means and ends

Tom shares a story by email from an Obama campaign volunteer, Ginger, who's an OD professional (highly regarded by my old friend Dave.) As Tom says, the simple and innovative qualities of the campaign office that she describes could be idiosyncratic, or might be widespread in the Obama campaign - he's trying to find out. (Rosa Z harvested the essay from a listserv somewhere.)

I was impressed when Obama talked with the editorial board of the SF Chronicle and pointed out that in one year he and his wife were able to create an organization that has so far matched the capabilities of the fabled Clinton organization that's been decades in the making. It would not surprise me were this a kind of "open space presidential campaign organization," or as Ginger says a "vision and principle-driven self managing structure and system."

I don't know how the campaign will unfold - let a unified and transformative election victory emerge - but this is a worthy spotlight on means and ends in a time that invites us to live and be both.

I wanted to share just a little of my experience working in the Obama campaign because it very much relates to OD [organizational development]. I don't do anything so very important, yet there is a sense in the air that everything anyone does matters and is deeply appreciated....

It is such a bottom-up system, essentially driven by the vision of what this country can be, much more than being centered solely around Obama, although his approach is deeply shared. It is an amazing example of a vision and principle-driven self managing structure and system in which everyone does whatever is needed. And what is needed can change every hour, yet nothing feels unfocused or chaotic. It is truly a self-organizing system. The big office provides some guidelines, a few protocols, some materials, a few suggested tactics that are highly strategic, but people in this office -- and it is just one of many throughout the country -- just figure out what to do and then do it amazingly....

The volunteers are as diverse a group as I've ever seen working together -- age, race, gender, social class, profession, education. That is a lot of what makes it so thrilling. It's like experiencing the change we're trying to create....

It is akin to a transformation from the more Machiavellian era we have been operating in for many decades to one that is working from a high level of conscious awareness. They are very process oriented and believe that if the processes used (the means) are not consistent with the ends that are desired, the ends will never materialize because they will be too compromised and tarnished by the process.

I was a teenager when I volunteered for the Kennedy presidency. But after both Kennedys and then King were killed, something felt like it died in me as well. But the little ember of possibility was still there, so it is very pleasurable to feel it again and to see it in the eyes of so many other people.

Ginger

Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D.
www.TheEnneagramInBusiness.com
www.bogda.com
Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work (McGraw-Hill 2004)
What Type of Leader Are You? (McGraw-Hill 2007)