The Law of Two Feet - Setting people free since the 1980s
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The 80s gave us big hair but also big ideas like The Law of Two Feet: If you're not learning or contributing, use your two feet, go someplace else. True to it’s roots, it has the power to tear down the manmade Berlin Walls that keep people trapped in unproductive meetings all day.
The 1980s was a magical time for me. It was the decade of my childhood. I’ll never forget the big hair and bright, vibrant colors. The 80s oozed cool.
It was also the period when a priest and Civil Rights activist developed the idea of Open Space Technology. If you’ve been to an un-conference, you’ll have experienced Harrison Owen’s ideas first hand.
I’ve been thinking about one of his principles in particular lately: The Law of Two Feet, sometimes called The Law of Mobility. It says that if at any time during a meeting or session you find yourself neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet, go someplace else.
It is often used at self-organizing conferences but can also be used in work meetings. People are given both the right and the responsibility to maximize their own learning and contribution. This law assumes only they, themselves, can ultimately judge and control this. In practical terms the Law of Two Feet says: "Don't waste time!"
The 80s gave us big hair but also big ideas. The Law of Two Feet fosters an environment of equality and autonomy. These two things are vital for self-organizing teams. True to it’s roots, it tears down the manmade Berlin Walls that keep people trapped in unproductive meetings all day.
It was also the period when a priest and Civil Rights activist developed the idea of Open Space Technology. If you’ve been to an un-conference, you’ll have experienced Harrison Owen’s ideas first hand.
I’ve been thinking about one of his principles in particular lately: The Law of Two Feet, sometimes called The Law of Mobility. It says that if at any time during a meeting or session you find yourself neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet, go someplace else.
It is often used at self-organizing conferences but can also be used in work meetings. People are given both the right and the responsibility to maximize their own learning and contribution. This law assumes only they, themselves, can ultimately judge and control this. In practical terms the Law of Two Feet says: "Don't waste time!"
The 80s gave us big hair but also big ideas. The Law of Two Feet fosters an environment of equality and autonomy. These two things are vital for self-organizing teams. True to it’s roots, it tears down the manmade Berlin Walls that keep people trapped in unproductive meetings all day.