Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Issue 272 – February 2023
I’d like to remind you that the opportunity to join the Certified Knowledge Specialist in Conversational Leadership workshop from February 27th to March 3rd is quickly approaching.
If you’re interested in enhancing your skills and expanding your knowledge in this field, this might be perfect for you.
Check out this link for more information, and let me know if you have any questions.
Contents
- Christopher Hitchens's Razor
No not what he shaved with - Real conversations are human
Real conversations embody our humanity - The Henley Forum 23rd Annual Conference
Global Transitions in a Changing World - Big History and Big Future
What is humanity's direction? - What is social loafing?
Keep the size of small group conversations to 3 or 4 participants - Data, Information and Knowledge
Differentiating knowledge stuff - Request for Knowledge Café Stories
Knowledge Café Stories - Help Keep My Work Alive
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- Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Christopher Hitchens's Razor
No not what he shaved with
I'm a big fan of Christopher Hitchens, a larger-than-life personality. It's a shame that he died so young, but his legacy continues on YouTube.
I especially like his epistemological razor (a guide for evaluating the validity of knowledge claims.).
Hitchens's Razor: What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.
In other words, the responsibility of proving the accuracy of a statement falls on the person who makes it. If they cannot provide adequate evidence, their claim should be considered baseless, and those who disagree with it do not have to provide additional arguments to refute it.
Real conversations are human
Real conversations embody our humanity
In my blook, I have a post titled What is a Real Conversation? where I delve into the various components that define a genuine conversation. Although not all these factors are necessary for a conversation to be considered real, the more present, the closer we get to a true and authentic exchange. Over the past year or two, I have updated the post several times, and I recently added a section that I was surprised I had previously overlooked.
At the heart of it all, real conversations are human. They embody our humanity by encompassing the sharing of emotions, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a receptiveness to constructive criticism.
The Henley Forum 23rd Annual Conference
Global Transitions in a Changing World
I've been a friend of The Henley Forum for 23 years and have attended most of its annual conferences.
This year's Henley Forum 2023 Conference, Global Transitions in a Changing World, focuses on navigating the challenges of transition in a rapidly changing world.
The conference will be hybrid, with in-person and international connections and opportunities for learning and networking over two days.
Unlike many traditional conferences, The Henley Forum conferences are highly participatory, and I always find them incredibly engaging and informative.
You can learn more about this year's conference here.
Big History and Big Future
What is humanity's direction?
One of my interests is history, and another is the future. However, these interests are probably not quite what you would think.
My first interest is what is referred to as Big History. This type of history is focused on things other than the events of kings and queens, empires, wars, and the like taught in schools. Instead, it encompasses the universe's history, starting from the Big Bang and extending up to the present day.
Understanding Big History gives us a broader perspective on our place in the universe and the evolution of life on Earth. It helps us understand the context of our existence and appreciate the incredible journey of the universe.
My second interest is what I refer to as "Big Future." This concept goes beyond merely focusing on the next 50 to 100 years and considers the direction humanity might take over the next 10,000, 100,000, million, or billion years. It encompasses ideas like longtermism, which emphasizes the future consequences of our actions.
It's fascinating to contemplate our species' potential future and the impact we may have on the universe. Exploring Big Future helps us envision the possibilities and shape a better future for ourselves and future generations.
What is social loafing?
Keep the size of small group conversations to 3 or 4 participants
20 years ago or so, when I first started running my Knowledge Cafés, I noticed that as the size of small groups increased, fewer people actively participated in the conversation.
As a result, I began to limit the size of small group conversations to no more than five participants.
Later on, I discovered that this phenomenon had a name: social loafing. I have written more about social loafing and how to mitigate it in my blook on Conversational Leadership.
Data, Information and Knowledge
Differentiating knowledge stuff
Although my blook is about Conversational Leadership, I often find myself revisiting the fundamentals of Knowledge Management as they form the foundations of a Conversational Leadership mindset.
If you are well-versed in Knowledge Management, there may be little new for you. However, read on if you need help differentiating between data; information; explicit, tacit, and implicit knowledge and understanding why the DIKW pyramid is flawed.
Request for Knowledge Café Stories
Knowledge Café Stories
I am looking for more stories for my blook on Conversational Leadership about how organizations have utilized the Knowledge Café. Stories such as the ones below.
If you have any stories of your own or know of organizations regularly running Cafés, please let me know.
Help Keep My Work Alive
For almost 25 years, I’ve been sharing the Gurteen Knowledge Letter each month, and many of you have been reading it for five years or more. My Knowledge Café also reached a milestone, celebrating its 20th anniversary in September 2022.
If my work has made a difference to you, I’d be grateful if you could consider supporting it. A small monthly donation or any one-off contribution would greatly help cover some of my website hosting costs.
Thank you to the 50+ patrons who already support me – your generosity means a lot.
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Gurteen Knowledge Letter
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly email newsletter designed to inspire thinking around Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management. You can explore the archive of past issues here.
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David Gurteen
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom
