Theory U

So geht's

1. 1

   Co-Initiating: Convene a diverse group of stakeholders around a shared challenge. Clarify purpose and intent — 'Who are we? Why are we here? What are we called to do?' Use check-in rounds to create a container of trust and psychological safety.

2. 2

   Co-Sensing: Move from the conference room into the field. Conduct deep listening visits to the edges of the system — frontline workers, customers, outliers, critics. Suspend judgement, redirect attention, and allow observations to land without immediately framing them as problems to solve.

3. 3

   Reflection and Download: Reconvene to share observations in pairs or small groups. Harvest themes on a shared wall. Ask: 'What surprised you? What moved you? What questions are you sitting with?'

4. 4

   Presencing: Create space for stillness and deep reflection — through silence, journaling, or a nature walk. Ask each participant: 'What is the highest future possibility that wants to emerge? What is my role in bringing it forward?' Allow insights to crystallise before moving to action.

5. 5

   Co-Creating: Rapid prototyping in small cross-functional teams. Build tangible representations of emerging ideas — sketches, role plays, mock-ups, or service blueprints. Iterate quickly based on feedback from peers and real users.

6. 6

   Co-Evolving: Share prototypes across the full group. Identify which prototypes to scale, combine, or abandon. Map the ecosystem: who else needs to be involved? What structures and practices need to shift?

7. 7

   Close the loop: Synthesise learnings into a narrative of the journey. Define concrete next steps, ownership, and timelines. Conduct a meaningful check-out ritual.

Tipps

• Theory U cannot be rushed — Presencing in particular requires genuine stillness, which most organisations find uncomfortable.

• Build in unstructured time rather than cramming the agenda.

• The most powerful use is a multi-day retreat or a journey stretched over several weeks.

• Facilitators benefit from being trained in Social Presencing Theatre or other embodied practices to help groups access deeper levels of knowing.

Variationen

One-day U: compressed version focused on a single challenge, useful as an introduction. Virtual U: uses online breakout rooms for sensing interviews and digital collaboration tools for prototyping. Social Presencing Theatre: a movement-based companion practice that makes systemic dynamics visible through body sculpture.