Help! Client's Three Week Worries

[Averbuch]

Joelle'
thank you for this beautiful story and reminder how important overnight's
are
Tova Averbuch




-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Joelle
Lyons Everett
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 7:32 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Help! Client's Three Week Worries


Doug--

Sorry for the blank mesage!  I've done a number of Open Spaces where there
were "too many" sessions.  The participants have never needed help in
finding
solutions--they move into other informal spaces. combine sessions, decide to
hold half-length sessions, etc etc etc.

As others have pointed out, allowing participants to solve such problems for
themselves is an important introduction to taking responsibility.

I have also utilized that anxious energy by getting clients (especially
director-persons) to do some of the set-up tasks, make decisions about where
to put the various elements of the meeting (posters, refreshments).  Some
that are especially needing to be in charge get to stick flip chart notes on
the wall all day.

Your non-anxious presence is the most important thing you bring to the
meeting.  I spent two days last week at a very nice resort with a client
group.  The two weeks before the meeting were heavy with things which, in my
opinion, did not need to be done.  Their anxiety was understandable--they
are
facing significant restructuring.  And at the end of Day 1, the management
team was very upset that they were not getting the level of participation
they had hoped for.  They had decided NOT to focus on the possibility of
layoffs, so of course no one could focus on anything else--the Dead Moose
under the table.

After a 3-hour dinner with the management team, at which most people thought
we should do something different, but no one knew what, I announced that
Morning News would be a place for people to talk about their feelings, as
well as announce new sessions.  And went to bed knowing that no one else in
the room really thought it would work.

After Morning News, with considerable dissatisfaction and distrust
expressed,
a young man posted a session, saying he wanted to ask the questions that
were
on his mind, and he hoped at least one of the managers would be there to
answer them.  With all the managers and about 3/4 of the group in the room,
he facilitated a wonderful session in which he nonblamefully asked all his
questions and the director nondefensively answered all of them that had
answers.  Someone listened for "What we know about this situation" (the
givens) and recorded them on the flip chart.  And the rest of the day was
sessions which had a much higher level of energy, participation and
creativity.  I heard laughter break out for the first time, and there were a
few tears in the Closing Circle.

You know how to do this work.  Your client does not--that is why he has
hired
you.  Open Space Technology takes all these possibilities into account.  And
it will work.

Enjoy!

Joelle

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