Introduction into Theory U in the meetup group ResponsiveOrg in Zuerich. Make the change better. A method or framework that helps to include all people in a change. There is more than only the technical change. there are humans involved!

1. Theory U : Leading from the emerging future
ResponsiveOrg Zurich
Michael Wyrsch
Managing Director & Changeologist
at
Wyrsch & Partner GmbH
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C. Otto Scharmer ( MIT-Institute Boston)
) Autor von „Theorie U“ ( Carl-Auer-Verlag 2009

3. The Blind Spot of Leadership
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“The success of an intervention
depends on the interior condition
of the intervenor.”
William O’Brien, former CEO of
the Hanover Insurance Company
Joseph Jaworski: “When you open your soul
and when you bring your whole heart into
the room, it changes the structure of the
room.”

4. Blind Spot:
Two important insights from Otto Scharmer
1. Our deepest interior, (what we really deep down
believe and feel) that place from where our
thougths and actions originate is our blind spot and
it is more important to the outcome of our work as
(spiritual) leaders than we imagine.
2. Secondly: Our tools as (spiritual) leaders is not our
knowledge, but our ability to listen and dialogue.
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5. What is it?
U-procedure and theory U:
• is a change management method to change unproductive
patterns of behavior.
• is about personal leadership and a different way of thinking.
• is addressing the human being part of life
• has a holistic approach that can be traced back to Buddhism,
Taoism and Sufism. It is important to go beyond the
personality and to start looking for the ‘true self’.
• enables people throughout organizations to let go off the
prevailing approach that is based on the past and to focus
more on the future.
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6. The origin of Theory U
• developed by Friedrich (Fritz) Glasl and Dirk Lemson of the
NPI (Netherlands Pedagogical Institute) in 1968
• used in organisation development and social
development since then
• Otto Scharmer studied the method and interviewed Dr Glasl
during his doctoral studies
• This work itself draws on collaboration between Scharmer and
his colleagues Peter Senge, Joseph Jaworski and Betty Sue
Flowers (https://www.solonline.org/)
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Step 6.
Brainstorm new
solutions and
initiatives
Open Will
Open Heart
Open Mind
Step 1.
You face a design,
strategic or
innovation
challenge
Step 2.
Convene a core team,
a strategic microcosm
of the whole system
Step 55.
Find the deeper
meaning and purpose
See the whole
Step 7.
Rapid prototyping
of severeal new
designs or
initiatives
Step 8.
Test pilot with
strategic
stakeholders and
users
Step 9.
Scale up and co-
evolve the projects
and initiatives
Step 4.
Synthesize insights and
discover the deeper
pattern
Performing
Initiate
Give space
suspending
deep dive
letting go
Who is my Self?
What is my work?
letting come
enacting
embodying
Step 3.
Explore the issue in
depth …
immerse
experience
Learn
inspire
Sense
Discover
Visit places

8. Field: Structure Of Attention
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Priorityofthewhole
Priorityoftheparts
Repeat the patterns of the past
Facilitate the developing future
I-in-me I-in-it
I-in-you
I-in-now
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Presencing
• Generative Dialog (Flow)
• Collective creativity
• Silence and respect
• Listening from the emerging
future
• Rule-generating
Dialog
• Reflecting Dialog
• I can change my view
• I am the „other“
• Empathic listening
• Rule-reflecting
Downloading
• Talking nice
• politeness
• No own thoughts
• Listeningprojecting
• Rule-reenacting
Debate
• Talking though
• I am my own view
• The others are the target
• Listening from outside
• Rule-revealing

9. The essence
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suspending
letting go
Prototyping the new by
linking head, heart, hand
Crystallizing
vision and intention
embodying
enacting
letting come
Presencing
connecting to Source
Downloading
past patterns
Open
Will
Open
Heart
Open
Mind
redirecting
Seeing
with fresh eyes
Sensing
from the field
Performing by
operating from the whole

10. How to apply? – It is so easy!
• Draw an U
• Mark the steps & the transitions
• Define the „challenge“
• Assign your methods to the steps (best fit)
• Define the transition activities (sometimes not needed)
• Check for the overall flow
• Check for a holistic composition (this is art !)
• Make a walkthrough through your steps
– In a room
– Use Ground Anchors (for the steps)
– Walk physically
• Feel: Is it ok?
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11. SOME EXAMPLES
And in reality?
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Ablauf
(2 Day Workshop)
Gemeinsames
Ankommen
Frei werden
Runterladen
Innehalten
hinsehen
Umwenden
hinspüren
Loslassen
Presencing
mit der Quelle verbinden,
anwesend werden
Kommen lassen
Hervorbringen
crystallizing, verdichten
Verkörpern
prototyping, erproben
In die Welt bringen
Gemeinsamer Impuls / Reflektion:
• Wie sind wir unterwegs?
• Welche Themen sind dazu gekommen?
Reflektion
Festhalten des Erreichten
Definieren der nächsten
Persönlichen Schritte
Vorab Marktplatz:
Sammeln von Anliegen
und Beiträgen
Gruppenarbeit
Start 13.00 Uhr
Abschluss
Lessons Learned
Abendessen 19.00 Uhr
Mittagessen ca. 12.30 Uhr
Ende 16.00 UhrAuslegen und
Besichtigen der
Anliegen / Beiträge
Aufteilung / Gruppenbildung
Nach Interesse / Schwerpunkt
Gruppenarbeit
Gruppenarbeit
Report back
Gem. Kaffeepause
Gruppenarbeit
Gruppenarbeit
Gruppenarbeit
Presencing
Reflection
Gruppenarbeit
Gruppenarbei
Gruppenarbeit
Brain / Prototype
Reflection
Gem. Kaffeepause
Gem. Kaffeepause
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13. In a development / training game
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suspending
deep dive
redirecting
letting go
Presencing
Who is my Self?
What is my work?
letting come
enacting
embodying
reflecting
Downloading Seeing
Sensing
CrystallizingPrototyping
Performing
Self-reflection

14. Knowledge Management Project (~ 8 month)
Theory U Method
1. Downloading Dialog, Interviews, Preparation Knowledge Café
2. Seeing Kick-off presentation, Knowledge Café, Cross-organization Dialog
3. Sensing Knowledge-Café Evaluation, Dialog Key-People, KM-Model-Mapping
4. Presencing Reflection, Dialog Leadership, Dreaming
5. Crystalizing Semi-structured Dialog, Case Clinic, Supplier Evaluation
6. Prototyping Iterative development, Building of CoP‘s & Dialog with these experts
7. Performing Transition into practical use, Lessons Learned
Transitions Several, meetings, etc.
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Build up Knowledge Sharing Environment for a specialized tour operator to
store knowledge about travel in a specific area. Include local knowledge and
experience to differentiate from other travel agencies and internet.

15. Now it is your turn!
• Take a sheet of paper
• Remember your last successful project/task
• Try to assign the steps in the project to the U steps
• Show & discuss your results to the others.
• Does it fit?
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16. Collectively and playfully
bring the future into the
present.
Michael Wyrsch
Wyrsch & Partner GmbH
Geisswies 24
8414 Buch
Switzerland
Mobile: +41 79 207 78 86
e-mail: michael@wyrsch-partner.ch
http://www.wyrsch-partner.ch
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