Wow, I love your recent spirals of thoughts with regard to the 5-th principle. First getting some weight on the "Well perhaps it is nor really true (Isn't the HERE & NOW, where we are?)" and "Is it really new?" side (so: apply the rasor of "one less thing to do"") which expressed, I believe, the tendency to hold on to what we already have". That was also my first reaction.
Then learning to explore what the new-in-it is ... Finally HO's resumé of the thinking result. PEOPLE GO OUT AND PERCEIVE THAT SELFORGANIZATION IS EVERYWHERE, Barry Owens "LOCAL HERE NOW" in dialectic tension to the 5th principle and WHERE DOES MATTER. And Peggy referring to Harrisons "1 Reason of Open Space": To enable the participants, individually and as a collective, to more effectively navigate the self-organizing world of which we are part. And her focus on the AFTER THE EVENT "Happening" and "Ain't it great to be alive exploring the edge of what you know and what you don't know? Yeah! I do now re-translate this into the wording I used: The fifth principle may help us/the participants to be supported in getting rid of another bad habit/believe: That the event is finished, when it is finished. It opens our mind for continued perception of self-organization-at-work, wherever it happens. And this IS enough to have a word (5.principle) not for one thing more, but for one perception/focus more. Thanks for the rich learning HEAVY MENTAL food. I love this group. Bernd Weber Am 29.05.2011 um 20:40 schrieb Peggy Holman: > Harrison, > > I love the passion and clarity of your voice in this thread! You're not > speaking the usual litany -- important and useful for sure, but still > exercising the same old muscles. This exchange is in a new place, requiring > thoughts and words that travel on different terrain. And I find it alive > with your own curiosity for where it will go. It contains an invitation that > attracts me! > > You said the fundamental reason for any Open Space: To enable the > participants, individually and as a collective, to more effectively navigate > the self-organizing world of which we are part. > > Yes! I am so with you! That intent is at the heart of my own exploration. > As you know, I use the lens of emergence, which describes the dynamics of > self-organization from the inside-out. I hear variations of your intent from > others as well. My variation on your fundamental reason for opening space is: > how does self-organzation become so well understood that anyone and everyone > can navigate this natural pattern of change with increased confidence and > grace? Not to mention compassion, creativity, and wisdom. > > Do we need to name a 5th principle? For me the idea that we are always in > Open Space -- which you have been saying for as long as I've known you -- > points to the intent. So does the way I've come to describe the law of two > feet, which I see as the heart of Open Space: take responsibility for what > you love. It is an act of service. When people operate from that > assumption, it liberates them to more effectively navigate a self-organizing > world. > > Like others, i've taken to heart the notion from you of one less thing to do. > So I am not called to naming another principle as a means of making it > visible to event participants that self-organization is the sea in which they > swim. Still, if something increases the likelihood that people leave an Open > Space event better equipped to navigate a self-organizing world, that's huge! > As far as I'm concerned, the more accessible the notions of emergent > self-organization, the better! > > So I can't wait to hear what happens the next time you open space at an event > somewhere and offer up a 5th principle. More, what happens AFTER the event. > > Ain't it great to be alive exploring the edge of what you know and what you > don't know? > > Love, > Peggy > > > _________________________________ > Peggy Holman > pe...@peggyholman.com > > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > 425-746-6274 > www.peggyholman.com > www.journalismthatmatters.org > > Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, > is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > On May 29, 2011, at 7:40 AM, Harrison Owen wrote: > >> When something sneaks up on you as a Blinding Flash of the Obvious, it is >> not uncommon for it to take a while to understand what happened. Such is the >> case with the 5th Principle for me. I make no pretence that clarity has >> arrived, but I think I am getting somewhere. >> >> I knew in the moment that it seemed like a GIT (good idea at the time), I >> even had some inklings as to its use and purpose – but hardly more. True it >> created a nice symmetry: 5 Preconditions for Open Space (Real business >> issue, complexity…), 5 Principles, 5 typical results (High Learning, High >> Play…). And of course all that is easy to keep track of with the 5 Fingers >> on the hand – although you might need a third hand. Shiva, Where are you? J >> >> The 5th Principle, like the preceding four is descriptive, not prescriptive. >> It does not tell anybody what to do or what should happen, rather it simply >> alerts people to what will be happening in any case. The reason we do this >> at the beginning of an Open Space is to provide a little forewarning that >> may (will) offer some comfort to people along the way. As we all know, OST >> can seem like a strange new world for 1st timers. Just about all of their >> presuppositions and practices regarding meetings will be trashed. No >> announced agenda, no Leader, a facilitator who is most apparent in his/her >> absence… All the normal Comfort Guides for the traditional (boring) meeting >> are disappeared. We know all that, and we also know that when venturing into >> strange territory, having a few advertisements of things to come can make it >> all a little more comfortable. The original principles do just that in terms >> of the people who might come, actions/happenings that might occur, the role >> of time – and of course, the ending of it all. >> >> But what about space? Isn’t it odd that in conversation about something >> called “Open Space,” space/place is never mentioned? I am pretty sure that >> the reason it never occurred to me previously was that the venue (space) was >> simply a part of the logistical scene – rather like computers, magic markers >> and flip charts. All needed but hardly worthy of a Principle, if indeed >> there was any principle involved. No reason to even mention it for the >> comfort of those present. So what’s different now? >> >> The key difference for me is a growing concern and interest in what might or >> could happen after the event. We have always been interested in the >> follow-on, follow-up of the key decisions and insights that may have emerged >> during a gathering – implementation, so to speak. But for me those specifics >> are of infinitely lesser import than an enhanced awareness that Open Space >> does