I’ve been giving these questions my attention for 6 months now: What is community? How do we create community? How do I know community when I see it? Especially when I’m with people who think, look, and act nothing like me/my groups? I didn’t go looking for these questions. They found me somehow. Still not entirely certain why I’m so determined to have these conversations … [Read More]
This post is for my friend Ali who asks questions that keep me young at heart. Today Ali asked “Does familiarity decrease the generated happiness?” [within a group] I’d like to start by saying that I have zero interest in putting up barriers to human happiness. So if you disagree with what I say here, please be happy about it. I will be. An easy … [Read More]
You asked me “Also, have you seen “evil” self-organizing groups?” From my perspective, evil is a word that belongs in the hands of someone far, far wiser than me. I’m not qualified to use it to describe living beings. No living being I personally know fits that description. Self-org groups have taught me that it’s pointless to negatively judge distant others, because I’ll never have the full story. Today, for me, evil self-organizing groups don’t exist, because for me self-organizing groups are self-aware groups of people surprised and delighted by what they become and do together. For me, these groups are an “us” that we’re only just beginning to recognize.
I spend all my time working with and as self-organizing groups and reflecting on what we experience and learn together. Thanks to these groups, I live my life in a very good mood: to the point that, most days, it’s hard to wipe the smile off my face. I recently saw this same experience on the face of a person next to me at Skillet … [Read More]
Continuing from How do self-organizing groups make decisions? (1 of 2) … Short answer: These groups don’t make decisions. They find decisions, together, the instant that group members recognize and embrace their collective self. Long answer: Self-aware self-organizing groups don’t make decisions or design and plan things in the traditional sense. Within these groups, individuals become so close that together—as a collective self—they become able … [Read More]
This week, as I rattled excitedly on about the groups I’m studying right now (as I always do—I recently decided that this flaw is part of my charm), my friend Annie said “But I need to make a decision! How do self-organizing groups make decisions?!” Damn girl, good question. This post is for you, Annie, and for anyone else currently struggling with too many options … [Read More]
In the 25 groups I’ve studied and been part of so far, here are the reasons mentioned for group formation. To: Change the way the organization plans and designs its products (working across silo’d product teams instead of within silos) Help all of our kids (those we had in common that year) to graduate by working more closely during one school year Help group members … [Read More]
Continuing from previous blog. The last two things I see in these groups that helps them sustain themselves are that: 7. As a group, they rely on the group’s strengths (and notice that this is happening) Group members do this in the moment—sometimes talking about it and often not. Here are several examples I’ve seen in the groups I study and am part of: Members … [Read More]
Continuing from previous blog on the subject of sustaining self-organizing work groups. 6. As a group, they become better able to embrace and appreciate: A. Being learners B. Their own and others’ differences C. Their own and others’ limitations And they make the time to notice that this is happening to them. This sustains the group… A. Being learners In the groups I’ve studied and … [Read More]
Continuing from last week’s blog. Here’s more on ideas 4 and 5… 4. As a group, they become more open and visible over time (and can notice this is happening) The self-organizing groups that I’ve studied and been part of make their creating, brainstorming, and trouble-shooting sessions as visible as possible in their environments and are able to become more so over time. That is, … [Read More]
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