“TOOT”- A system empowering process.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the need for spaces and safe processes to meet and understand difference: being seen, heard and understood by others, as well as seeing, hearing and understanding others. I think we need this in all our human systems; globally, nationally, in our places of work and not least in our families. Without such space and process, our human systems fail to reach their full potential.

All too often in the face of difference, our human tendency is a rapid entrenchment into polarised positions. We don’t fully understand “others” but nonetheless become convinced that our sense-making of others is accurate and right. It’s hard to shift from these positions - but it is possible.

In the experiential exercise “The Organisational Workshop”, exploring human system dynamics and system empowering leadership, Barry Oshry offers us a powerful yet simple framework and process to create the space for all voices in a system to be well heard. As a result powerful new possibilities and actions are enabled in the system and usually these are more about WE than US and THEM. We call it the “TOOT” - Time out of time. It can be replicated in real-life organisations. In your systems.

The TOOT is space and process to clarify what is going on in the whole system. To enhance understanding of one another. It is a system-strengthening activity. Full of possibility.

I wonder where, when and how you as a leader are in spaces and processes where all can be heard and understood?

Would you like to be able to create such spaces and processes in your system?

You can experience the TOOT for yourself at one of our Organisational Workshops

If you’d prefer a conversation about this work, let's chat.