Daniel, *Thank You* for this and all that preceded it. I've been going through my own angst on the same questions that you've just posed.
Plus something that Harrison said earlier: The “*cure*” would then be to stop the wounding, at least until we could see how things might go. Of course, if the situation really is *terminal*, then by all means, Bring it on! That could be SCRUM, Facilitation, Last Rites, whatever... Stop the wounding, see how things might go.... less is more and letting go is a *very tall order*! I know that from what I personally struggled with *after* my first experiences in Open Space. As a manager, a leader, a mom, a friend, I got a sense of where I had been controlling too much and doing too much under the auspices of coordinating, helping, and yes, even leading. For a period of time, I even questioned what my whole life had been -- these were not easy questions. Others I know will suffer the same insights (grief indeed!). What's worse is that our top down hierarchy organizational models have rewarded us for this calling it good leadership. Control is embedded everywhere...insidious almost. As a facilitator, I saw the emergent bliss of others experiencing Open Space. I witnessed the great good that came of it with some degree of "sticking" power. But I could not deny that people were going back to stuck systems and practices in their ways of working with many remaining questions buried inside them. The opportunity of "seeing of how things go"...with the opportunity to reinvent the work of the business while also running the business itself seemed a mammoth task! I felt there was more for me to do, not singlehandedly or in an enabling way but in a roll up our sleeves, let's figure this out together. It's why I was so drawn to Agile...because I felt it supported the journey towards self-organizing, a journey with collaborative practices that had application beyond software. Is it considered "terminal" if we help either with Scrum or other distributed leadership processes/practices that self-management companies are utilizing now (like Morning Star, W.L. Gore) to break the cycle of control and predictability embedded in our command/control structures? Would that be organizing the self-organizing? What you described Daniel...as raw as it is (body bags is not an exaggeration!) does strike a deep chord. Thank you for articulating it so well. I am heartened by your words as I hope for the same. Is Open Space JUST for orgs that are in *total crisis*....those that are *completely freaked out*....and completely out of aces and perceived options? Because, I suspect OST is a lot more robust than that. .. A lot more versatile than that. I also connected with what Francois so eloquently and passionately described. OK, so what? So what, you may say, if you’re not into agile. Well what Daniel has introduced *goes way beyond agile*. The framework Daniel has put together, surely, is relevant to any adoption (implementation of a new system or working practice), not just agile. It relevant to lean adoption, responsive adoption, environmental management adoption – indeed it is *relevant to any change or transformation process*. So guys, forget the agile bit, what Daniel is introducing is a way of introducing fundamental transformation into any organisation and *making it stick*. In the pursuit towards self-organization (self-management), between less is more and letting go, I believe there is important work to be done in the way of "opening space and holding space" with the same intentionality as is there when we facilitate. I do not want to be in the sidelines of this work. Nor do I want to control it. Options, stepping stones, make some stew together, etc. Rolling up our sleeves to do the work that needs doing and figuring out how the evolution from "here" to "there" might go, helping each other however those roles play out, it seems to me that that is what life and the real work of life is all about. Having said all this, there is a part of me that still wonders... if "doing nothing is not the doing of everything" though I have yet to conceive what "doing nothing that is everything" really is. For now I won't overthink it cause I fear I'll be missing out on the best of life if I live in my head too much on these questions. Best to experience as it unfolds. Suzanne...trekking on! Suzanne Daigle Open Space Facilitator NuFocus Strategic Group FL 941-359-8877 Cell: 203-722-2009 www.nufocusgroup.com [email protected] Twitter @Daiglesuz On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 10:59 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList < [email protected]> wrote: > Friends and Citizens of OSLIST: > > Greetings. > > As I continue to think, and get experience and learn, I realize that what > I often "see and hope for an org" and "what is possible right here right > now" .....those 2 items have a big, huge gap. Certainly a lot of the gap > can be closed in one step....but THE WHOLE THING? > > So for example: yes, it is a great aspirational goal to "eliminate all > meetings", and even have Open Space as a passing aha (...we graduated! We > no longer need OST!!) and so on. > > Question: How do you get there... without