Theory U

What is it?

Theory U is a framework for deep change and innovation — in individuals, organizations, or systems — developed by Otto Scharmer at MIT. Imagine it as a U-shaped journey that helps people and teams move from reacting to problems with old habits, to co-creating solutions from a deeper understanding of the future that wants to emerge.

Here’s a breakdown of the U shape:

- Left Side of the U: Letting Go

This is about slowing down, dropping assumptions, and tuning in.

Downloading – You start by noticing that you're just replaying old mental tapes (aka business-as-usual thinking).
Seeing – You step back and start seeing reality with fresh eyes.
Sensing – You immerse yourself in the context, feeling what's really happening from multiple perspectives (often with others)

- Bottom of the U: Presencing

This is the still, reflective moment where you connect to your highest future potential. A mashup of "presence" and "sensing." You let go of the past — and listen for what’s emerging.

- Right Side of the U: Letting Come

This is about bringing new ideas to life.

Crystallizing – You get clarity about what wants to emerge.
Prototyping – You start building small, fast experiments to test ideas.
Performing – You scale and embed the innovation into the system or organization.

In each phase different kinds of exercises are used to guide participants through it.

Tool: 3D Mapping Exercise (a.k.a. "Stakeholder Sculpture")

The purpose is to help participants visualize and explore the current and emerging reality of a system (like an organization, team, or social issue) using physical objects in 3D space. It taps into sensing and presencing — the heart of Theory U. It is a powerful exercise because it moves beyond intellectual analysis and surfaces hidden patterns and unspoken dynamics.

We use random physical materials (e.g., clay, toys, string, blocks, paper, LEGOs, sticks, etc.) on a large table.

1. Choose a System to Map

Participants agree on a system they want to explore (e.g., a healthcare organization, a community project, or a school).

2. Build the Current Reality

Using objects, participants create a 3D map of the current system, placing elements to represent:

Key stakeholders (people or groups)
Relationships (tensions, collaborations)
Dynamics (conflicts, blockages, power)

They physically feel their way into placing each object — not just thinking, but sensing.

3. Reflect & Walk the Map

The group literally walks around the sculpture and reflects:

What stands out?
How do power or flows show up?
What's missing?

4. Transform the Map

Now they reconfigure the map to represent:

The emerging future
A system that embodies greater potential, alignment, or flow

Again, they walk around it and reflect: What has shifted? What do we now see?