An invitation is "an invitation" if and only if you can refuse it. This is the core of it's relation with things like boundaries, constraints, power and control. ge
*Certified Professional Facilitator* Office: Via A. Volta 6 - 20121 Milano – Italy Phone: +39 3293281343 Fax: +39 02 87151318 Skype: gerardodeluz xge(at)loci.it *www.loci.it * <http://www.loci.it>* <http://www.flickr.com/photos/geniusloci/>* <http://www.scuolafacilitazione.it> *Please consider the environment before deciding to print this e-mail* This e-mail (and any attachment(s)) is strictly confidential and for use only by intended recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient(s), please notify it via e-mail at i...@loci.it <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/blocked::mailto:i...@loci.it> promptly 2015-09-02 0:26 GMT+02:00 David Osborne via OSList < oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>: > Building on the constraints conversation.Another lens I look at this same > dynamic through is control. When leaders are establishing constraints they > are often doing so to try to control the situation or outcome. When control > is to tight it inhibits the innovation and emergence that can flow form > self-organization. Similarly no boundaries can leave a system to loose for > self-organization to coalesce around emerging innovation and so cohesion is > less likely. > > My thoughts along the way. > > Enjoying the conversation. > > David > > On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 5:58 PM, Harrison via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > >> Here’s a thought... Space/time is infinite, defined by our minds, and >> limited by our imagination. So “constraints” are only what you make them >> out to be. AND... it is always nice to have as much “space/time” as >> possible. A “genuine invitation” creates a LOT of space/time. >> >> >> >> Ho >> >> >> >> 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:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] *On >> Behalf Of *Michael Herman via OSList >> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 01, 2015 1:15 PM >> *To:* Chris Corrigan; World wide Open Space Technology email list >> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Inviting non-invitation >> >> >> >> People who write sonnets accept constraints. monks and nuns accept >> constraints. Musicians accept constraints. Athletes accept constraints. >> People who live on islands accept constraints. The idea here is that in >> accepting sometimes extremely limiting constraints, you are forced to go >> deeper in your work. AS a manager if you also offer invitations into a >> constrained space, you may indeed create the conditions for some amazing >> things to happen. “You have $3000 to work with on your prototype, but you >> have to work with two other people and get it done in two days. Do you >> accept this invitation? OK! Go!” >> >> >> >> yes! and there is the chance to notice that there can be a difference >> between a manager imposing random constraints versus clearly articulating >> and/or translating the constraints that ARE already existing in the >> environment. there is also the possibility for managers to overreact in >> the transmitting of environment to system, to editorialize and use outside >> forces as excuses for imposing constraints. people can opt in to >> constraints that are randomly or otherwise badly articulated, but i think >> the ideal to strive for is the very cleanest transmission of the bigger >> picture environmental constraints. the practice of invitation is a kind of >> search for truth(s) about what is. >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Michael Herman >> Michael Herman Associates >> http://MichaelHerman.com >> http://OpenSpaceWorld.org >> >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 12:03 PM, Chris Corrigan via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >> My pithy statement about how self-organization works was not meant to be >> a tossed off reduction, but rather it has important consequences for >> managing. >> >> >> >> Enabling constraints can indeed be very rigid. And in accepting the >> invitation to step into that container, one can make a conscious choice to >> confront the stress and see what comes of it. Deadlines, limited >> resources, restrictive mandates, policies and procedures are all >> constraints that are “forced’ upon people at work. As a manager you can >> always frame these as an invitation: “your mission, should you choose to >> accept it, is…” As a participant you can choose to accept it. Or not. >> >> >> >> People who write sonnets accept constraints. monks and nuns accept >> constraints. Musicians accept constraints. Athletes accept constraints. >> People who live on islands accept constraints. The idea here is that in >> accepting sometimes extremely limiting constraints, you are forced to go >> deeper in your work. AS a manager if you also offer invitations into a >> constrained space, you may indeed create the conditions for some amazing >> things to happen. “You have $3000 to work with on your prototype, but you >> have to work with two other people and get it done in two days. Do you >> accept this invitation? OK! Go!” >> >> >> >> The truly magnificent Open Space gatherings I have been a part of in my >> life have had a clear set of