various people going out in body > bags from stress? From freaking out? from culture shock? > > Eliminating any and all forms of meeting AND getting rid of any formal > facilitation are all great goals....to bring the org to such a state of > advancement that, well, you know, they are just AMAZING....all open space > all the time.... > > Now: is speeding that up beyond what people can handle actually a good > idea? > > Wondering.... > > So for example getting rid of all meetings might go like this: > > 1. Facilitate all meetings or awhile > 2. Make all meeting optional, too > 3. Eventually, just GET RID OF all meetings. > > This progression (through time) makes sense to me. > > Because, to tell you the truth, "step 1" ain't as easy as it looks.... > > ...now, can we just SHOCK an org into evolving? > > Does the real world really work that way? > > Consider the guidance for the Open Space invitation: "4 to 6 weeks in > advance." Yes we can do 2 weeks or 2 days, that said.... the standard > guidance is to give them many weeks.... to "figure out what the invitation > MEANS...." ... to "integrate the invite", etc. > > Orgs seem to have "currently-available range of options" (destinations) > for evolving. A range or collection of *destinations* they can go to.... > from here. Kind of like stepping stones. Kind of like this: > > 1. Identify what set of stepping-stone destinations ("leaps") are > immediately possible, and > 2. Invite them to pick one, and > 3. Help them do that one leap. > > I find this works well. Very well actually! > > The alternative, a complete annihilation of everything that "was", a > complete annihilation of everything that "is"....in favor of the All-New > Shiny Thing.... the Shiny Thing that in theory "wants to happen"...or so we > say...this seems both impractical and extremely stressful for the org. > > Not to mention: whatever happened to: > > - *Whenever it starts is the right time?* > - *Whatever happens is the only thing that could? * > > ....And so I like the idea of "do a little, learn a little, > integrate...then SHIFT to the next level..." > > The dual-OST, before/after Open Space with 100 days in the middle...what > we now call Open Agile Adoption....this seems to provide the kind of > place/space where the folks can actually "make some stew" together, and > boil it down, and enjoy it, and get to a new level of integration. And fast! > > I'm not so sure "annihilation of everything that came before" is really > such a cool idea. It also seems kind of *forced* as I think about it. > Kind of *violent*. I realize stuff has to "die" before the new stuff can > be "born" but do we have to burn the forest down to the ground to get > legitimate new growth? > > How many organizations can live through that level of trauma without > freaking out ? > > Is Open Space JUST for orgs that are in *total crisis*....those that are > *completely > freaked out*....and completely out of aces and perceived options? > > Because, I suspect OST is a lot more robust than that. > > I suspect OST is a lot more versatile than that. > > And this has certainly been my experience so far. > > Daniel > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 3/21/15 4:18 PM, Harrison wrote: > > Dan --- Our organizations are definitely stodgy. Even the best of them > seem to clunk along when compared to what they might be doing. God knows > how you could ever produce any numbers to prove this assertion, but I have > yet to met anybody (even the wildest enthusiast) who would affirm that > their organization was running in top form. Good yes... but with lots of > room for improvement. But I suspect that the critical issue is NOT a matter > of “low level of development,” rather it is a case of self inflicted wounds > causing radical sub-optimization. The “cure” would then be to stop the > wounding, at least until we could see how things might go. Of course, if > the situation really is terminal, then by all means, Bring it on! That > could be SCRUM, Facilitation, Last Rites, whatever... > > > > So what would an organization look like if it stopped being shot? How > would it perform? > > > > Sounds pretty abstract and difficult to visualize... but I do believe we > get the picture in wild living color, every time we have the privilege of > opening the space for a damaged organization, where the trouble is real and > palpable. I’m not talking about the two hour Open Space on some frilly, > safe topic. I mean the real deal where the stakes are seriously high. > Survival stuff. > > > > My experience is shared by many, and the stories are often told. My most > recent encounter was with a very large US federal agency, which according > to its director was so dysfunctional that “most of the people could not > find their rear ends with both hands” (That’s a direct quote). They were in > trouble by any standard, and the Chief was so out of options that Open > Space sounded like a safe way to go – even though he had never seen one. > > > > Well we did it... and the organization I saw bore no relationship to the > one that had been described to me. The people were all the same, the issues > were familiar... but the behavior was brilliant. Total