“A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world”. – John Le Carre
Conversations of Intrigue are a new facilitated discussion I have developed to guide people to reflect on their workplace experience and identify shared values and the potential for growth and change.
Focusing in equal parts on creative response and critical thinking, the Conversations use short extracts from a work of fiction to as a platform through which to identify values, issues and strategies to improve workplace culture.
For the first outing of this model I am using extracts from John Le Carre’s great spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Although deservedly renowned as being an enthralling read, this novel is also a compelling portrait of organisational dysfunction, toxic culture, and all too human character types. Writing with poetic imagery, constrained compassion and a quiet sly wit, Le Carre has a gift for evoking atmosphere and character in short passages – the perfect material on which to build meaningful group discussion.
The aim of Conversations of Intrigue is to allow people the space to reflect and articulate impressions, identify values, and consider strategies for building humane workplace cultures.
Conversations of Intrigue is the result of a year’s worth of work (ever since a ‘light bulb’ moment happened last year). I am excited about this model as it sees me pulling together the disparate strands of my bohemian past and portfolio of skills and interest. I am trying to identify a ‘home’ for the Conversations and your support would be incredibly useful.
Having developed the discussion format I would now like to trial it and I am inviting you to participate in a free Conversation of Intrigue on one of the dates listed below.
Dates and times:
- Tuesday 15 September; 6-8pm
- Thursday 17 September; 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 21 September; 9.30am-11.30am
- Tuesday 22 September; 6-8pm
Venue: Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane (between Bourke and Elizabeth Streets), Melbourne CBD
Cost: Free but I would like some feedback
RSVPs: essential. Seating capacity is very limited at only 7 places per session. Bookings can be made on Eventbrite.
More information can be found here.
Dangerous Meredith 
Highly recommended! Based on the experience of myself and several colleagues last month, these Conversations of Intrigue are a starting-point for self-discovery, gaining insight into your workplace and its culture, and for learning from others’ perspectives. Provoking, entertaining and enormously rewarding.
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Thank you very much for this lovely comment, Margaret. I really appreciate the endorsement.
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Reblogged this on Fly by Night Fascinations and commented:
Focusing in equal parts on creative response and critical thinking, the Conversations of Intrigues use short extracts from a work of fiction to as a platform through which to identify values, issues and strategies to improve workplace culture. The Conversations are having their debut in September; you are invited to join in. For more details read below ~ Meredith (Parallel and Fly by Night Fascinations co-convenor, and also known as Dangerous Meredith).
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