dragon dreaming

DRAGON DREAMING: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF

RUNNING EXCEPTIONALLY SUCCESSFUL

ORGANISATIONS AND PROJECTS FOR THE GREAT

TURNING

“large masses of peoples are really in suspense about the impending advent of something

unknown which could change their collective fate entirely….Man (sic) does not know

how to be a truly modern man…Man invented the story of the Bad Dragon, but if ever

there was a bad dragon, it was man himself….Here we have the human paradox: man

trapped by his extraordinary capacity and achievements, as in a quick-sand – the more

he uses his power the more he needs it.”

Aurellio Pecceci, founder of the Club of Rome

THE FRAMEWORK

The Meaning of Life and the nature of change as bridge building – Living Systems

Theory - The Universal Mandala – The Coming Dark Age & the Great Turning – The

Sustainable Aboriginal Spirituality of the Song Lines

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT

From I to It

DREAMING – Perceiving Newly – The Stimulus of Intention in Relationship

“All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their

minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are

dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” - T.E.

Lawrence

(A) THE PREFORMING STAGE – BUILDING COMMUNITY BELONGING

(Heroes journey – the innocent to the orphan)

Moving from Discernment to Awareness

- Running Effective Meetings

AWARENESS

"People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. 1 don't think that's what we

are really seeking. I think what we are really seeking is an experience of being alive, so

that our life experiences on a purely physical plane will have resonances within our

innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive."

Joseph Cambell, 1988, "The Power of Myth", p. 3

1.To Develop Awareness

a. To develop awareness of your own skills and abilities, dreams and visions

b. To effectively define a problem that can be converted into a personal project

c. To understand the process for running a successful project, and to clarify your ideas

d. To learn how to establish effective objectives for a project

e. To learn the skills for raising personal and group consciousness about issues of

personal, community or world concern.

PROCESSES FOR MOVING BEYOND

1. Process for Clarifying Personal Awareness

2. Process to Build Self Awareness

3. Process for Gaining Awareness of an Issue of Concern *

4. Process for Being an Effective Change Agent

5. Process for Assessing Personal Leadership Qualities

6. Process for Discovering Areas of Personal Ignorance *

7. Process for Enhancing Personal Creativity *

8. Process for Running a Project Dreaming Circle *

Moving from Awareness to Motivation

- Dreaming Creation Circle

MOTIVATION

2. To Maintain Motivation

a. To acquire and maintain a personal support network, that empowers and

strengthens personal commitment to action.

b. To maintain and strengthen personal and group morale, motivation &

commitment for collective tasks through group motivation

c. To clarify personal and group values, and resolve value conflicts.

d. To understand dependency & empowerment theory and its application to the Great

Turning

e. To be able to diagnose situations in which an individual was dependent or

empowered, and to use this in designing an intervention strategy


9. Process to Maintain Personal Motivation

10. Process to Build Group Motivation

11. Process for Team Building

12. Process for Building the Ground Rules for a Group *

13. Process for Effectively Accepting Leadership of a Group

14. Process for Organising a Public Meeting

15. Process for Effective Facilitation Role in Group Meetings

16. Process for Forming a New Community Group

(B) THE FORMING STAGE – ORIENTATION TO LIVING SIMPLY

(Heroes journey – the orphan to the wanderer)

Moving from Motivation to Information Gathering

- Community Sustainability Assessment & The Transition Town Movement

INFORMATION GATHERING

To Gather Information

a. To understand the Great Unraveling and understand its personal, community and

planetary consequences.

b. To have appropriate information gathering skills to get information about personal,

community and planetary issues

c. To be able to conduct a sustainability audit, for yourself personally, for an

organization or a community.

d. To undertake an analysis of personal or community needs, and suggest alternative

strategies.

e. To communicate needs non-violently so as to stimulate new collective activities


17. Process for Diagnosing Group Dynamics

18. Process for Clarifying Goals in Community Data Gathering

19. Process for a Conventional Research Design

20. Process for Conducting a Longitudinal Development Study

21. Process for Applying the Approach of Life History Research

22. Process for Conducting Action Research

23. Process for Organising a Large Scale Interview Program

24. Process for Preparing to Interview, Consumers, Clients or the Public

25. Process for Basic Interview Procedure

26. Process for Analysing Interview Data

27. Process for Conducting a Community Need Assessment Survey

THE COLLECTIVE MIND

From It to You

PLANNING – Thinking Globally – The Threshold of Possibility in Context

Moving from Information Gathering to Considering Alternatives

- Force-field analysis

CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES

To Consider Alternatives

a. To be able to organize a new community group, organization or agency

b. To be skilled at brainstorming and search conferencing techniques for community

projects

c. To understand conscientization, and be able to apply the technique

d. To be able to effectively handle personal and group emotions in an expressive and

humanizing fashion

e. To gain the skills necessary to handle inter and intra group conflicts and

controversies


28. Process for the Conscientisation Approach of Paulo Freire

29. Process for Choosing Amongst Alternative Processes

30. Process for Effective Brainstorming Sessions

31. Process for Applying the Approach of Constructive Controversy

32. Process for Successful Intervention in Group Functioning

33. Process for Avoiding Tunnel Thinking *

34. Process for Getting to Win-Win Solutions *

35. Process for Resolving Conflicts Successfully

36. Process for Handling Emotions in Groups

37. Process for Creative Problem Solving in Groups

(C) THE STORMING STAGE – MAXIMISING CREATIVITY THROUGH COPING

WITH CONFLICTS AND DISATISFACTION

(Heroes journey – the wanderer to the warrior)

