Remembering Michael Doyle

My Dinner With Michael

I've spent the last few days remembering Michael Doyle and honoring his incredible contribution to my life. In the process I uncovered a long piece I wrote following an evening with Michael in 1990 that reminded me of the movie, My Dinner with Andre. Michael and I had that kind of relationship, and I share it here with his community as a window into the complex personal journey that those of us pursuing careers in change consulting embrace. You can download it here or from the "Michael's Writing" section of this blog.

My Dinner with Michael, by David Sibbet

Bob Horn Remembers Michael in 1980

Bob Horn came over to dinner tonight and told me this story that I thought deserved to be posted.

"The first time I met Michael was in 1980 at the first Group Graphics workshop ever held by David Sibbet, Geoff Ball and Sandra Florstedt. Michael was in the breakout group I happened to select. He was going to be the facilitator. I had just formed my company, Information Mapping a few years before. I’d been to a lot of board meetings, and working in non-profits. I’d also been part of the human potential movement in those days, so I was familiar with people leading groups in ways that weren’t Robert’s Rules of Orders. But when I went out into this breakout with Michael, he started facilitated the group. That is when I first recognized that facilitation was really different and a skill. Because things were happening in the group that were just amazing."