Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
Harrison Owen
hhowen at verizon.net
Wed Dec 16 07:15:17 PST 2009
Good Stuff Michael and Denise -- And I wonder about "failed" invitations. If
failure means that we didn't get precisely the folks we wanted to come --
there could be a number of reasons for that, not all of them bad. For
example it could be that the issue we were so excited about really didn't
have all that much going for it. And all those folks who failed to respond
positively were just brighter than we were. Our "failed" invitation simply
saved a lot of time and energy which might better be applied to something
else. And just suppose all those folks did come out of some sense of
"should" or "ought" -- and the whole affair turned out to be just as flat as
they thought it might. Now -- how happy are the folks? And what do you think
would be the likely response the next time you offered an invite?
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
Phone 301-365-2093
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.
BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael Herman
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 12:09 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
oh this is fun.
for me, this business of inviting has long been the center of the ongoing
practice of opening. what i noticed some time ago is that "inviting" is
something that we can *do* as a business practice, somethign we can try and
repeat and refine. but it's also something that we can, as individuals,
*aspire* to *be*. the practical inviting is essential for performance. but
the latter, the aspiring, is where spirit shows up. if we are a space for
that.
as for the accepting or not. being trained in economics and finance,
straight through a rather serious mba program, i have always understood
invitation in terms of markets and prices. any invitation is just like a
bid or offer in any market. the text of an invitation is like a price.
it's got to be stated, announced. but it also might need to be adjusted. i
like what denise says about getting to "core" because core is from french
coeur, heart. when an invitation fails, it's usually because i've started
from something other than heart.
the way i think of markets, despite the financial training, i mostly think
in terms of farmers markets. the guy who brings tomatoes or blueberries or
whatever has poured some chunk of his life energy into tending and
harvesting that crop. it's him. it's his care. his responsibility in those
baskets. it's what he has to offer. so invitation is the same. it just
has to be offered. the danger is not that an invitation might be declined.
the danger is in caring, in being full of somethign, and not sharing it,
letting it go to waste.
so the invitation to a meeting or simply into relationship in a passing
smile on the street, is about being a space that doesn't know what will
happen next, but shows up anyway. alive. ready. enough. and inquiring.
anyway, these are some first thoughts that didn't want to rot.
m
--
Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.ronanparktrail.com
http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
http://www.openspaceworld.org
312-280-7838 (mobile)
On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:59 PM, Denise Tennen <denisetennen at comcast.net>
wrote:
Harrison
For me, when an invitation I extend is refused, I take another look at the
invitation (especially when I think the person and project would be a good
fit). In some ways it feels like my whole life is about learning to extend
vibrant, inspiring invitations (this often helps me get to the core of what
I'm trying to accomplish), as well as receiving the response with acceptance
and love.
I also notice that it is useful to reconnect with my own sense of
inspiration about the project - that seems to make a difference in the whole
interaction around the invitation - whether or not the invitation is
accepted. My being centered and inspired helps retain the relationship
regardless of the response. I am always thankful for a clear no...
On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:32 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
Denise --
So this is all great! And my question is how can you do the same thing every
day with every project, organization start-up, whatever.
I think you are hinting at the problem of making a REAL invitation. Not the
sort that we all have received knowing full well that we will be shot at
dawn if the invitation is not accepted. Or at the very least -- FIRED!
So what would happen if all our invitations were real? Which means they
could be refused. And then what?
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
Phone 301-365-2093
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Denise
Tennen
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:17 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
Harrison
Thanks for these thought-provoking words.
As far as invitiation - in my work as an artist supporting large groups to
come together to create collaborative works of "permanently" installed art
for their (the participants') communities - Invitation is the only thing
that works.
My underlying belief is that engagement in artistic endeavors is a useful
piece in the puzzle of creating a peaceful world. I've found that eople
creating art together generally aren't engaged in fighting
here are the ingredients of invitation, for me, that I believe contribute to
good flow:
1) getting the word out is critical,
2) the "stickiness" (see Malcolm Gladwell and more particularly, the
brothers Heath in their book Making It Stick) of the invitation and project
description heavily affects the outcome in terms of participation and
engaged-ness of participants.
3) having the setting ready before the participants arrive so I'm not
distracted by DOING and can keep my attention on BEING PRESENT with the
participants
4) having a structure in mind and at the same time being willing to let it
go at any moment
5) keeping participation voluntary (a bit tricky when I am operating in a
classroom setting where the children are basically in the position of being
"sitting ducks")
As far as the invitation, my on-the-ground work is lots of word-of mouth,
who knows who. Increasingly via internet - helps spread the word quickly,
although in the end, nothing beats the realm of the personal, one by one
invitation.
Different age groups respond to different methods (snail mail/flyer vs
internet etc)
my beginning thoughts on this for now...
Denise
On Dec 15, 2009, at 7:26 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
Several days ago I sent a note to what I thought was going to be a small
group of friends, inviting thinking about opening space every day, what that
might mean, and how to accomplish all that in specifics. In effect, I was
taking off from my book "Wave Rider" which is my best shot on the subject to
date -- with the expectation that there is much more "out there" in terms of
ideas and actions. Along the way I did suggest that OST (as the meeting
approach) might be getting in the way of the larger discussion. Even worse,
I facetiously (jokingly) invited everybody to join "The Imperial Society of
Wave Riders!" Well you can imagine the uproar this caused. Here I am
suggesting that we eliminate OST and become imperialists! Not a good day --
but I do think the proposed discussion has merit. In fact from where I sit
it may just be the most important discussion we could have.
Given the state of the world (no need for detailed analysis) superior human
performance achieved in a peaceful fashion seems like a very good idea. Or
put another way how do we find the intelligence and energy to deal with the
massive issues we face without killing each other? I believe that the 25
year Open Space experiment has clearly shown that superior performance in a
peaceful manner can be achieved any time we open space. It may not be
perfect, but it works better than just about anything else, and for sure it
is a lot less work. The reason for all this is that we are not really doing
anything. Rather, we are inviting the system (business, family,
organization) to do what it can do all by itself. Self organize. We are just
helping people to notice that -- and when they do magic seems to happen.
Peace and high performance show up. If we are honest about it, I think we
might realize that OST is in some real ways a fraud and a joke, at least it
becomes all that if we take credit for the power and effect of the process,
and the special way that we might "do" it. Rather like taking credit for the
power and effect of gravity -- which will continue no matter what we do!
Anyhow, I believe the community that gathers here online (and anybody else
who cares to join us) is uniquely positioned to engage in this discussion
not just at a theoretical level but at a very solid practical level. We have
the shared experience of hundreds of thousands of Open Spaces. And we have
something else -- the shared experience of life in our community. As the
world might see it the "Open Space Community" is a pretty strange thing. It
has no boundaries, no formal organization, leadership, or corporate status.
Membership is pretty much whoever shows up -- and the party has been going
on for 25 years. Odd but very effective. Indeed there are multiple formal
organizations in the world who with might greater effort have accomplished
substantially less. Think about it! Multiple Global and regional meetings. A
world wide reach. More training programs than you can name. And absolutely
nobody is in charge. There has never been a Business Plan, and if a budget
exists it has never been found. Is it all just a gossamer dream, a fanciful
delusion, or something much deeper and more important? I vote for the
latter. I think this is a conversation that needs to happen, not to the
exclusion of all others, but this is where my passion is.
Anyhow I invite you to share and think about our common experience -- and
let our experience be our guide. As a starting point we might just begin
with invitation. What would happen if all our projects began with invitation
as opposed to assignment?
Harrison
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20091216/395de0d5/attachment-0016.htm>
More information about the OSList
mailing list