not end at the venue’s doors. If a group of people leave an Open Space >> Event, well satisfied with their accomplishments, but believing that all of >> that was the product of a special, unique, and rarely to be repeated method >> or approach, I think they have been severely short changed. Such people >> might naturally think that the magic of their moment was due, in whole or in >> part, to the power of the design, the brilliance of its originator (that >> would be me L), and the consummate skill of the facilitator. How wrong can >> you get?! >> >> There was no design, at least in a sense comparable to other “methods” (AI, >> Future Search, etc), which are all are carefully researched and constructed. >> Yes it is true that we “sit in a circle, create a bulletin board, open a >> market place, and go to work” – but none of that came out of years of >> research and practice in Group Dynamics, with a linage to Lewin and other >> greats in the field. It just happened as a result of what seemed to be a >> good idea at the time. Truthfully all of this has been the source of >> continuing confusion and embarrassment ever since the field of Large Group >> Interventions was identified by the likes of Billye Alban and Barbara >> Bunker. The opening chapters of their book described in detail the >> antecedents of the new methods – and then there was Open Space which was >> only included as a last minute addition, and simply doesn’t fit. >> >> As for the brilliance of the originator, we know the story of that one! The >> inspiration was actually a desperation play fortified by two martinis! The >> originator was in fact so brilliant that it took him almost five years to >> understand that Open Space was interesting and potentially important. Slow >> learner! >> >> Facilitator skills? Useful, but not necessary. The truth of the matter is >> that anybody with a good head and a good heart can “do it.” This does not >> mean, of course, that experience and practice don’t make a difference. But I >> think the major difference is a reduction of the facilitator’s anxiety >> level, but that difference has only marginal impact upon group performance. >> This seemingly odd phenomenon is due to the fact that the facilitator is not >> “managing,” “running,” or “doing” a process. The process “does” itself and >> is deeply ingrained in all the participants, whether they know it or not. >> The facilitator’s sole function is Invitation – to invite the people to do >> what they already know how to do. And then gracefully get out of the way. >> Making a graceful exit can take years of practice. >> >> And now we come to a critical question, I think. Why do we do what we do? >> When we facilitate an Open Space what are the goals, objectives, purposes? >> The answers to this question may seem so blatantly obvious as to render the >> question meaningless. Of course, we open space in order to – solve a >> problem, build a building, create a plan, unstuck a dysfunctional >> organization… And for the individual participants we open space in order to >> bring a little joy, inspiration and renewal to the folks. For ourselves, we >> open space because it is fun, challenging, exciting – and on occasion >> financially rewarding. These answers, and many others of a similar sort, >> roll easily from the tongue, and they are all quite valid. Missing from this >> list, however, is an answer which for me is perhaps the most important. >> >> For me the fundamental raison d’être for any Open Space I am involved in is >> -- To enable the participants, individually and as a collective, to more >> effectively navigate the self-organizing world of which we are part. Along >> the way we will hopefully accomplish other good things: a new plan made, a >> community issue resolved, a building designed. And for the participants >> there should also be an experience of accomplishment, ownership, >> participation, inspiration, to say nothing of some real fun. However, if >> everybody walks out the door on the final day with only the completed plan >> or building design, albeit accompanied by some good warm fuzzy feelings – I >> do not believe the mission has been accomplished. >> >> The Mission Accomplished sign will be displayed when participants walk >> through the venue doors with the understanding that everything they >> experienced on the “inside” may be used on the “outside.” Actually “inside” >> and “outside” is a misapprehension. It is all one thing! Everything is Open >> Space – or more accurately everything is self-organizing, despite the fact >> that there is a continuing delusion to the contrary. Strange talk? Indeed, >> such talk in itself, would appear to be delusional. After all we all know >> that somebody is in charge, and that our organizations are the creatures of >> our making. In such an environment, playing by the airy-fairy rules >> (principles) of Open Space is an iron clad predictor of failure. That’s >> what it says in all the books, and is emblazoned on the walls of every “well >> managed” institution. Under such circumstances the average participant might >> be forgiven for a little skepticism. >> >> But skepticism is a healthy thing, and after all we have been there before. >> I suspect that every single 1st time participant in all the Open Spaces I >> have been a part of, entered with some degree of skepticism, and in those >> instances where I actually asked, they all admitted that their confidence >> level for a “successful” outcome was close to zero. Nice idea, but it just >> couldn’t work! No amount of argument on my part ever convinced a soul, and >> for sure the recitation of the 4 Principles did little if anything to change >> their opinion. They remained confirmed skeptics UNTIL they had the >> experience. At that point, the 4 simple Principles became useful prods to >> their critical process. They help people to see, really notice – how the >> “impossible” became common place. From that point on, they had some real >> work to do – but they now had something to work with. >> >> Now back to the 5th Principle -- which is simply an invitation to notice >> that all the marvelous things which occurred “in” the event needn’t stop at >> the venue door. In fact they can and do occur anywhere. “Wherever it is, is >> the right place!” >> >> Will that Principle convince anybody? No, absolutely not – at least until >> they have had the experience. At that point, the 5th Principle will join its >> fellows as a simple statement of the obvious. >> >> So I am stuck with the 5th Principle, not for reasons of symmetry or theory. >> In fact it messes up a whole bunch of great signs that have been make, to >> say nothing of all the books I have written. But what else is new? >> >> Harrison >> >> >> >> >> >> Harrison Owen >> 7808 River Falls Dr. >> Potomac, MD 20854 >> USA >> Phone 301-365-2093 >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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