Information or Misinformation
Margaret Wheatley’s asserts in her book "Leadership and the New Science", that “relationships are all there is”. Nothing exists as matter – everything is a set of relationships. She explains that what sustains and enhances relationships is information. Trust enhances information, while distrust destroys information. Misinformation poisons relationships. On our Leadership Programs we work hard at creating that essential awareness.
Relationships are all there is
While we were seeking the wisdom of leaders as part of the “Learning To Lead” journey, we were absolutely fascinated by Margaret Wheatley’s assertion that “relationships are all there is”. Nothing exists as matter – everything is a set of relationships. Hard to understand and accept perhaps, but Margaret really does interpret New Science helpfully.
She explains that what sustains and enhances relationships is INFORMATION. Information is to relationships what air, water and food are to living organisms. Information is equally important, indeed vital. Starve a living organism of information and you begin to kill it – more slowly perhaps than it would die if starved of air, water or food - but just as surely. Relationships starved of information die just as surely.
Since the focus of all we do is about living – living fully, living close to one’s full potential on a sustainable basis – we sought to understand information as a “chip” in the game of life – a critical one. It made sense, but because we have learnt to live more comfortably in a paradoxical world we turned the chip over to see what was written on the other side – MISINFORMATION.
When is information misinformation? When trust is missing. Trust enhances information, while distrust destroys information. Misinformation poisons relationships.
Recently I read Eliot Weinberger’s essay “What I heard about Iraq” which is sweeping the world. It is the most visited article that the London Review has ever published on its website. The Berlin Literature Festival organized a worldwide reading of the essay to commemorate the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It was read at 100 events in cities as far apart as Athens, Calcutta, Brussels and Durban.
It is 14 pages long and you can access his website www.truthout.org It makes it impossible to overlook the role that trust plays in information. It is powerful!
On our Leadership Programs we work hard at creating that essential awareness – Eliot Weinberger does it painfully and unforgettably.
COLIN HALL
May 2006
