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Source: The Inner Path of Knowledge Creation
As he did in his classic Synchronicity, Joseph Jaworski once again takes us on a mind-expanding journey, this time to the very heart of creativity and deep knowing.
Institutions of all sorts are facing profound change today, with complexity increasing at a speed and intensity we’ve never experienced before. Jaworski came to realize that traditional analytical leadership approaches are inadequate for dealing creatively with this complexity. To effectively face these challenges, leaders need to access the Source from which truly profound innovation flows.
Many people, including Jaworski himself, have experienced a connection with this Source, often when called upon to respond in times of crisis—moments of extreme spontaneity and intuitive insight. Actions simply flow through them, seemingly without any sort of conscious intervention. But these experiences are chance occurrences—ordinarily, we don’t know how to access the Source, and we even have a blind spot as to its very existence.
In an extraordinarily wide-ranging intellectual odyssey, Jaworski relates his fascinating experiences with quantum physicists, cognitive scientists, indigenous leaders, and spiritual thinkers, all focused on getting to the heart of the Source. Ultimately, he develops four guiding principles that encompass the nature of the Source and what we need to do to stay in dynamic dialogue with it.
Using the combination of narrative and reflection that made Synchronicity so compelling, Jaworski has written a book that illuminates the essential nature not only of visionary leadership but also of relationships, consciousness, and ultimately reality itself.
Institutions of all sorts are facing profound change today, with complexity increasing at a speed and intensity we’ve never experienced before. Jaworski came to realize that traditional analytical leadership approaches are inadequate for dealing creatively with this complexity. To effectively face these challenges, leaders need to access the Source from which truly profound innovation flows.
Many people, including Jaworski himself, have experienced a connection with this Source, often when called upon to respond in times of crisis—moments of extreme spontaneity and intuitive insight. Actions simply flow through them, seemingly without any sort of conscious intervention. But these experiences are chance occurrences—ordinarily, we don’t know how to access the Source, and we even have a blind spot as to its very existence.
In an extraordinarily wide-ranging intellectual odyssey, Jaworski relates his fascinating experiences with quantum physicists, cognitive scientists, indigenous leaders, and spiritual thinkers, all focused on getting to the heart of the Source. Ultimately, he develops four guiding principles that encompass the nature of the Source and what we need to do to stay in dynamic dialogue with it.
Using the combination of narrative and reflection that made Synchronicity so compelling, Jaworski has written a book that illuminates the essential nature not only of visionary leadership but also of relationships, consciousness, and ultimately reality itself.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2011
37 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 18, 2016
I was honored to be a contributor to Berrett-Koehler's final review process for Jaworski's The Source.
The beginning hits like a zinger. “What is the Source of the entrepreneurial impulse? What is the Source of our capacity to access the wisdom we need at the moment?” Like an ice-ax you are hit with perhaps the most profound question of our age--How can we create conditions for wisdom to occur? Regardless of point of view, goal, business, personal spiritual--at the heart of all we long for is this core question. Because you have not yet written the introduction--I think explicitly invoking anyone interested in sustainability and need to harness long term decision making is critical.
The book is written almost in a memoir like fashion. The way the story unfolds and the fact that it spans a 14 year journey ( I wonder if there is a symbolic meaning to the #14 like their is for the #18?) is powerful. The book itself unfolds and models the integration process. The inductive vs. deductive quality to the work. The Source is so condensed like the Tao, that it must be read in bits with reflection.
I believe the whole conversation regarding the “state of the facilitator’s consciousness” could probably be a separate book entirely and perhaps that is something that you might create--Facilitating the Source. In so many organizations that I have witnessed it is the middle management that often don’t have the adequate tools and mindset to bridge strategy to action. Many, perhaps even most, of the people reading this will be facilitators.
When Jaworski wrote Synchronicity - there was a sincere seeking and raw vulnerability. Although his love and respect and curiosity pervade the book, there is some emotional detachment. Of the two, Synchronicity fostered more personal awareness and long term resonance.
