[OSList] 30 Years ... and Counting!

[Harrison via OSList]

Come this 4th of July it will be 30 years since something called Open Space
Technology happened. At the time, we (that would be me, for sure) didn't
have a clue what it was or where it was headed. Since then it seems like a
lot of good stuff has come down. Of course we need to remember the learnings
from the '60's - "Never trust anyone over 30." Well... we just got there!
Everybody should be well advised that what happens next is TOTALLY their
responsibility... Or something.

 

What happens next is definitely your responsibility. Having entered into my
80th year, I am well past the age of discretion. But I do have a few
thoughts that may, or may not, be germane.

 

I don't think this is the end of something. I do believe it is the
beginning. And... There will always be a time when "the first timers" (as
participants or facilitators) gets the WOW Experience (Thank you Tom
Peters). Kind of like the first ride on your bicycle. Millions of people
have done it before you. But your First Ride is always unique (for you). 

 

There will always be times when bits and pieces of our common experience in
Open Space are held out as "singularities" - something strange and unique.
The latest version is called, "Liberating Structures (Thank you Henri!)."
Wonderful Idea, I think, but just a very small part of the whole. 

 

And for all those wonderful people who are attempting to wed Open Space to
Agile (Dan et al you know who I am talking about) - I say Three Cheers! And
I also hope that the day will come when it is recognized that truly Agile
organization are fully, consciously, intentionally - self organizing. At
that point, you don't have to wed anything to anything. Just be what you
already are. Which is another way of saying that SCRUM (along with all the
other "techniques") sound nice, but are yet one more example of "working too
hard."

 

And What Next? Truly, I am out of crystal balls. But I rather think the
beginning will begin when we call "Full Stop" on any attempt to organize
anything. And in that momentary space (Open Space?) just notice what is
organizing all by itself. Amazing! And we didn't do a thing. Which leads
naturally to the next question... How do we take advantage of the winds of
our existence to bring our ships to harbors of fullness and greatness?

 

And then we may take a lesson from Sailors and the Sea. Sailors do not
create the wind or the Sea. Although many have tried. All have failed. But
they have learned to ride the winds and the seas to their advantage. We have
the same opportunity.

 

On this 30th Birthday, and as I approach my 80th - Good Luck and Carry On!

 

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

www.ho-image.com

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