<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>The problem with sticking with things is you might just end up stuck.</div><div><br></div><div>Ho hum.</div><div><br></div><div>Paul Levy <br><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div><br>On 13 Nov 2014, at 18:14, Harrison Owen via OSList <<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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--></style><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Open Space, in its “original” form is sparse simplicity to say the least. Ten to fifteen minutes introduction, and it is off the races, or in my case, off to take a nap. The evolution of this format followed a simple dictum: “Think of one more thing NOT to do.” Over time in my practice I simply removed one more element. The first to go were so called, “warm up exercises.” But it went down from there. My surprise was that the less I did, the better it got... which seemed to be the exact opposite of many of my colleagues’ experience with the methods and approaches they had created. Their simple guide books gave way to 400 page Manuals with additions and extensions. Of course, there were times when people remarked to me that OS was so simple it couldn’t possibly work. But it did. Simply sit in a circle, create a bulletin board, acknowledge the 5 principles and the Law – and Go to Work! That’s it. That’s all.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I confess that I do love elegant simplicity, and so there is a large part of me that would stick with the “original” for that reason alone. To this may be added the fact that this “elegant simplicity” apparently violated essentially all the principles and practices of management that I knew about. To some extent this was a source of no small amount of embarrassment, for after all when what you see, do, and think is at odds with the Received Wisdom there are obvious questions about your grasp of reality. But, the disparity between what I was witnessing and what (I was told) I should be experiencing has led to a marvelous quest into the strange new world of self organizing systems. Rich and rewarding indeed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Now it seems that the world is changing (or at least our perception of that world) such that the strange environment of self organization is no longer so strange. What appeared odd, counter-intuitive, impossible is now almost mainstream. Not quite but getting there. And if so, perhaps it is now time to let go of that old “elegant simplicity” in all of its appealing purity... and plunge into the marvelous world of combinations and permutations. And why not? It could be a lot of fun.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I can see the possibilities, but I doubt seriously I would change. Senile sentimentality for sure, AND I actually have another concern which I think may be determinative. I suspect that OST (simple version) may be the best Training Program going when it comes to the introduction of folks to the High Arts of navigating a self organizing world. And best of all it is Experiential Learning from the start. Training and Doing are absolutely united. It is not talking about self organization it is being intentionally in that mode. And any added complexity/parallel program will tend to obscure the central mind bending fact – It’s happening all by itself. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">We have talked about this “ training” function before, usually under the heading of Chris Corrigan’s notion of Training Wheels. That is definitely good start, but only a start. We can do more, and it could be a real kick. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">So I plan to stick with the original – with the hope and intent that lots of new people will drop by to experience the incredible, productive freedom of losing control, and then come to understand that it is actually their birthright. They only have to claim it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Harrison</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Winter Address</p><p class="MsoNormal">7808 River Falls Drive</p><p class="MsoNormal">Potomac, MD 20854</p><p class="MsoNormal">301-365-2093</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Summer Address</p><p class="MsoNormal">189 Beaucaire Ave.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Camden, ME 04843</p><p class="MsoNormal">207-763-3261</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Websites</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="%20www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">OSLIST <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:#1f497d">To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:<a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>OSList mailing list</span><br><span>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a></span><br><span>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:</span><br><span><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>