"The ability to explore the space of possibility can be found in an organisation's ability to engage in dialogue."
Michael McMaster The Intelligence Advantage 1996

Possibility Space is the place where all our ideas live before they are brought into being. We create possibility by believing ourselves into it, and we dissolve limitation by experiencing ourselves out of it.

Possibility space is real in the same way that an organisation is real: it is created as a belief system through language. It is an extended metaphor for both the exploration of possibilities and the design of space for the creation of possibilities (See Open Space Technology)

Infact we create our reality through language. We use it to settle our differences and express our feelings. Organisations too are contructed and maintained through language.

"Every human act takes place in language"
Humberto Maturana. The Tree of Knowledge.

When we search for new possibilities we tend to stay in our confort zone. We stay with what's familiar and predictable. To explore further afield takes courage, curiosity and effective communication. At the same time we have an incredible capacity to imagine and generate ideas. But change only happens when those ideas are activated. This might seem obvious, but so many of us accept the need for change in our heads but don't do anything different to bring it about.

To create space for possibilities to emerge we need to use language to bring forth a new reality, not just to describe one that already exists. This requires free expression, creativity and freedom of thought.

Bringing forth a new reality requires a collective activity that enables a range of ideas to be shared. This stimulates the thinking that expands space for possibilities.

Understanding what makes 'dialogue' different from 'discussion' is therefore vitally important. We can all imagine what it would feel like to win the Lottery and what we would do with the money, even though we have not won it. Each person's view feeds off the views of others and this shapes our actions and reactions should it actually happen us.

There are range of tools and techniques that can help us explore our possibility space. They include all the 'bottom-up tools' listed in this website - such as 'Future Search', 'Brainstorming', 'Environmental Scanning', etc. Organisations that wish to engage their employees and stakeholders in shaping the future of the organisation will want to search the possibility space using techniques for whole system change.

Interestingly, communication actually happens in the space between people, independent of any sender or receiver. If the space can be designed then it is less important who actually turns up to create this space because those that do will get what they came for. Ideas are generated when people pay attention to intentions they need to pay attention to.

Miracles come from the design of the possibility space. Methods such as 'Simu-Real' can deliver profound change because they create a space that reflects the relationships in that space. Possibility space is not empty. It's accessed by designing relationships that will generate 'conversations in action' Tools such as 'CLEAR-FOCUS' can lead to breakthroughs in communication that creates quality dialogue.

In many encounters at work the space of possibility is closed down by a boss who defines a situation and relationships so clearly that there is no room for new ideas to be explored and thereby emerge organically.

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