Open Space -- The Credible incredible - Thank you for this rich and dynamic dialogue......

[Birgitt Williams]

Dear Harrison,
Alas, despite best efforts to assist a client to understand the power of an
Open Space Technology meeting, and I agree that story telling is a good way
to do this, the client usually does not understand what it is really about
until he/she is right in the middle of it and reflecting on it after the
fact. It is a lot like telling a person what a date will be like. Or what
marriage will be like. There is no way to describe it to someone in a way
that they can truly understand. He/she usually only understands what is
meant well into the middle of it.

I can’t recall any clients as the type for Nasty Retribution or deadening
Business as Usual types. My experience with them is that they are
overwhelmed by what happened in the meeting and although they gave what they
thought was informed consent, they didn’t really know what they were
consenting to. And then they grieve
and sometimes behave from the
shock/anger or denial
absolutely healthy and natural. I recall (since I
attended your training some 7or 8 times) that you spoke of grief at work and
that it is a natural human process.

I stress simply that OST itself is an event that often initiates grief cycle
work, including within the client. Grief cycle work is initiated by an event
of change—and the change can be phenomenally exciting and wonderful but it
is change and therefore there is loss involved.  I agree with Gabi that it
is important, if possible, to work with the client to assist him/her through
this.  In most cases, there is no need to have the good people leave. There
are no villains in most of the organizations that I have come across. Simply
good people, doing their best and sometimes getting hung up in
shock/anger/denial.

Blessings,
Birgitt


 There is no way that I know of to guarantee that Monday Morning will arrive
without a return to the deadening reality of Business as Usual -- or
worse -- that some nasty form of reflexive retribution does not take place.
But if either should occur, I know that at the very least the people
involved now know that there is an alternative. They do not have to be that
miserable. And should they choose their misery, that is their choice. And in
the unpleasant eventuality of Nasty Retribution breaking out -- I find
myself profoundly saddened, but strangely comforted by a knowledge that the
people effected have an option -- The law of Two Feet. Organizations that
persist in the notion that their function is to control the lives and
destinies of those employed can receive a very potent wake up call when
their good people leave. Sometimes, that is the only way to get their
attention.

Harrison


Harrison Owen


7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh
<http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh>

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Michael M Pannwitz
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Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh
<http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh>

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