Living Systems

Characteristics

Properties of living systems:

(1) A living system only accepts its own solutions (we only support those things we are a part of creating). (2) A living system only pays attention to that which is meaningful to it (here and now). (3) In nature a living system participates in the development of its neighbour (an isolated system is doomed). (4) Nature and all of nature, including ourselves is in constant change (without ‘change management’). (5) Nature seeks diversity – new relations open up to new possibilities (not survival of the fittest). (6) ‘Tinkering’ opens up to what is possible here and now – nature is not intent on finding perfect solutions. (7) A living system cannot be steered or controlled – they can only be teased, nudged, titillated. (8) A system changes (identity) when its perception of itself changes. (9) All the answers do not exist ‘out there’ – we must (sometimes) experiment to find out what works. (10) Who we are together is always different and more than who we are alone (possibility of emergence). (11) We (human beings) are capable of self-organising – given the right conditions. (12) Self-organisation shifts to a higher order. (http://iyeshe.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/the-bothand-of-leading-change-in-living-systems/)