This is officially my new blog, effective 29 December 2020. It replaces my old blog on gurteen.com.
Evernote’s Free AI Tools No account needed — record, transcribe, convert, and extract text from almost anything May 28, 2025 10:57 am - Evernote now offers a set of free AI tools that anyone can use, without an account. You can record and… … Exaptation in Everyday Life Discovering new uses for familiar features and inventions May 23, 2025 2:00 pm - We’re all familiar with adaptation, how things change to fit new needs, but what about exaptation? Sometimes features, tools, or… … The Trouble with “I Have an Open Mind” How sharing your current view helps real conversation May 22, 2025 4:27 pm - The trouble with saying "I have an open mind” in response to a question on an issue is that it… … UBS Rolls Out AI Avatars of Its Analysts Digital analysts deliver updates and insights to clients anytime May 22, 2025 10:59 am - UBS, the Swiss bank, is using OpenAI and Synthesia to create video avatars of its analysts to share insights with… … Rethinking Political Talk A new ai tool offers left, right and common-ground views May 6, 2025 2:31 pm - My friend Bruce Lloyd introduced me to a fascinating new AI tool called DepolarizingGPT. It’s designed to make political conversations… … Learning with Openai Academy Exploring how ai works through free online lessons May 6, 2025 2:17 pm - I’ve been exploring OpenAI Academy, a free learning platform that offers short, practical courses on how AI works and how… … In Conversation Podcast David Gurteen and John Hovell "In Conversation" April 29, 2025 1:58 pm - John Hovell and I share a deep interest in Conversational Leadership, and we have been meeting on Zoom every Thursday… … Rethinking How We Learn Text Is killing learning April 29, 2025 11:55 am - In my work on Conversational Leadership, I keep coming back to a simple idea: real learning happens through interaction, not… … Daniel Kahneman’s Final Decision Choosing to die the way he lived—thoughtfully April 14, 2025 6:37 pm - I was surprised to read recently about how Daniel Kahneman died. He chose assisted dying at 90, while he was… … What’s the Vibe? Merging vibe writing with vibe coding April 6, 2025 3:46 pm - Recently, I came across a concept that immediately caught my attention: vibe writing. Vibe writing takes two forms: one is… … How We Learn Together Peer Instruction vs. Peer Learning March 24, 2025 1:45 pm - People learn differently, and the way we engage with knowledge shapes understanding. Traditional teaching often focuses on delivering information, but… … Rethinking Intelligence A broader view that includes plants, bacteria, ecosystems, and machines March 24, 2025 1:18 pm - For centuries, intelligence has been narrowly defined as the ability to solve problems quickly — a view deeply embedded in… … Beyond Words How Mandela's conversations changed a nation March 24, 2025 12:50 pm - I've been thinking about what it means to lead through conversation, especially in divided times. Nelson Mandela remains one of… … Lessons From the Hive Do flaws in human nature help societies thrive? March 24, 2025 12:13 pm - Do private vices harm society—or help it thrive? In this post, in my blook, I reflect on Bernard Mandeville's The… … The Burden of Freedom What Peter Block and Dostoevsky reveal about true leadership March 24, 2025 12:01 pm - What if leadership isn’t about providing answers or control but confronting people with their freedom? In this post, in my… … Understanding the Knowledge Café A space for conversation, not control March 21, 2025 4:14 pm - I am often asked how to keep a Knowledge Café on track, maintaining focus, encouraging active participation, and achieving clear,… … AI and Human Thought Is AI eroding our critical thinking? March 3, 2025 2:54 pm - I have written about how AI can be a powerful tool for enhancing critical thinking, but it also comes with… … A New Place to Post Bluesky feels more like the Twitter I used to enjoy March 1, 2025 3:16 pm - I’ve been on Twitter (now X) for years, regularly browsing and posting. Lately, though, it’s felt less valuable—fewer people posting,… … Street Epistemology in Action How Peter Boghossian uses dialogue to challenge beliefs with respect February 26, 2025 3:14 pm - Peter Boghossian has been called a modern-day Socrates for his commitment to questioning deeply held beliefs through respectful dialogue. His… … Can We Contain AI? Why AI and biotech are harder to regulate than past technologies February 23, 2025 5:11 pm - I've recently finished reading The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, and it has helped me think more about the future… … Exploring Audio Trying out voice-cloned intros for select posts in my blook February 23, 2025 11:34 am - I am always experimenting with new features for my blook, and I've recently added short (2 -3 minutes) audio introductions… … Chatbots and Critical Thinking Insights from a successful knowledge café session February 4, 2025 10:27 am - My recent online Knowledge Café on How Can Chatbots Aid Critical Thinking? was a great success, with 78 registrations and… … Knowledge Summit 2025 in Dublin Trinity College Dublin 23 - 24 June February 4, 2025 9:55 am - The draft agenda for the Knowledge Summit at Trinity College Dublin this June is now available. John Hovell and I… … The Comfort of Being Heard The simple joy of sharing without judgment February 3, 2025 11:56 am - This quote speaks to the kind of trust and openness that meaningful conversations rely on. It highlights the importance of… … Discovering Deepseek A free AI language model with impressive capabilities January 31, 2025 3:21 pm - I recently discovered DeepSeek before it went viral. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a free-to-use AI language model… … Why History Matters Understanding how change shapes our world January 26, 2025 11:42 am - When I was in school, my first four years of history were little more than a chronicle of England's kings… … Bringing My Blook to Life Midjourney is my go-to for impasto-style images January 23, 2025 5:18 pm - I primarily use MidJourney to create images for my blook, achieving a distinctive look by appending "in impasto painting style"… … Chatbots and Critical Thinking Exploring chatbots as partners in critical reasoning January 2, 2025 5:17 pm - I am starting my online Knowledge Cafés again in 2025 after a pause last year. The first Café will be… … Knowledge Café Workshop February 2025 Learn to design and host conversations that matter December 29, 2024 7:07 pm - I will facilitate a Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop on Thursday, 27 February 2025, from 15:00 to 19:00 GMT (London time).… … The House of Wisdom An Islamic beacon of innovation and collaboration December 28, 2024 5:52 pm - During the Islamic Golden Age, diverse cultures and disciplines converged in Baghdad's House of Wisdom, creating a unique hub for… … Finding Value in the Unexpected The hidden power of serendipity in our lives December 20, 2024 12:34 pm - In a post in my blook, I explore the unexpected yet pivotal role serendipity can play in our lives. Serendipity… … Chatbots as Critical Thinking Partners Video Bibliotheca Alexandrina December 18, 2024 6:08 pm - This is a pre-recorded video talk Chatbots as Critical Thinking Partners that I presented at the AI Challenges & Adaptations… … Lessons From Google’s 20% Policy Fostering creativity through employee autonomy December 18, 2024 5:37 pm - In the early 2000s, Google introduced its famous 20% time policy, allowing employees to dedicate one day a week to… … Knowledge Summit 2025 in Dublin Trinity College Dublin 23 - 24 June December 4, 2024 11:08 am - The Knowledge Summit at Trinity College Dublin is returning in 2025. My experience at the 2024 event was memorable for… … Chatbots as Critical Thinking Partners Talk at the AI Challenges & Adaptations Conference, hosted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina December 1, 2024 5:00 pm - I will be giving a talk titled Chatbots as Critical Thinking Partners at the AI Challenges & Adaptations Conference, hosted… … Obama Foundation Inspiring, empowering, and connecting people to change their world November 23, 2024 5:51 pm - I’ve long believed that democracy should be about more than voting every few years—it’s about how we engage with and… … Upcoming Online Knowledge Café How can we better navigate the complexities of dementia? November 22, 2024 8:33 pm - Due to a health issue, I’ve taken a break from running online and face-to-face Knowledge Cafés in recent months. However,… … Three Conversation Questions The power of thoughtful questions November 22, 2024 7:00 pm - Conversations shape how we connect, collaborate, and solve problems. Groups often struggle to focus on the correct issues, approach discussions… … Building 20 at MIT Innovation in a makeshift lab November 22, 2024 6:55 pm - During World War II, the U.S. urgently needed breakthroughs in radar technology. With limited space at MIT, the quickly assembled… … The Flow of Conversations Unlocking creativity through adaptive dialogue November 22, 2024 11:27 am - Dave Snowden’s vector theory of change has influenced how I think about conversations and their role in navigating change. Rather… … Lessons From Silicon Valley and Route 