Whatever conditions are present are the right conditions for whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.
Seriously. I think the second principle refers to the fact that no matter what initial conditions are present, whatever happens is the only thing that could have. It sounds like a tautology, but I think of it more as a Zen koan. It is supposed to bring your consciousness to a place that accepts the fact that "should" is an extremely useless word when we are dealing with an expanded now. As for the conditions that make Open Space really hum, I go back to Harrison's elegantly stated four: passion, diversity, complexity and urgency. The more of each, the better the process works. And that, for many facilitators and managers, is another paradox. Chris --- CHRIS CORRIGAN Bowen Island, BC, Canada http://www.chriscorrigan.com ch...@chriscorrigan.com (604) 947-9236 > -----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Artur > Ferreira da Silva > Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 11:18 AM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Conversing about..."the right conditions" > > Hello again: > > For someone like myself that has problems with the capitalized word Spirit > (as well as with some other capitalized words) and with the wording of the > "principle" that says "whatever happens is the only thing that could have" > I felt very surprised as I completely agree with this formulation (from > Alan's, "The Conversing Company"): > > "... When people interact under the right conditions, spirit or > intelligence emerges automatically - it is the only thing that could > have". > > The way I see the "right conditions" to be present, or not, are the > following: > > - In "normal organizations", using current meeting methodologies, the > wrong > conditions are normally present - they are "closed" by rules and > regulations, both explicit and tacit. > > - In our outside macro-world the wrong conditions are normally present > (see > the Middle East or Iraq - before and now - to give only two examples - > maybe three). > > - Inside our heads the wrong conditions are normally present - as > obsolete > "mental models". > > For the space to be open it is necessary that someone opens it AND that > the > "right conditions" are defined/clarified in the first place. Those right > conditions are not only the OST principles and law but also: the correct > preparation, the fact that all stakeholders with enough diversity are > invited (but not obliged, directly or indirectly) to participate, a right > and open theme is addressed, etc. > > I would very much like to see what others think that are the "right > conditions" for "whatever happens is the only thing that could happen" to > be true. > > Regards > > Artur > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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...@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