Moving from Considering Alternatives to Designing a Strategy

- Objective Setting Post-it Exercise and Goal Setting

DESIGNING A STRATEGY

To Design a Strategy

a. To demonstrate commitment to transforming oneself, others and society to be

democratic, socially just and sustainable

b. To understand holistic community building techniques and apply them

appropriately

c. To learn basic Karabirrdt planning skills and apply them to various situations

d.To ensure all strategies foster group participation and individual empowerment

e. To recognize cooperative, competitive and destructive strategies and use them

appropriately


38. Process for Designing a Strategy for the Community

39. Process for Applying the Strategy for a Living Revolution

40. Process for Conventional Planning Procedure

41. Process for Establishing Project Principles *

42. Process of Establishing Project Vision *

43. Process for Establishing the Mission of a Project *

44. Process for Establishing Project Goals *

45. Process for Creating Suitable Objectives

46. Process for Evaluating what Resource Gaps Exist *

47. Process for Conducting a Force Field Analysis

Moving from Designing a Strategy to Testing and Trialling

- The Karabirrdt Budgeting and Commitments

TESTING, OR TRIALING A PILOT PROJECT

To Test & Pilot an Activity

a. To understand the process of short term and long term change for different

situations

b. To understand factors undermining effectiveness in project situations

c. To be able to organize a feasibility study for a project

d. To create a pilot project to test an approach for a project

e. To generalize from the results of a field test, to strengthen project design


48. Process for Conducting Critical Path (PERT) Analysis

49. Process for Designing Key Performance Indicators *

50. Process for Establishing Evaluative Criteria for a Feasibility Study

51. Process for Lobbying and Negotiation

52. Process for Developing a Framework of Submission Preparation

53. Process for Establishing a Submission Project Budget *

54. Process of Establishing Support for Your Submission Application

55. Process of Nursing Your Submission through to Success

56. Process for Empowered Fundraising for Projects *

57. Process of Organising a Fundraising Campaign for Projects *

THE BODY OF A LIVING SYSTEM

From You to Us

GOING – Acting Locally – The action of Behaviour in Commitment

(D) THE NORMING STAGE – RESOLUTION THE NONVIOLENT WAY

(Heroes journey – the warrior to the martyr)

Moving from Testing and Trialling to Implementation

- Empowered Fundraising & Nurturing Submissions for Grants

IMPLEMENTATION

To Implement a Project

a. To be able to apply the stages for group development to the implementation of a

project

b. To understand differences between kinds of communities, and be able to apply

projects in different circumstances

c. To organize a community information campaign, using media for gaining support

d. To be able to lobby effectively on behalf of a personal or group opinion, and secure

commitment of decision makers

e. To secure commitment to a submission for funding, resources or support


58. Process for Deciding Tactics in Implementation

59. Process for Enrolling Volunteers *

60. Process for Effectively Managing the Work of Volunteers *

61. Process for Running Successful Meetings

62. Process for Conventional Meeting Procedure

63. Process for Consensus Decision Making

64. Process for Ethical Decision Making

65. Process for Community Service Planning Delivery Model

66. Process for Conducting a Search Conference

67. Process for Delegating Tasks *

68. Process for Managing Time Effectively *

69. Process for Managing Stress Effectively *

Moving from Implementation and Management to Administration and Management

- Systems and Protocols, Supervision the Greenskills Way

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

To Manage and Administer a Program

a. To undertake a range of decision making methods, and understand the

consequences of each

b. To lead a group in a fashion consistent with the wishes of all stakeholders

c. To understand factors effecting leadership effectiveness, appropriate to

circumstances

d. To manage personal and group time and stress levels effectively, consistent with

personal empowerment and group effectiveness

e. To be able to employ volunteers and other workers to achieve group goals whilst

fostering personal empowerment for all concerned


70. Process for Reviewing Available Resource Provision

71. Process for Establishing Group Norms and Operating Procedures

72. Process for Organising a Promotion or Marketing Strategy

73. Process for Organising a Community Information Strategy

74. Process for Gathering Information for a Community Campaign

75. Process for Creating a Scenario for a Community Campaign

76. Process for Dealing with Opponents in a Community Campaign

77. Process for Organising a Public Relations Campaign

78. Process for Effective Communication in Establishing Public Relations

79. Process for Organising a Media Press Conference

80. Process for Countering a Negative Public Relations Image

81. Process for Organising Media Files

82. Process for Writing a Letter to the Editor

83. Process for Organising a Press or Media Release

84. Process for Organising a Visit or Presentation

85. Process for Producing a Newsletter

86. Process of Organising Layout for a Newsletter

87. Process for Writing for a Newsletter

(E) THE PERFORMING STAGE – UNLEASHING PRODUCTIVITY AND

PRESERVING KNOWLEDGE

(Heroes journey – the martyr to the magician)

