Alone, Together: A Conversation with Charles Handy

Independence in life and work is what more and more people are looking for, but the freedom it brings can be lonely and frustrating. Charles Handy describes a group of ‘acorn’ or tiny businesses near where he lives in Norfolk. These people are fiercely independent but gather together for breakfast every Friday to support and encourage each other. This is their way to balance independence with companionship and connection to others. What is yours? Join Charles Handy, social philosopher, author, broadcaster and former Professor at London Business School. The conversation will use the device of ‘The Empty Chair’. There will be three chairs on the platform. Charles will occupy the middle one and invite someone to join him in conversation, sitting in one of the chairs beside him. The third chair is empty. As soon as someone else wants to continue the conversation on the same or different topic, he or she comes and sits in the third, or empty, chair. This is the signal to the preceding conversationalist to close and depart, leaving another empty chair awaiting the next occupant. In this way there is a continuing series of conversations, to all of which the wider audience is privy.

Part of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace

Text supplied by third party.