Beautiful. I think I'm in the right place.
Harold
On 9/25/13 11:24 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
Harold said: "You're clearing going directly against the heart of
what Dan is trying to promote. Maybe I invite disaster for myself by
speaking an alternative view from what you are saying given your
founding status of this community - but perhaps given my 12+ years
working in the Agile space - I have something worthwhile to say."
Yes you do! And Harold -- if you are waiting for disaster to strike it
may well come, but not from me! A long time ago I said that Open Space
is free (not franchised, trademarked, limited license, etc), BUT there
is a cost -- that we share what we are learning. For 28 years, I think
we have done that. And doing all that sharing is (for me) the heart
and soul of the OS Community. At times the conversations have been hot
and heavy, with multiple points of view represented. GREAT! And that
multiplicity of viewpoints has enabled us to go deeper and deeper into
our collective experience. The simple truth of the matter is that none
of us (and that most definitely includes me) really knows or fully
understands the reality of what we are in the midst of. It is a great
Question -- or better -- a great Quest. And we aren't there yet, and I
seriously doubt that our time of arrival is anytime soon. At least I
hope not.
Given the enormity of our experience over time and space, on into the
deeper and timeless spaces of the human spirit -- multiple view points
are not only expected, but essential. And each view point is valid, at
least it is the valid view of the viewer. But all are partial, and
therefore misleading -- one might say false. Not unlike the blind men
describing the elephant, we can only depict what we experience -- but
somewhere in our evolving experiences lies a fuller sense of what it
is all about. One might hope for a final (correct) view, but I more
than suspect that we find ourselves in an infinite regress where
certainty becomes questionable... and once again we are on the edge of
The Question. The Quest. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I understand that many people find this situation uncomfortable, even
frustrating. Questions are fine -- but where is the ANSWER? At times
this discomfort seems almost overwhelming: "Forget the Question...Give
me the Answer." I can fully appreciate the reaction, and yet something
in me just can't sit still. The given answers become momentary pauses
prior to deeper and juicier questions. Answers are a resting point,
but there is more...
For me a key word here is "evolving." Our common experience (with OS),
like most serious elements of life, did not (does not) come out fully
formed. What began with two martinis has changed, transmogrified,
transformed. Curiously it is always the same, but somehow deeper and
different. And each step along the way has its own viewpoint, special
words, "answers" which are correct and valid for that moment and
context, but always open to further evolution. A "first timer" in Open
Space will have a viewpoint which is totally appropriate to that time,
place, and person. As the experience is repeated, the viewpoint
seemingly expands and deepens.
Many of the sticky points we have experienced over the years
("Givens," "Prework," Tools," etc) got gooey because we forgot the
evolving nature of our conversation and mistook the validity of a
particular point of view for a "final answer." I would guess this has
been compounded by the fact that the norms of our conversations here
on OSLIST are quite different from the more usual situation. One might
presume, if we conducted our business in the same manner that other
groups do -- that when the Founder (that would be me) or some other
"elder" said something online -- that saying was The Law, Last word,
or "Truth." We play by different rules, and I personally assume that
any statement I make is just as "questionable" as any other. Truth to
tell, I often feel somehow cheated when there isn't some further and
different discussion. So yes, I say what I experience and think
(hopefully acknowledging the difference), presuming everybody else
will do the same... with charity, politeness, a smile -- and a Question.
So is OST a "tool" -- just like every other group work tool? Of
course. But then again, it (OS) doesn't quite seem to fit. Unlike any
other Group Process, you don't have to do very much, if anything.
Indeed the less you do, the better it seems to work. Somehow it seems
that "everybody already knows..." Weird.
Is Pre-Work essential? Definitely! But strangely some of the best
(deepest, effective, most moving) OS's in my experience happened
without a speck of Pre-Work, except for basic logistics. And some of
them didn't even have basic logistics. Definitely odd.
Do we need to identify and consider The Givens? Certainly. If nothing
else, doing so keeps some folks out of trouble and makes managers
(sponsors) more relaxed. Still and all I've always found that when
something is "placed off the table," you can always find it under the
table, or out in the hall. Scratch my head.
And Dan -- Have I struck a blow to the heart of your endeavor? I hope
not... 'cause I think it is GREAT, and I've told you that. Indeed a
basic mantra of my life is, "Open Space anywhere, about anything, with
anybody, as often as you can." That goes for the Agile folks, along
with everybody else. But when it comes to outcomes and expectations
maybe the real "Golden Ring" is not so much the Adoption of Agile with
all those great principles, practices, and approaches, good as they
are. Rather the Pot of Gold is genuine High Performance, real agility
-- done totally as a natural act. Kind of like what seems to happen in
just about every Open Space. Possible?
Thank You Harold!
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
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Phone 301-365-2093
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www.openspaceworld.com <www.openspaceworld.com%20>
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