flowing conversation > with real engagement and workable solutions. Mind Bending! And the chief > was blown away – walking around with a silly grin on his face. > > > > I invited him to lunch because I wanted to feed him several drinks and ask > a question. We had the lunch, and after the drinks, came the question: > “What are you doing, Sir, as a matter of everyday business that converts > 177 bright, engaged, competent people into blundering fools?” He looked a > little surprised and I said, “I think you might want to stop doing it.” > > > > Dan – That’s my point. Before we do anything more, different, or otherwise > – I sincerely believe we need to stop and appreciate what apparently > happens very naturally, all by itself, with minimal or no assistance. And > after that appreciative moment, we might think of a few things to do, but > only a very few. > > > > Harrison > > > > Winter Address > > 7808 River Falls Drive > > Potomac, MD 20854 > > 301-365-2093 > > > > Summer Address > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. > > Camden, ME 04843 > > 207-763-3261 > > > > Websites > > www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com> > > www.ho-image.com > > OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives > of OSLIST Go to: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > *From:* OSList [mailto:[email protected] > <[email protected]>] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Mezick > via OSList > *Sent:* Thursday, March 19, 2015 11:32 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Agile-in-OpenSpace videos > > > > Harrison and All, > > Harrison you once said recently: > > "The real operating system is self-organization, Daniel. Everything else > is an app. Open Space included!" > > I've just recently integrated this idea more fully into my thinking. I > must admit it has taken "some time." > > That said, my current belief is: most organizations are at a very low > level of development and can use/typically need the "app" of Open > Space...and/or the "app" of Scrum... and/or the "app" of Sociocracy, what > have you. > > I think [facilitation] does fit nicely as a kind of component or "widget" > in each "app" (facilitation being part of OST, Scrum, Kanban) ...all of > which run on the real OS of self-organization. > > So these are all self-org "apps." The "f" word does after all has the > connotation of: "making it easy." > > > At Frank Tino's company INTUIT, they have embraced the idea of creating "a > culture of facilitation." This has resulted in some interesting team > behaviors... > > ...Frank Tino's staff, for example, does this very impressively > effective, brief daily-meeting called the 'daily huddle' at 430 PM each > day and it's super short like 12 minutes... and someone plays in the > facilitator role each time... and that f-role orbits/rotates around to > someone new each day who jumps in to do it. > > And it seems to work pretty darned good. Everyone is a facilitator at one > time or another. I often observe them completing each other's sentences in > these 430PM meetings... > > I like the idea of having a goal of ELIMINATING the need to for any > (facilitated!) 'Open Space' gatherings. These gatherings are after all > simply apps running on the REAL operating system we call: "you-know-what." > > Daniel > > On 3/19/15 3:07 PM, Harrison via OSList wrote: > > I guess you could say that replying to your own note is rather like > talking to yourself. Guilty as charged – but then I do it all the time > (Talk to myself). Anyhow, I expressed the hope that Dan’s videos would > not only inspire folks to emulate, but also to think about going to the > next level wherever that might be. I’m not sure I know, but I did notice > a little anomaly in the marvelous interviews, which might suggest a > direction. Dan’s client obviously was moved by the Open Space – the > quality of conversations, good ideas, actions generated, and all the good > stuff. Presuming that Dan’s Open Space is just like always, those > generative groups that the client so enjoyed did it all by themselves > with not a facilitator in sight. No news here – but then in the final > interview, the client waxed enthusedly about “facilitation” and said that > from here on out he was always going to have a facilitator. Did I see a > little disconnect here? A little anomaly? If the folks could “do it” in > Open Space...why not every day, all the time? Perchance an opportunity to > go to the next level? > > > > Harrison > > > > Winter Address > > 7808 River Falls Drive > > Potomac, MD 20854 > > 301-365-2093 > > > > Summer Address > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. > > Camden, ME 04843 > > 207-763-3261 > > > > Websites > > www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com> > > www.ho-image.com > > OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives > of OSLIST Go to: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > *From:* OSList [mailto:[email protected] > <[email protected]>] *On Behalf Of *Harrison via > OSList > *Sent:* Monday, March 16, 2015 4:57 PM > *To:* 'Daniel Mezick'; 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' > *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Agile-in-OpenSpace