against prescriptive marketing.

Posted by Johnnie Moore at 14:36 in Facilitation
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Comments (3)

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Jeffrey says

Make time to read the book. Given the work you do you will find it insightful. It is a relatively short read though intermalizing it takes some time.

Like it. Sounds just like a circular series of planning meetings I've been having in recent weeks.

It's very close to the "Just do it" antidote to Analysis Paralysis.

johnza says

this analysis paralysis point resonates with me. and the power of staring with yes. yes is a word people like to hear. we often use the following formula:
A. YES - it is as you say, or this is the situation
B. BUT (or AND) - there are issues with this or it should be different
C. SO - here's a suggestion or a plan for doing something about it

Following this little mantra sure can break a logjam.

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