Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
doug
os at footprintsinthewind.com
Tue Dec 22 18:46:16 PST 2009
Denise--
Can you fix my watch to do that?
:- Doug.
On Sun, 2009-12-20 at 12:07 -0600, Denise Tennen wrote:
> Hi Suzanne
>
>
> Reading your list what comes to mind is:
>
>
> the gift of time
> a return to "boundless time"
>
>
> Throughout my life I have noticed that I regularly return to a space
> in which time seems to have no hold.
>
>
> When I was younger I noticed that there were certain key points that
> my watch would actually stop working and I wouldn't notice (looking
> down at it I would say to myself, oh, only ____ o'clock, still lots
> more time to go). Often this would happen around creating art work.
>
>
> Today this still happens for me regularly, most often around creating
> art work,
>
>
> There is something about the open space "set-up" that seems to provide
> a doorway for people collectively to step into this boundless space
> together. In my experience Open Space, in as much as it is a "format"
> seems to help us (human beings) step into "flow" as a group.
>
>
> Denise
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2009, at 6:31 AM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
>
> > From Harrison's posting and the replies, I see pieces of a puzzle,
> > so like the picture in my mind which ebbs and flows between clarity
> > and confusion, theory and action, thinking and doing in this journey
> > of my life.
> >
> >
> > * Open Space 24 X 7...oh the dream of it!
> > * Invitation is where it all begins
> > * Letting go to let be
> > * One less thing to do
> > * May not be perfect
> > * Magic happens (perhaps because we suddenly realize this
> > important fact that none of us and nothing is perfect and
> > this more than anything releases us to be and do)
> > * Oh what fun
> > * The party has been going on for 25 years
> > * Reaching back to bring forward
> > * Helping people notice (others)...or experience what can be?
> > * From the core...the "coeur" i.e. the heart
> > * Invitation is where it all begins
> > * But does it really begin there or in the conversations we
> > have every day, opportunities to nourish and seize
> > * How can we exponentially grow what we do as a collective
> > because we all feel and know that the timing now feels
> > different somehow
> >
> > And then finally, is Open Space about speaking less (not pressing
> > the send button) and listening more...or speaking now because there
> > is so much work to do and we have this opportunity to nudge but
> > never force an awareness of consciousness that happens when we open
> > space.
> >
> > So I decide again to press send with gratitude for others who do
> > too.
> > Suzanne
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM, Michael Herman
> > <michael at michaelherman.com> wrote:
> >
> > yes, exactly, about 'fails'. guess that should have been in
> > quotes. it's same as we always say about posting an issue
> > and nobody comes. it can't fail. there's always
> > information in it. and several choices about what could do
> > next.
> >
> > reminds me too, that i've often described the process of
> > open space as a cascade of invitation. part of the power, i
> > think, is that a leader or leadership groups somehow
> > launches the "invitation" to a meeting, then he or she take
> > the first three minutes of the meeting to share what i
> > always suggest to them is "the story of how we got here."
> >
> > sometimes it's the short form of the history of the whole
> > org, other times it's a quip about how we all made it here
> > in the middle of this snow storm. then, the invitation is
> > for each person to do what the leader has already done...
> > make an invitation, name and issue, pick a place and a time,
> > and then kick off the conversation with three minutes (i
> > always bow to michael pannwitz for '8:00am to 8:03' sponsors
> > introduction) about why the issue they posted is important
> > to them... how they got to here, to caring about this
> > issue.
> >
> > so the first bit in the cascading is that the leader
> > invites, and then invites everyone else to invite. great
> > power, i think, in asking folks to do what they themselves
> > have already done. (for this same reason, this is why i
> > always hand-write my posters, cuz i'm about to ask
> > participants to scribble their own issues, so i figure that
> > mine should be scribbled too.)
> >
> > next part of cascade is that particpants capture and process
> > their notes, which i often refer to as 'an invitation to
> > action, or at least an invitation to others who weren't part
> > of the conversation to get involved.' and many times some
> > of the actions will be 'have another meeting.' and so i
> > point out that the invitation to those next meetings don't
> > need to be hardly anything more than the scribbles that made
> > the breakout meetings possible.
> >
> > so the coherence and integrity that come from a leader
> > modeling what he/she is asking others to do, and then
> > supporting the relative ease of convening a breakout or
> > followup meeting, are two important dimensions of 'being
> > inviting' as a leader. implicit in these the first is some
> > stablility or confidence in the value of their own example,
> > their own presence, and a comfort with who they are and what
> > they can and can't do or control personally. and the wisdom
> > to support in the simplest ways possible, like tape,
> > markers, circle, for everyone else to pick up and do their
> > own part. self-organizing. this comfort, clarity,
> > integrity, confidence, i thikn, lets the caring come
> > through, and suddenly they are "being inviting", not just
> > "doing it".
> >
> > practice implies doing it again and again until we can 'be'
> > it without the props of the doing. and over time
> > controlling leaders become inviting leaders. i was saying
> > just the other night at my neighborhood association, talking
> > about invitation, and pointing out that if we bring more and
> > more invitations to the fore, if this is how we do
> > neighborhood, then what we get over time is a more and more
> > inviting neighborhood.
> >
> > so this gets to my last point about invitation (at least for
> > the moment!) ...if we live in open space and open space is
> > inviting... then we must live in the midst of invitations, a
> > whole bunch of things just trying or waiting to happen. at
> > the neighborhood group, it's common to bemoan the lack of
> > volunteers to do things... but that's really a lack of
> > volunteers to do what a few board people think should be
> > done. meanwhile, people are convening all kinds of little
> > things that could benefit greatly by being supported with a
> > community bulletin board. on bowen island that bulletin
> > board is what chris corrigan calls "invititation corner", a
> > vacant little piece of land just off the ferry, where
> > posters of all sorts go up and invite gathering.
> >
> > and i always go back to your very first words to me, ever,
> > harrison... when i asked in the kickoff of my first open
> > space breakout session about how to, in a word, organize
> > people/work/organization... you said "i don't. i go in and
> > ask what's working and then ask how to grow more of that."
> > what's working is inherently inviting. "working" and
> > "inviting" are not separate. and i've always found this to
> > be true... when i look for what's working, that's where i
> > always find the bits of language, story, structure, action
> > that are the fodder for inviting more of what works.
> >
> > so the only failure possible might be a failure to notice
> > what's really working and why?
> >
> > 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 Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Steve Cochran
> > <scochran305 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for opening this dialogue, Harrison.
> >
> > I'm wondering how any invitation can be regarded as
> > failing if we enbrace the 'whoever comes...'
> > principle?
> >
> > Best to All - Steve
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM, Harrison Owen
> > <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > * *
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Steve Cochran
> >
> > Sustainability Strategies LLC
> > National Center for Sustainability
> > US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
> >
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> >
> > --
> > Suzanne Daigle
> > NuFocus Strategic Group
> > 7159 Victoria Circle
> > University Park, FL 34201
> > FL 941-359-8877; CT 203-722-2009
> > www.nufocusgroup.com
> > s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
> >
> >
> >
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