Life is Transformative

Upon reflection, there seems to be two basic forms of communication. The first form of communication is commentary. With commentary, the communicator is like a reporter in the stands at a game describing the game. With commentary, the communicator has no power over the game. With commentary, the communicator can not impact the game. With commentary, it is the game which drives the communicator.

Commentary is the cheap talk refered to in the adage "talk is cheap".

The second form of communication is what Werner calls generative communication. With generative communication, the communicator is not merely describing a game. Rather, with generative communication, the communicator actually causes the game.

If commentary is the communication of a reporter in the stands at a game describing the game, then generative communication is the communication of the quarterback on the field causing the game.

With generative communication, the communicator has power over the game. With generative communication, the communicator impacts the game. With generative communication, it is the communicator who drives the game. Real power lives in generative communication.

The conversation for transformation is generative communication. If it lapses into mere commentary, if we simply talk about transformation without generating it, then it does not work and we should be wary not to damage it by relegating it to the realm of jargon, beliefs, concepts, assessments, and opinions.