C4C Interview with Jonathan Reams

Articles hosted by the NEW CIVILIZATION NETWORK

"One of our primary problems stems from the fact that
we try to resolve problems rather than to create opportunities."
~ Robert Theobald from Reworking Success: New Communities at the Millennium.

C A T A L Y S T 4 C H A N G E

Proudly Introduces Jonathan Reams, Co-founder of and principal with the Institute For Transformative Leadership (ITL)

My involvement in this institute arose out of the convergence of a number of paths in my life. My spiritual practice provided the experiences necessary for me to want to move into a role of service and stewardship. My more recent academic training is in organizational leadership, and my side interest is in consciousness research.

I am passionate about facilitating change in our society and institutions by working in those areas I see have the greatest leverage - leadership and consciousness. ITL designs workshops based on these premises. We are also exploring how to structure a school for leadership based on emerging principles of consciousness.

Catalysts For Change As Viewed By Jonathan

I see the shift in our awareness of who we are, creating a tremendous creative release as this new paradigm grounded in a new sense of identity, takes root. This is evidenced by the shift from a material-based view of self and realty, to one that not only recognizes the existence of spirit, but also sees the spirit as the source of life. The effects of this shift in consciousness come about as we look around at the world we have created. We are now seeing that we have the freedom to do it differently.

This shift in consciousness and identity will have its greatest impact on our children. As they grow up with this awareness collectively ingrained, they will be able to take the energy that we have expended on letting go of outmoded assumptions and put that into creative collaborations. I am constantly energized hearing about the innovative approaches to changing the fabric of our culture that people are up to. I just have to dig around to find out about it. I don't expect to hear about all this from the media.

Jonathan Reams
Jonathan(dot)Reams(at)svt(dot)ntnu(dot)no
http://jonathanreams.com/

Questions:
Submitted by Bernie Slepkov of DreamTEAMS International

It was a year ago December that Robert Theobald passed away. I believe you came to know Robert through his Resilient Communities initiative. I am aware of asking this with a degree of envy, since I too had hopes of meeting him, and his associate Bob Stilger. How did Robert and Bob help you to catalyze your co-founding the Institute For Transformative Leadership? What contributions have they made towards helping you to see "the shift in our awareness of who we are, creating a tremendous creative release"?"

I knew Robert by hanging out in the same circles. Spokane Washington is a very conservative town. Most of the progressive thinking folks know (of) each other. Resilient Communities was the focus of some of Theobald’s work prior to Y2K. It provided me with opportunities for collaborating with him and his network.

Robert and Bob's biggest contribution in helping to catalyze our ITL project has been their willingness to engage us in serious dialogue about the ideas and issues we are looking at. Developing a consciousness-based leadership program, is not an off the shelf agenda. Neither is trying to impact on local community leadership in order to generate a greater awareness for how the inner work of leaders can benefit the entire community.

Simply sitting around and having leisurely conversations together helped to clarify, crystallize, and articulate those things that were unclear. Robert and Bob's ability to dialogue at this level facilitates shifts in our awareness that led to the kinds of activity, articulation, and perspective that are now allowing ITL to move forward. This also speaks to the value of creating opportunities of deep reflection for any organization. This is not something that we usually see very well supported.

On another note, I recall watching Theobald speak to various audiences. He had the effect of being able to craft a meaning that resonated deeply within the audience. I would see people actually shaking with resistance to his message. Robert's ability to create and hold this paradoxical space in an audience was, to say the least, impressive. This was a clear sign that what he was saying was deeply true and counter cultural.

Question:
Submitted by Bernie Slepkov of DreamTEAMS International

Who are your Champions for Change, or Cultural Creatives that have influenced you? Can you share with us, a personal experience that contributed to altering your own paradigms?"

I have to say that David Bohm had the greatest influence on my work, for two reasons:

His efforts at change were aimed at the very deepest of places-the very process of thought itself, and
He constantly looked for ways for his ideas to make a practical impact.

It was David Bohm that influenced people like Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski and Margaret Wheatley.

The kinds of paradigm altering experiences I have had are mystical and don't communicate well. I have always looked at the world far differently than most, going through life trying to find others who saw things in much the same way. There has been very few of them. I don't know. Guess I'm far more spiritually oriented in what I do and how I see a need to create change. This whole leadership thing is simply a way to get at it, spiritually.

It just occurred to me that one problem for me has been that for twenty years I was a pig farmer. Then I drove a dump truck for six years. I have not really had any experience working within any external "organization" until recently. No successes or failures to relate to regarding this question. I'm really a high-end theoretician. If you want, I can send you my published paper so you can see just how deep in gobblety gook I can get.

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As of April 30, 2005

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Jonathan Reams is Co-Founder of Institute for Transformative Leadership located in Nelson, B.C. Canada. The institute offers facilitation and training to improve the effectiveness and capacity of teams, organizations, communities, and corporate entities, and that empowers their constituent individuals.

http://jonathanreams.com/ Jonathan(dot)Reams(at)svt(dot)ntnu(dot)no

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