FW: Principles, Process, and People

Tue Mar 15 06:38:51 PST 2005

Hi,

Harrison you wrote: I am always blown away how "easily" firmly held
positions, never-to-be-change protocols, and rock solid
procedures are apparently dissolved in Open Space.

As participants and hosts people do come in with their prevalent mental
models and yes, our familiar procedures or that of our organization tend to
dominate. Most often these procedures are not as open as the principles of
Open Space Technology. To allow people to shift, to be and take their space
in a different way, a brief reminder of the "principles to create space" are
useful so people can let go of the old procedures and open up to the
simplicity and focus on what they have passion for.

As Shay said so well: Sometimes people need help getting from there to here.

And yes, with certain groups more familiar with letting go, a few words will
be sufficient to remind the principles that help create the space for
productive and passionate meetings.

Diane

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
Harrison Owen
Sent: March 15, 2005 8:32 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Principles, Process, and People

Seamus wrote: "OS is simple. Tell people what you want to discuss, arrange
to meet and see what happens. But we have so much invested in our current
positions that it appears in some way to be a denial of ourselves if we
accept the simplicity of the solution. It seems to be the hardest thing in
the world to do is to forget how we got here. It seems to be the easiest
thing in the world to forget where we are going."

You got it right! In the for-profit world it is always amazing to me how
good rational folks will forgo major advantage -- to say nothing of $$$'s
simply in order to maintain what they perceive to be "control" of a
situation. This is such a strong tendency that I am always blown away how
"easily" firmly held positions, never-to-be-change protocols, and rock solid
procedures -- are apparently dissolved in Open Space. Suddenly the immovable
moves! And how did that happen? It has always been a mystery to me. Any
thoughts?

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Seamus
McInerney
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 6:46 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Principles, Process, and People

I once came across a saying that went a bit like this: It is the function
of all great teachers to make things complicated enough for people to
understand. I heard it from a guy called Paul Solomon and he had some very
clever things to say.

I have an 18 year old son who is currently studying (or not) for his final
school exams next June. I am trying to help him with his maths. I've
discovered that when I point out an error (because I have a book of the
answers), he will go through a long winded process of telling me how what
he was doing was right. If I'd let him continue, and if A=B, pigs could fly
and the Beetles got back together, he would, in fact be right. He finds it
so hard to let go of where he is that he would rather not get the answer
than go back and start again.

OS is simple. Tell people what you want to discuss, arrange to meet and see
what happens. But we have so much invested in our current positions that it
appears in some way to be a denial of ourselves if we accept the simplicity
of the solution. It seems to be the hardest thing in the world to do is to
forget how we got here. It seems to be the easiest thing in the world to
forget where we are going.

Sometimes people need help getting from there to here. Sometimes people
need transition technologies to get from there to nearly here. Ultimately
if it works, it works. I am beginning to suspect of late that there are
circumstances in this life where the end does justify the means.

