Suzanne--
And now you sound like Lisa Heft, with her "found poems." You certainly
found a great one!
Wanna join our poets laureate circle?
:- Doug.
On Sun, 2009-12-20 at 07:31 -0500, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
> From Harrison's posting and the replies, I see pieces of a puzzle, so
> like the picture in my mind which ebbs and flows between clarity and
> confusion, theory and action, thinking and doing in this journey of my
> life.
>
>
> * Open Space 24 X 7...oh the dream of it!
> * Invitation is where it all begins
> * Letting go to let be
> * One less thing to do
> * May not be perfect
> * Magic happens (perhaps because we suddenly realize this
> important fact that none of us and nothing is perfect and this
> more than anything releases us to be and do)
> * Oh what fun
> * The party has been going on for 25 years
> * Reaching back to bring forward
> * Helping people notice (others)...or experience what can be?
> * From the core...the "coeur" i.e. the heart
> * Invitation is where it all begins
> * But does it really begin there or in the conversations we have
> every day, opportunities to nourish and seize
> * How can we exponentially grow what we do as a collective
> because we all feel and know that the timing now feels
> different somehow
>
> And then finally, is Open Space about speaking less (not pressing the
> send button) and listening more...or speaking now because there is so
> much work to do and we have this opportunity to nudge but never force
> an awareness of consciousness that happens when we open space.
>
> So I decide again to press send with gratitude for others who do
> too.
> Suzanne
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM, Michael Herman
> <mich...@michaelherman.com> wrote:
>
> yes, exactly, about 'fails'. guess that should have been in
> quotes. it's same as we always say about posting an issue and
> nobody comes. it can't fail. there's always information in
> it. and several choices about what could do next.
>
> reminds me too, that i've often described the process of open
> space as a cascade of invitation. part of the power, i think,
> is that a leader or leadership groups somehow launches the
> "invitation" to a meeting, then he or she take the first three
> minutes of the meeting to share what i always suggest to them
> is "the story of how we got here."
>
> sometimes it's the short form of the history of the whole org,
> other times it's a quip about how we all made it here in the
> middle of this snow storm. then, the invitation is for each
> person to do what the leader has already done... make an
> invitation, name and issue, pick a place and a time, and then
> kick off the conversation with three minutes (i always bow to
> michael pannwitz for '8:00am to 8:03' sponsors introduction)
> about why the issue they posted is important to them... how
> they got to here, to caring about this issue.
>
> so the first bit in the cascading is that the leader invites,
> and then invites everyone else to invite. great power, i
> think, in asking folks to do what they themselves have already
> done. (for this same reason, this is why i always hand-write
> my posters, cuz i'm about to ask participants to scribble
> their own issues, so i figure that mine should be scribbled
> too.)
>
> next part of cascade is that particpants capture and process
> their notes, which i often refer to as 'an invitation to
> action, or at least an invitation to others who weren't part
> of the conversation to get involved.' and many times some of
> the actions will be 'have another meeting.' and so i point
> out that the invitation to those next meetings don't need to
> be hardly anything more than the scribbles that made the
> breakout meetings possible.
>
> so the coherence and integrity that come from a leader
> modeling what he/she is asking others to do, and then
> supporting the relative ease of convening a breakout or
> followup meeting, are two important dimensions of 'being
> inviting' as a leader. implicit in these the first is some
> stablility or confidence in the value of their own example,
> their own presence, and a comfort with who they are and what
> they can and can't do or control personally. and the wisdom
> to support in the simplest ways possible, like tape, markers,
> circle, for everyone else to pick up and do their own part.
> self-organizing. this comfort, clarity, integrity,
> confidence, i thikn, lets the caring come through, and
> suddenly they are "being inviting", not just "doing it".
>
> practice implies doing it again and again until we can 'be'
> it without the props of the doing. and over time controlling
> leaders become inviting leaders. i was saying just the other
> night at my neighborhood association, talking about
> invitation, and pointing out that if we bring more and more
> invitations to the fore, if this is how we do neighborhood,
> then what we get over time is a more and more inviting
> neighborhood.
>
> so this gets to my last point about invitation (at least for
> the moment!) ...if we live in open space and open space is
> inviting... then we must live in the midst of invitations, a
> whole bunch of things just trying or waiting to happen. at
> the neighborhood group, it's common to bemoan the lack of
> volunteers to do things... but that's really a lack of
> volunteers to do what a few board people think should be done.
> meanwhile, people are convening all kinds of little things
> that could benefit greatly by being supported with a community
> bulletin board. on bowen island that bulletin board is what
> chris corrigan calls "invititation corner", a vacant little
> piece of land just off the ferry, where posters of all sorts
> go up and invite gathering.
>
> and i always go back to your very first words to me, ever,
> harrison... when i asked in the kickoff of my first open space
> breakout session about how to, in a word, organize
> people/work/organization... you said "i don't. i go in and
> ask what's working and then ask how to grow more of that."
