{"id":538,"date":"2011-03-22T09:34:59","date_gmt":"2011-03-22T09:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leedscd.wordpress.com\/?p=538"},"modified":"2011-03-22T09:34:59","modified_gmt":"2011-03-22T09:34:59","slug":"community-the-structure-of-belonging-by-peter-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2011\/03\/22\/community-the-structure-of-belonging-by-peter-block\/","title":{"rendered":"Community \u2013 The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block"},"content":{"rendered":"

Community \u2013 The Structure of Belonging –\u00a0Peter Block<\/a><\/p>\n

Peter Block has long been a \u2018go to\u2019 writer people who think carefully about the process of change and how best to help positive change happen.\u00a0 For me, he IS the Consultants\u2019 Consultant.\u00a0 As the author of Flawless Consulting \u2013 A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used<\/em>; The Flawless Consulting Fieldbook:- Understanding Your Expertise<\/em>; Stewardship: Choosing Service over Self-Interest<\/em> and The Empowered Manager<\/em> he has a 30 year track record of wisdom and knowledge in how to help managers, leaders and consultants create positive change.\u00a0 So it was with some excitement that I first read Community –\u00a0 The Structure of Belonging.<\/p>\n

It did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

Block distils his practical knowledge of change and describes his experiences in applying it to helping communities tackle fragmentation, conflict and disconnection.\u00a0 He provides practical guidance on how community can be built, how transformation maybe nurtured and how healthy communities can be built.\u00a0 But he offers few solutions; just questions and processes that help us to tackle our own problems and pursue our own aspirations.<\/p>\n

This is Block at his person centred best.\u00a0 At its essence he describes how to move from preoccupations with deficiencies, narrow interests and entitlements to possibility, generosity and \u2018gifts\u2019 through the art of convening:\u00a0 bringing the right people to the right conversations to tackle the right questions.\u00a0 By reframing leadership as the art of convening Block lays down an important challenge that many will choose to ignore.<\/p>\n

The book will help anyone who cares about the wellbeing of their community \u2013 whether that is an organisation, a neighbourhood, a city or a parish.\u00a0 However it is neither an easy nor a comfortable read.\u00a0 As Block says the \u2018sole purpose [of the book] is to provide a path toward creating a future very different from what we now have.<\/p>\n

So, if you are comfortable with the status quo, steer clear.<\/p>\n