The fall of the Berlin wall is a stunning example of the possibility of transformative change happening at a grassroots level. I believe that all meaningful change comes from the bottom up, either through revolution or evolution.
Laurel. -----Original Message----- From: Peggy Holman [mailto:phol...@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:35 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: The Illusion of Successful change requires the top person Since I first started learning about change, the conventional wisdom has been "successful change requires that the person at the top of the organization be actively involved." Open Space, turned this truth on its ear for me. I began to think maybe change can happen from anywhere. I actually did some experimenting while still inside an organization by working where there seemed to be energy because the person at the top wasn't interested in change. The people I worked with tended to be at the margin and what we did never had much impact on the larger system. Still, I didn't feel satisfied that I'd simply proved that the conventional wisdom was true. There are just too many amazing examples of one ordinary person making something extraordinary happen. Think Erin Brokavitch if you want a current example being celebrated by a movie. Recently, I have come to a belief about what might be happening and want to test it. I can't think of a better sounding board than this list. Here's my thought: As long as people believe that change requires active involvement from the top, this is true. It is self-fulfilling because those not at the top have either consciously or unconsciously given away their power to have an impact. And those at the top either consciously or unconsciously accept that power as theirs to wield as they see fit. In practice, all it takes is one person living a different belief -- that anyone can bring about change -- to begin the shift. Clearly change is not static. Wherever it starts, it must move to others for a shift to take place. Ultimately, that means the top gets involved. But contrary to conventional wisdom which I think shuts off enormous potential, change can come from anywhere. Reactions? Peggy _________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle Company 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 425.746.6274 425.865.8168 (fax) * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed