Client out of control! Need help!

[owen]

At 06:22 PM 10/8/1998 -0400, you wrote:
>A quick one, I'm not sure it's a problem, but...
>
>I'm preparing for an Open Space at the end of the month
>with a federal government department.  The planning
>committee I'm working with was sold on the idea of
>concluding a three day meeting with one full day in Open
>Space.  They chose a great topic and I'm confident that the
>day will go very well.
>
>The problem is that the committee I'm working with is
>accountable to a manager who distrusts facilitators
>and facilitated meetings of any kind.  (Perfect, thought I.
>Won't be a problem with OS).  The committee sold her on
>the concept, but I'm not sure she's grasped it fully and she
>won't talk to me.
>
>The day in Open Space has a hole in the middle ofit for
>people to eat lunch, continue with their group work, sleep or
>whatever.  The manager has now asked for a keynote
>speaker to be inserted into this "free" spot.  I'm uneasy, but
>thought I'd get some advice.  I've never done it this way
>before, and naturally I'm worried about what this highly
>structured presentation will do to the flow.  Will the group
>recover the momentum after being bored to tears at lunch?
>Should I back out if we can't get the keynote speaker
>cancelled?
>
>Chris

*********

I have. Only once. And it is a real Spirit Killer. Hardest work I ever did
getting the folks back into their Space when the "speaker" had them sitting
on their a__.

If there is any possibility of avoiding this ... do so. Mayber before.
maybe afterwards. but when the space is open... keep it that way. the
speaker wil shut everything down. Believe me. Even if they are
outstanding!!!!  Maybe especially so then. Good luck.

Harrison