> what's working is inherently inviting. "working" and
> "inviting" are not separate. and i've always found this to be
> true... when i look for what's working, that's where i always
> find the bits of language, story, structure, action that are
> the fodder for inviting more of what works.
>
> so the only failure possible might be a failure to notice
> what's really working and why?
>
> m
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.ronanparktrail.com
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
>
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Steve Cochran
> <scochran...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for opening this dialogue, Harrison.
>
> I'm wondering how any invitation can be regarded as
> failing if we enbrace the 'whoever comes...'
> principle?
>
> Best to All - Steve
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM, Harrison Owen
> <hho...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Good Stuff Michael and Denise -- And I wonder
> about "failed" invitations. If failure means
> that we didn't get precisely the folks we
> wanted to come -- there could be a number of
> reasons for that, not all of them bad. For
> example it could be that the issue we were so
> excited about really didn't have all that much
> going for it. And all those folks who failed
> to respond positively were just brighter than
> we were. Our "failed" invitation simply saved
> a lot of time and energy which might better be
> applied to something else. And just suppose
> all those folks did come out of some sense of
> "should" or "ought" -- and the whole affair
> turned out to be just as flat as they thought
> it might. Now -- how happy are the folks? And
> what do you think would be the likely response
> the next time you offered an invite?
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> USA
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>
>
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.
>
> BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Herman
>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 12:09 AM
> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
> Subject: Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders
> Unite!
>
>
> oh this is fun.
>
>
> for me, this business of inviting has long
> been the center of the ongoing practice of
> opening. what i noticed some time ago is that
> "inviting" is something that we can *do* as a
> business practice, somethign we can try and
> repeat and refine. but it's also something
> that we can, as individuals, *aspire* to *be*.
> the practical inviting is essential for
> performance. but the latter, the aspiring, is
> where spirit shows up. if we are a space for
> that.
>
> as for the accepting or not. being trained in
> economics and finance, straight through a
> rather serious mba program, i have always
> understood invitation in terms of markets and
> prices. any invitation is just like a bid or
> offer in any market. the text of an
> invitation is like a price. it's got to be
> stated, announced. but it also might need to
> be adjusted. i like what denise says about
> getting to "core" because core is from french
> coeur, heart. when an invitation fails, it's
> usually because i've started from something
> other than heart.
>
> the way i think of markets, despite the
> financial training, i mostly think in terms of
> farmers markets. the guy who brings tomatoes
> or blueberries or whatever has poured some
> chunk of his life energy into tending and
> harvesting that crop. it's him. it's his
> care. his responsibility in those baskets.
> it's what he has to offer. so invitation is
> the same. it just has to be offered. the
> danger is not that an invitation might be
> declined. the danger is in caring, in being
> full of somethign, and not sharing it, letting
> it go to waste.
>
> so the invitation to a meeting or simply into
> relationship in a passing smile on the street,
> is about being a space that doesn't know what
> will happen next, but shows up anyway. alive.
> ready. enough. and inquiring.
>
> anyway, these are some first thoughts that
> didn't want to rot.
>
> m
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.ronanparktrail.com
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
>
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:59 PM, Denise Tennen
> <deniseten...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
> For me, when an invitation I extend is
> refused, I take another look at the invitation
> (especially when I think the person and
> project would be a good fit). In some ways it
> feels like my whole life is about learning to
> extend vibrant, inspiring invitations (this
> often helps me get to the core of what I'm
> trying to accomplish), as well as receiving
> the response with acceptance and love.
>
>
>
>
> I also notice that it is useful to reconnect
> with my own sense of inspiration about the
> project - that seems to make a difference in
> the whole interaction around the invitation -
> whether or not the invitation is accepted. My
> being centered and inspired helps retain the
> relationship regardless of the response. I am
> always thankful for a clear no...
>
>
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:32 PM, Harrison Owen
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Denise --
>
>
>
>
>
> So this is all great! And my question is how
> can you do the same thing every day with every
> project, organization start-up, whatever…
>
>
>
>
>
> I think you are hinting at the problem of
> making a REAL invitation… Not the sort that we
> all have received knowing full well that we
> will be shot at dawn if the invitation is not
> accepted. Or at the very least -- FIRED!
>
>
>
>
>
> So what would happen if all our invitations
> were real? Which means they could be refused.
> And then what?
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
>
> USA
>
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>
>
>
>
>
> From: OSLIST
> [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On
> Behalf Of Denise Tennen
>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:17 PM
> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
> Subject: Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders
> Unite!
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for these thought-provoking words.
>
>
>
>
>
> As far as invitiation - in my work as an
> artist supporting large groups to come
> together to create collaborative works of
> "permanently" installed art for their (the
> participants') communities - Invitation is the
> only thing that works.
