Notice how tone of voice in conversations acts to either shut down exploration or open it up. Choice of words matters as well because of the emotional charge of words regardless of the under and over tones. Same goes for the stories we tell each other that name and assess our experience. Some stories invite further inquiry; others shut off inquiry - as when people speak in suggestions in contrast to speaking in dogmas.
If the politicians have their way with me … I who have no kids will support education, I who don’t gamble will support gambling, I who vow peace will support war, I who am not pregant will support pregnancy legislation, I who value diplomacy will support embargoes.
We need to be far more inventive in creating ways to allow civic dialogue on all matters that matter. Meet The Bloggers is one of the most innovative media for doing just that. There is no reason to continue having faith in the current system that doesn’t get it.
Blogged with Flock
I’ve been noticing the way we talk to each other. There is a way we express ourselves that feels to others like an invitation to respond and engage; and there is a way we express ourselves that doesn’t feel like any kind of invitation. It’s subtle, yet palpable.
I know people who speak in ways that don’t invite response. Their tone implies a sense of, It’s all about me and what you think couldn’t possibly be as interesting as what I’m saying.
I also know people who practice the opposite approach where even while they speak, they seem to be interested in what we have to say about what they have to say. It’s a tone of, You probably have at least some interesting things to say about what I’m saying.
To me it is less a matter of morals and ethics and more about good plumbing, although maybe this is the ultimate ethic and morality. The fact of the matter is that everyday human life produces toxic by-products. It is inevitable and quite natural and may be prevented only with the cessation of life, which is not quite what I would have in mind. The critical issues is to keep flushing the system — and that requires lot of space in order to keep things moving. I grant you this may not be the most delicate way to put things, and one might conclude that OST is simply the community commode — but it seems to work.
Excerpt from a recent listserve post from Harrison Owen, riffing on the power of Open Space Technology
Chaos does make us more mindful. We make better choices in more chaotic environments because we pay much closer attention to the subtleties of what is happening around us. You cannot be on your cellphone, or talking to others or letting your mind wander when you are driving in unregulated traffic. You have to use all of the capacities that every driving instructor tries to teach you when you are sixteen. Pay attention, anticipate, leave space and be careful. Good advice for a chaotic world.
Blogged with Flock
In a dynamic world, who we know has become the key to what we know. Knowledge has always been a function of connection, not position.
Forget your excuses for not getting to know new people. To not expand our connections is to not expand our consciousness. To embrace new connections is to embrace new consciousness.
One of my hopes is that we continue to elect leaders who have strong competencies in knowing how to be an engaged member of the thought leaders in their respective communities.
I’m confident it’s both a possible and measurable goal. The responsibility of the community is to demand this from any incumbant and emerging candidates.
In open space, everything happens by invitation. Authentic engagement only happens when people feel free to participate or not.
The idea of authentic engagement is a challenge for institutions that have no history of trusting people.
When trust is given, people receive.
In the simplest of terms for me, what I do in open space is invite. ItÕs a fractal invitation Š an invitation that hopes to inspire a wave of other invitations by others who have come together in open space. My being in the moment is one who invites.
My role is to be Jack in a way that makes it easy for Lisa to be Lisa and Chris to be Chris and all of us together in a way that has never happened before and will never happen again in exactly this way.
If I keep from meddling with people, they take care of themselves
If I keep from commanding people, they behave themselves
If I keep from preaching at people, they improve themselves
If I keep from imposing on people, they become themselves.
Tao Te Ching
