THE PODCAST: November 17, 2020

ON FINDING THE SOUL OF THE WORK

Inspired by Dr. Martin Shaw and author Cyndi Suarez, Tim and Tuesday explore the power of words, story and myth in systems change. How can “Articulation Leadership" add depth and momentum to groups seeking to make progress on big change?

Together, Tim Merry and Tuesday Ryan-Hart are THE OUTSIDE—systems change and equity facilitators who bring the fresh air necessary to organize movements, organizations, and collaborators forward for progress, surfacing new mindsets for greater participation and shared impact.

3.04 — SHOW NOTES

Tuesday + Tim: “The great beckoner, The protected playground for sacred journey, A gathering of audacity, Shelter for edgewalkers, Incubator of the next, Lover of laughter, A place to be free, Generous provider, Uniter of friends, Holder of difference, Mycelium of friendship, beauty and brilliance, The mortar and pestle…”
Tim: Those are the 12 Secret Names of The Outside. This came from my studying of Dr. Martin Shaw and is also riding off the back of our conversation with Cyndi Suarez around power and articulation leadership.
Tim: How do we begin to find the language that does not just speak to the strategy but speaks to the soul of the moment or the work? This really connects to what Cyndi was beginning to talk about, in episode 3.01, in terms of the power of words and articulation leadership. Dr. Shaw also describes the power of words where sometimes you can start feeling “winged words” - this sense that somehow words take flight.
Tuesday: We want people to understand what we are saying and see themselves in the words we are using. If we are truly using winged words, then people will rise to that. When we talk about speaking into different realms, that feels like the heart of our work. We are trying to create a society that serves all. We do not have that in this realm. We are trying to speak something into being.
Tim: The language we use calls things in - different futures and opportunities. What are the narratives that we are building and building off of?
Tim: How do we bring story into our work to evoke something out of the people we are working with? We can refer to myths and stories to deepen the quest that people are on within their organizational and personal journeys.
Tuesday: The task or challenge of our time right now is how do we broaden our perspective, listen to the wisdom of the dissonant voice and move forward together?
Tim: If we can accept that these are epic and mythic times, then the way we are talking right now, everyday becomes an opportunity to be the epic and mythic leader that can rise to it.
Song: “One River,” by Benjy Wertheimer & John de Kadt
Poem: Excerpt from a Robin Hood book that Tim had as a child

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