<div dir="ltr">Harold,
<p class="">Yes beautiful indeed.<span style>
</span>And I know Harold that I am in the right place –that we are in the right
place, part of this amazing community.<span style> </span>I
am loving this discussion!</p>
<p class="">I feel as if I have lived a lifetime this past week and
what’s written in this post gives me serious pause about Open Space and what it
has meant for me.<span style> </span>Now I live my life
more fully and deeply within myself and with others. Greater compassion, more
peace, a quiet serenity, humor and such deep gratitude! Almost seems like a
religious experience, yet it’s not what I feel it to be. How can I ever
describe the internal stirrings that Open Space awakened or reawakened in me,
the confidence, the sense of purpose, the courage, the joy!<span style> </span>I know it is the same for many others.</p>
<p class="">A tool? A process? A way of being? High performance? <span style> </span>These words seem so inadequate. All I know is
that I am not the same person that I used to be. </p>
<p class="">Ten days ago in New York City, I completed my Scrum Master
training with Devon Morris. Then I facilitated the Agile conference (350
technology folks) and right after, went to Paris to the Scrum Alliance
conference (close to 400 attendees).<span style> </span><span style> </span>I was a participant this time. </p>
<p class="">Reading Harrison’s post, thinking about what Dan Mezick is
igniting, reflecting on the Open Spaces I experienced, I wonder:<span style> </span>“Am I still chasing the bucket of gold at the
end of the rainbow?” The solutions, the answers.</p>
<p class="">About three years ago, I determined that Scrum, Agile,
Kanban, seemed like a good fit with Open Space… from emergence to convergence
with execution and action using Agile processes and tools.<span style> </span>Harrison had facilitated a large group at a
Scrum Alliance conference in Orlando in 2010; I helped at the newsroom.<span style> </span>I felt drawn to all the wonderful geeks I
met; I saw the passion they had for their work; their devotion to continuous
improvement, their commitment to shared leadership and their great spirit of
play. <span style> </span>I felt this to be sadly lacking in
many corporate functional silos as evidenced by the high employee
disengagement. </p>
<p class="">I surmised that by combining the Agile/Scrum tools and
processes with Open Space (both seeped with similar values and principles), maybe
we could make a dent in that ole industrial hierarchical model of work.<span style> </span>Perhaps we could ignite a Workplace Revolution
with Millennials, Baby Boomers and others – by collaborating our two
communities together. </p>
<p class="">Guilty as charged. I realize that I’m still chasing the
answers and perhaps missing the point. Imagining an outcome and planning
strategies around it.<span style> </span>Not to say that
this is bad, cause in the end, I want to tackle those big urgent and complex
issues in the world of work with others. But somehow, the magic is not in that busy
journey, it’s in the quietness like the feeling we get where we're opening and holding space. <br></p>
<p class="">Three conversations related to this moved me this past week… in New York,
someone mentions being at the Orlando Scrum Conference that Harrison
facilitated and how deeply it changed her...3 years later. In Paris, I meet someone for the
first time. She is a facilitator who admits to being a lurker on the OS list, not
comfortable in posting.<span style> </span>I urge her to
post expressing how we are missing her wonderful points of view. We talk about
it a bit more; I admit my unease feeling I am posting too much.<span style> </span>She reacts as I did: please continue to post. </p>
<p class="">Then later at the Scrum conference, a seasoned Scrum coach
admits feeling stressed writing and announcing a topic at the opening circle.
He felt that way at the conference in London and again in Paris.<span style> </span>He created a topic and many came to his great
surprise and delight. <span style> </span></p>
<p class="">What does all this mean? Why do we hold back? How similar we
all are! What would life be life if we lived by the law of 2 feet? Will more information, more tools, more busy…ness, more precision
bring more joy, happiness and high performance. And where does love fit in, in all
of this. How is it that I can feel such love now for so many?<span style> </span>And when that feeling happens, it seems that
trust emerges and that we have all that we need: to do that which needs to be done,
perfectly imperfect in emergence, like riding a wave. <span style><br></span></p>
<p class="">Oh gosh… “one less thing to do” is easier said than
done!<span style> <br></span></p><p class=""><span style>Suzanne<br></span></p>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 2:21 AM, Harold Shinsato <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com" target="_blank">harold@shinsato.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div>Beautiful. I think I'm in the right
place.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
Harold</font></span><div class="im"><br>
<br>
On 9/25/13 11:24 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:<br>
</div></div><div class="im">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Harold
said: “You're clearing going directly against the heart of
what Dan is trying to promote. Maybe I invite disaster for
myself by speaking an alternative view from what you are
saying given your founding status of this community - but
perhaps given my 12+ years working in the Agile space - I
have something worthwhile to say.”<br>
<br>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Yes
you do! And Harold – if you are waiting for disaster to
strike it may well come, but not from me! A long time ago I
said that Open Space is free (not franchised, trademarked,
limited license, etc), BUT there is a cost – that we share
what we are learning. For 28 years, I think we have done
that. And doing all that sharing is (for me) the heart and
soul of the OS Community. At times the conversations have
been hot and heavy, with multiple points of view
represented. GREAT! And that multiplicity of viewpoints has
enabled us to go deeper and deeper into our collective
experience. The simple truth of the matter is that none of
us (and that most definitely includes me) really knows or
fully understands the reality of what we are in the midst
of. It is a great Question – or better – a great Quest. And
we aren’t there yet, and I seriously doubt that our time of
arrival is anytime soon. At least I hope not.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Given
the enormity of our experience over time and space, on into
the deeper and timeless spaces of the human spirit –
multiple view points are not only expected, but essential.
