From the scientific research on leadership and cultural issues to very inspired work about change in organisations. Bob told me once during a walk in the woods of ‘Lage Vuursche’ that he discovered the power of stories. He just wrote the book Deep Change, about discovering the leader within. For him, change means personal change.
In this period he introduces the notion of slow death as one form of resistance.
In 1995 on the celebration of our 5th anniversary we have done together a fascinating workshop. How did the world look 5 years ago, how does it look now and how will it look in 5 years time. We answered the same questions on the level of organisations and for the role of leadership. We should do this exercise again. After going into depth on some of the raised issues he told the story” on the beach”. A very moving story about personal change. This story touched several participants to tears. The power of one is an important notion in Bob’s work. In 2000 Bob publishes “Change the World’, How Ordinary People Can Accomplish Extraordinary Results. (Quinn 2000) Here he makes the step to creating productive communities. The book describes intervention techniques of Luther King, Gandhi and Jesus. A must read book for anybody that is fascinated by change.
In 2002 I took part of the course Change the World, at Michigan University. Sadly enough the course doesn’t run anymore. If you are interested, we make it happen again! Bob loves to create situations where people deeply understand and never will forget the lessons learned. As building a tent blindfolded and showing essential fragments of movies of Luther King and Gandhi.
In 2002 Bob publishes Letters to Garrett, Stories of Change, Power and Possibility. (Quinn2002)Garrett is one of his sons. This book is about a father trying to keep the contact with his son by writing a book together. At the same time Bob elaborates on the present state of his change theories. His most recent book “Building the Bridge As You walk On It”(Quinn 2004) is a Guide for leading Change. Bob now is very much involved in positive organisational scholarship (http://bus-webdev.bus.umich.edu/Positive/POS-Research/Contributors/GretchenSpreitzer.htm
And we love to hear the 30th of November more about this.
I do not need to say, personally highly recommended to take part of this opportunity. Bob Quinn does not like to travel and it may be the last time we will be able to see him in our country.