Keepin' Busy

Sat Jan 14 10:59:17 PST 2006

My short 2 cents . . . As it relates to my "relationship" with my current organization.

The organization has grown from just over 200 Market Centers (Office franchises) totalling @ 6000 Associates . . . To over 600 Market Centers @ 60,000 associates in a 5 year period of time. The "International Headquarters" requires "models and systems" to be implemented for any office to "Launch" . . . These are fundamental Principles (Givens) . . . 

Interestingly, the facilitator for a particular Market center is only present in the "Pre-Launch stage" . . . As soon as the doors are open and business is flowing, he disappears . . . and quite literally only resurfaces to hear the stories periodically! His occasional visits are very bouyant for the local community because they along the lines of: "I know where you were you were last time I visited . . . and you told me your group's goals and aspirations . . . How are things working out? . . . What are your goals for the future? . . . and what things will you be doing differently?" . . . GREAT validation for the group because it is NOT "The Man" coming in to beat the underlings into shape - EVER! Perhaps this "Facilitator" is more accurately coined a "Mentor"

There is "culture" communicated in the form of MVVBP - Mission, Vision, Values, Beliefs, Perspectives of the "founding Fathers" . . . This is "THE Story" . . . 

Beyond the models and the culture, there is little direction . . . It is PURELY in the hands of the Leadership at the local level to create a successful operation - and to create their own story.

My humble opinion is that THIS is self-organization in Open Space - and the facilitator actually becomes the group itself . . . and their collective passion and responsibility . . . The Theme is simply "How we can implement the models and systems for a successful launch in OUR unique market?"

I have witnessed (first hand) leadership that allows the group to co-create a safe environment (Opens the space) and leadership that stifles the energy with hidden agendas etc . . . So far, the "stifling leadership" has been handled quite efficiently by the membership in astoundingly short order - The law of 2 feet has more power than I ever imagined.

I bring this info forward - maybe not articulate enough to do it justice - primarily because 100% of the time our market centers are formed in "hostile environments" . . . yet our success rate is phenomenal  . . . Credit is given to the Culture - We invite everyone in the marketplace to come in - and we clearly and concisely state our beliefs and values (culture) and the "right people" magically appear before us . . . simply amazing!

Hmmm . . . I better quit now . . . My 2 cents seems to be turning into a book.

:-)

Greetings from Tennessee USA

b

--
What does your "way" move you towards? 

Barry Owen 
The Owen Group 
Keller Williams Realty 
The fastest growing, most innovative real estate firm in North America! 
105 Westpark Dr Suite 100 
Brentwood, TN 37027 
615.568.2123 
http://www.geocities.com/barryo.geo

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> 

From: Birgitt Williams [mailto:birgitt at dalarinternational.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:34 AM
To: hhowen at verizon.net
Subject: RE: Keepin' Busy

Harrison,
What you are describing with the analogy to gravity, in my perspective, is not self organizing, but self organizing within universal laws (givens). Great philosophers and others have attempted to understand and write about such laws. Law of gravity, law of attraction, law of allowing…

I am wondering about your opinion of the relationship of these universal laws and Open Space. Are they in the open space, do they govern the open space, do they create a boundary for the open space.

I am wondering about your opinion of the necessity of a facilitator for an Open Space Technology meeting. If we are self organizing, it seems to me we don’t need a facilitator. And yet, the presence of a facilitator (even if off taking a walk)  even though he/she might ‘do’ nothing, appears to be essential throughout the event.

And finally, I am wondering about your opinion of why we do not have world peace if we are self organizing.

No need to answer any of this if you don’t care to. These are just my wonderings.

Birgitt

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:36 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Keepin' Busy

Marie – I can understand your feeling that my conversation about self-organization may seem a tad technical, and that for some of us (most of us?) the experience of Open Space is intensely personal. But I guess where I am coming from is a (growing) conclusion that we live in a self-organizing world which has certain operative forces and mechanisms – and how we feel about all that is to some extent a different issue.  The analogy for me would be the force of gravity, which effects, in one way or another, just about everything we do (at least in this physical realm). If I see a beautiful woman and run towards her, that probably has a lot to do with my heart, but the fact that I am running and not flying (like a bird) has everything to do with gravity.

To me it is important to understand that much of what we take to be wonderful and magic in Open Space is still magic and truly wondrous – AND is all very much part of a larger process which was here long before Open Space and would continue to exist were Open Space (Technology) to vanish. This thought also extends the magic to every day life, or if you like, makes it very clear (to me) that Open Space is a 24X7X365 business. Yes it is true that we may intensify/focus the experience when we “do” an Open Space – but we could “do” the same thing every day of our life.

In dealing with clients and other such people, I start from the position that doing an Open Space is nothing strange, new, or different. It is all Open Space. It is all self organization – the problem is that we ordinarily just don’t do it very well. What happens in an OS event, I think, is that we do what we always do, but now with clearer focus and intention and so it works a lot better and feels a lot better.

As for where my heart is relative to my client, I guess the answer is that I am of two hearts (two minds) – and I will let you know when I figure it out. It is also true that this particular client situation will demand everything I have and a lot more. The good news is that I will grow with the occasion. The other side is that there will doubtless be moments of pure terror and no small amount of pain. The thought has occurred to me that maybe at the age of 70, I don’t need to take that sort of trip any more. But I have never been very good at avoiding such “opportunities” before, and I see no reason to expect that prudence and sanity will suddenly be mine.

Harrison   

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Marei Kiele
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 7:27 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Keepin' Busy

  "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> schrieb: 
The operative power (as I see it) is the power of self organization, and I am therefore led to the conclusion that what you see in Open Space is the well functioning self-organizing system – which in turn is naturally productive of an appreciative approach, dialogue, and real community.

Since some time I got a taste of "but that's not the essence - that is to technical" when reading about "the power is because of the self-organization.

To me the essence of and the beauty of open space is based on the freedom and the total acceptance. 

"I am okay, you are okay" ~ whatever interest's or not interests me ~ I am okay. No need to pretend, no need to fake, no need to try to find out what is being expected from me. When I am in Open Space (or when I create my life in an Open Space way) I can honestly and fully be me. And by honestly and truly and fully being me, so much energy which in another environment would be spend on hiding, covering, protecting, self-controlling, justifying, argueing, fighting and fearing is being liberated. And all that energy is being used FOR something instead of AGAINST something. And all the energy being alive in me is aligned with who I am. Very powerful!

AND by following the law, or in other words following what has heart and meaning for me, I get out of the mode of being thinking driven (mind) into feeling or intuitive mode ~ and by that acess whatever fits with you belief-system, calling it my higher self, my intuition, my inner wisdom. And together with other participants experiencing the same, following the same path, we all together reach another level of consciousness.

THIS for me is the operative power of Open Space. 

Don't know if this works as an explanation for every client but I will try and share.

And regarding your question, Harrison: 
"And what are our obligations to the client and the participants? And to our selves?"

My personal answer: There are no obligations. If we do what we really (= in our hearts) want to do, everything is fine.

You wrote: "Part of me just can't wait to get on with this show. And there is another significant part of me that desperately wishes that they would decide that Open Space is a nice idea -- but not for them. As you say," a great gig for you to be able to say you turned down!" 
What part is your hearts voice speaking?

Marei

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