>
>
>
>
>
> My underlying belief is that engagement in
> artistic endeavors is a useful piece in the
> puzzle of creating a peaceful world. I've
> found that eople creating art together
> generally aren't engaged in fighting
>
>
>
>
>
> here are the ingredients of invitation, for
> me, that I believe contribute to good flow:
>
>
>
>
>
> 1) getting the word out is critical,
>
>
> 2) the "stickiness" (see Malcolm Gladwell and
> more particularly, the brothers Heath in their
> book Making It Stick) of the invitation and
> project description heavily affects the
> outcome in terms of participation and
> engaged-ness of participants.
>
>
> 3) having the setting ready before the
> participants arrive so I'm not distracted by
> DOING and can keep my attention on BEING
> PRESENT with the participants
>
>
> 4) having a structure in mind and at the same
> time being willing to let it go at any moment
>
>
> 5) keeping participation voluntary (a bit
> tricky when I am operating in a classroom
> setting where the children are basically in
> the position of being "sitting ducks")
>
>
>
>
>
> As far as the invitation, my on-the-ground
> work is lots of word-of mouth, who knows who.
> Increasingly via internet - helps spread the
> word quickly, although in the end, nothing
> beats the realm of the personal, one by one
> invitation.
>
>
>
>
>
> Different age groups respond to different
> methods (snail mail/flyer vs internet etc)
>
>
>
>
>
> my beginning thoughts on this for now...
>
>
>
>
>
> Denise
>
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 7:26 AM, Harrison Owen
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Several days ago I sent a note to what I
> thought was going to be a small group of
> friends, inviting thinking about opening space
> every day, what that might mean, and how to
> accomplish all that in specifics. In effect, I
> was taking off from my book "Wave Rider" which
> is my best shot on the subject to date -- with
> the expectation that there is much more "out
> there" in terms of ideas and actions. Along
> the way I did suggest that OST (as the meeting
> approach) might be getting in the way of the
> larger discussion. Even worse, I facetiously
> (jokingly) invited everybody to join "The
> Imperial Society of Wave Riders!" Well you can
> imagine the uproar this caused. Here I am
> suggesting that we eliminate OST and become
> imperialists! Not a good day -- but I do think
> the proposed discussion has merit. In fact
> from where I sit it may just be the most
> important discussion we could have.
>
>
>
>
>
> Given the state of the world (no need for
> detailed analysis) superior human performance
> achieved in a peaceful fashion seems like a
> very good idea. Or put another way how do we
> find the intelligence and energy to deal with
> the massive issues we face without killing
> each other? I believe that the 25 year Open
> Space experiment has clearly shown that
> superior performance in a peaceful manner can
> be achieved any time we open space. It may not
> be perfect, but it works better than just
> about anything else, and for sure it is a lot
> less work. The reason for all this is that we
> are not really doing anything. Rather, we are
> inviting the system (business, family,
> organization) to do what it can do all by
> itself. Self organize. We are just helping
> people to notice that -- and when they do
> magic seems to happen. Peace and high
> performance show up. If we are honest about
> it, I think we might realize that OST is in
> some real ways a fraud and a joke, at least it
> becomes all that if we take credit for the
> power and effect of the process, and the
> special way that we might "do" it. Rather like
> taking credit for the power and effect of
> gravity -- which will continue no matter what
> we do!
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyhow, I believe the community that gathers
> here online (and anybody else who cares to
> join us) is uniquely positioned to engage in
> this discussion not just at a theoretical
> level but at a very solid practical level. We
> have the shared experience of hundreds of
> thousands of Open Spaces. And we have
> something else -- the shared experience of
> life in our community. As the world might see
> it the "Open Space Community" is a pretty
> strange thing. It has no boundaries, no formal
> organization, leadership, or corporate status.
> Membership is pretty much whoever shows up --
> and the party has been going on for 25 years.
> Odd but very effective. Indeed there are
> multiple formal organizations in the world who
> with might greater effort have accomplished
> substantially less. Think about it! Multiple
> Global and regional meetings. A world wide
> reach. More training programs than you can
> name. And absolutely nobody is in charge.
> There has never been a Business Plan, and if a
> budget exists it has never been found. Is it
> all just a gossamer dream, a fanciful
> delusion, or something much deeper and more
> important? I vote for the latter. I think this
> is a conversation that needs to happen, not to
> the exclusion of all others, but this is where
> my passion is.
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyhow I invite you to share and think about
> our common experience -- and let our
> experience be our guide. As a starting point
> we might just begin with invitation. What
> would happen if all our projects began with
> invitation as opposed to assignment?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> * *
>
> ==========================================================
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>
> --
> Steve Cochran
>
> Sustainability Strategies LLC
> National Center for Sustainability
> US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
>
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>
> --
> Suzanne Daigle
> NuFocus Strategic Group
> 7159 Victoria Circle
> University Park, FL 34201
> FL 941-359-8877; CT 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com
> s.dai...@nufocusgroup.com
>
>
>
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