And each view point is valid, at least it is the valid view
of the viewer. But all are partial, and therefore misleading
– one might say false. Not unlike the blind men describing
the elephant, we can only depict what we experience – but
somewhere in our evolving experiences lies a fuller sense of
what it is all about. One might hope for a final (correct)
view, but I more than suspect that we find ourselves in an
infinite regress where certainty becomes questionable... and
once again we are on the edge of The Question. The Quest. I
wouldn’t have it any other way.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I
understand that many people find this situation
uncomfortable, even frustrating. Questions are fine – but
where is the ANSWER? At times this discomfort seems almost
overwhelming: “Forget the Question...Give me the Answer.” I
can fully appreciate the reaction, and yet something in me
just can’t sit still. The given answers become momentary
pauses prior to deeper and juicier questions. Answers are a
resting point, but there is more...<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">For
me a key word here is “evolving.” Our common experience
(with OS), like most serious elements of life, did not (does
not) come out fully formed. What began with two martinis has
changed, transmogrified, transformed. Curiously it is always
the same, but somehow deeper and different. And each step
along the way has its own viewpoint, special words,
“answers” which are correct and valid for that moment and
context, but always open to further evolution. A “first
timer” in Open Space will have a viewpoint which is totally
appropriate to that time, place, and person. As the
experience is repeated, the viewpoint seemingly expands and
deepens.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Many
of the sticky points we have experienced over the years
(“Givens,” “Prework,” Tools,” etc) got gooey because we
forgot the evolving nature of our conversation and mistook
the validity of a particular point of view for a “final
answer.” I would guess this has been compounded by the fact
that the norms of our conversations here on OSLIST are quite
different from the more usual situation. One might presume,
if we conducted our business in the same manner that other
groups do – that when the Founder (that would be me) or some
other “elder” said something online – that saying was The
Law, Last word, or “Truth.” We play by different rules, and
I personally assume that any statement I make is just as
“questionable” as any other. Truth to tell, I often feel
somehow cheated when there isn’t some further and different
discussion. So yes, I say what I experience and think
(hopefully acknowledging the difference), presuming
everybody else will do the same... with charity, politeness,
a smile – and a Question. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">So
is OST a “tool” – just like every other group work tool? Of
course. But then again, it (OS) doesn’t quite seem to fit.
Unlike any other Group Process, you don’t have to do very
much, if anything. Indeed the less you do, the better it
seems to work. Somehow it seems that “everybody already
knows...” Weird.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Is
Pre-Work essential? Definitely! But strangely some of the
best (deepest, effective, most moving) OS’s in my experience
happened without a speck of Pre-Work, except for basic
logistics. And some of them didn’t even have basic
logistics. Definitely odd.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Do
we need to identify and consider The Givens? Certainly. If
nothing else, doing so keeps some folks out of trouble and
makes managers (sponsors) more relaxed. Still and all I’ve
always found that when something is “placed off the table,”
you can always find it under the table, or out in the hall.
Scratch my head.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">And
Dan – Have I struck a blow to the heart of your endeavor? I
hope not... ‘cause I think it is GREAT, and I’ve told you
that. Indeed a basic mantra of my life is, “Open Space
anywhere, about anything, with anybody, as often as you
can.” That goes for the Agile folks, along with everybody
else. But when it comes to outcomes and expectations maybe
the real “Golden Ring” is not so much the Adoption of Agile
with all those great principles, practices, and approaches,
good as they are. Rather the Pot of Gold is genuine High
Performance, real agility – done totally as a natural act.
Kind of like what seems to happen in just about every Open
Space. Possible?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Thank
You Harold!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Harrison
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Harrison
Owen<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">7808
River Falls Dr.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Potomac,
MD 20854<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">USA<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">189
Beaucaire Ave. (summer)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Camden,
Maine 04843<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Phone
<a href="tel:301-365-2093" value="+13013652093" target="_blank">301-365-2093</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">(summer)
<a href="tel:207-763-3261" value="+12077633261" target="_blank">207-763-3261</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com%20" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.openspaceworld.com</span></a> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.ho-image.com%20" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.ho-image.com</span></a>
(Personal Website)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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