videos > > > > Dan – this is just wonderful! And to be clear... I never could have done > what you have done. First off, I don’t speak Agile/Scrum/... I joke, > but seriously. And to anybody else on this OSLIST, do yourself a favor. > Watch Dan’s videos through. Not with the idea of replicating what > happened (although that wouldn’t be bad) but to be inspired to take it > all to a new level. I so look forward to whatever discussion... > > > > Harrison > > > > Winter Address > > 7808 River Falls Drive > > Potomac, MD 20854 > > 301-365-2093 > > > > Summer Address > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. > > Camden, ME 04843 > > 207-763-3261 > > > > Websites > > www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com> > > www.ho-image.com > > OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives > of OSLIST Go to: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > *From:* OSList [mailto:[email protected] > <[email protected]>] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Mezick > via OSList > *Sent:* Monday, March 16, 2015 4:01 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [OSList] Agile-in-OpenSpace videos > > > > Greetings, > > Find below 15-minute videos of software industry executive Frank Tino, > explaining his org's journey thru Open Space on the way to a genuine, > rapid, lasting, enterprise-wide, "scaled" Agile adoption. > > Frank's 100-person company (now 150++ just one year layer) authorized > several full-day before/after Open Space events. In between there was 100 > days of experimentation and learning in between those gatherings. In these > videos he explains the astonishing results obtained in just 100 days... > > ...Open Space is now part of the cultural fabric of his entire > organization. And the coaches are GONE. > > > <SHAMELESS HYPE WARNING> > > Is Open Agile Adoption something completely new? Well yes, it is actually. > Thanks for asking! Explained here: > > Open Agile Adoption Theory and Components > http://openagileadoption.com/open-agile-adoption-components/ > > </SHAMELESS HYPE WARNING> > > > Here's the links to those executive videos: > http://openagileadoption.com/open-agile-adoption-videos/ > > > PART1: 15 mins > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWjNQM7q64o > PART2: 15 mins > http://youtu.be/UdSmGS9JTtU > PART3: 15 mins > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9cpRPlLHYU > > > Open Agile Adoption (OAA) is a new composition of powerful elements that > work together to strongly encourage positive cultural change in > organizations. Open Agile Adoption incorporates the power of invitation, > Open Space, game mechanics, passage rites, storytelling and more…so your > Agile adoption can actually take root. > > OAA is based on people, THEN practices. You can introduce any practice or > framework with it. Open Agile Adoption is based on www.Prime-OS.com, > which is social technology published under an open-source, > free-to-the-world ("free culture") license from Creative Commons. > > www.OpenAgileAdoption.com > www.Prime-OS.com > > > Daniel Mezick, President > > New Technology Solutions Inc. > > (203) 915 7248 (cell) > > Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog > <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter > <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>. > > Examine my new book: The Culture Game > <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the Agile > Manager. > > Explore Agile Team Training > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching. > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/> > > Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/>Community. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OSList mailing list > > To post send emails to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > -- > > Daniel Mezick, President > > New Technology Solutions Inc. > > (203) 915 7248 (cell) > > Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog > <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter > <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>. > > Examine my new book: The Culture Game > <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the Agile > Manager. > > Explore Agile Team Training > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching. > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/> > > Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/>Community. > > > > -- > > Daniel Mezick, President > > New Technology Solutions Inc. > > (203) 915 7248 (cell) > > Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog > <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter > <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>. > > Examine my new book: The Culture Game > <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the Agile > Manager. > > Explore Agile Team Training > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching. > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/> > > Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/> > Community. > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > >
_______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
