Harrison,
You summed up so well why one would do an Open Space.
You said:
...always two goals in “doing” an Open Space. First there is whatever issue or
opportunity the assembled folks want to pursue... And then the most important
one: To awaken an ongoing passion for responsibly growing life 24X7. When that
goal is achieved, you can forget about OST.
As to when one doesn't need to do an OS anymore, "responsibility' is right on.
I would have added: when one is truly attentive to how they relate with others,
although that could be included under responsibility. So at that point, one
could do OS just because it's such an effective way of getting things done….the
1st goal you described. It's all there.
Diane
Diane Gibeault & Associe.es-Associates
Canada, Tel 613-744-2638, [email protected]
________________________________
From: Harrison Owen <[email protected]>
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:59:10 AM
Subject: Re: [OSList] Wave Riding in OZ
There are a lot things that I love about what Michael Wood is doing, but the
heart of my affection goes to his concluding line: “On the third morning of our
time together, after they’ve actually experienced a couple of days of
self-organised action learning, I invited them to reflect on the question,
‘was Jesus a Waverider’? Then the pennies start to drop at a really deep level.
When we drop it down to that level I hope it will help them to hang in there
with the living experiment. No longer just a passing ‘fad’ about how to run a
meeting, but a more profound way of going with the flow of reality.”
Whether or not the question, “Was Jesus a Waverider” would resonate in your
circle depends on a lot of things, but the act of reflection, which Michael
invites, is critical I think. The strange thing about working in Open Space is
that prospectively it appears improbable or impossible to many groups. And
almost without exception (no exception in my experience), the same groups of
skeptics find the experience in Open Space so productive and natural that they
will often hardly notice what has taken place. This is just wonderful, if for
no other reason than that it would seem to prove that Open Space is a natural
act. Nothing new, nothing strange – just living at the cutting edge. All to the
good, but there is a loss.
When people fail to take notice, or more importantly, reflect on what happens
in Open Space, it is all too likely that they will think of it as just a
momentary high, a one of a kind...the sort of experience encountered with fads
of all sorts. Even worse, they may attribute it all to Open Space Technology
and never take a look under the hood where they might discover that OST is
really something of a fraud. It really doesn’t “do” anything, except to remind
us of what we already know. With this realization, the “momentary high” can
become a lifetime experience. Nothing new, nothing strange – just life.
For me there are always two goals in “doing” an Open Space. First there is
whatever issue or opportunity the assembled folks want to pursue... build a
building, create some software, renew an organization... And then the most
important one: To awaken an ongoing passion for responsibly growing life 24X7.
When that goal is achieved, you can forget about OST. No longer needed.
Bringing people to this point is not hard, but it does take a little
reflection. There are many ways to do this, and my personal favorite is to
claim 5 minutes at the close, then using The Medicine Wheel (see User’s Guide
pg 153) as a guide, I point out the passing scene for their reflection. They
always get it, and some may want to explore more deeply, which may be done at a
later date. Your way will be different, and of course you can make a longer
program out of the effort, as Michael has apparently done. And not incidentally
Michael, we are waiting to hear about your efforts. What you’ve told us so far
was just a tantalizing teaser J
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 04843
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com(Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go
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From:[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 3:44 PM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: [OSList] Wave Riding in OZ
Our friend, Michael Wood, dropped me a note with a wonderful story. By all
rights I should have asked him to share, but the story is so good, I just
couldn’t wait, and Michael, if I need to apologize, please consider it offered.
J
So it is all about Wave Riding in OZ with a most unlikely set of characters.
Anglican (Episcopalian) clergy! Being one of those, I can tell you from
personal history and experience that there are few groups in this world more
staunchly conservative and resistant to change. This is not surprising as we
have had many hundreds of years to perfect our stance, and in an odd sort of
way, we do it rather well – staying exactly the same. Thank you. The thought
that such a group could find meaning and purpose in the arcane art of Wave
Riding is marvelous...not to say mind blowing!
And to all you folks who may wonder whether or how traditional sorts in
business and government might respond to opening a little space and hopping a
wave I can tell you that stranger things do happen. Case in point. And
actually, those business and government folks are just pussy cats and late
comers when it comes to resistance to change.
But enough of that. On to the story... (with many thanks and apologies to
Michael)
“Over the last few months it’s been fun to support some Anglican Church folks
(lay and ordained) in Brisbane get into Waveriding mode (Brendan McKeauge has
also been working with some Catholic Education people in Brisbane), and I have
another program in February. As you know, clergy generally and certainly
Anglican clergy, were taught the intricacies of control. Now, increasingly
they know it doesn’t work. If they don’t know it, then a lot of them are moving
into internal melt down as the external system of the church unravels around
them. Fortunately a few of them are recognizing that control doesn’t work and
it’s some of those guys and gals that I’ve started to work with, sharing OST
and Waveriding principles and a bit of work with Talking Circles. They’re
lovin’ it. Saying they’re feeling revitalised already.
It’s early days of course and plenty of potential to be swamped by the existing
culture. But so far I’ve worked with 30 people, 45 by the end of February. They
are keen to support each other and have already started to do things
differently, and see the world differently. On the third morning of our time
together, after they’ve actually experienced a couple of days of self-organised
action learning, I invited them to reflect on the question, ‘was Jesus a
Waverider’? Then the pennies start to drop at a really deep level. When we drop
it down to that level I hope it will help them to hang in there with the living
experiment. No longer just a passing ‘fad’ about how to run a meeting, but a
more profound way of going with the flow of reality.
The primary sponsor in Brisbane, Peter Catt is the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral
in Brisbane. He has been the local champion and sat in on the first program. In
the closing circle Peter said, ‘some people ask me how I can be Dean in a place
the size of St. John’s and look so relaxed all the time [I’d been thinking
precisely that]…it’s because I believe that reality looks like that [pointing
to the four principles and one law on the wall]. I think the definition of
wisdom is to run with the way the world actually is, and stupidity is to fight
against it’. Sums it up pretty well doesn’t it.”
And don’t you just love Peter Catt, The Dean!
Thank You Michael!
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 04843
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go
to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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