Reprinted from the August 5, 2021 edition
First of three parts
Every day we find ourselves in gatherings, Priya Parker writes in “The Art of Gathering.”
“If we can understand what makes these gatherings effective and memorable, then we can re-frame and redirect them to benefit everyone, host and guest alike,” Parker wrote. She defines a gathering as, “three or more people who come together for a specific purpose. When we understand why we gather, to acknowledge, to learn, to challenge, to change, we learn how to organize gatherings that are relevant and memorable: from an effective business meeting to a thought-provoking conference; from a joyful wedding to a unifying family dinner.
“Drawing on my experience as a strategic facilitator who’s worked with organizations such as the World Economic Forum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the retail company, Fresh, we see how ordinary people can create remarkable occasions, large and small. In dozens of fascinating examples, we can break down the alchemy of these experiences to show what goes into the good ones and demonstrates how we can learn to incorporate those elements into all of our gatherings. The result is a book that’s both journey and guide, full of big ideas with real-world applications that will change the way you look at a business meeting, a parent-teacher conference, and a backyard barbecue.
“In January 1933—the same month the Ford Motor Company laid off 100,000 workers and a record 242 U.S. banks failed, Virginia Kirkus started a business, the ‘Virginia Kirkus Bookshop Service’, that she was advised to file under “Pipe Dreams” by 24 of the 25 persons she asked for advice. ‘If I had to sell the Service to regular bookstores by mail, I’d fast and pray for a few days (because I think it is a damn tough job),’ and one friend replied to her, ‘Virginia, selling gold bricks by mail would be much easier.’
Continued next week