Reflections on a Life in OD: A Conversation with Marvin Weisbord
The ‘Just in Case…’ mini-series is proud to release its twelfth production. In this video we have the rare privilege to hear from one of the most impressive thinkers in the field of OD, Marvin Weisbord, whose consultancy case work, teaching, and publications have shaped a whole generation of OD practitioners. He is strong in theory, pragmatic in his practice, always client focused, a true democratic value-based consultant. His warmth and benevolent presence is always there among those who work with him, and those who are served by him. Marvin has been retired since 2013, but has not formally said good bye to those whom he has touched so deeply. Therefore, this video is one of those rare occasions, when he allowed us to wind back history by taking us on a journey through his life, sharing wisdom and stories from his 50+ years of practice. His presence can be felt throughout his sharing with us. If you are like me, you will be touched by him and his “way of being.” At the end, Marvin delightfully plays some music for us, and we’ve added a link to the video of his band at the end (in the cards of the video which can be found in the top right corner). His closing remark about creating the future of OD is what all of us need to take to heart. The video is long, so please find a comfortable seat and a cup of tea as we listen to the journey, wisdom, and reflections of Marvin. Be prepared to be evoked by what he says and who he is.
Books and Resources
Weisbord, M. R. (2012). Productive workplaces dignity, meaning, and community in the 21st century. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Article: How do you know it works if you didn’t know what it is?
Article: How I lied my way out of Latin and became a Behavioral Scientist
Senior Song Book Website: https://seniorsongbook.com/
Biography
Marvin Weisbord’s work – as professional author, business executive, organizational consultant, researcher, Future Search method founder, and cofounder of its global network – spanned 50 years. He was a partner in the esteemed consultancy, Block Petrella Weisbord Inc., and a prolific writer and thinker, as well as practical craftsman, in the field. He is widely known for his multi-edition, Productive Workplaces: Dignity, Meaning and Community in the 21st Century (2012), chronicling the history of organizational improvement, the rise of its seminal concepts, and how he absorbed them in his own personal and professional development and in case studies. He worked and learned from many of the greatest names in organization development (OD) and was influenced intellectually most profoundly by Kurt Lewin. He saw in Lewin’s “action research” less of a technical change methodology than a way of thinking about and addressing organizational life and its dilemmas, using one’s own and others’ experience as the major source of change.