Stop the Climb and Enjoy the View!

In my previous post, I described the improv activity Color-Advance and its value in helping the Daily Improviser measure progress in terms of, not just distance and speed, but also depth. Color-Advance can remind the Daily Improviser that progress is not only about crossing the finish line but also about enjoying the scenery along the way.

I think the message of Color-Advance also relates to the concept of Organizational Learning as put forth most notably by Peter Senge. I’ve always thought of a Learning Organization as one that doesn’t just constantly move headlong toward its objectives - stopping intermittently to put out fires along the way – but instead regularly evaluates its structures, processes, and practices to root out systemic causes of problems and produce self-sustaining growth.

My view of the Learning Organization focuses on the application of “Color” to the accomplishment of tasks and the generation of results. However, I recently ran across an interview with Senge in which he touches on another dimension of organizational learning. Asked how the success of a Learning Organization can be measured, Senge said:

“[A]t the first level, you look at what people are trying to accomplish and ask: Are they much more effective at doing it? And are they having a better time at doing it? While we care about the results, it's really important to ask the second question: are they enjoying learning together? … The most fundamental assessment is long-term sustainable improvement in people accomplishing what they really want to accomplish. What goes hand in glove with that is that people grow. When all is said and done, [and] you strip away all the measures and all the official stuff, it is really easy. You talk to people about how they feel about their work. Are they excited? Are they passionate?”

In Color-Advance terms, then, what Senge is saying is: “Color” is more than asking just “How are we doing?” but also asking “How do we feel about what we’re doing?”

Or, in terms of our Daily Improviser Model, it’s about asking: “Are we experiencing The Wow?”

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