Empowerment and other matters (Short!!)Update on the 2.5 day Open Space with the Katzie First Nation

[Michael Herman]

hello julie!  ...i think OS does something more than helping detach from
outcome... it encourages us to bring out, look into, and take action on our
passions, sufferings and other things we cling to... and so often it seems
we find that they are empty!  that no action is required, now that we all
agree on whatever, or that action is needed but defending is not
needed....  so no, not helpful in detaching from outcome... but often seems
that outcome dissolves into movement, flow, elegance, grace, spirit!  no
handles, no clinging, and still no problem.   think the buddhist resistance
just dissolved too. <grin>

m



Julie Smith wrote:

> Birgitt,
>
> Although I don't use the term empowerment in the same way that you do, I
> appreciate the insight that OST may not help participants detach from
> outcome. Interesting that this important value we apply to ourselves we
> rarely consider for participants.
>
> I suppose if we were Buddhist, this observation would be reason to
> question the validity of the process.  Now there's a new slant on
> things.
>
> Julie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Birgitt Williams
> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 12:24 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Empowerment and other matters (Short!!)Update on the 2.5
> day Open Space with the Katzie First Nation
>
> Dear friends who are following this thread on empowerment,
> I have learned that there are three modes of empowerment. The first mode
> of
> empowerment is to achieve detachment  from outcome. The second is to
> embody
> personal force and power, knowing that each of us within us holds the
> key to
> create change and each of us within us has the resources that we need to
> do
> so. In this second mode of empowerment, it is critical to create the
> personal world in the image of your choosing (will is required) and to
> engage in focused action. The third mode of empowerment is retaining
> memory.
> This retention of memory is what we each draw on for knowledge and
> wisdom
>
> I have explored these modes of empowerment for the individual and for
> the
> collective of individuals (otherwise known as an organization).
>
> Sometimes choices are to use empowerment to nurture life. And sometimes
> to
> destroy life.
>
> Does OST assist the individual or collective in detaching from outcome?
> I
> say no. By working with passion, it does the opposite, often.
> Does OST assist the individual or collective to embody personal force
> and
> power and knowledge that the resources lie within. I say yes.
> Does OST assist in the retaining of memory. I think it has more
> potential
> for this than is commonly worked with.
>
> I offer this to think about.
> Birgitt
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Fr
> Brian S Bainbridge
> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 7:40 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Empowerment and other matters (Short!!)Update on the 2.5
> day Open Space with the Katzie First Nation
>
> For Chris Corrigan and other friends:
> I have two - or so - insights to add, perhaps.
> 1.  Warren Bennis once talked to me about empowerment as "a licence to
> kill"
> - which I found shattering a couple of years ago.  But I don't find it
> so
> now, because I have seen that very impact sometimes, especially when it
> is
> translated as action without responsibility.  At an Open Space yesterday
> evening, the view of a person (trained in South Africa) holding others
> responsible, holding that they are empowered and thus act without
> responsibility was very different from what the Australians in the group
> saw, coupled with a seeming inability to go beyond that to see that
> people
> can and do act with passion AND responsibility.  His learning and
> reading
> and MBA training have done him a huge disservice, on the face of things.
> But he was interested to engage and has been reading Harrison's "The
> Spirit
> of Leadership".  It will be interesting to see how he changes when he
> reads
> "The Practice of Peace".
> 2.    I love the notion "decolonization".  A major Open Space in New
> Zealand
> seemed to result in not a lot of outcomes, but it did permit the Maori
> participants to confess privately that the program process (Open Space)
> was
> marvellous in that it allowed them to work in the way their tradition
> always
> used to before the imposition and intimidation and controlling foisted
> on
> them by the Pakeha (whites).  The only other significant comment they
> made
> was to ask us not to convey this comment to the whites who (they
> believed)
> would be utterly incensed by such heresy.  I know the very same
> responses
> are present here in Australia among our indigenous people.
> An extra two-penny-worth, maybe.
> Cheers and blessings,   BRIAN.
>
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--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610 USA
phone: 312-280-7838

http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.globalchicago.net

...inviting organization into movement

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