[OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Tue Dec 13 12:53:39 PST 2011


Ah Michael, you old 'cyclist you! I surely get the picture, understand the
drift, but my perspective may be a little different. As the father of 5 and
grandfather of 6 (last one still too small to ride.yet) I know something of
training wheels and holding on to the back of the seat. 

 

First for the training wheels. Fantastic invention. Provides a relatively
painless introduction to the great art of cycling while offering relief to
the aching back of the parent (you don't have to bend over while running).
Seems to go pretty much all by itself. Lesson for Open Space? Do it simple,
do it smart - and never do more than you have to (One more thing not to
do!).

 

Then The Steady Hand Routine. There comes a time when the training wheels
come off, but still a little learning to do in preparation for the solo
ride. Your "Steady Hand" can help with the transition. But at a price. You
get to stoop and run a lot. L But Thank God - Most kids get it real quick,
maybe even quicker than they should, and always faster than their parents.
But that is what youth is all about. Suddenly you find yourself running a
lot faster than you really wanted to. Of course, you could try to hold on,
but that only creates a lose/lose situation. You get pooped and the kid gets
frustrated. Answer? Let go!! Lesson for Open Space? I think it is the same
thing.

 

Sooner or later we come to the whole matter of STOPPING. You can be assured
that one way or another, and hopefully without a great deal of pain and
destruction. Stopping will take place and the ride will end. It could well
be that some handholding and a band aid or two will be needed, but for the
most part a lot of cheering from the curb, along with some small amount of
coaching, will take care of the business. As it turns out, there is more to
riding a bike than pumping the peddles, but that is just details.

 

When it is all over there is the marvelous opportunity for some great
conversation along with a suitable libation. A Coke will do, but there are
alternatives for the parent.  Just think of all the rides to come and the
possibility of shared adventures. On your own, Kid and you can forget about
training wheels and the helping hand. And with a little luck, you can share
your new found knowledge and skills with your younger siblings. YES! It is
called paying it forward.

 

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)

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From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Michael Herman
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:33 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] OST - Open Systems Thinking

 

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

 

 

 

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 OSLIST
Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org

 

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 OSLIST
Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org

 

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
Complex Environments; www.change-facilitation.com,
www.change-management-toolbook.com bernd.weber at change-facilitation.org;
Regional Phone  numbers: 

-Austria: +43 664 135 4828 <tel:%2B43%20664%20135%204828> , landline + 431
5968657 <tel:%2B%20431%205968657> )

-Sri Lanka: landline +94 11 2785859 <tel:%2B94%2011%202785859> , iPhone +94
777740757 <tel:%2B94%20777740757> 

 

 

NEW: Intensive Learning Workshop 

"Playing with the Waves of Change" 

www.change-facilitation.com/

 

You want to have the design  for a "Playing with the Waves (of Change) WS 2
completely taylor-made according to your individual learning interests &
needs & limitations? Then have a look to the questionnaire at

www.surveymonkey.com/s/5ZDS6JQ

 

 

 

If you get Email from my account <bernd.weber at change-facilitation.org>
please do not use the reply button but answer to <weberb at gmx.at>, because my
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Am 12.12.2011 um 20:22 schrieb Artur Silva:

 

Hi:

 

Have any of you ever heard about this?

 

OST -  <http://www.thelightonthehill.com/> OPEN SYSTEMS THINKING:

 <http://www.thelightonthehill.com/> http://www.thelightonthehill.com/

 

Interesting...

 

Regards

 

Artur

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