Scott this is definitely a conversation to be interested in. At least I am. Your observation that when the world goes crazy people tend to grab for the nearest support is obviously true. And I would guess completely understandable. Having been in a number of world-changing events (at least my world changing events) I know exactly what the feeling is.
It is not at all unlike being in rough weather on my boat. When the first waves hit, throw you on the deck and the boat broadside to the wind you grab just about anything you can get your hands on. However, if you stay in that position (on the deck holding on to the table which is where I was the last time this happened) there is an absolute certainty if the boat goes down, you will too. Counter intuitive as it may seem (crazy might be a better word) you have to let go. And having done that, if you attempt to fight the waves and the boats response (pitching) you will be in worse shape. Believe me; it is out of your control. The only hope is to literally ride the waves (hopefully still on your boat) until you can reach the helm (some people call this the controls bad thought) and then as opportunity presents itself slide to the open space. Never work against the wind, waves or currents but ride them! And if you ever think, even for a moment, that you are in CONTROL, you are in deep trouble! Learning to live in open space in all the moments of our lives can be a definite assist in those instances when the cookie really crumbles. So if there is a moral to this story it goes something like open space anywhere, anyhow, everytime you can -- for who ever (including yourself) happens to be around. Who knows it may just be the training experience of your (their) life time. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/> www.openspaceworld.org Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Scott Willard Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Causing Trouble I'm really interested in this thread of conversation. I wonder about the "need" for admin to control. With organizations changing so rapidly, one would think that the models of Complex Adaptive Systems and Adaptive Leadership would really catch on and drive a new openness to the impact of complexity theories on management. Yet, our human nature when confronted with rapid change is to dig our heels in the ground, bare our teeth and charge in to control what we can. Regardless of the quiet whispers that tell us that all living systems reside outside of our "control." The system will hit a bifurcation point and new life will emerge or death will occur. Our western business culture is so afraid of death. Why? Death makes possible new opportunities. I'll take a breath now. Scott Willard Affinity Consulting Group affinity-scottwillard.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Tenneson Woolf <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 7:41:29 AM Subject: FW: Causing Trouble Thank you for voicing this. It has helped me to name something that I have seen many times and has made my skin crawl each time, without knowing why. A prevalent management strategy seems to be how to create obligation. I contrast this with the simple invitation to co-create. The former feels like a never ending job that continues to require more and more effort, but in a way that will never accomplish the most possible (or even more). It is three parts manipulation, perhaps cajoling, perhaps retention of power, and one part human to human synergy. The latter feels calls deep down to the core of the human spirit, without even needing to be too funky, which seems to enliven us through its simplicity. OK, maybe it isnt all that simple. And yes, many approaches work to some extent in many circumstances. But this fundamental distinction obligation vs invitation to cocreate speaks volumes for me. Thanks all. Tenneson Tenneson Woolf The Art of Hosting [email protected] www.artofhosting.org <http://www.artofhosting.org/> 801 376 2213 Dyer Institute for Leading Organizational Change [email protected] www.dyerinstitute.byu.edu <http://www.dyerinstitute.byu.edu/> 801 422 2665 _____ From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 5:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: FW: Causing Trouble From: Uwe Weissflog [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 6:28 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Causing Trouble Dear Harrison , what you say resonates with my experience and my heart. After numerous Open Space events in high-tech businesses and universities I have come to similar conclusions. Humberto Maturana's says in one of his books: "... but creating and managing are basically different. I co-create, by consciously living in the Now, making life more harmoniously - without enslaving other people". But this, apparently is the dilemma we face when opening the space: the self-organising and co-creating power of people becomes obvious and collides with the desire of some who want have power over people. I had cases, where after very successful Open Space events (for example one, which resulted in 3 patents) higher management simply stopped it because the structure did not fit the "normal way of life" in the company - what a waste of possibilities. I'm now very careful when and how to use Open Space - sometimes it seems better to say no - for the sake of the people involved. -- Uwe Weissflog Pathway Guidance - Europe(TM), GbR www.pathwayguidance.eu [email protected] Rinnengärten 1 D-34516 Vöhl-Marienhagen , Germany +49 5635 99 11 97 (fon) +49 5635 99 39 34 (fax) +49 175 521 76 56 (mobile) * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist _____ Never <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49938/*http:/tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/feat ures/mail/> miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out. * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