128 How open networks and risk-taking shape innovation November 22, 2024 11:19 am - Silicon Valley and Route 128 were prominent centers of technological innovation, but their differing ecosystems produced contrasting results, with Route… … Enhancing Critical Thinking Using chatbots to explore new perspectives and deepen understanding October 23, 2024 9:44 am - Chatbots can be powerful tools for developing our critical thinking skills, especially when exploring different perspectives. One effective approach is… … Transforming Knowledge Capture How AI is changing the way we capture knowledge October 22, 2024 12:28 pm - Encoding knowledge into information has long been challenging, particularly when capturing tacit knowledge—insights based on personal experience and intuition. Traditional… … From Hate to Understanding How Özlem Cekic used dialogue to transform hostility into empathy October 20, 2024 12:18 pm - Özlem Cekic, a former Danish politician, faced hate for her background as a Muslim immigrant. Instead of responding angrily, she… … The Human Age How humans have shaped Earth's environment in unexpected ways October 18, 2024 12:11 pm - We humans have existed for only about 200,000 years. Yet, our impact on Earth is so profound that scientists propose… … Conversational Leadership Coaching I offer a Conversational Leadership coaching and mentoring service September 26, 2024 1:54 pm - You might not know, but I provide a coaching and mentoring service to help you integrate Conversational Leadership or Knowledge… … Google’s Notebooklm Audio Overview AI generated podcasts September 26, 2024 1:16 pm - Google's NotebookLM Audio Overview is a new and free tool that transforms your documents into engaging audio summaries. Using advanced… … Upcoming Events with Dave Snowden See the world through the lens of complexity September 2, 2024 9:50 am - I've long followed Dave Snowden's work, which began with a focus on knowledge management and has since shifted towards complexity… … Can Morality Exist Without God? Exploring the universal principles of right and wrong August 29, 2024 2:00 pm - One frequently cited argument for belief in God is the assertion that, without a divine being to establish moral codes,… … Improve Your Conversations Use the Johari Window to improve communication and personal growth August 29, 2024 8:16 am - Effective conversation is essential for strong relationships and personal growth. The Johari Window provides a framework for understanding how self-awareness… … It’s Just a Theory Understanding scientific terms August 15, 2024 10:50 am - I smile when I read discussions on social media about evolution where someone dismisses it by saying, "It's just a… … Mirror Neurons and Conversation The role of mirror neurons in human evolution and cultural transmission July 30, 2024 8:29 am - Lately, I've been studying mirror neurons (brain cells that activate when we perform an action or see others do the… … The Myth of Thamus and Theuth in the Age of AI Does GenAI harm our critical thinking skills? July 25, 2024 8:59 am - GenAI's potential negative impact on critical thinking deserves our attention. A recent post in my blook looks at the Myth… … The Paradox of Tolerance Should we be intolerant of those who threaten it to preserve a tolerant society? July 24, 2024 10:25 am - Tolerance promotes peace among diverse groups, but it must have boundaries. Philosopher Karl Popper's "Paradox of Tolerance" argues that we… … Reid Hoffman’s Digital Twin The potential of personal AI avatars July 23, 2024 9:45 pm - Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, has created an impressive digital twin of himself called "REID AI." This digital twin uses… … Critical Thinking’s Role in Nurturing Curiosity A conversation between Peter Boghossian and Will Reusch July 21, 2024 9:52 pm - In a captivating YouTube conversation, Peter Boghossian and Will Reusch discuss the importance of critical thinking for nurturing curiosity, challenging… … The Hidden Complexity of Everyday Conversations Conversations are complex responsive processes July 19, 2024 5:32 pm - We engage in numerous conversations daily, yet we seldom consider their complexity. In a recent blook post, I explore how… … Understanding Teleology The illusion of purpose July 14, 2024 12:49 pm - We often think everything has a purpose or was designed for a goal, a concept known as teleology. However, this… … Complexity Science We live in a increasingly complex world July 3, 2024 8:43 am - I have long been fascinated by complexity science and have closely followed Dave Snowden's work for many years and, more… … The Decline of Reading We need to enhance reading comprehension skills July 3, 2024 7:34 am - People are reading less and understanding less of what they read, which is a societal problem. Social media and short… … The Death of the Author A perspective shift July 2, 2024 9:08 am - I recently came across Roland Barthes's thought-provoking essay, The Death of the Author. In this influential work, Barthes challenges traditional… … Socrates on Democracy Balancing wisdom and governance July 1, 2024 10:10 am - In a year marked by numerous elections worldwide, it is essential to reflect on Socrates' perspectives on democracy. Socrates held… … Cultivating a Collaborative Culture Through Knowledge Cafés June 30, 2024 3:36 pm - Effective knowledge sharing is crucial for innovation and success. However, many organizations struggle to cultivate a collaborative culture. Adopting Knowledge… … AI and the Art of Remixing The postproduction paradigm June 3, 2024 10:16 am - AI language models are revolutionizing creative expression by mirroring the remixing techniques of postproduction art. This new capability challenges traditional… … How We Get to Knowledge Not through rational methods alone June 3, 2024 9:40 am - I love this quote by David Weinberger because it accurately describes how we acquire knowledge—not just through rational methods but… … On Conversation by Ben Franklin The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 15, 1730 May 31, 2024 3:35 pm - In "On Conversation," an essay published in The Pennsylvania Gazette on October 15, 1730, Ben Franklin addressed the issue of… … How Could You or I Be Wrong About This? A crucial question to ask in a conversation May 29, 2024 9:31 am - Intellectual humility and open-mindedness are vital for constructive dialogue. Polarization and confirmation bias hinder productive conversations on complex issues. Asking… … Are Large Language Models Sentient? Sentience is the capacity to experience sensations, thoughts, and feelings May 27, 2024 10:29 am - Ross Dawson started a recent interesting thread on LinkedIn on whether Large Language Models are or will be sentient. The… … Chatgpt, Explained Is ChatGPT going to take over the world? May 25, 2024 6:49 am - If you feel you do not understand the basics of ChatGPT, this introduction, ChatGPT Explained, may be of help. … Humans + AI Learning Community! Keeping up with AI developments May 18, 2024 11:51 am - If you are interested in AI and wish to keep up with developments, you may like to join the Humans… … The Real Loss in Losing an Argument The opportunity to engage in a constructive, enlightening conversation May 16, 2024 11:53 am - When you lose an argument because your opponent resorts to dishonest argumentative strategies, such as personal attacks and attempts to… … An Insightful Journey Into Leadership On Leadership … with Christien Oudshoorn April 22, 2024 10:55 am - I recently came across this beautiful little video of Christien Oudshoorn sharing her perspective on the challenges and essence of… … The Great Conversation The conversation of humankind April 21, 2024 4:24 pm - I recently came across the fascinating concept of the "Great Conversation," a perspective that beautifully captures the essence of humanity's… … Enhancing Blog Posts with Ai-generated Images Exploring the power of Midjourney and DALL-E to create stunning visuals April 19, 2024 10:26 am - I have been using Midjourney and DALL-E to generate pictures for my blook. It's incredible how a simple prompt can… … Lex Fridman’s Podcast Engaging with some of the world's greatest minds April 15, 2024 2:11 pm - I am a big fan of Lex Fridman and love his podcasts with many of the world's leaders and top… … Navigating Complexity with Safe-to-fail Probes Dave Snowden April 15, 2024 9:58 am - In a recently updated post in my blook, I explain how Dave Snowden's concept of safe-to-fail probes addresses the challenges… … Rethinking Writing for a Complex World Larry McEnerney’s insights on good writing March 30, 2024 11:04 am - Effective writing is crucial for driving change in today's complex, information-overloaded world. However, conventional writing wisdom often fails to equip… … Charting a New Course Dave Snowden's Vector Theory of Change March 23, 2024 10:29 am - Change is constant and unpredictable in our complex world. Traditional linear approaches to managing change often fail to deliver results,… … Conversational Presentations Making talks conversational with one simple tweak March 22, 2024 10:50 am - In most conferences and seminars, the audience passively listens to speakers without a chance to discuss insights together. But with… … Knowledge Summit Dublin Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 10th -11th June 2024 March 19, 2024 2:09 pm - The Dublin Knowledge Summit, held from June 10th to June 11th, 2024, will be hosted at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.