Lmst

U lab - Leading from the Emerging Future
#TheoryU #Presencing

On my journey to discovering how to make a difference, I found myself drawn to frameworks and methodologies like:

- #TheoryU
- #OpenSpaceTechnology #ost
- #LiberatingStructures
- #DevelopmentalModelOfInterculturalSensitivity #dmis

Yet when I search for these on #Mastodon, they don't show up as often as I expected in a self-professed progressive space that clamours for #SystemsChange.

Anyone with similar interests, do you have any insight into why this might be?

#activism

@realtegan It takes 5 people, says; #TheoryU
https://www.presencing.org/theoryu

#Academic #TheoriesOfChange

@teq I'm trying to draw a through line from prefigurative approaches to organising and Otter Sharmers Theory U.

Like, Prefigurative is about envisaging the furture you want to see and working to bring that alive in the now.

Similarly, Theory U is an explicit methodology for 'presencing' into the furure and working through a practice that brings that into action in the now.

Inutivley they are very much related in my mind, but now Im struggling to find much academic cross over of the two concepts.

Any ideas/references/insights?

The short essay I'm trying to write just has this huge chasm in the middle of it right now!

#Prefigurative #Phd #HDR #TheoryU #DesignResearch

#TheoryU fans, here is Otto Scharmer's latest blog post:

"In a time when universities (and their independence) are increasingly under attack, we need to go back to the roots and reimagine their highest potential now …"

Universities as Innovation Ecologies for Human & Planetary Flourishing
by Otto Scharmer | Field of the Future Blog | Mar, 2025 | Medium

https://medium.com/presencing-institute-blog/universities-as-innovation-ecologies-for-human-and-planetary-flourishing-84313c75c0d7

Handhdrawn infographic of TheoryU:

The TheoryU model has two flows, which start from the same point, DOWNLOADING (noticing what is) and move in opposite directions.

The SOCIAL PATHOLOGY flow moves through these stages:

DOWNLOADING
DENYING
DE-SENSING
ABSENCING
DELUDING
ABORTING
DESTROYING

It includes behaviours such as:
blinding
disembodying
holding on
manipulating
abusing
entrenching

TheoryU labels this flow "Economies of Destruction"
Characterised by:
STUCK IN ONE SELF-WILL
STUCK IN ONE SKIN (US VS. THEM)
STUCK IN ONE TRUTH/VIEW

The "SOCIAL EMERGENCE" flow follows this path: (this is the "U" flow, as it is drawn in the diagram)

DOWNLOADING
SEEING
SENSING
PRESENCING
CRYSTALLIZING
PROTOTYPING
PERFORMING

This path uses different behaviours:
suspending
redirecting
enacting
embodying
letting go
letting come

TheoryU calls these "Economies of Creation".

Characterised by:
OPEN MIND
OPEN HEART
OPEN WILL

©2011 Otto Scharmer

Ooh! 🎉The #TheoryU folks now offer a free

#Presencing Series: Sensing and Actualizing the Future That Needs Us

bringing together changemakers, thought leaders, practitioners, & social entrepreneurs to explore how we can collectively shape what comes next across business, education, governance, & society.

6 interactive sessions beginning Apr 17
Relatee to Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer's new book, "Presencing: 7 Practices for Transforming Self, Society, and Business."

https://www.u-school.org/offerings/presencing-series

TheoryU's Presencing/Absencing model.
Timely, right?

From The Presencing Institute https://www.presencing.org/

Ahora en el 2025 estoy dedicado a aprender y apoyar colectivos autoorganizados y de autogesión. Como #JardineroOrganizacional facilito talleres, mentorías y dinámicas para organizaciones comunitarias y empresas solidarias con propósito.

Uso herramientas de #EstructurasLiberadoras #TeoríaU #LiderazgoEcosistémico #sociocracia #GobernanzaDinámica #augogestión #TealOrganizations #TheoryU #LiberatingStructures #StrategicDoing #SelfManagement #BeyondBudgeting #OpenSpaceTechnology #Sociocracy #Agile

#Buchtipp: @ottoscharmer1, »Theorie U – Von der Zukunft her führen: #Prescencing als soziale Technik«, http://amzn.to/IljAla #theoryU

Amazon.de

#collectiveintentions #systemschange #theoryu

https://bit.ly/ulab24video1

@CelloMomOnCars @evan #ulab1x is a great experience! #theoryu #presencing

Theorie U in Schulen? Oder, ganz gewagt, in der Sozialen Arbeit, gar im Bereich Mental Health? #theoryu #sozialearbeit #mentalgealth
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/beatrix-winist%C3%B6rfer_theorieu-visualisierung-activity-7094014541784571904-v4iF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

„They can’t create from nothing, no thing. That’s the “blind spot” of AI.“ #ottoscharmer #theoryU #AI #KI
https://medium.com/presencing-institute-blog/protect-the-flame-but-where-the-danger-is-the-saving-power-also-grows-ef6077ddef89

Ich glaube, dass in den nächsten Jahren fundamentale gesellschaftliche Veränderungen dran sind.
Ich möchte Menschen in Organisationen dabei unterstützen, diese nachhaltig und transformativ zu gestalten. Grenzen aus Glaubenssätzen und Denkmodellen zu überwinden und Dinge wirklich anders zu machen.
Ich finde den Theory U Ansatz dafür spannend und habe mir dazu eine Weiterbildung gebucht. Ich bin gespannt.
#Transformation #TheoryU #Veränderung
#Energiewende #Mobilitätswende #SozialeGerechtigkeit

@chrkrhc Have you had good luck using this with groups? My experience is culture is easy to talk about and almost impossible to change in the short term. I'm with Ed Schein on this point. I find it more helpful to take a Theory U approach and ask groups to explore what is emerging and what is their role in fostering or shifting that. #facilitation #TheoryU #StrategicPlanning #GroupDynamics

I love this quote by Betty Sue Flowers that I found today. It’s from the book ‘Presence’ by her, Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski, and Otto Scharmer, loving that too!
📚📚📚
#inspirationalquotes #bettysueflowers #presence #presencing #theoryu