VIRTUAL SPACE: The POWER of CONNECTING

I admit it, I am still coming down from our across-the-world INNOVATING in HARD TIMES online dialogue last week with futurist Joel Barker and the well over 425 innovators and leaders that showed up. IMAGINE all those differences coming together to explore one another's NEW IDEAS. Most of all, it was truly an example of seizing the power of the Internet. Every time I host one of our online gatherings, I am mesmerized once again by what takes place in virtual space when we meet somewhere between YOU and ME. If you've not done much of it, I encourage you to reserve your judgment. If you've only done it in the typical "login and mute" approach, you haven't truly experienced what can happen in a meaningful, interactive conversation. We keep trying to perfect this possibility. So many people seem quick to say, "I'm just not into it --- face-to-face is the only way for me." I agree it's not a replacement for direct human contact, but in meeting in virtual space for over a decade, I continue to realize how powerful it is in creating a unique form of communication that in some ways breaks down barriers that commonly separate us in a physical space. Consider these...

1. What you look like doesn't matter. All those judgments we commonly pass about one another at first meetings in physical space ---the ones that result in us perhaps never saying hello --- just don't exist. You have a choice of being heard and not seen. Being included is a great feeling. You can hear it, sense it, and experience it in virtual space amazingly faster, better, and sometimes in a most meaningful way that would never happen in a conference room.

2. Who you are becomes what you contribute. Everyone meets on a virtual common ground and there seems to be a natural curiosity about whose with you and what they think. Everyone has a chance to share their points of view in some unique way, spoken and unspoken. Nice!

3. Where you are can be anywhere. ...and discovering all the different places in the process becomes our first group connection. There are no borders, no socio-economic classes, no airline tickets, no timezone to keep away if you want to be there, no preconceived notions and beliefs or fears to separate us. In some ways, these unknown DIFFERENCES are somewhat titillating to uncover or just imagine. 

REFLECTIONS from OTHERS

At the end of our online gathering, we provided several ways for people to share their reflections on what they gained from the experience. Some wrote on a "writing wall." It was touching seeing not only English, but that people felt welcome write in their own languages --- including Spanish, French, Hindi, German, Chichewa-African language. 

It was particularly moving to hear how and what others experienced. A man named PETER from Mexico shared this personal experience that seemed to speak for us all:

LISTEN IN... [2:45 | mp3]
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/MAR31-Peter-Mexico.mp3

Some took time to take a REFLECTIONS survey that gave each participant their own personal canvas to paint a word picture of what they saw and experienced by showing up. We all left with a promise to meet again.

Want to join us next time? You're invited! Go here and sign up... We welcome you!
http://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/dialogues

Debbe Kennedy
founder, Global Dialogue Center
and Leadership Solutions Companies
author, Putting Our Differences to Work(Berrett-Koehler 2008)
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance
YouTube Book Review by futurist Joel A. Barker

Learn more about Joel Barker's new 2009 film release, INNOVATION at the VERGE at
www.innovationattheverge.com .