constraints (sometimes rigid and narrow, >> sometimes broad but still defined, as in “we are talking about anything you >> want, but if if you want to stop doing social services and start building >> Volvos, that isn’t going to make it into the plan…”) and a clear >> invitation. Good invitations are both attractors AND boundaries. They >> require intention to accept them; buy-in, if you will. Peter Block says >> that a good invitation contains a barrier…people have to work to accept >> it. They have to prioritize it to participate. When those conditions are >> in place, “Whoever comes are the right people” loses all of its sometimes >> fatalistic tone: we don’t merely accept folks with a shrug and a “I guess >> this is the best we could do.” Instead we see participants as folks who >> have decided to give something up in order to be there. And that sharpens >> our attention to one another, creates the conditions for mutual respect and >> engagement, and gives creative and powerful conversations a real chance. >> >> >> >> By contrast imposing an invitation and constraints on people rarely >> works. An invitation that uses a sexy door prize with a genuine attractor >> is a bribe: “come to this conversation you don’t want to have and win an >> iPad!". And invitation that forces people to show up because “that’s what >> I’m paying you for” is coercion. >> >> >> >> When Michael Herman and I did trainings years ago, the training guide he >> put together had this Kurt Hahn quote on the cover: "There are three >> ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion. There is compulsion >> and there is attraction. You can preach at them; that is a hook without a >> worm. You can say "you must volunteer." That is the devil. And you can tell >> them, "you are needed" that hardly ever fails.” This is good advice. >> >> >> >> It’s easy, when your system is already command and control, to end up >> doing things like badly. The art of invitation IS the art of Open Space. >> It’s a good practice to learn. >> >> >> >> Chris >> >> >> >> >> >> On Sep 1, 2015, at 9:19 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >> >> >> Ron, >> >> So interesting: >> >> You wrote one thing below, and that said, I know you mean you'd *stay* if >> it actually worked: >> >> "But I promised to give it six months and if the team *had not decided* that >> XP was a load of rubbish and were still doing it after 6 months *I will >> leave* and find another job where sanity still rained. " >> >> >> >> Freedom >> ------- >> >> The key is freedom. The key (I think) is that YOUR commitment was to an >> "experiment for 6 months", not "a forced march until further notice" .... >> at least in *your* mind. In your mind you were (and are) *free*...to >> "Law-of-2-Feet it" out of there ! >> >> And so this is some small part of the (freedom) key: make a .... >> >> >> >> - "a commitment to experiment" and then to >> - "inspect results" and then >> - "throw away what is not working" and >> - "keep doing what is working and do more of that" and >> - "do more experiments." >> >> >> In other words, to actually implement Agile ideas in an Agile way. >> >> >> >> >> "Until Further Notice" >> ----------------- >> >> Last time I checked, typical Agile adoptions are of the forced-march, >> "until further notice" variety. Hello? >> >> Let's see: If the "until further notice" style of Agile adoption actually >> worked, then (in theory at least) we could now joyfully point to tens of >> thousands of verifiable, happy, healthy, whole, genuine, authentic, >> high-engagement Agile adoptions. Right? It would so be easy to locate ten >> thousand of them...if it actually worked in the long run.... >> >> Houston...we have a problem? >> >> >> >> Committing to Emergence (aka "experimentation and adaptation") >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Commit to *an experiment to be inspected*. So simple. Even joyful! >> Ironically, this IS the Agile mindset, but ... *not to be used when >> actually implementing Agile in large organizations* apparently ! >> >> Is self-organization what actually scales? If so, why are we using any >> other approach? >> >> >> The alternative-- a mandated and forced march to process change-- is >> standard, and often the source of many sorrows. >> >> I really, really , REALLY like using Open Space in new Agile adoptions. >> Because it actually works. And also like using Open Space in troubled >> Agile adoptions, of which I notice, there seems to be no shortage of supply. >> >> The good news is, we are getting the [invitation] meme out there into the >> Agile world. We invite everyone to give it a try ! >> >> >> (If you like this rant, you may also enjoy: >> http://www.openspaceagility.com/about) >> >> >> Daniel >> >> PS Ron, nice suit ! >> >> >> >> >> On 9/1/15 11:22 AM, Ron Quartel wrote: >> >> This debate happens in the world of agile also. Specifically when we talk >> about Extreme Programming over Scrum. Should a team be told to do the >> Extreme Programming practices or do we invite them to try them is a debate >> that rages again and again. (Extreme programming is a very disciplined way >> of developing software while scrum prescribes no disciplines.) >> >> >> >> The challenge with Extreme Programming is that the practices are counter >> intuitive and many will find them distasteful. E.g. why do I