Moving from Management and Administration to Monitoring Progress

- Low Cost Key Performance Indicator Design

MONITORING PROGRESS

To Monitor Progress

a. To be able to establish accountability structures for programs, projects, activities

and tasks

b. To be able to make and use performance indicators

c. To evaluate inputs, process, product, outputs, effects and impact in personal and

community change

d. To be able to understand symptoms and consequences, cause and effect in social

and community change

e. To be able to report and communicate findings in a way that enhances personal

empowerment, community effectiveness and environmental change


88. Process for Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods

89. Process for Establishing an Accountability Audit

90. Process for Applying Approach of Unobtrusive Recording

91. Process for “Evaluation on the Run” Assessment

92. Process for an Ecological Evaluation Method

93. Process for Organising and Running Effective Supervision Sessions *

94. Process for Organising 360 Degree Supervision *

THE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

From Us to I

CELEBRATING – Being Personally – The Response of Feedback in Satisfaction

Moving from Monitoring Progress to Acquiring New Skills

- Self Organised Workshop & Training Design

ACQUIRING NEW SKILLS

To acquire New Skills

a.To understand the spiral learning process, and be able to apply it to oneself and

others

b.To understand alternative learning systems, and be able to apply it for personal and

community situations.

c. To be able to organize a training program, workshop, seminar, courseor community

conference in ways that empower all participants

d.To train yourself in the skills of making your dreams come true through a

community based project

e. To be able to identify training and learning resources appropriate to lifelong

learning


95. Process for Learning Group Facilitation Skills

96. Process of Recognising Different Learning Strategies within Groups *

97. Process for Recognising Personal Levels of Weakness*

98. Process of Diagnosing and Applying a Personal Learning Strategy *

99. Process of Designing a Course of Study *

100. Process of Mastery Learning of Skills *

101. Process of Effectively Evaluating Skill Level Achieved *

102. Process for Effectively Replacing Yourself in a Group *

(F) THE TRANSFORMING AND MOURNING STAGES – A NEW SPIRITUALITY?

(Heroes journey – the magician to the innocent)

Moving from Acquiring a New Skill to Results for Individuals

- Appreciation Circle & Critiquing Celebration

RESULTS FOR INDIVIDUALS

To Enhance Results for Individuals Concerned

a. To enhance personal potential, building self-esteem, and develop an ecological

self-concept

b. To develop community relations that free yourself and others from dependency and

exploitation

c. To learn and practice inter-personal skills that overcome communication problems

d. To learn the skills of public speaking and meeting facilitation, adaptable to

different circumstances

e. To be able to market a personal skill or group service effectively to a local

community


103. Process for Enhancing Personal Potential and Self Esteem

104. Process for Freeing People from Exploitation and Dependency

105. Process for Practicing Empowered Assertive Communication

106. Process for Speaking in Public or Making a Speech

107. Process of Recognising the Achievements of Others in a Project *

108. Process for Honouring the Work of Individuals Involved *

109. Process for Honouring one’s own Achievements in a Project *

110. Process of Organising a Celebration of the Project’s Achievements *

Moving from Results for Individuals to Discernment

- Debriefing Celebration, What Worked, Aha Moments and Improvements

ENHANCING JUDGEMENT

To Refine Analysis and Judgement

a. To reinforce group process skills for people in a group, based upon the conclusions

of the individuals involved

b. To support, advise and assist groups in ways that strengthen their effectiveness

c. To enhance discrimination of personal judgement so that personal involvement

produces satisfactory results.

d. To maintain effective boundaries to prevent co-dependency, rescuing or saving

behaviour

e. To be able to replace yourself in a group, in a way that ensures its ongoing

sustainability


111. Process for Recognising Personal Prejudices *

112. Process for Recognising General Cultural Prejudices *

113. Process for Freeing Oneself from Prejudice *

114. Process for Recognising Prejudice in Others *

115. Process for Dealing with a Prejudiced Individual *

116. Process for Dealing with a Prejudiced Group *

117. Process for Enhancing Discrimination of Judgement *

118. Process for Being Able to Receive Positive and Negative Criticism *

119. Process for Being Able to Give Positive and Negative Criticism *

120. Process for Empowering Your Leaving a Project *

CONCLUSION – Where to from here? – Awakening after fifty centuries - Towards the

Ecological Self

dragon dreaming

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