Have you heard of The Law of Two Feet before? It was coined by a man called Harrison Owen in the context of organising meetings that are fruitful, engaging and that let participants both teach what they know and learn something new. It's part of a participatory approach to community and leadership called Open Space (look it up if you want to know more!).
The Law of Two Feet is simple. It states that if you're not contributing and you're not learning, use your feet to take you somewhere where you are doing one or both of these things.
Now, this totally makes sense in the context of a big organisational meeting - management wouldn't want anyone to be bored, it's preferable that people feel engaged and appreciated.
But it also totally makes sense everywhere else in life, and I've been consciously using it ever since I first heard about it.
Yep, I live my life in accordance with The Law of Two Feet.
This means that I don't stay in meetings, situations or conversations where I'm not contributing or learning anything.
I also always, always, always take responsibility for myself: if I'm bored or disengaged, I don't blame someone else, I use my (sometimes metaphorical if we're online) feet to take me elsewhere.
It's a wonderfully exciting way to live, and has led me to loads of wonderful experiences and people. Plus saved me from a lot of boredom and frustration, too!
So today I ask you: is there anywhere in your life where you feel like you're not contributing or learning? How could you change that? Could your feet take you somewhere else? Where could you make (or experience) more of a difference?
Love,
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Lovely, thank you for this.
I guess I have never physically done the “law of two feet” but mentally for sure many times.
When I have a conversation where I am about to two-foot away from mentally, I usually ask one significant question that could potentially change the conversation into something more interesting. If it , my mind shuts off and wonders about other things.
I am glad other people deal with the same issue. Cheers
Like you, I think I do this more in my head, it’s just how I live. It’s a good law to keep in mind though!
Joanna, this is the first I’ve heard of the Law of Two Feet! Thanks for this! There is so much to be done and enjoyed and fulfilled on this Planet– why waste any moments? I’ve even slipped out of expensive programs when I realized I was in the “wrong room”.
I’ve left programs like that too – life’s too short!
Thanks for sharing the law of two feet. I’d never heard of it before. It’ll help a lot in my contract work moving forward.
I think it’s a really good one to keep in mind!
I will remember this law and use guilt-free where necessary. My husband won’t like it much – his favourite relaxation is binge-watching television for a whole day.
Maybe he’s learning? 😉 I mean, sometimes you need to chill too, but I really need to be getting something out of my experiences, even tv!
Learning is a passion of mine. I have used it all my career to take me where I wanted to go, and even today I am enrolled in multiple courses to learn how to do what I feel is important to my art and writing. Great post and I find that learning is how we not only help ourselves but always leads to helping and serving others.
Yes! I consider myself a lifelong learner too – it’s nice that we have that in common!
Oh, excellent law. I may use it in a newsletter at work.
It’s a really great way to live!