[OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking

Tue Dec 13 09:33:05 PST 2011

i think the training wheels image is itself a half-way sort of thing.  yes,
ost is sort of training wheels in the first or maybe even few times used.
but probably enough as just a one time use.  as soon as a client or group
i'm with has that first taste of the movement, my thinking and working with
them always shifts in the direction of a parent running behind the
bicycle.

the traininig wheels image preserves a discrete separation between wheels
on and wheels off.  i find that in making the transition, it's much more
informative to thinking of myself as a steady hand on the back edge of the
seat... sometimes a firm guide, sometimes lightly present feeling for first
signs of deviations from balance, and then also some time of running behind
and not touching at all... so that i can say very clearly and truly... you
really were doing it all by yourself.

the most important thing i think i do with people after that first taste in
oepn space, is open the conversation about what ost is, why it worked (what
are the shapes naturally embedded within it) and where are those (natural)
shapes already occuring in everyday work of the group.  often, all th
shapes are there.  sometimes there are gaps where support might be
strengthened, sometimes there are things to stop doing because they get in
the way.  but mostly, the pieces are all there and just need to be better
understood, more consciously connected, and inforrmed by that first
experience of what the body(ies) feel like when sailing down the sidewalk.

ost is normal, i think, not when they have a copy of the book in the
company library, or a corps of facilitators duly certified in the "tool"
but when some sense of self-regulation/organization-regulation (continuous
progress and constant balancing) has been recognized as part of every job
description in the place.

in somatics we can make a distinction between being aware of our body, in
the body (still separate), and as a body.  much like harrison's early
observation that ost is not about better meetings, or even better
organizations, but a better way of being in organization.  maybe also
captured in the ways little kids talk in english about "riding my bike" and
how folks who've been at it a long time, life and riding, tend to describe
themselves as "cyclists."

m

--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
312-280-7838 (mobile)

http://MichaelHerman.com
http://ManorNeighbors.com
http://OpenSpaceWorld.org

On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 10:41 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Far be it for me to pay less than full honor to Open Space and still less,
> to pay less than profound homage to all the good friends and colleagues who
> have journeyed along the way. But at the end of the day, I find myself in
> full agreement with friend Chris Corrigan who aptly described Open Space as
> “training wheels.” Training wheels are very helpful when you are learning
> to ride a bike, but you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. We
> aren’t there yet, and there is still a place for “doing” an Open Space –
> and doing it as well and simply as possible. But I always do it with a
> strong caveat, warning, or perhaps a plea. Just remember, I say, there is
> absolutely nothing I am doing with you that you can’t do for yourself. It
> ain’t rocket science! I have been doing (saying) that for a long time. And
> now I think I would raise the ante – Don’t just “Do”  an Open Space – BE it
> 24X7!! Open the space of your life and the lives of those around you, and
> you will discover your own natural state, as a participant in this
> wonderful self-organizing world. Good old OST has been very useful, to say
> nothing of fun, as a training environment and a grand experiment. But when
> the lessons are learned and the data is in – it is time to get on with
> life, as soon as possible. ****
>
> ** **
>
> As I said, we (as the global collective) are obviously not there yet – but
> I think I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel. Of course that
> may just be the train, but when it comes to hopes and expectations I can
> only say/wish “Bye bye OST – Hello Life! Or something.****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison****
>
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> Harrison Owen****
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Birgitt Williams
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:30 AM
>
> *To:* 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear Harrison,****
>
> A different perspective, in this case mine, is that we really honor Open
> Space Technology as an important meeting facilitation method, and that we
> are good stewards for its integrity (wholeness). This would mean that we
> preserve it in its original form for generations to come for their use and
> thereby a tool for the ongoing life nurturing shifts for humanity. Why
> would you want to advocate distilling this down to something that blends
> into disappearance when it is such a valuable tool?****
>
> ** **
>
> Birgitt****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Harrison Owen
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:23 AM
> *To:* 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking****
>
> ** **
>
> I love it! Confusion!! Reminds me of days long ago when I had a newsletter
> called “TWG Newsletter” In fact the letters stood for absolutely nothing at
> all – leading my friend Peter Vaill to muse that since they didn’t mean
> anything in particular, everybody was free to supply their own meanings.
> His offerings: “Those Who Grock,” “Transformation Without Gurus” – and a
> few more I can’t recall. This lead to sort of a contest with the latest
> offerings appearing in the “TWG News” (of course.) Actually, the simple
> solution to all of this is to recognize that it is all Open Space, call it
> whatever you like. Perhaps the best option is to call it nothing at all, in
> which case it (by whatever name) would simply disappear in a cloud of
> everydayness. Wonderful..****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>
> Potomac, MD 20854****
>
> USA****
>
> ** **
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>
> Camden, Maine 20854****
>
> ** **
>
> Phone 301-365-2093****
>
> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>
> ** **
>
> www.openspaceworld.com****
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)****
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Bernhard Weber
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:52 AM
> *To:* Artur Silva; World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Artur****
>
> Interesting indeed.****
>
> Though my first emotional reaction was: being embarrassed (because they
> have "stolen" the OST Acronym;-)****
>
> Bernardo****
>
>
> Bernd Weber****
>
> Change Facilitation s.r.o., A Global Partner Who Makes Change Happen in
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> Am 12.12.2011 um 20:22 schrieb Artur Silva:****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi:****
>
>  ****
>
> Have any of you ever heard about this?****
>
>  ****
>
> *OST - OPEN SYSTEMS THINKING <http://www.thelightonthehill.com/>:*****
>
> *http://www.thelightonthehill.com/*****
>
>  ****
>
> Interesting...****
>
>  ****
>
> Regards****
>
>  ****
>
> Artur****
>
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