Theory-U
Otto Scharmer seeks to link mindfulness and the transformation of business, society and self through the concept he refers to as “presencing.” Theory-U has five stages and seven capacities, as explained below. The seven capacities are necessary to experience the five movements of the U.
The Seven Capacities of the U
1. Holding the Space: Listen to What Life Calls You to do • It asks the leader to invite everyone in the group to co-create a solution, not just hand the solution to them. 2. Observing: Attend with Your Mind Wide Open • It requires for the parties involved to stop their inner chatter and their judgment on themselves and the participants. 3. Sensing: Connect with Your Heart • Refers to the capacity to connect with an open mind, an open heart, and an open will. 4. Presencing: Connect to the Deepest Source of Your Self and Will • The fourth capacity requires for the individual to connect at a deeper level. 5. Crystallizing: Access the Power of Intention • This capacity demands for the group to engage in something specific. 6. Prototyping: Integrating Head, Heart, and Hand • Participants are asked to integrate the intelligence of the head, heart, and hand. 7. Performing: Playing the Macro Violin • Learning to ‘play’ all of the components at once. |
The Five Stages of the U
1. Co-initiating: Build common intent. Stop and listen to others and what life calls you to do.
2. Co-sensing: Observe, observe, observe. Go to the places of the most potential and listen with your mind and heart wide open.
3. Presencing: Connect to the source of inspiration and common will. Go to the place of silence and allow the inner knowing to emerge.
4. Co-creating: Prototype the new in living examples to explore the future by doing.
5. Co-evolving: Embody the new in ecosystems that facilitate seeing and acting from the whole.
1. Co-initiating: Build common intent. Stop and listen to others and what life calls you to do.
2. Co-sensing: Observe, observe, observe. Go to the places of the most potential and listen with your mind and heart wide open.
3. Presencing: Connect to the source of inspiration and common will. Go to the place of silence and allow the inner knowing to emerge.
4. Co-creating: Prototype the new in living examples to explore the future by doing.
5. Co-evolving: Embody the new in ecosystems that facilitate seeing and acting from the whole.
Strengths of Theory-U• Transforms the whole system
• Applicable to today´s problems • Applicable in multicultural settings • Shown Results |
In this short video, Otto Scharmer speaks about the essence of Theory U and Presencing.
Critiques of Theory-U• Requires unlearning and learning
• Requires a developmental shift • Not easily implemented |