… … Using Chatgpt on Your Smartphone An indispensable thinking companion March 5, 2024 9:45 am - I hope you have ChatGPT installed on your smartphone. I have it and use it all the time, simply because… … Knowledge Summit Dublin Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 10th -11th June 2024 March 4, 2024 1:25 pm - The Dublin Knowledge Summit is scheduled for 10th-11th June 2024, hosted at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. This event provides a… … Conversational Leadership Coach A custom GPT March 4, 2024 9:37 am - I am developing a custom GPT model using OpenAI’s GPT Builder, which I am designing as a conversational leadership coach. The… … The Journey of Knowledge and Innovation A historical timeline March 2, 2024 10:22 am - I have a post in my blook chronicling the significant events in human history that have shaped our knowledge and… … Beyond Information Sharing The collaborative nature of conversation March 1, 2024 7:56 pm - It's important to remember that when we engage in conversation, it's not just about passing on information. We're engaging in… … The Importance of Teaching Respectful Conversation A necessity for a healthy society February 28, 2024 7:38 pm - Watch this brief video, which is under 2 minutes long. It shows a young woman asking a question of Allen… … Knowledge Café Events February 2024 Events coming up in February and March 2024 February 3, 2024 5:56 pm - I'm hosting or co-hosting three events in February and March that I think you may be interested in: Washington DC,… … The One Who Loves More Is vulnerable January 28, 2024 8:53 pm - I watched the film "Nowhere in Africa" on a plane trip some years ago and jotted down this quote from… … Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary Proof The Carl Sagan Standard January 28, 2024 8:15 pm - "Extraordinary claims need extraordinary proof," a saying often credited to Carl Sagan, highlights a fundamental scientific and critical thinking principle.… … Insights From Chatbots Oxytocin helps us pay closer attention to body language and facial cues January 28, 2024 8:08 pm - I was curious about how oxytocin affects conversations, so I asked ChatGPT about it. The AI explained that, among other… … Knowledge Summit Dublin Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 10th -11th June 2024 January 23, 2024 7:41 am - There are not many knowledge management conferences these days, but there's an exceptional one scheduled at Trinity College in Dublin… … The Two Pillars of Truth The scientific method and the Socratic elenchus January 19, 2024 12:14 pm - This chapter, The Two Pillars of Truth, from my blook, was inspired by a talk by Peter Boghossian on the… … Knowledge Café Events Early 2024 Events coming up in January and February 2024 January 1, 2024 1:54 pm - I'm hosting or co-hosting four events in January and February that I think you may be interested in: Washington DC,… … Finding the Truth in a Post-truth World Why we don’t really care about truth December 29, 2023 3:20 pm - In today's world of misinformation and conspiracy theories, it can be hard to know who and what to trust. But… … The Biochemistry of Conversation Hormones and possibly pheromones influence our social interactions December 28, 2023 3:21 pm - Our conversations involve more than meets the eye. Underneath the surface lies a complex biochemical signaling system, where hormones like… … Conversational Huddles How huddles can energize and align teams December 18, 2023 4:57 pm - In my blook on Conversational Leadership, I discuss how huddles can energize and align teams. Huddles are short, casual meetings… … The Case of the Vanishing Café Participants Challenges from a virtual Knowledge Café December 12, 2023 11:47 am - I recently ran a Knowledge Café as part of an online academic symposium. There were 100 or so registered delegates,… … ECKM 25th European Conference on Knowledge Management 5-6 September 2024, Veszprém, Hungary University of Pannonia November 30, 2023 1:44 pm - The 25th European Conference on Knowledge Management (ECKM) will be held in Veszprém, Hungary, at the University of Pannonia on… … KM Summit Indonesia Grand Hyatt Bali, Indonesia, 9 -11 January 2024 November 22, 2023 11:55 am - Discover the KM Summit Indonesia at the Grand Hyatt Bali, Indonesia, from January 9-11, 2024. It's a fantastic venue –… … Knowledge Cafés on Conversational Leadership Interactive sessions to spark dialogue and deepen understanding November 19, 2023 2:28 pm - Since 2014, I have dedicated myself to developing and spreading the concept of Conversational Leadership. Much of this work has… … When Coffee Chats Become Catalysts for Change What makes a conversation strategic? November 15, 2023 4:20 pm - What makes a conversation strategic? At its core, a strategic conversation has the potential to influence the future direction of… … The Age of the Explorer Why curiosity and collaboration are the new leadership competencies November 15, 2023 11:24 am - I recently read an insightful article by John Hagel about shifting leadership models from credentialed experts to passionate explorers. As… … We Are All Stardust Our intimate connection with the universe November 15, 2023 9:21 am - In a recent blook post, I explore how we are connected to the universe. Our very bodies are made of… … The Meaning of Face Exploring losing face and giving face November 7, 2023 4:19 pm - Many of us are familiar with the idea of “saving face,” the effort to protect our own reputation and avoid… … Creating Marvelous Conversations with David Gurteen A "Because You Need to Know" Podcast October 31, 2023 9:44 am - Edwin Morris has just released another intriguing episode in his Because You Need to Know podcast series — a conversation… … Lex Fridman Podcaster and research scientist at MIT October 30, 2023 6:09 am - Lex Fridman is a podcaster and research scientist at MIT, working on human-centered artificial intelligence. The Lex Fridman Podcast has… … Creating a Lecture in Your Own Artificial Voice Using text-to-speech tools October 24, 2023 10:20 am - I have been experimenting with AI tools like NotebookLM, ElevenLabs, and PDFToAudio to create podcasts and lectures in my own… … Reviving Oral Exams The value of oral assessments in education October 24, 2023 7:52 am - We’ve become so reliant on written exams and essays that we’ve forgotten the value of old-school oral assessments. This fascinating… … Resisting Simple Narratives The allure of simple stories October 23, 2023 7:06 pm - Many of our false beliefs seem convincing because they rely on simple, appealing stories. My friend David Creelman recently highlighted… … May You Live in Interesting Times An old Chinese curse? October 23, 2023 6:01 pm - I have always enjoyed the quote, Initially, I believed it to be a well-wish, but I later read it was… … The Rest Is Politics Podcast With Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell October 23, 2023 12:22 pm - If you seek insightful political discourse amidst the noise, I highly recommend The Rest is Politics podcast with Rory Stewart… … Do We Really Know What We Think We Know? The knowedge delusion October 22, 2023 12:49 pm - In a post in my blook on Conversational Leadership, I explore the notion that, as individuals, we know very little… … Plato’s Warning How debates can subvert truth October 22, 2023 10:20 am - I recently read an interesting article about why Plato thought debates can often be stupid and dangerous. The article argues… … The Power of Obliquity Why indirect paths often lead to better outcomes in a complex world October 19, 2023 8:15 am - In our complex and unpredictable world, direct approaches to achieving our goals often fall short. Instead, embracing obliquity—an indirect, adaptive… … World Values Day 19th October 2023 October 4, 2023 7:30 am - Don’t forget World Values Day on 19th October. Values are what matter most to us. They motivate and guide us.