have to pair >> program with a junior developer? That will slow me down and we will get >> less work done. >> >> >> >> I don't claim to have an answer to force vs. invite but I can share my >> story on how I came to love Extreme Programming (XP). >> >> >> >> XP was forced on my dev team. We were given a new dev manager who said we >> are going to do XP. If you didn't like it you can use the law of two feet >> to leave the company. (Not those words exactly but I'm sure you get the >> drift.) Now I loved the team I was with, the place I worked and the work we >> were doing but absolutely hated XP. But I promised to give it six months >> and if the team had not decided that XP was a load of rubbish and were >> still doing it after 6 months I will leave and find another job where >> sanity still rained. I hated everything about XP and agile and it took me >> way out of my comfort zone as a software developer. But then somewhere >> during the six months the sense of it started to dawn on me and I actually >> started enjoying it. By the end of six months I was a fan and am now an >> evangelist for XP. I like finding the haters and assure them it's OK to >> hate XP. When they get it, they become the biggest advocates. >> >> >> >> So was it wrong to have XP forced on me? I will leave that up to you to >> decide. I often wonder if I would have ever come around to agile and >> especially XP if it had not been forced on me. >> >> >> >> An analogy I have to learning XP is learning downhill skiing. There is a >> point where you have to do the unintuitive and lean down the slope. Your >> body is screaming NO but your ski instructor is telling you that is how you >> do it. Turns out he is right but you have to get through that disbelief and >> discomfort to get to the other side. OK that is forcing myself after he >> invited me to try it - so maybe there needs to be a little of both? >> >> >> >> Ron Quartel >> >> FAST Agile <http://fast-agile.com/> - An agile software process >> incorporating Open Space Technology >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 1:40 PM, Daniel Mezick via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >> "Is it accurate to say that some self organizing happens by invitation >> and some happens by coercion/force? " >> >> >> >> >> Great question Lucas! >> >> >> The [invitation] wall-poster you suggest feels wall-worthy to me, so long >> as no one is obligated to examine it... or even look at it. >> >> >> My turn to ask a question: What might a world "void of manipulation" and >> "replete with invitation" actually look like? >> >> >> Daniel >> >> >> On 8/31/15 9:57 AM, Lucas Cioffi via OSList wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> >> >> Is it accurate to say that some self organizing happens by invitation and >> some happens by coercion/force? >> >> >> >> For example, from the perspective of someone who lives outside of Iraq, >> the way the Ba'ath Party took charge of Iraq through a coup seems like an >> example of self-organizing by force to us, because we're outside the system >> of Iraq. I welcome some thoughts on this. >> >> >> >> Over the past few months (and working with Michael Herman for VOSonOS) >> I've seen that the spirit of invitation shouldn't end with the writing of >> the invitation, and instead it should be present throughout the open >> space. When someone posts a topic on the marketplace wall, they are >> inviting others to a conversation, not taking over a time slot (like having >> a coup and taking over a small country). >> >> >> >> When someone wants to be a "dictator" of their open space session, yes >> others can use their two feet and walk out, but that comes at a cost to the >> social fabric of the organization. A better outcome would be that the >> would-be dictator holds a welcoming space from the start. So I'd recommend >> that another sign worth posting on the wall near "Law of Two Feet" would be >> "Spirit of Invitation". I think it's wall-worthy, do you? >> >> >> Lucas Cioffi >> >> Founder, QiqoChat.com <http://qiqochat.com/> >> >> Charlottesville, VA >> >> Mobile: 917-528-1831 >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 5:07 AM, Paul Levy via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >> I think the clue lies in the wonderful word "self". >> >> >> >> We are the selves that organise. >> >> >> >> Beautiful. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> 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 >> >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org >> >> >> >> -- >> >> 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 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 >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> 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 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 >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.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 >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.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 >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org >> > > > > -- > > David > > > dosbo...@change-fusion.com | 703-939-1777 | www.change-fusion.com > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.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 Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org