[OSList] Respect in Self-Organizing Systems
Daniel Mezick via OSList
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Mon Oct 20 07:40:02 PDT 2014
Hi Alan,
I see and have examined your excellent essayConversare – an experience
of treating anyone we meet with respect <http://conversare.net/?p=1590>
Here's what I think:
The Golden Rule, is, well, golden. Your essay is about it. And your
essay discusses 1-to-1 interactions in some detail as they pertain to
the sending and receiving of respect by and between individuals.
Now-- in a group- that is, a self-organizing social system-- I think
respect plays out at the level of group, in the process of
self-organizing...
<BLATANTLY SUBJECTIVE OPINION>
Groups typically seek leadership. And so members send these "tagged"
packets of respect to others, who receive and then either accept or
reject them. The packets are tagged with consent to follow. Tagged with
"you have my permission to help lead". Tagged with [authorization to
help lead.]
If I tag you, you receive but may ultimately reject my send. If you
accept my send, others notice that Daniel tags Alan. The others are
observant and independent agents, and so they each decide what's best-
and next- for them.
Being tagged with authorization is very flattering to ego, and can be
the cause of many sorrows.
And not just for the tag-er and the tag-ee, but for the group as a whole.
In self-organizing systems with high levels of maturity, authorization
routinely flows to where it can do the most good in service to the
groups primary task.
<BLATANTLY SUBJECTIVE OPINION>
I often wonder what the primary task of the OSLIST group is.
Daniel
On 10/18/14 4:11 AM, Alan Stewart wrote:
>
> Greetings to you Dan, Harrison and All
>
> Dan: I concur with the verity of your two ‘outlandish assertions’ and
> go further in indicating - from inspirations and observations beyond
> measure – that
>
>
> "Whenever we treat each other well good things happen."
>
>
> And suggest that this be noted in a context as specified by late
> lamented RD Laing:
>
> "The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to
> notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is
> little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice
> shapes our thoughts and deeds."
>
> Our main 'failure to notice' as a species, in my opinion, is the
> *implications* of practising the Golden Rule. /“Treat others as you
> would want to be treated” in every situation./ For now acting in the
> moment (similar to ethical action) with an underpinning of the Golden
> Rule sets in train possibilities for 'positive' outcomes, with no
> notion or consideration of what these may be.
>
>
> My friend Pille Bunnell in Vancouver was prompted to say, in response
> to my bringing this to her notice:
>
>
> “… when nice things happen, we can always find good human relations
> behind them, and so we are once again encouraged by the quality of
> humanness, and how we love to be this species, /Homo sapiens-amans/.
> [amans is Latin for ‘loving’].”
>
>
> See also my blog post Conversare – an experience of treating anyone
> we meet with respect <http://conversare.net/?p=1590>
>
>
> I would add that implicit in the formal agreement between a
> facilitator and a sponsor about the facilitation of an OST event is
> that it be a context in which ‘all voices are heard.’
>
>
> Dan: Does that satisfy your second assertion?
>
>
> And Harrison, could it be that all participants feeling secure in
> this knowing be the ‘trigger’ for self organising to emerge? Bearing
> in mind that people can detect bs to the nanogram degree! <smile>
>
>
> /In our globalized world, everybody is fast becoming our neighbour.
> To be treated well.
> Forever./
>
>
> Looking forward
>
>
> Go well
>
>
> Alan
>
>
> *Alan Stewart, PhD
> Social Artist
> Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun
> Based in Adelaide and operating throughout Austral-Asia
> Em: **alan at multimindsolutions.com* <mailto:alan at multimindsolutions.com>*
> Web: **www.multimindsolutions.com* <http://www.multimindsolutions.com/>*
> Mob: **+61413848680* <tel:0413848680>*
> Blog: **Conversare* <http://conversare.net/>
> ** <http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/site/comedians/>
>
> "If there's dancing count me in"
>
>
> On 18 October 2014 05:08, Harrison Owen via OSList
> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote:
>
> Dan said:***“... in human systems, there is no such thing as
> self-organization, /whatsoever/, unless and until "respect" is
> successfully sent, and successfully received, by and between the
> members.”*
>
> **
>
> Interesting idea... There is no question in my mind that respect
> is critical to effective human interactions. But I am not so sure
> about it being causative for self organization. As a matter of
> fact I rather suspect that the flow of causation goes the other
> way. Or said a little differently -- Respect is a byproduct,
> effect of effective, well working self organization.
>
> I am not sure how one might prove this, but over the years I have
> been blown away by massively hostile groups of human beings, who
> have spent major effort at being dis-respectful to each other,
> showing real respect for each other in the gathering, and that the
> level of respect seemed to grow as the hours and day passed. There
> are multiple examples, but the earliest one was a gathering of
> some 250 Native Americans, Feds and State and local bureaucrats.