… … World Values Day Intergenerational Knowledge Cafés 12th and 19th October 2023 October 3, 2023 3:52 pm - Our two World Values Day Intergenerational Knowledge Cafés are coming up soon, one on October 12 and the second on… … Chatbots as an Aid to Critical Thinking Reasoning and decision-making October 3, 2023 1:29 pm - From a Knowledge Management perspective, many view chatbots as glorified search engines — tools to look up facts or provide… … Do You Know What Oracy Is? Oracy is the ability to speak persuasively October 3, 2023 11:50 am - I attended a Henley Forum meeting last week where, among other things, we briefly discussed why Knowledge Management had not… … The Shaky Ground Beneath Our Beliefs Questioning our beliefs October 2, 2023 2:21 pm - In a post for my blook on Conversational Leadership, I explore how our deeply held beliefs rest on remarkably flimsy… … Hacking at the Branches of Evil Henry David Thoreau October 2, 2023 12:58 pm - I love the work of Henry David Thoreau, particularly his book Walden. When, in the early 90s, I lived in… … Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership Online class in partnership with KMI - KM Institute October 2, 2023 8:43 am - John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I will be running another online Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership class… … Beyond Blame and Entitlement Taking responsibility for the world we create September 6, 2023 8:33 am - Too often, we see ourselves as passive recipients of the world rather than active shapers. We view problems as created… … Trust and Society Without trust our civilization would collapse August 30, 2023 8:19 am - Trust has long fascinated me, dating back to when I first encountered Stephen Covey's teachings on the Seven Habits of… … The New Meaning of Success Going beyond personal goals August 29, 2023 6:13 pm - I think finding success today is about more than just chasing our dreams. It's got to be about using our… … Intergenerational Knowledge Café World Values Day 19 October 2023 August 29, 2023 1:34 pm - I am organizing an online Knowledge Café in October with Charles Fowler for World Values Day for the seventh straight… … Please Help Support My Work Become a patron August 29, 2023 11:36 am - For over 20 years, I have been sharing knowledge through my blog and monthly Gurteen Knowledge Letter. Many of you… … No More Annual Performance Reviews Replace them by on-going performance conversations August 29, 2023 11:21 am - I believe the traditional annual performance review is on its way out. Back in 2015, I tweeted about companies like… … The Surprising Dictation Accuracy of Chatgpt Better than iOS August 4, 2023 3:09 pm - I often use the dictation option on my iPhone to capture short emails and even short items to Evernote that… … How Tribes United and Divided Us From family bonds to friendships to tribes July 31, 2023 9:09 am - I recently came across an intriguing article, The Trust Paradox, exploring the evolution of human trust. It examines how early… … Intergenerational Knowledge Café World Values Day 19 October 2023 July 28, 2023 11:29 am - In partnership with Charles Fowler of World Values Day, I am running an online Knowledge Café in October for the… … Writing with Genai Chatbots ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4, Bard and Claude 2 July 17, 2023 6:10 pm - I can access ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0, Bard, and Claude 2. It's interesting to compare the content they generate for… … Claude 2 A new AI chatbot competitor to ChatGPT and Bard July 17, 2023 4:55 pm - I have been experimenting with ChatGPT for some time now, but recently Anthropic released a competitor called Claude 2. It… … Life Is Difficult This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths July 16, 2023 4:53 pm - This is one of my favorite quotations taken from the very first lines of The Road Less Travelled by Scott… … The Story of the Chinese Farmer It’s impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad July 11, 2023 5:50 pm - The natural world is a highly interconnected and intricate system. We cannot label any event as entirely good or bad,… … How We Construct Our Unfounded Beliefs And false narratives June 30, 2023 10:15 am - I sometimes have conversations with people who don't know much about a topic I've studied in depth. However, they still… … Chatgpt as a Valuable Thinking Partner ChatGPT and critical thinking June 30, 2023 9:31 am - Many people criticize ChatGPT for its potential to harm students’ critical thinking abilities. However, I have a different opinion and… … The Best Quotations Provoke Thought and Reflection They need not be true or the author necessarily respected June 27, 2023 1:47 pm - Over 700 people receive my daily Conversational Leadership quote of the day, and nearly 3,000 subscribe to my old Gurteen.com… … Breaking Free From Multipolar Traps A call for collective action June 26, 2023 10:45 am - As we navigate an increasingly complex world fraught with myriad challenges, we are often confronted with the phenomenon of the… … Sparks of AGI: Early Experiments with GPT-4 Surprisingly there may be a few sparks June 25, 2023 7:13 pm - I have long been skeptical about the development of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) anytime soon, and my skepticism persists. However,… … Orality The foundation of human storytelling June 25, 2023 10:53 am - Recently, Hank Kune introduced me to the fascinating concept of orality, which has had a profound impact on human communication.… … Creating Safe Spaces for Uncomfortable Conversations Valuing vulnerability, authenticity, and respectful dialogue June 5, 2023 7:20 am - In my recent Knowledge Café, the Great Unheard, it occurred to me that throughout our everyday lives, we frequently consciously… … The Risks Posed by Artificial Intelligence A conversation between Nate Hagens and Daniel Schmachtenberger June 2, 2023 2:32 pm - I hope you are familiar with the work of Daniel Schmachtenberger. Daniel is a futurist, philosopher, and thought leader in… … Driving Environmental Change Individuals and Government Working Together June 1, 2023 10:51 am - I like the argument made in this article; A better environment does start with you. In it, the author, Marc… … The Great Unheard Knowledge Café Where do the silences in your life exist, and what significance do they hold for you? May 31, 2023 1:24 pm - This is the video of the framing talk for an online Knowledge Café The Great Unheard, that I ran in May… … The World Talks The world's biggest dialogue experiment May 30, 2023 2:21 pm - I have long been a fan of Randomised Coffee Trials (RCTs) — social experiments where people are randomly matched for… … Nobel Prize Summit 2023 Truth, Trust and Hope, 24-26 May 2023 May 30, 2023 10:58 am - I was disappointed not to be able to watch this year’s Nobel Prize Summit on May 24th, which brought together… … The Importance of Harnessing Diversity to Unite Society Five critical skills for constructive conversations May 21, 2023 2:56 pm - In this video, Irshad Manji highlights the importance of harnessing diversity to unite society. She shares five critical skills for… … How Talking to Strangers Boosts Happiness The Power of Conversations May 9, 2023 4:19 pm - The Fortune Magazine article, titled A Team of Scientists Explains How to Get Measurably Happier by Doing One Simple Thing,… … Conversational Leadership FAQ Misconceptions and myths May 9, 2023 2:09 pm - I have written an informative FAQ that you may find helpful to dispel the numerous misconceptions and myths surrounding the… … The Four Pillars of Cognition Embodiment, Embeddedness, Extension, and Enaction April 28, 2023 4:07 pm - Cognition is a complex process that involves not just our brain but also our physical body, environment, and actions. This… … Jazz Improvisation Is “musical Conversation” The Jazz of Conversations April 28, 2023 4:00 pm - When we converse, we are improvising. The exact words we use are not pre-planned; they depend on what our companion… … Montaigne’s Quest for Truth Michel De Montaigne April 11, 2023 12:15 pm - This quote from Montaigne speaks to the value of questioning and exploring ideas without being tied to a predetermined conclusion.… … The Fear of Losing Face Is a Barrier to Open Conversation in Many Cultures Losing and giving face April 9, 2023 1:36 pm - In many cultures, the concept of "face" carries great importance and is intricately tied to social dynamics and relationships. Losing… … The Great Unheard Knowledge Café Understanding Voice and Silence in Organizations April 4, 2023 9:03 am - I am delighted to tell you that I have an online Knowledge Café in early May. Two good colleagues, Mark… … Anyone Who Values Truth Should Stop Worshiping Reason The Righteous Mind April 1, 2023 11:12 am - I am currently reading The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt. Jonathan is a social psychologist and author known for his… … The Word “conversation” Has a Fascinating History Etymology of conversation March 31, 2023 10:16 am - In a world where communication is an essential part of our lives, exploring the origins of words is fascinating. From… … The Impact of Cognitive Biases in Conversations Communicating more effectively March 26, 2023 5:54 pm - Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts our brains use to quickly and efficiently process information. While much has been written about… … The Fallacy of Changing Others The power of personal agency for change March 21, 2023 8:02 pm - The question "How do we get those people to change?" constantly arises when pursuing improvement or change. The focus is… … Working Conversationally: It’s Not About the Fish Why 'working conversationally' is not as trivial as it might sound March 16, 2023 9:24 am - I love this short video on LinkedIn, "It's not about the fish," from Johnnie Moore. Johnnie's ideas tie in well… … There Is No Reason for Any Individual to Have a Computer in Their Home Ken Olsen, 1977 March 14, 2023 3:33 pm - Apparently, in 1977 Ken Olsen (who co-founded Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1957) attended a convention of the World Future… … Twenty Years of Knowledge Cafés Hong Kong, Indonesia, Egypt, Ireland, London ... March 13, 2023 3:21 pm - Over the last 20 years, I have facilitated hundreds of Knowledge Cafés worldwide; more recently, I have run them on… … Engaging in Impossible Conversations Impossible conversations are different from difficult conversations March 10, 2023 4:46 pm - Much is written about difficult conversations, but much less about impossible conversations. But what is the difference? Here is how… … Modern-day Colonialism The dominance, control, and exploitation by a powerful group over a less powerful group March 7, 2023 5:12 pm - In the past year or two, I've noticed an increasing use of "colonialism" as a metaphor to describe forms of… … What Is Intelligence? The ability to comprehend and purposefully react to information March 3, 2023 8:23 pm - I recently started to write about artificial intelligence and its relationship to Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management. In doing so,… … Christopher Hitchens’s Razor No not what he shaved with February 12, 2023 1:18 pm - I'm a big fan of Christopher Hitchens, a larger-than-life personality. It's a shame that he died so young, but his… … The Henley Forum 23rd Annual Conference Global Transitions in a Changing World February 12, 2023 10:07 am - I've been a friend of The Henley Forum for 23 years and have attended most of its annual conferences. This… … Make Your Presentation or Seminar More Participatory Conversational Talks February 10, 2023 5:44 pm - Allowing for audience discussion during a presentation or seminar can be incredibly beneficial for both the presenter and the audience.