Theory U:

Leading From the Emerging Future

From Ego-System to Eco-System Economies
2004 2009 2013
 Prof. Dr. Otto Scharmer

Senior Lecturer at the MIT and the founding chair of the

Presensing Institute.
Co founder The Global Well Being and Gross National
Happiness Lab.
Vice Chair of The World Economic Forums Global
Agenda Council on New Leadership Model
 Breathing In Breathing Out

Breathing In Breathing Out [2x]

I am blooming like a flower
I am fresh like a dew
I am solid as a mountain
I am firm as the earth
I am free
Breathing In Breathing Out [2x]
I am water reflecting
What is real What is true
And I feel there is space
Deep inside of me
I am free, I am free, I am free
 Intention Setting
I am learning Theory U because.....
My most important challenge right
now is ...
The level at which I am focused on
creating change is... (personal,
organizational, systemic, etc.)
This course will be a success for
me when ....
 24 Dec 1968, Apollo 8 :
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the
Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty.
Borman: Hey, don't take that, it's not scheduled. (joking)
Anders: (laughs) You got a color film, Jim?
Hand me that roll of color quick, would you...
Earth Rise :
NASA Image AS8-14-2383 Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
 Four Levels of Responding to Change
Manifest
action 1. Reacting: quick fixes

Process,
structure 2. Redesigning: policies

Thinking 3. Reframing: values, beliefs

Source
of energy,
inspiration 4. Regenerating: sources of
and will commitment and energy
The Blind Spot of Leadership

Results:
What

Process:
How

Source:
Who
Blind Spot: Inner place
from where we operate
 The success of an intervention
depends on the interior condition
of the intervenor.

William OBrien,
former CEO of the Hanover Insurance Company
 Brian Arthur : 3 Movements of the U
Stop Downloading Start Listening

Observe,
observe,
observe Act in an
instant

Retreat and reflect:

Allow the inner knowing to
emerge
VOICE OF JUDGEMENT
VOICE OF JUDGEMENT

VOICE OF CYNICISM
VOICE OF JUDGEMENT

VOICE OF CYNICISM

VOICE OF FEAR
 Theory U
Downloading Performing by
past patterns operating from the whole

suspending embodying
Voice of
Judgment
Seeing Open Prototyping the new by
with fresh eyes Mind linking head, heart, hand

redirecting enacting
Voice of Open
Cynicism Sensing Heart Crystallizing
from the field vision and intention

Voice of letting go Open letting come

Fear Will
Presencing
connecting to Source
WHO IS MY SELF? WHAT IS MY WORK?
 U Process: 1 Process, 5 Stages

1. Co-initiating: 5. Co-evolving:
uncover common intent embody the new in ecosystems
stop and listen to others and to that facilitate acting
what life calls you to do from the whole

2. Co-sensing: 4. Co-creating:
observe, observe, observe prototype the new
connect with people and places in living examples to explore
to sense the system from the whole the future by doing

3. Presencing:
connect to the source of inspiration and will
go to the place of silence and allow the inner knowing to emerge
 Levels of Listening
LISTENING 1: Downloading reconfirming old
from habits habits of judgment opinions & judgments

LISTENING 2: Factual
from outside listening Open disconfirming
noticing Mind [new] data
differences

seeing through
LISTENING 3: Empathic
Open another persons eyes
from within listening
Heart emotional connection

LISTENING 4: Generative connecting to an

from Source listening
Open
emerging future whole;
(from the future Will
wanting to emerge)
shift in identity and self
 Field:
Structure Field
Of Attention

1 Speaking from what they want to hear

Downloading:
Talking nice Polite routines, empty phrases
Autistic system (not saying what you think)
I-in-me

2 Speaking from what I think

Debate: Divergent views: I am my point of view
Talking tough Adaptive system (say what you think)
I-in-it
Speaking from seeing myself as part
3
Dialogue: of the whole
Reflective inquiry From defending to inquiry into viewpoints
I-in-you Self-reflective system (reflect on your part)

Speaking from what is moving through

4
Presencing: Stilness, collective creativity, flow
Generative flow Generative system
(identity shift: authentic self)
I-in-now
 Field: Attentional
Structure
action
Of Attention

Listening 1:
Downloading
habits of thought
I-in-me
Listening 2:
Factual,
object-focused
I-in-it

Listening 3:
Empathic
listening
I-in-you

Listening 4:
Generative
listening

I-in-now
 Field: Attentional Conversational
Structure
action action
Of Attention

Listening 1: Downloading:
Downloading Talking nice,
habits of thought politeness,
I-in-me rule-reenacting

Listening 2: Debate:
Factual, Talking tough,
object-focused rule-revealing
I-in-it

Listening 3: Dialogue:
Empathic Inquiry,
listening rule-reflecting
I-in-you

Listening 4: Presencing:
Generative Collective
listening creativity, flow
rule-generating
I-in-now
 Field: Attentional Conversational Organizational Global
Structure
action action action action
Of Attention

Listening 1: Downloading: Centralized: Hierarchy:

Downloading Talking nice, Machine Central plan
habits of thought politeness, bureaucracy
I-in-me rule-reenacting

Listening 2: Debate: Decentralized: Market:

Factual, Talking tough, Divisionalized Competition
object-focused rule-revealing
I-in-it

Listening 3: Dialogue: Networked: Dialogue:

Empathic Inquiry, Relational (Mutual
listening rule-reflecting adjustment)
I-in-you

Listening 4: Presencing: Ecosystem: Collective

Generative Collective Awareness Presence:
listening creativity, flow Based Acting from
rule-generating Collective Action the emerging
Whole
I-in-now
 Resources and Literature

Senge, P., C. O. Scharmer, J. Jaworski, and B.

S. Flowers. (2004).
Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of
the Future, New York : Crown Publishing.

Scharmer, C. Otto (2009).

Theory U: Leading from the Future As It
Emerges. The Social Technology of
Presencing, San Francisco : Berret-Koehler
Publishers.

Scharmer, C. Otto and Kaufer, K.(2013).

Leading from the Emerging Future : From
Ego-System to Eco-System Economies.
Applying Theory U Transforming Business,
Society, and Self, San Francisco : Berret-
Koehler Publishers.

www.presencing.com

www.ottoscharmer.com