We cannot get enough of material fostering reflection and presence. Please add this to your library.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
The beginning hits like a zinger. “What is the Source of the entrepreneurial impulse? What is the Source of our capacity to access the wisdom we need at the moment?” Like an ice-ax you are hit with perhaps the most profound question of our age--How can we create conditions for wisdom to occur? Regardless of point of view, goal, business, personal spiritual--at the heart of all we long for is this core question. Because you have not yet written the introduction--I think explicitly invoking anyone interested in sustainability and need to harness long term decision making is critical.
The book is written almost in a memoir like fashion. The way the story unfolds and the fact that it spans a 14 year journey ( I wonder if there is a symbolic meaning to the #14 like their is for the #18?) is powerful. The book itself unfolds and models the integration process. The inductive vs. deductive quality to the work. The Source is so condensed like the Tao, that it must be read in bits with reflection.
I believe the whole conversation regarding the “state of the facilitator’s consciousness” could probably be a separate book entirely and perhaps that is something that you might create--Facilitating the Source. In so many organizations that I have witnessed it is the middle management that often don’t have the adequate tools and mindset to bridge strategy to action. Many, perhaps even most, of the people reading this will be facilitators.
When Jaworski wrote Synchronicity - there was a sincere seeking and raw vulnerability. Although his love and respect and curiosity pervade the book, there is some emotional detachment. Of the two, Synchronicity fostered more personal awareness and long term resonance.
We cannot get enough of material fostering reflection and presence. Please add this to your library.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
March 4, 2012
Having read Synchronicity some years ago I was excited to continue the journey with Joseph in his latest offering Source. In the beginning I found the book disappointing, the first few chapters covered a series of meetings and thoughts without substance. But by the end, I was enlightened. This book has rewired me, it has given me insight and deeper connections to practices I have pondered for years in my work. I now have confidence the path I have followed is consistent with the nature of who we are. This book gives me the courage to take a leap of faith and carry out my convictions. The last 10 chapters were fantastic.
November 24, 2014
Chapter 30 summarizes the original intent of this work, started with Synchronicity. Six steps outlining the structure of knowledge creation in the deeper sense:
1. Solitary Intimations Arise
2. Emergence of Heuristic Passion Driven by Universal Intent
3. Surrender and Sense of Service
4. Indwelling as a Dynamic Force of Comprehension
5. Retreat and Sudden Illumination: The Gift of Grace
6. Testing and Verification
Jaworski mentions his departure from Otto's approach to the U process, focusing on the bottom 'eye of the needle'. But the book doesn't really deliver on that promise in my opinion. So the thirst is not slaked!
1. Solitary Intimations Arise
2. Emergence of Heuristic Passion Driven by Universal Intent
3. Surrender and Sense of Service
4. Indwelling as a Dynamic Force of Comprehension
5. Retreat and Sudden Illumination: The Gift of Grace
6. Testing and Verification
Jaworski mentions his departure from Otto's approach to the U process, focusing on the bottom 'eye of the needle'. But the book doesn't really deliver on that promise in my opinion. So the thirst is not slaked!
December 6, 2021
Very inspiring book about Jaworski's search for the source. He wants to deepen the U-model he created with Otto Scharmer. When we connect to the source, we find synchronicity and we experience a very deep awareness. It's the base of the creativity we need in solving complex problems. The base of stadium IV organizations and stadium IV leadership.
March 20, 2020
A book with some interesting and unusual ideas about intuition and seeking and receiving deep internal knowledge from what the author refers to as "the source". Quite thought provoking. Interesting to read some of the science that seems to intersect with spiritual ideas.
June 30, 2019
Great ideas and principles.
August 3, 2014
I’m glad I read it. I didn’t agree with a lot of it. The author seems to be making a pitch for businesses to buy his program. That is, in and of itself, not a big sin for an author. It seems like an awful lot of pop psychology dressed up as zen business practice. He argues that his point is deeply rooted in science as well. His pitch is certainly to business people - and while he dresses it up in terms of individual enlightenment - it reads like a “how to succeed at business” book. I did not find it very convincing - but it made me think about what I believe and how things work as I look at the world. For that I am grateful. It also made me think about what I know about human beings. He made pretty global statements about people who worked for certain companies - that knowing humans I have a hard time believe is accurate.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews