Theory U: accessing our highest future possibility

For the next two weeks I've decided to address topics from Otto Scharmer's work with Theory U. What is Theory U? In a nutshell it is a theory and practice for large-scale social change based on the premise that such change can be achieved only when leaders, institutions, and groups learn to lead not from the past but from "the highest future possibility." This initially vague term is slowly elucidated in the Theory U work, but the foundation of such work is a radical shift in the place from which one operates: from the mind, from the heart, or from the will. The "U" in the Theory U is a process of moving individuals, groups, and systems through the operative states – again, mind, heart, and will – to the place where it is possible to access the highest future possibility, and then use that access to crystalize a vision or ideas, prototype them in real, iterative actions, and eventually embody them in the form of new infrastructures and ecosystems. Thus the real core of Theory U is about these places from which we operate – what Scharmer calls social fields or field structures of attention – and how we can move into deeper fields. In brief, there are four fields and three transitions in between. In field one – called the "I-in-me" – we reenact habits, conforming to what is expected of us in a particular social situation. By opening our minds – "open mind" – we are able to reflect on these habits and expectations, discuss them with others, and thereby open a door to question them. This moves us into field two – "I-in-it" – in which our minds are open to the world as it really is around us, while remaining at a factual level. This is the realm of healthy debate, but one in which facts, figures, and ideas are discussed. By opening our hearts – "open heart" – we can go beyond this social field to lay our own position within the system bare and feel our way into the positions of others. This is a process of empathy and here the discussions move away from the factual to the emotional. This allows us to see yet a further dimension of the system beyond the factual. Finally, opening up our will – "open will" – means suspending attachment to our past and identities, thereby opening yet another door onto a future that wants to emerge. In turn, by doing this ourselves we encourage others to move into this social field – "I-in-now" – and further invite the future to come.

In other words, Theory U argues that any situation has three levels of reality: one of facts, the state of affairs, two of positions within the system and the subjectivities and emotions that come with them, and three future possibilities that can only emerge once the old has been at least temporarily suspended. Success in large-scale social change depends on us going as deep as possible. But this is difficult because three forms of resistance stop us from making that journey. The open mind is prevented by the Voice of Judgment, which insists that new perspectives are wrong or too time-consuming or otherwise unnecessary. The open heart is prevented by the Voice of Cynicism, which creates emotional distance and distrust, thus stopping us from giving emotional states their due respect. And the open will is stopped by the Voice of Fear, which prevents us from letting go of our old identities.

And here we get to what Scharmer claims is the real meat of the matter and also what can often be its own downfall. These are not steps that many individuals or groups are willing to make. Suspending the Voice of Judgment means being brutal about self-reflection and putting all the facts on the table, no matter the issue. Some organizations can achieve this, but not very many. Suspending the Voice of Cynicism means accepting the importance of emotional states and creating space for that direct form of discourse. Many fewer groups can do this. Finally, suspending the Voice of Fear means forgetting one's self, history, and identity entirely in order to make room for the emerging future. This is an even higher bar.

My goal has been to give a very short, directed introduction to what I see as the core message and difficulty of Theory U. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on this work as we think about it together.