Regards
Shay

At 17:35 13/03/2005, you wrote:
>What is becoming clearer to me as this conversation moves along is that my
>initial discomfort with the "Trust the Process" frame of mind has nothing
to
>do with either the process (whatever that process might be) or the
>principles which under lie it. Rather it is my concern that we have placed
>our faith in arbitrary abstractions at the expense of some very concrete
>realities - The People. In a word, process and principles become primary,
>and the people are left in second place.
>
>I have profound respect for many of our processes in group work, and an
>equal respect for the principles which have been articulated as the
>under-pinnings. However, I think it is important to note that both the
>processes and the articulated principles are second order derivatives. They
>are our best guess as to how things might work. They are maps and not
>territories. But the primary point of reference is, and remains, the
people.
>If we have done our work well, the processes and principles articulated
will
>closely coincide with the actual structures and dynamics of the people
>(individuals and collective). And the proof of our success appears when the
>people are enabled to do better what they have always been able to do.
>
>Here on OSLIST we have had multiple and extended discussions of the process
>of Open Space and its principles. Specifically: The Four Principles and The
>Law of Two feet. I believe that discussion has been useful and worthwhile,
>but I also think it is important to recognize that both the Four Principles
>and the Law emerged from the Open Space experience - they did not and do
not
>create it. In a word, they are descriptive and not prescriptive. As a
matter
>of fact, Open Space "works" very well, thank you, without mention of
either,
>and in the first 3-4 years we opened a lot of space(s) without a trace
>(verbally) of the "sacred" principles and the critical Law. So why or how
>did they appear? In all honesty, I have to say there was no rational
>decision involved - it just seemed like a good idea at the time.
>
>But of course, good ideas come and go - and so why does mention of the 4
>Principles and The Law of Two Feet assume such a central place in the
>introduction? Explaining the mechanics is a five minute deal - but we
>typically take 15-20 minutes by way of introduction. Reasonable question:
>Why waste the time? Why not just cut to the chase and get on with the
>business?
>
>I obviously cannot answer for everybody, but for myself I find it effective
>to spell out the Principles and the Law NOT to specify what people should
>do, but rather to acknowledge what will happen anyhow, what is true (I
>think) in any case. In short, they always apply, whether said or unsaid.
>However, by articulating both they are brought to consciousness,
>acknowledged for what they are, and welcomed as positive and necessary
>elements for deep conversations and relationships. The fact that upon first
>hearing the Four Principles and The Law many participants perceive them as
>strange or "counter-intuitive" says more, I think, about the cultural
>baggage we carry than the nature or "truth" of the statements. And the fact
>that many (most?) people spend a lot of time and energy, supported by
>multiple cultural strictures, attempting to defeat, avoid, or NOT DO what
>the Principles and Law affirm and invite is the source of massive amounts
of
>frustration and guilt. Mention of both Law and Principles at the beginning
>can eliminate mountains of guilt - and guilt in my experience is a dreadful
>waste of time and energy. And of course, if some people wish to sustain
>their guilt, that will be their pleasure and problem.
>
>If Open Space had evolved as other such approaches seem to have evolved -
>after 20 years we would have massive accretions and added complexities all
>contained in thick manuals of detailed instructions. In point of fact, Open
>Space Technology is pretty much what it was on the first day. If anything
it
>has been on a strict diet. As I recall it took something like 2½ hours to
>open the first encounter - and that was without benefit of Law and
>Principles. Lord knows what we talked about - but it all worked. To be sure
>there have been some additions, particularly at the end of a gathering as
>the group seeks to move to action. We call that convergence, and the first
>iterations were pretty complex. Over time simplicity seems to have won out
>and now the general practice appears to be - just open some more space!
>(Thank you Chris et al - even I have finally given up voting :-)).
>
>For me the guiding thought has been - Think of one more thing NOT to do. It
>has been a way of stripping off the non-essentials in order to reveal what
>is natural and effective. In following this notion I think we (certainly I)
>have watched process and principles (at least the man-made ones) diminish
in
>importance leaving the people to do what only they can do for themselves.
>
>Wisdom and discretion clearly dictate that I should end this missive right
>here. However, it may have occurred to you that there was present a certain
>(implied) critique of related approaches such as Appreciative Inquiry,
>Future Search, or Dialogue (to name a few). The critique is present, but I
>need to make exquisitely clear that it is a critique offered in profound
>respect and gratitude for the individuals who have given us those
>approaches, many of whom I consider old colleagues and friends. There is no
>question that the insights offered and the results achieved have been
>massively important and effective. Personally I have learned enormously at
>the feet of these people about the power of appreciation, the elegance of
>dialogue, and the importance of common ground. But I must also say that it
>has been my personal experience in every Open Space that the elegance of
>dialogue, the nutriment of appreciation, and the healing power of common
>ground have all appeared all by themselves. The people did it.
>
>I must also confess, and this really is personal, that every time that I
>have been in a situation where someone attempted to combine Open Space with
>one of these processes or insert them in the midst of Open Space, I felt
>that the result was less than positive. Either there was little to no gain
-
>because the same results show up naturally in Open Space, or the addition
>was disruptive and counter-productive because it broke the natural rhythm
>and flow. As I said to my friend Marv Weisbord several years ago, "Marv, I
>think you are working too hard."
>
>One could certainly view my reaction as an outbreak of ego and a defense of
>"my" process. As one client told me, "Harrison you are a nice fellow, but
>you have major ego problems."  Doubtless, my ego can get bent out of shape
>just like the next fellow's - but it never really felt that way. In the
>first place, how could you call something that showed up in the bottom of a
>martini glass, "My process?"  Especially when subsequent experience and
>investigation has shown, I think, that the process involved had nothing to
>do with my invention. I just lucked into something that had been around for
>14,000,000 years.  Drunk and Lucky? Guilty as charged!
>
>So what next? I just hope that we can keep the cart and the horse in proper
>order. Processes and principles, at least as we articulate them, are always
>second order derivatives. Very useful as maps or guides, but never to be
>confused with the rich territory - The People.
>
>Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
>Harrison Owen
>7808 River Falls Drive
>Potomac, Maryland   20845
>Phone 301-365-2093
>
>Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
>
>Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
>OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit:
>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
>
>
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Crossroads Facilitation
50 Carrigdhoun, Waterpark, Carrigaline, Co. Cork
www.crossroadsfacilitation.ie
"Building bridges and getting you over them"

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