… … Data, Information and Knowledge Differentiating knowledge stuff February 10, 2023 4:45 pm - Although my blook is about Conversational Leadership, I often find myself revisiting the fundamentals of Knowledge Management as they form… … Real Conversations Are Human Real conversations embody our humanity February 10, 2023 3:49 pm - In my blook, I have a post titled What is a Real Conversation? where I delve into the various components… … Request for Knowledge Café Stories Knowledge Café Stories February 9, 2023 4:47 pm - I am looking for more stories for my blook on Conversational Leadership about how organizations have utilized the Knowledge Café.… … Big History and Big Future What is humanity's direction? February 6, 2023 4:20 pm - One of my interests is history, and another is the future. However, these interests are probably not quite what you… … What Is Social Loafing? Keep the size of small group conversations to 3 or 4 participants January 31, 2023 1:40 pm - 20 years ago or so, when I first started running my Knowledge Cafés, I noticed that as the size of… … Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership KMI - KM Institute January 7, 2023 5:27 pm - I hope you know by now that John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I will be running a Certified… … After-action Reviews – Are We Lazy? A conversation after an event to discuss improvement January 4, 2023 2:31 pm - There is nothing complicated about an after-action review. At its best, it is simply a conversation after an event or… … Will There Be a Knowledge Management Revival? KM is a generation old January 4, 2023 1:09 pm - Interest in knowledge management has been slowly declining in recent years. Despite this trend, the importance of effectively managing knowledge,… … Creating a Glossary for My Blook With a little help from ChatGPT January 4, 2023 9:42 am - I have long wanted to create a glossary of terms for my blook but have been put off by how… … From Knowledge to Agency Knowledge is not power, agency is power January 2, 2023 1:06 pm - In the Knowledge Management world, we talk about knowledge and capabilities but rarely about agency. I think it's time we… … Remember Cognitive Surplus? Tapping into our collective potential January 1, 2023 12:27 pm - Over a decade ago, Clay Shirky introduced the concept of Cognitive Surplus — harnessing our collective free time and creativity… … What Will Be the Impact of Chatgpt? We've no real idea yet. December 22, 2022 4:00 pm - I do not doubt that AI technology, such as ChatGPT, will have a massive impact on the world in 2023… … The 2022 Reith Lectures: the Four Freedoms BBC December 21, 2022 4:58 pm - Over Christmas, I listened to and was intrigued by the annual Reith Lectures. The Reith Lectures were inaugurated in 1948… … Webinar Recording: Introduction to Conversational Leadership A short webinar December 18, 2022 12:37 pm - John Hovell, Saule Menane, Donita Volkwijn, and I recently gave a webinar introducing Conversational Leadership. We were delighted that over… … The Amazing Chatgpt Will Blow Your Mind The only way to truly appreciate it is to check it out December 16, 2022 11:05 am - If you have been reading all the hype about ChatGPT and are a little skeptical like I was, go try… … Academic Papers on the Knowledge Café Using the Knowledge Café in academia December 15, 2022 12:16 pm - Since I developed the concept of the Knowledge Café and started running it 20 years ago in 2002, a few… … Talk Enough but No Conversation Conversing is different from talking December 14, 2022 2:03 pm - More and more, I am starting to differentiate between talk and conversation, although in everyday usage, I use the words… … Lesswrong: Aiming to Be Less Wrong About the World Than the Day Before Improving human reasoning and decision-making December 7, 2022 3:30 pm - LessWrong is an online forum and community dedicated to improving human reasoning and decision-making. We seek to hold true beliefs… … The Simple Power of Complex Stories Thaler Pekar | TEDxTralee Ireland November 22, 2022 10:46 am - You may enjoy this TEDx talk by Thaler Pekar about The simple power of complex stories and the kind of… … Education as an Initiation Into the Conversation of Humankind Michael Oakeshott November 13, 2022 8:32 pm - One aspect of conversation that particularly intrigues me is its history. I've spent considerable time reading about the 17th-century and… … Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership KMI - KM Institute November 7, 2022 9:37 pm - John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I will be running a Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership class in… … New Book: Creating Conversational Leadership Aurthor: John Hovell November 7, 2022 8:26 pm - Conversational Leadership is a relatively new discipline; until recently, no books had been written on the subject unless you included… … Carl Sagan’s Foreboding on the Future of America in 1995 Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is a way of thinking November 6, 2022 3:07 pm - Carl Sagan was a fantastic scientist. This ominous prediction is taken from his 1995 book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as… … Conversational Leadership Is an Approach to Working Together David Whyte October 14, 2022 4:11 pm - One of the few people who talks and writes about Conversational Leadership is David Whyte. This is how he defines… … Acts of Conversational Leadership Adam Grant October 12, 2022 10:18 am - I came across the quotation below from Adam Grant recently on Linkedin. Adam calls all these acts, acts of leadership;… … Advance Your Change and OD Practice Sharon Varney and John Hovell October 10, 2022 2:49 pm - Two good friends, Sharon Varney and John Hovell, are running an international online course from 5-8 December for anyone working to… … Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership KMI - KM Institute October 10, 2022 8:40 am - Last month I announced that John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I will be running a Certified Knowledge Specialist… … What Conversation Could You Have Differently Today? Megan Reitz and John Higgins October 4, 2022 1:02 pm - Sometimes I come across a passage in a book that sums up some aspect of Conversational Leadership that I particularly… … Munk Debates and Dialogues Excellent debates and dialogues October 2, 2022 6:41 pm - I recently discovered Munk Debates and the Munk Debate website. They have some excellent debates, and I love their mission.… … A Slight Modification to VUCA Volatility, uncertainty, confusion and ambiguity October 2, 2022 2:40 pm - You are probably familiar with the VUCA acronym and that we live in a VUCA world. Volatility is where things… … Change Emerges From Conversation in Community with People You Love Dave Pollard October 2, 2022 2:35 pm - I am a big follower of the work of Dave Pollard. I only ever met him once, many years ago,… … History of Conversational Leadership 1985 to today October 2, 2022 2:06 pm - I have been developing and writing about the concept of Conversational Leadership since early 2014, but the term has been… … Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership KMI - KM Institute September 7, 2022 1:25 pm - I am delighted to announce that John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I will be running a Certified Knowledge… … In Search of the Third Attractor Daniel Schmachtenberger September 6, 2022 8:23 pm - I am a massive fan of the work of Daniel Smachtenberger, and you may recall I wrote about his four-part… … Construct Steel Arguments Not Straw Ones We need to learn to argue more effectively September 4, 2022 10:35 am - I am working on a post on so-called steelmanning for my blook. You may be familiar with the concept of… … Request for Help with My Discourse Project Genres of discourse September 3, 2022 6:07 pm - I have recently started a little project, and I could do with a little help. I am pulling together a… … Take Responsibility There are several ways in which to take more responsibility for our lives September 3, 2022 4:22 pm - When I first started to think about Conversational Leadership, one of the foundational principles I wrote about was the need… … We Should Think Carefully Before Speaking Up! Speaking up is as likely to cause conflict and resentment as it is to address a real injustice August 8, 2022 9:56 am - We should all speak up more, should we not? In an email to me recently, my good friend David Creelman… … Tweet of the Month July 2022 July 2022 August 5, 2022 3:18 pm - Here is my top tweet for July 2022. Try talking neuro-gibberish if you’re hoping to win an argument this week.