How do I know when I’m self-organizing? How do we know if our group is self-organizing? Indicator #6: Behaving thoughtfully, demonstrating awareness and reflection I am self-organizing when I behave thoughtfully, demonstrating awareness and reflection. Demonstrated, for example, by: Talking about unexpected consequences emerging from your actions (in my study, people often spoke of difficult yet ultimately positive consequences emerging from collective actions) Talking about … [Read More]
How do I know when I’m self-organizing? How do we know if our group is self-organizing? Indicator #5: Feeling and doing things that feel spontaneous, fluid, and natural—both in the moment and in hindsight. I am self-organizing when I feel and do things that feel spontaneous, fluid, and natural—both in the moment and in hindsight. Demonstrated, for example, by: Laughing Speaking the same words and … [Read More]
How do I know when I’m self-organizing? How do we know if our group is self-organizing? This is fourth indicator of self-organization that emerged from my research and consulting work: Indicator #4: Sharing more of myself than I expected or planned. I am self-organizing when I share more of myself than I expected or planned. Demonstrated, for example, by: Sharing personal feelings, information, and stories … [Read More]
How do I know when I’m part of a self-organizing work group? How do we know if our group is self-organizing? This is the third of a series of posts in which I document the nine indicators of self-organization that emerged from my research and consulting work. Indicator #3: Openly seeking to understand another I am self-organizing when I: Openly seek to understand another. Demonstrated, … [Read More]
Self-organizing work groups can be difficult to see. So how do I know when I’m part of one? How do we know if our group is self-organizing? This is the second of a series of posts that document the nine indicators of self-organization that emerged from my reseach study of self-organizing work groups of business employees and high school teachers. As a consultant/researcher, I’ve also … [Read More]
I study self-organizing work groups of people in within, across, and outside of organizations. Self-organizing work groups can be difficult to see—even for some who are part of them—in part, I think, because they look and act differently from what many of us think of when we think “team,” “work group,” “department,” and so on. So how do I know when I’m part of one? … [Read More]
Oct 122009
I recommend participating in and learning with self-organizing groups themselves. You’ll find some of your group members in the pages of a book, article, or blog: a physically distant author whose experience and ideas so mirror your own yet expand your own that it gives you goose bumps. But those of us inclined to read first and hang out with real human beings later can’t … [Read More]
If you’re familiar with this subject, let me know what it means to you. Here are my current thoughts. Self-organizing work groups are spontaneous groups, created from within, to accomplish work of the moment. Regardless of how the group may appear to have started, groups come fully into the self-organizing space the moment group members recognize that they: get more from the group’s spontaneity than … [Read More]
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