> These folks had been given the task of working out the guidelines
> for the expenditure of something in excess of a billion dollars in
> Highway Trust funds for the purposes of building roads on tribal
> lands. They had spent 2 years fighting and the time was running
> out... the money was heading back to the US Treasury. As a last
> ditch effort they tried a little Open Space. When they entered the
> room it was crystal clear that mutual respect was not a common
> currency. By word, deed, and body language they demonstrated how
> little they thought of their fellows. 48 hours later, they had
> their guidelines, but most remarkable to me was the level of
> mutual respect demonstrated in all sorts of ways, and verbalized
> by one Navaho Chief. In the closing circle he said something like,
> “I have known most of you for some time. And it has not been
> pleasant. But I have to tell you that I have rarely felt so
> listened to and respected as I have felt here. Thank you.”
>
> Needless to say the word respect, or admonitions for respectful
> conversation had never been uttered by anybody, and certainly not
> me. It just happened, apparently all by itself.
>
> Harrison
>
> Winter Address
>
> 7808 River Falls Drive
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> 301-365-2093
>
> Summer Address
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave.
>
> Camden, ME 04843
>
> 207-763-3261
>
> Websites
>
> www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com>
>
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>
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> *From:*OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>] *On Behalf Of
> *Daniel Mezick via OSList
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 16, 2014 5:44 PM
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *Subject:* [OSList] Respect in Self-Organizing Systems
>
> Greeting All,
>
> Here I respectfully offer two (2) completely outlandish
> assertions, for your kind consideration:*
>
>
>
> 1. I hereby posit and proffer that, in human systems, there is no
> such thing as self-organization, /whatsoever/, unless and until
> "respect" is successfully sent, and successfully received, by and
> between the members.*
>
> In other words, in human systems, self-organization is all about
> respect. Specifically, the /sending/ and /receiving/ of it.
>
> In real time, /all/ the time. Moment by moment.
>
>
>
> *2. I further posit and proffer that, for human systems, the
> concepts of [respect] and [informal authorization] are very
> closely related, and are often identical.*
>
> Ideally, /formally/ authorized leaders also have /informal/
> authorization; that is, genuine respect. Respect is a medium of
> exchange, and a store of value. Respect is something that can be
> extended to another, and also something that can drawn back by the
> sender at any time, after it is extended.
>
> Likewise, respect can be withheld entirely. And it often is.
>
>
> /"I have used the word 'leadership' instead of 'leader' to
> emphasize a basic point. In the world of Spirit, leadership is the
> capacity to focus Spirit, and is not automatically linked to a
> title or position. Thus, anyone who exercises that capacity is, by
> definition, a leader. Hopefully, titular leaders will also possess
> the capacity of leadership, but that is not necessarily the case."/
>
> *-Harrison Owen, SPIRIT, page 102, footnote 54.*
> Link: http://www.openspaceworld.com/spirit.pdf
>
>
> au·thor·i·za·tion
> ˌôTHərəˈzāSH(ə)n/
> noun: authorization
>
> 1.
> *the right to do work.*
> / "the group authorized her to proceed with making the plans"/
> //
>
>
> re·spect
> rəˈspekt/
> noun
> noun: respect
>
> 1.
> *a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by
> their abilities, qualiti/es, or achievements./*
> / "the director had a lot of respect for Douglas as an actor"/
> / synonyms: *esteem*, regard, *high opinion*, admiration,
> reverence, *deference*, *honor*/
> / "the respect due to a great artist"/
> / antonyms: contempt/
> /*the state of being admired or respected.*/
> / "his first chance in over fifteen years to regain respect
> in the business"/
> /*due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of
> others.*/
> / plural noun: respects/
> / "respect for human rights"/
> / synonyms: *due regard*, politeness, courtesy, civility,
> *deference*/
> / "he spoke to her with respect"/
> / antonyms: disrespect/
> / a person's polite greetings./
> / plural noun: respects/
> / "give my respects to your parents"/
> / 2./
> / a particular aspect, point, or detail./
> / "the government's record in this respect is a mixed one"/
> / synonyms: aspect, regard, facet, feature, way, sense,
> particular, point, detail/
> / "the report was accurate in every respect"/
>
> /verb/
> /verb: respect; 3rd person present: respects; past tense:
> respected; past participle: respected; gerund or present
> participle: respecting/
>
> / 1.//
> /*admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their
> abilities, qualities, or achievements.*//
> / "she was respected by everyone she worked with"/
> /*synonyms: esteem, admire, think highly of, have a high opinion
> of, hold in high regard, hold in (high) esteem, look up to,
> revere, reverence, honor*/
> / "she is highly respected in the book industry"/
>
>
>
>
> For example, I respect Harrison. And so: Harrison, if you are
> willing to lead, I am willing to follow.
>
> --
>
> Daniel Mezick, President
>
> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>
> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>
> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter
> <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>
> Examine my new book:The Culture Game
> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for
> the Agile Manager.
>
> Explore Agile Team Training
> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and
> Coaching. <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>
> Explore the Agile Boston
> <http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/>Community.
>
>
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--
Daniel Mezick, President
New Technology Solutions Inc.
(203) 915 7248 (cell)
Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
<http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
Examine my new book:The Culture Game
<http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
Agile Manager.
Explore Agile Team Training
<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community.
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