… … Myth: Our Body Language Conveys 55% of the Message This is a distortion of some research conducted by Albert Mehrabian in 1967 August 5, 2022 10:59 am - I overheard a video on interview techniques my wife was watching recently where the instructor pointed out that: Our body… … Littlewood’s Law An individual can expect to experience “miracles” at the rate of about one per month July 31, 2022 10:20 am - Littlewood’s Law, or adage, states that an individual can expect to experience “miracles” at the rate of about one per… … There Is Not a Single, Widely Accepted Definition of Spirituality Spirituality need have nothing to do with religion July 30, 2022 4:59 pm - In writing my blook, time and time again, I find myself not happy with my understanding of certain words and… … Comparing Oracy and Rhetoric What's the difference? July 30, 2022 4:14 pm - I have started to write about rhetoric in my blook though it is still a work in progress. I was… … The Long History of Argument A series of talks by Rory Stewart July 22, 2022 2:36 pm - You may enjoy these three talks by Rory Stewart from the BBC Radio 4 Seriously series of audio documentaries and… … Tweet of the Month June 2022 June 2022 July 15, 2022 12:44 pm - Here is my top tweet for June 2022. How technology can combat the rising tide of fake science. https://buff.ly/2wFgx6G /It's… … Calling Someone Ignorant Isn’t Necessarily an Insult Ignorance is simply a lack of understanding July 15, 2022 11:33 am - Calling someone ignorant isn’t necessarily an insult. Ignorance is simply a lack of understanding. If we are ignorant of a… … Images for the Future of Europe The future can evolve in different directions, each shaped by today's actions July 3, 2022 7:39 pm - To capture ideas about the future, the European Commission's Competence Centre on Foresight has launched an event #OurFutures - Images… … Timeline of the Far Future Predicting the next hundred quintillion years June 29, 2022 9:31 am - It is hard enough to predict what might happen next year, never mind in 100 years, but what about one… … Trust in Whom? Trust is more an attitude about myself June 24, 2022 7:27 pm - I am a big fan of Peter Block, and you will find many references to him in my blook. Peter… … Himba Baby Song True or false? June 10, 2022 11:38 am - Look at this story about the Himba tribe of Namibia in Southern Africa, posted on LinkedIn. Hundreds of replies have… … The Language of Conversation and Speech Digging into their meaning June 8, 2022 12:21 pm - Numerous words describe the varied forms of conversation and speech. In writing my blook, if I wish to dig a… … Don’t Quote It If You Can’t Source It Lib Quotes June 7, 2022 11:10 pm - I love quotations and have a broad selection of them stored as part of my blook. I have also programmed… … Inner Development Goals Transformational skills for sustainable development May 30, 2022 10:07 am - I am sure you are familiar with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals but have you heard of the Inner Development… … Please Help Support My Work Become a patron May 29, 2022 9:23 pm - I have been blogging and publishing the Gurteen Knowledge Letter every month for over 20 years, and most of you… … Tweet of the Month May 2022 May 2022 May 28, 2022 10:08 am - Here is my top tweet for May 2022. The Neuroscience of Conversations: A deep dive into the fascinating world of… … Blook Posts Under Development Work in progress May 27, 2022 10:52 pm - At any one time, I tend to be working on several topics in my blook concurrently, switching between them as… … The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows A dictionary of made-up words for emotions May 27, 2022 9:50 pm - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is a website and YouTube channel developed by John Koenig that creates and defines made-up words… … Why Does the Gurteen Knowledge Café Work? A Participant’s Perspective May 27, 2022 9:08 pm - "Why Does the Gurteen Knowledge Café Work?" is a question I am often asked, and I never have a perfect… … We Learn by Talking When speaking we organize cognitively what we know May 2, 2022 5:34 pm - We exchange information, conclusions, reasoning & questions with others. Although the benefits to the receiver are apparent, surprisingly, there is… … We Need to Put Ourselves in Order Perhaps we will do the same for the world May 2, 2022 5:17 pm - I write a lot about the need to take responsibility for the changes we would like to see to bring… … Event: Is This Our Gutenberg Moment? Conversational Leadership Café May 2, 2022 4:30 pm - In the history of knowledge, the refinement of the printing press in Germany by Gutenberg in 1436 had a massive… … Tweet of the Month April 2022 April 2022 May 2, 2022 3:36 pm - Here is my top tweet for April 2022. Michael Lewis on why Americans don’t trust experts buff.ly/3EHpCdQ /An interesting article/interview… … Event: Global Bridging KM/OD/D&I April 26, 2022 1:08 pm - The Global Bridging event is a free online 24-hour series of conversational activities spanning Knowledge Management (KM), Organization Development (OD),… … Two Interesting Theories of Reason Social reasoning and the narrative paradigm April 1, 2022 11:59 am - I have been working in the Knowledge Management field for over twenty years, and I am still amazed when I… … The Tragic Death of Michel De Montaigne The most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation March 31, 2022 9:03 am - Michele Montaigne was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. I have long admired him and love… … The Journey The remarkable friendship between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness March 30, 2022 4:46 pm - The film drama The Journey is a fictional account of the true story of how Northern Ireland's political enemies, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, formed… … Scribbled Sentences A writing lesson from Charles Darwin March 16, 2022 8:09 am - I recently came across this quotation from Charles Darwin, and it immediately resonated with me. My best writing, at least… … Conversation Is Action Stop doing things — sit down and have a conversation March 10, 2022 5:56 pm - I am often asked how to turn conversation into action, but conversation is action. Conversation does not directly change the… … We Have Two Purposes in Life A personal one and a societal one March 7, 2022 5:02 pm - We all care about our own well-being and the well-being of our family. It's our prime purpose to look after… … We Need to See Argument in a Different Light Build a steel man and argue against that. March 4, 2022 4:05 pm - We need to see argument in a different light. An argument should not be seen as a hostile exchange or… … Reception Areas Are Such a Waste of Space Turn them into cafés March 4, 2022 10:39 am - The larger the organization — the more extensive and grander the reception area. Huge impressive, impersonal halls of glass, stainless… … Henry Kissinger and Artificial Intelligence We are moving into a new period of human consciousness March 3, 2022 10:40 am - I wasn't aware Henry Kissinger (United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under the presidential administrations of Richard… … Tweet of the Month February 2022 February 2022 March 2, 2022 4:19 pm - Here is my top tweet for February 2022. What are beliefs? Beliefs are ideas that we hold to be true.