Theory U

Draft

Definition

The Theory U (also called "U" methodology) is a change mangement method targeting leadership as process of inner knowing and social innovation. It is developed by Otto Scharmer.

The principles of Theory U can help political leaders, civil servants, and managers break through past unproductive patterns of behavior that prevent them from empathizing with their clients' perspectives and often lock them into ineffective patterns of decision making. (Frannie Léautier, retrieved 15:22, 27 July 2007 (MEST))

Some notes about the theory

Fields of attention

• thinking (individual),
• conversing (group),
• structuring (institutions)
• ecosystem coordination (global systems).

Presencing

At the core of the "U" Theory is presencing: sensing + presence.

According to Learning Exchange (retrieved 15:22, 27 July 2007 (MEST)), Presencing is a journey with five movements:

We move down one side of the U (connecting us to the world that is outside of our institutional bubble) to the bottom of the U (connecting us to the world that emerges from within) and up the other side of the U (bringing forth the new into the world).
On that journey, at the bottom of the U, lies an inner gate that requires us to drop everything that isn't essential. This process of letting-go (of our old ego and self) and letting-come (our highest future possibility: our Self) establishes a subtle connection to a deeper source of knowing. The essence of presencing is that these two selves-our current self and our best future Self-meet at the bottom of the U and begin to listen and resonate with each other.

Once a group crosses this threshold, nothing remains the same. Individual members and the group as a whole begin to operate with a heightened level of energy and sense of future possibility. Often they then begin to function as an intentional vehicle for an emerging future.

Links

• Theory U Home Page

• C. Otto Scharmer Home Page (includes print and podcasts to download)

• Presencing Home Page

• Change Management Blog's Theory U entries.

• Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges

References

• Scharner, C. Otto (2007), Addressing The Blind Spot Of Our Time. An executive summary of the new book by Otto Scharmer Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges. HTML, retrieved 15:22, 27 July 2007 (MEST).

http://www.theoryu.com/exec.html

• Scharner, C. Otto (2006), Theory U: Learning from the Future as it Emerges, Fieldnotes: An online Newsletter of the Sahmbhala Institute for Authentic Leadership. PDF. Can be found at http://www.ottoscharmer.com/ (how I hate these Flash sites ...)

Scharner, C. Otto (2006), Excerpt from: THEORY U: Leading from the Emerging Future. Presencing as a Social Technology of Freedom: Introduction. (DRAFT). Can be found at http://www.ottoscharmer.com/