How do we hold a space to allow reality to emerge?
The first part of holding a space is sensing that a particular type of communication needs to occur. This might include any number of types of communication such as creative (visioning, brainstorming), administrative (status), integrative (goal setting), productivity (operational), governance (process) or even emotional venting (sometimes we just need to let people get frustrations out in the open). Sensing which type of communication is needed drives the kind of communication space and time that is needed. How many people? Which people? How long? What is the agenda?
Depending on the type of communication, the content of the discussion will tend toward either more structured (administrative, integrative, operational) or less structured (visioning, brainstorming, venting). Generally the less structured the conversation, the larger the sociological space that is needed to allow ideas to emerge. More structured conversations can typically be more controlled, but there should always be an underlying principle of space and timing so that unexpected refinements have the opportunity to present themselves.
Part of the concept of holding a space is to allow creation to happen vs. forcing a particular pattern into existence - a co-creative process instead of an ego-based approach. We may perceive a new situation as a repeat of past experiences. We may want to force this new situation into the same pattern as some specific or synthesized prior experience. What we do not realize is that each new situation is unique. It has emerged in a new time, space and with different subjects and objects. Forcing an old pattern on a new situation may be a well-intentioned desire to make things come out "right", but too much control may kill the possibility of a new or better manifestation.
We may struggle allowing moments of silence when we are in leadership positions. Many times we are doing much of the talking when our groups or teams are assembled. We give status, updates and articulate goals. If we ask a question and see blank stares or too many moments of silence, we may jump to fill in the void with further clarifications or persuasive words. In doing so we may intercept the emergence of ideas that were in the process of baking into existence. This may derail a crucial comment from a colleague.
Some personality types are more suited to holding a space for idea emergence than others. Obviously, listeners are more comfortable with space and synthesis than talkers who may monopolize the conversation and may wish to enforce particular implementations and outcomes on the environment.
Showing posts with label emergence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emergence. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Information, Organization and Emergence
Originally posted in my old blog in September 2008.
One of the most interesting ideas to come out of 20th century science is the possibility that the Universe is information. Information organized into a particular format results in the emergence of a yet higher form of information and reality. Changing something about the fundamental organization of the information at a particular level of reality can destroy or change drastically the higher levels of reality built upon it. For example, imagine tweaking one of the 6 constant numbers responsible for the organization of our Universe. Reality as we know it would cease to exist.
Much of the important technology in the 21st century is information technology. This kind of technology is pure organization of information. Web technologies that did not exist 20 years ago are higher levels of information organization. New techniques for creating online applications are different ways of organizing information than those of creating desktop applications. The fundamental unit of currency is information.
Financial reality in the modern sense is all about information organization. I never see the millions of dollars I will make in my lifetime for the most part. It exists as an idea that is made concrete on a computer screen. Because of the numbers I may see in a particular organization on a web site (itself built by chains and levels of information organization) I may feel happy or sad, confident or insecure.
I may go to work and spend my days organizing information, creating new ways to organize information. At the end of the pay period other numbers are organized into a particular format of wages, tax deductions, retirement plans and health benefits. I organize information and I am paid by the organization of other information. I can eat because of these abstract ways of information organization that have emerged from lower level ways of concrete organization found in earlier economic systems that included bartering and exchange of gold.
Regarding emergence.
The spiritual emerges from the psychological which emerges from the physical organism which emerges from the laws of biology which emerge from the laws of chemistry which emerge from the laws of physics.
My blog emerged from web technologies which emerged from software technologies which emerged from hardware technologies which emerged from quantum physics which ultimately emerged from lower levels of information which constitute the fundamental fabric of the Universe.
One of the most interesting ideas to come out of 20th century science is the possibility that the Universe is information. Information organized into a particular format results in the emergence of a yet higher form of information and reality. Changing something about the fundamental organization of the information at a particular level of reality can destroy or change drastically the higher levels of reality built upon it. For example, imagine tweaking one of the 6 constant numbers responsible for the organization of our Universe. Reality as we know it would cease to exist.
Much of the important technology in the 21st century is information technology. This kind of technology is pure organization of information. Web technologies that did not exist 20 years ago are higher levels of information organization. New techniques for creating online applications are different ways of organizing information than those of creating desktop applications. The fundamental unit of currency is information.
Financial reality in the modern sense is all about information organization. I never see the millions of dollars I will make in my lifetime for the most part. It exists as an idea that is made concrete on a computer screen. Because of the numbers I may see in a particular organization on a web site (itself built by chains and levels of information organization) I may feel happy or sad, confident or insecure.
I may go to work and spend my days organizing information, creating new ways to organize information. At the end of the pay period other numbers are organized into a particular format of wages, tax deductions, retirement plans and health benefits. I organize information and I am paid by the organization of other information. I can eat because of these abstract ways of information organization that have emerged from lower level ways of concrete organization found in earlier economic systems that included bartering and exchange of gold.
Regarding emergence.
The spiritual emerges from the psychological which emerges from the physical organism which emerges from the laws of biology which emerge from the laws of chemistry which emerge from the laws of physics.
My blog emerged from web technologies which emerged from software technologies which emerged from hardware technologies which emerged from quantum physics which ultimately emerged from lower levels of information which constitute the fundamental fabric of the Universe.
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