… … Empowering Managers, Generating Ideas & Building a Sense of Community Knowledge Café in Taiwan March 1, 2022 9:52 am - I was delighted to receive the following email recently. Take a look at the video the author mentions. The recording… … I Would Still Plant My Apple Tree February 20, 2022 3:38 pm - I like this idea. I would still plant my apple tree as well. People interpret this quote differently but to… … Tweet of the Month January 2022 January 2022 February 15, 2022 5:18 pm - Here is my top tweet for January 2022. Polarization: The Power of Dialogue and the Problem of Implicit Bias by… … Conversational Leadership Workshop May 2022 09 - 13 May 2022 February 15, 2022 4:20 pm - Last year John Hovell, Donita Volkwijn, Saule Menane, and I ran a 1-week online workshop on Conversational Leadership. This year… … What Is Global Consciousness? Consciousness, collective consciousness, higher consciousness, and global consciousness February 15, 2022 11:53 am - In his book Beyond Knowledge – How technology is driving an age of consciousness, Bill Halal predicts the Age of Consciousness — an age… … The Mason Dixon Line Sailing to Philadelphia February 15, 2022 10:46 am - I love the web. I love its ability to allow me to explore; to surprise me; to put me in… … The Henley Forum 22nd Annual Conference Henley Business School February 15, 2022 9:14 am - I have been a member of the Henley Forum since its inception 22 years ago and am pleased to announce… … Wordtune Crafting a better sentence February 12, 2022 3:45 pm - I do a lot of writing. Evernote and Grammarly are two indispensable tools. I use Evernote for clipping information, capturing… … What Does It Take to Create a Better World? Even Adolf Hitler thought he was making a better world. February 11, 2022 5:00 pm - In my blook, I write about creating a better, sustainable world, but better is a value-laden word. In what way… … Do We Need a Second Reformation? The first led to the 30 years war in Europe January 11, 2022 5:28 pm - In a recent blog post, Consolidation for Reformation, Henry Mintzberg, described the need for a second Reformation. Here is a… … What Does Greta Thunberg Know About Global Warming? Diddly Squat! The Knowedge Delusion January 11, 2022 4:13 pm - What does Greta Thunberg know about global warming? What do you or I know about global warming? Diddly squat! (btw… … Build a Light-house Not a Chapel Benjamin Franklin January 11, 2022 12:07 pm - The quotation Lighthouses are more useful than churches is often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin. However, he wrote this in a… … KM Global Network: KM Course 2022 Knowledge Management Advanced Methodologies January 10, 2022 12:44 pm - The KM Global Network (KMGN) is running an online KM course - a series of 21 interactive one-hour weekly sessions,… … Tweet of the Month December 2021 December 2021 January 6, 2022 3:42 pm - Here is my top tweet for December. Legacy leaders are anointed and appointed. They are given power through authority and… … What Can We Learn From a Smallpox Epidemic in Boston 300 Years Ago? Smallpox epidemic, Boston 1721 December 17, 2021 10:12 am - Precisely 300 years ago, in 1721, Benjamin Franklin and his fellow Bostonians faced a deadly smallpox outbreak in America. The… … Tweet of the Month November 2021 November 2021 December 7, 2021 2:41 pm - Here is my top tweet for November. Knowledge and cognition are not confined to the brain – other people and… … Writing Aids Critical Thinking What's the difference between writing and critical thinking? December 5, 2021 11:18 am - Jordan Peterson recently tweeted: The best way to teach people critical thinking is to teach them to write because there's… … How Many People Have Ever Lived? About 100 billion November 26, 2021 11:43 am - We are each one of about 100 billion humans (homo sapiens) who have ever lived. To my mind, it is… … You Are Never More Than 4 Minutes Away From a Banana It's a hyperconnected world November 19, 2021 11:50 am - Some time ago, at the Henley Forum, one of the speakers made the point that you're never more than four… … Our Gutenberg Moment? The impact of social media November 12, 2021 4:24 pm - In the history of knowledge, the development of the printing press in Germany by Gutenberg in 1436 had a massive… … Engaging in Short Friendly Conversations Improves People’s Thinking Friends with Cognitive Benefits November 10, 2021 4:47 pm - Research shows that engaging in short friendly conversations boosts people’s performance on a variety of cognitive tasks. A study in… … Tweets of the Month October 2021 October 2021 November 9, 2021 4:16 pm - I am still tweeting what I consider interesting material once or twice every day. Here are two of my top… … Leadership in Complexity and Change For a World in Constant Motion November 8, 2021 4:54 pm - Sharon Varney's new book recently arrived, Leadership in Complexity and Change: For a World in Constant Motion. I have put… … He Had His Conversation in the World Conversari: to live, dwell, live with, keep company with November 8, 2021 7:49 am - A little while back, I came across an online etymology dictionary and was fascinated to learn the roots and the… … What Is Politics? A broad definition November 7, 2021 12:37 pm - In writing my blook, I often find myself wishing to write about a topic. However, before I get into it… … Tweet of the Month September 2021 September 2021 October 6, 2021 3:35 pm - If I ignore a Dibert tweet where Wally claims to be a raging sea of knowledge management and strategic thinking,… … Books on Conversational Leadership and Related Topics Conversation is King October 6, 2021 12:26 pm - Those of you who have taken a look at my website on Conversational Leadership know that it is a blook… … Making Sense of a Complex World There is no information we can trust October 5, 2021 4:02 pm - We live in a world of misinformation and disinformation. Furthermore, much information we need to make good sense of any… … Three Disturbing Things I Learned This Month That may or may not be true October 4, 2021 5:27 pm - I learned three disturbing things this month. And by disturb, I mean they have given me cause for some deep… … World Values Day Knowledge Café 21 October 2021 September 27, 2021 7:39 am - World Values Day is an annual campaign to increase the awareness and practice of values around the world. It provides… … How You Teach Kids How Easy It Is to Divide a Community The Salem Witch Trials September 27, 2021 7:28 am - This is a story about how easy it is to divide a community posted on Linkedin by Emine Fougner that… … Tweet of the Month August 2021 August 2021 September 14, 2021 10:26 am - My top tweet for August with over 58,000 impressions was a quote from Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) — the former Member… … I Am a Catalyst Influencing the world's direction September 13, 2021 3:46 pm - I have long had difficulty describing who I am or what I do in a word or two. But I… … Please Stop Saying You Researched It You probably didn’t research anything September 13, 2021 8:53 am - This is a bit of a rant but given all of the misinformation and disinformation online it is an important… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop September 2021 Conversation is King. Content is just something to talk about September 12, 2021 8:45 pm - My next Knowledge Café workshop is coming up fast on 21st September 2021. It should work well for EMEA/Americas time… … Should We Speak with Authority and Conviction? May be not September 10, 2021 9:03 pm - Prevailing wisdom says that we should speak with authority and conviction if we wish to convince or persuade someone. What… … Why Did I Decide to Write a Blook Rather Than a Book? A blook - across between a blog and a book August 29, 2021 8:39 pm - Friends have often suggested that I write a book, but I decided to write a blook instead. What is a… … Take Some Responsibility We may wait forever for others to do so August 6, 2021 4:50 pm - Take responsibility. Find something wrong, find something unjust, find something broken but more than anything else, find something you care… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop September 2021 Conversation is King. Content is just something to talk about August 6, 2021 4:12 pm - I have 25 registrations for my next Knowledge Café workshop on 10th August 2021, and it is now closed for… … Start Hacking at the Branches of Evil Making an impact August 3, 2021 2:58 pm - Henry David Thoreau has had an enormous influence on me ever since I lived in Carlisle, Massachusetts, a few miles… … We Can Learn From Anyone There is always some signal August 3, 2021 11:07 am - Occasionally a reader of my knowledge letter takes issue with one of my posts or quotations that reference certain other… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop August and September 2021 Conversation is King. Content is just something to talk about July 10, 2021 8:22 pm - I will be running my Knowledge Café workshop where I teach how to design and host Gurteen Knowledge Cafés on… … Knowledge Is Not Power Knowledge is an expression of the shared responsibilities for the collective well-being of humanity July 2, 2021 4:16 pm - I have written in my blook that knowledge alone is not power. But I rather like this definition of knowledge… … The Consilience Project Making better sense of the world June 27, 2021 6:30 pm - I want to introduce you to an exciting new project initiated by the Civilization Research Institute - the Consilience Project… … Has Democracy Outlived Its Usefulness? The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter June 23, 2021 6:53 pm - The United States' founding fathers understood the importance of a well-informed citizenry to vote wisely to elect good leaders, as these… … Consilience Project Website Facilitating a cultural renaissance June 20, 2021 2:50 pm - I blogged recently about the Consilience Project — co-founded by Daniel Schmachtenberger. The project team have now launched the Consilience… … Is Love the Answer? It may seem corny, but love is the answer June 19, 2021 9:05 pm - I have long thought that to help cure many of the ills in the world that all we needed to… … Do Not Speak Lashon Hara Evil tongue June 19, 2021 4:53 pm - I know little about Jewish history or culture, so when I came across the concept of lashon hara recently, I… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop August and September 2021 Conversation is King. Content is just something to talk about June 8, 2021 2:03 pm - I ran my first Knowledge Café Workshop of 2021 in February and another more recently in May. Both workshops were… … Embedding Text From Wikipedia Importing text dynamically from Wikipedia June 8, 2021 1:40 pm - WordPress automatically creates a tag page for each tag that I use in my blook. Each of these tag pages… … Virtual Random Café A simple networking method in times of COVID June 7, 2021 5:14 pm - The Virtual Random Café is a simple conversational method that has much in common with randomized coffee trials and speed… … We Must Stop Trying to Do Things to Each Other And encourage engagement and ownership June 5, 2021 9:02 am - If we are to boost engagement and ownership, not buy-in, we must stop trying to do things to each other.