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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Craig</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I am a little curious about what you mean
by “invisible leadership.” I suppose if you understand
leadership to be the equivalent of a position on the organization chart –
then by definition anybody who doesn’t show up on the Org Chart is
“invisible.” But from where I sit, leadership and a position on the
chart are only happenstantially correlated. Leadership for me is always a
function or role that any of us can play, and most of us do play at one point
or another. More to the point, it is always visible, although perhaps rather
surprising when somebody we might never expect shows up (becomes visible).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>For me leadership manifests anytime passion
and responsibility come together creating what I call a “Nexus of
Caring.” Somebody really cares about something and is prepared to take
responsibility for what they care about. That tends to get other people’s
attention, particularly if they care about the same thing. Of course, it can
turn out that the whole thing is just a “flash in the pan” –
lots of light and smoke, but no real substance, and not much will happen. On
the other hand, if there is something authentic going on – The Nexus of
Caring will expand. Functionally, a Nexus of Caring is analogous to (same as?)
a Strange Attractor – and the effect in the self organizing world of
human systems is to create the seed bed for new organization. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>We see this operating every time we Open
Space. Somebody stands up and says “This is my issue for which I take
personal responsibility.” If others care to join we then have a nascent
organization which may last only for the time of the discussion period –
or it could be a whole new business and last for years. And of course, the
operative power is not the magic of Open Space (That was two martinis </span></font><font
color=red face=Wingdings><span style='font-family:Wingdings;color:red'>J</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>) but the
fundamental force of self-organization at work. In short what happens in Open
Space is what happens the world over. Nothing new, nothing strange –
business as usual. I think that all organizations, even very old and big
ones, had their start with a Nexus of Caring. Someone, somewhere, sometime
stood up and said, I care and I care to take responsibility for what I care
about. That’s Leadership, I think.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac</span></font><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Maryland</span></font><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'> </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>20854</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype hhowen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Training</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Institute</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal website</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.ho-image.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST: To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: </span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></font></a></span></font></p>
</div>
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12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Craig Gilliam<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Saturday,
December 15, 2007</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>9:38 AM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Craig</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:
.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Several questions about leadership (invisible) on
issues of social change. I always gain insight as I hear from you.</span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am still thinking through the concept of
self-organizing systems and invisible leadership. I am amazed at its
implications and continue to expand my understanding or more precisely, its
understanding and impact on me. A discussion we had sometime back was
very helpful to me. Now, I bring it back to the table--</span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Last night, I watched the movie, <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Amazing Grace</span></i>—the story of a system
reflecting upon itself, on social change. What is the role of
leadership in social change or justice issues? How does <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>invisible leadership</span></i> apply in such
context? Was, and if so, how was William Wilberforce an invisible leader?
I am asking this in an open manner trying to get a handle on it through
this experience. </span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>My first thoughts are that the leader is the surfer of
the current or wave, but before surfing, he/she (or the system) must
acknowledge its there and decide when to get on the surf board and ride, and
when to simply watch and wait. But what about speaking? Does it help create
the wave, simply acknowledge it, or what?</span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>This also carries over into the issue of environment,
etc. . . or any issue. </span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><u1:p><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></u1:p></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thanks,</span></font></p>
<p class=normal1 style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Craig</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Don't get caught with egg on your
face. Play Chicktionary! <a
href="http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_dec"
target="_new">Check it out!</a></span></font></p>
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