[OSList] Why I Actually Like Calling it "The Law of Two Feet"

[Phelim]

In open space technology there is only one law. It’s know as “The Law of Two Feet” Some people don’t like calling it this and it is objected to on the grounds of diversity/disability issues. So it gets re-christened “The law of mobility”. However, I think it’s a very useful metaphor and as such think all should have access to it. However that’s not what I want to talk about today.

Sometimes people concentrate on “The law of two feet.” as being about leaving somewhere: it might be a session, a person who is dominating a conversation, a topic that goes off somewhere you are no longer interested in, all these are things one might want to move away from.

However it’s good to remember it’s a law of TWO feet. Let’s say the first foot or step is away from. Then the second step in terms of our metaphor could be what we are moving towards. If the emphasis is just on the first step the potential energy or even an awareness of the second step can get overwhelmed. Veiled in issues of possibility or social politeness.

So remember both aspects of the Law: “away from” but also “towards”. Where have you already taken yourself or your mind? Where inside yourself have you already taken your next step somewhere else?

This is a useful thing to remember not least because it might support you over the threshold of your imagined impoliteness or arrogance when you find yourself worrying about the fact that you are leaving somewhere and being rude.

Maybe if you focus on where you are going to or where your presence has gone.. Then you could realise it might be rude to have already left a less than present self amongst the group. Or perhaps it’s even arrogant to assume people will even notice that you left.

So whether you are attending to “The Law of Two Feet” or “The Law of Mobility: Focus on the TWO feet of the dynamic and as Hal and Sidra Stone say “Sweat the choice”.


Love Phelim

http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/clusterform


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