Meta-Harvest of Open Space sessions on day 2

[Ria Baeck]

Meta-Harvest of Open Space sessions on day 2

Guiding question: What do we sense is emerging now?

Harvest to bring back into the convergence: new forms and next steps

(as a separate document attached below)

This meta-harvest looks at all that is happening and proposed as an ecology or a complex evolving system. This means that there are many nodes or centers of activity, that it is important that nodes are related or connected and that there is no central hierarchical leadership. A system is fractal in nature, with lots of  ‘things’ appearing on all levels.

 

1. Principles

We see some principles emerging. They work on all levels of the system, in all fractals. This is not an extensive list, but what came out of the Open Space sessions. The first six were clearly mentioned; the last ones were more implicit.

-       Keep slowing down

-       Authentic place and contribution. Identify what you are an anchor-point for in your practice.

-       Connect, re-connect and illuminate

-       Walk the talk

-       Think small first

-       Track stories – bridge past, present and future

-       A clear shared purpose is key

-       Reflection is key too

-       Keep sensing the whole, seeing the whole system: see Europe in the world

-       Sensing the membrane(s), that’s where innovation happens.

 

2. New forms – Innovation:

-       Do more of what works:

• Form core teams / local cells
• Harvesting: let the stories talk and travel

-       New forms arising – they come from the edges

• Local cells in immediate vicinity of where practitioners are (in own DGs)
• Integration of new methodologies: Flow Game, Systemic Constellation work
• Set up Labs: working on real topics in a new way

 

 

3. BIGGER CONTEXT

In an ecosystem, in a complex evolving system it is always good to understand what is the bigger context we are working and living in. At least to be aware of it. It is about being aware of the bigger wholeness of which we are part.

 

Beyond Polarities

One way of looking at the bigger context is to see that we are invited to go beyond polarities in different ways.

-       beyond unity and diversity – a challenge for Europe

-       beyond individual and collective

-       beyond in- and outside the European Commission

-       beyond masculine and feminine

 

A holding circle – there is a need for a holding circle for the unfolding of the potential of Europe. This goes beyond the EC. In complexity there is no possibility of planning as usual; but the combination of a holding container and a guiding question can do the job of providing guidance for the unfolding.

 

This circle – and all the work we are doing – is from and by people inside the EC and outside. In complex evolving systems borders make your identity, but it also makes possible to take your food in!

 

A need to integrate the spiritual dimension. In the systemic constellation 4 elements were looking for a right relationship with each other:

-       Art of Participatory Leadership: Will it be ready to interact with the Member States?

-       Member states: with all its elements: government, people, land/place

-       Spirit of Europe, as sourced from the future

-       The EC appeared as host and convener

 

 

4. WE NEED A HIGH PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

 

-       We need to build more and strong (inside) capacity

• Training AoPL 1 and 2?
• Training on the job
• Mentoring – apprenticing – coaching
• Community of Practice

-       Link internal and external to increase capacity through the wider network

-       Form Art of Harvesting core team – with people from current and new ones.

-       Create a core team on the link AoPL and strategic OD

 

Note how the different principles and new forms are showing up!

 

A high professional practice can translate in 3 main points:

- Strengthen the current Community of Practice

- A new AoPL – not a ‘next level’ or ‘2.0’, but more like ‘AoPL continued’

- New developments

 

4.1  Strengthen the AoPL CoP

- define a clear purpose for this CoP

- mapping all the CoP activities, and let people know about them

- create a member space for all to see

- connect and share the stories – the ‘lore’ of the CoP

- reflection in the CoP on: what am I learning about myself and the systems living Participatory Leadership

- feeding forward the insights of this inquiry to the larger community

 

4.2 Art of Participatory Leadership continued

- take a new look at the workbook

- Collective Story Harvest into the workbook

- AoPL as engine for strategic OD

- translate Circle Practice to being a Core Team in AoH / AoPL context

 

4.3 New Developments

- Finding seedbeds for Labs

- starting a Art of Harvesting CoP

- designing a 2^nd Art of Harvesting pilot – an integrated hosting/harvesting training

- Call in an Art of Systemic Transformation Training

 

 

5. Strategic Organisational Development (O.D.)

- Get mandate – partner with whoever holds the power/resources – strategic level can remove structural obstacles

- Present to Commissioners

- Identify the conversations needed with key decision makers to create better conditions for this practice (meeting rooms – resources – conferences - …)

- Start/continue the movement with the same decision makers

- launching the Contracting Service from HR to match internal and external resources for specific projects.

- Kick-start the new org. development framework contract with Demos

- Set up the internal/external core team to steer the new OD framework

[Helen Titchen Beeth]

Thank you Ria, this is precious!

[Mary Alice Arthur]

Wonderful to see this!