… … Are People Untrustworthy? Or is it just our bad judgement? May 23, 2021 1:27 pm - I love Anthony de Mello's perspective on human nature when he says that if someone lets us down, we should… … Social Reasoning The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason May 7, 2021 3:34 pm - I recently came across a fascinating theory concerning the evolution of human reason known as "The Argumentative Theory of Human… … Societal Knowledge Management Reflections on the Future May 7, 2021 2:09 pm - I recently wrote an article for the Henley Forum on what I call Societal Knowledge Management that takes a somewhat… … The Value of a Contrarian Thinker They help you question your beliefs May 3, 2021 11:37 am - I used to have a good friend. We could talk about absolutely anything and had some incredible conversations. He died… … Making Better Sense of the World Through Conversation A conversation with David Gurteen, Director of Gurteen Knowledge May 2, 2021 9:32 am - Douglas Ferguson of Voltage Control recently recorded a podcast where I talked about conversion and making a better sense of… … A More Contested World A report on the future by the US Intelligence Community April 11, 2021 3:40 pm - The US Intelligence Community has published a report entitled Global Trends 2040: A More Contested World. The report has been… … What If Cats Could Send Text Messages? Lauren Gurteen April 8, 2021 9:05 am - This item is a little out of place in my newsletter, but how could I not help my daughter Lauren… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop May 2021 Conversation is King. Content is just something to talk about April 7, 2021 5:56 pm - I ran my first Knowledge Café Workshop of 2021 in February. I had 23 participants, and as usual, it went… … Video Meeting Hand Signals Hand signals improve video meeting success April 7, 2021 2:52 pm - A study by UCL researchers has found that using a simple set of hand signals can improve the experience of… … Why Is Conversation So Easy? Surely it should be harder than giving a speech? April 7, 2021 1:57 pm - Many people find it difficult to give a speech, and it is not always easy to listen to one, but… … The Myth of Thamus and Theuth Has writing allowed the pretense of understanding rather than true understanding? April 6, 2021 7:58 pm - Have you ever considered the consequences of the invention of writing? Do you think that it may have weakened the… … Documents Are Not Knowledge It's the conversation about them that is important April 2, 2021 10:40 am - These two short quotations have much in common and are worth reflecting on. Interestingly, in a 2014 World Bank report,… … Most of Our Knowledge Is a Delusion We know far less than we think we do March 15, 2021 9:14 am - As individuals, we know far less than we think we do. Our education system teaches us to accept and memorize… … A Flaw in the Scientific Method? Edward de Bono March 12, 2021 11:26 am - I recently posted this quotation from Edward de Bono in my LinkedIn feed. I'm afraid I have to disagree that… … Becoming Agile: an International Festival of Learning (26 – 29 April) Henley Forum March 10, 2021 10:44 am - The Henley Forum 21st Annual Conference — Becoming Agile: An international festival of learning — is coming up in April.… … Together • Ensemble: Dream Big for Europe David Gurteen, Obhi Chatterjee & Julie Guégan March 4, 2021 8:40 am - I recently gave a conversational talk with Obhi Chatterjee (Head of Learning Technologies at the European Commission) and Julie Guégan… … Excellence in University Leadership & Management A call for case histories March 2, 2021 8:27 pm - Academic Publishing plans to publish a book that addresses some the achievements of some universities in their attempts to transform… … Reflections on the Future of Knowledge Management Societal Knowledge Management February 24, 2021 5:25 pm - Introduction I want to examine Knowledge Management's future, but I have a warning—it may not be what you expect. In… … Knowledge Alone Is Not Power or Is It? Seems not everyone agrees February 18, 2021 10:38 am - I recently posted this quotation on LinkedIn where Michael Schrage states that Knowledge Management is a bullshit issue. It has… … Proposed Free Speech Law to Fight Deplatforming in Universities Unnecessary bureaucracy? February 16, 2021 2:11 pm - I wrote about the need for freedom of speech in Universities recently, but I am not sure making it a… … In a Complex World How Do You Minimize, Maximize or Optimize Anything? You can't! February 13, 2021 6:55 pm - When reading business articles and marketing material, I have a problem with words like maximize, minimize, and optimize. In a… … Are Vague Ideas Sometimes Better Than Firm Ones? Maybe vague ideas are at the heart of being creative January 28, 2021 3:29 pm - I rather like this thought about ideas from Pablo Picasso. You have to have an idea of what you are… … How to Run a Personal Growth Community Design and run your own Personal Growth Community January 18, 2021 10:07 am - In my blook, I have dedicated a chapter to Conversational Stories that takes a look at several stories of how… … Third Annual Workshop on Conversational Leadership 26 - 30 April 2021 January 18, 2021 9:04 am - In 2018, John Hovell, Nancy Dixon, and I ran a Conversational Leadership workshop at the Elvetham - just a few… … Freedom of Speech in Universities It's our duty to tolerate colleagues even when they say things that we consider foolish January 13, 2021 11:37 am - Over the past few years, much has been reported in the press about so-called cancel culture and deplatforming where activists… … Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop February 12th 2021 January 10, 2021 4:46 pm - I have not run a Knowledge Café Workshop for some time, but given the recent increased interest in the Café… … What Does Pope Francis Know About Knowledge Management? Quite a lot it would seem January 10, 2021 2:09 pm - What does Pope Francis know about Knowledge Management? Quite a lot, it would seem to judge from this excerpt of… … Talking Rubbish It is through taking rubbish we make sense of the world January 3, 2021 4:20 pm - At times, "talking rubbish" can be a good thing. Let me explain. Too often in a conversation, while trying to… … Using the Concept of Signal-to-noise Ratio as a Metaphor The ratio of useful or true information to false or irrelevant information December 31, 2020 2:31 pm - Daniel Smachtenberger, when discussing the pollution of the information ecosystem with misinformation and disinformation in his talks on the War… … New Blog and Newsletter Moving from Lotus Notes to WordPress December 29, 2020 8:00 am - You may have noticed something different about this month's newsletter. I have moved both my blog and my Knowledge Letter… … The Dialogic Mindset Leading Emergent Change in a Complex World December 16, 2020 10:47 am - If you are interested in dialogic OD and how leadership needs to adapt to better cope with our increasingly complex… … Ten Questions for Work That Matters What contribution are you making? December 15, 2020 2:40 pm - I love Seth Godin's blog. Almost every post is short, and each one is a gem. Here is a lovely… … Is Bill Gates a Force for Good or Evil? Bill Gates and conspiracy theories December 8, 2020 12:50 pm - Several conspiracy theories are circulating about Bill Gates, such as the microchip conspiracy theory. Astonishingly, a YouGov poll of 1,640… … Would You Rather Be Uninformed or Misinformed? False quotations on the web December 8, 2020 11:37 am - I recently came across this quotation that I rather loved, supposedly from Mark Twain. If you don't read the newspaper,… … From Moral to Market Sentiments by Mark Carney Reith Lectures 2020 – How We Get What We Value December 2, 2020 2:51 pm - I caught this first Reith Lecture of 2020 From Moral to Market Sentiments by Mark Carney (former Bank of England… … Talking with Strangers Can Be Exceptionally Rewarding Talk to strangers December 2, 2020 12:01 pm - As a child, we are taught not to talk with strangers, and as a 4-year-old with little experience of the… … Do You Know the Difference Between Complex and Complicated? Most people don't November 27, 2020 10:02 pm - Do you know the difference between complex and complicated? Most people don't. It's an important distinction to understand when living… …Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
This page is part of a blook on Conversational Leadership. Parts of this book have restricted access. You can learn more about the book and how to obtain full access on the home page.