Fear of freedom

Fri Nov 3 10:20:38 PST 2006

Funda, 

Well, with Kerry's response and a good consultation with Avner Haramati, I
met the lady Thursday and "went with her" to the extent that we
re-established our partnership and we're moving forward. As Kerry suggested,
we will call the Steering committee together to address her plans and to lay
the foundation for the organization they/she aspire to. Hopefully, she will
allow people to self-express and make a difference there. And then, later,
we will open space to the wider community in order to enable people's
creativity and commitment to lift the group into implementation. 

Truth is, I had to give up "control" as facilitator and accepted that the
organization has been the lady's dream for ten years and that she will have
to impact upon the founding more than a wide open space would have allowed
her to. Once she knows that she is truly in the process of fulfilling
something close to her dream, she may be able to let go more. Strange
contradiction. 

Reminds me of our need, in Israel, for security measures now, if we are ever
to move toward a time when we won't need them. However, just as too much
"security" costs lives and creates cycles of defensiveness and
aggressiveness, my client's re-assertion of control or influence could cost
the project its aliveness and lead to withdrawal of some of the people's
energy that was born during the first open space, when everything seemed
possible. 

At any rate, as someone once said, "It's easier to ride a horse in the
direction it's going.." 

My job seems to be more "holding" the space of openness as elegantly as
possible, such that we won't kill the passion. 

Thanks for your response. Yoav 

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Funda Oral
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 10:54 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Fear of freedom

Dear Yoav,

What i do more and more now is to respect and listen carefully everybody's
opinion, suggestion and fear.

I don't judge or fight with it.

If they/ he /she are/is afraid......there must be a good reason for this.

It's more important to respect and deal with this fear (even if you don't
solve it) than to open space.

I agree that it's a good idea to take yourself out of the relation between
this lady and the committee. 

I also suggest you to show her you really listen to her suggestion and deal
with her fear and unsecurity.

Her letting go of control and opening space are the best ways to start a new
and healthy organization where

everbody would willingly take part...

Tell her ...this might seem a long and undirect way...but much more healthy
and secure for an organization to start

I wish she sees this and enjoys the ost process.

let us know what happens.

good luck

funda   

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Yoav <mailto:yoavpeck at netvision.net.il>  Peck 

To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 

Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 3:12 PM

Subject: Re: Fear of freedom

Kerry, 

Thanks for your response. Yes, I have to get myself out of the way here, and
letting the Committee decide what to do with the madam's plan and to have
her experience a limited-audience re-thinking of her assumptions makes
sense. The "document" to be produced by the steering committee might be the
way to acknowledge her idea while contextualizing it in what might still be
an open-ish process for the large group. Whether it can be a true open space
will depend on her willingness to have her plan become an idea rather than
the idea for how to move forward. 

We spent a glorious week in the highlands last summer. What a great country
to live in! 

Thanks again. Yoav

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of kerry
napuk
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 1:27 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Fear of freedom

Dear Yoav

Ah, the insecurity of management!

How about distributing her plan to the Steering Committee and asking the
Committee to deal with it during a half day event?  She will then experience
her plan's acceptability to the core group wanting to move the project
forward.  Let them deal with it while you step aside. 

Once the Steering Committee completes it's work, they can distribute their
agreed document to all  participants before reconvening an OST event for the
60 people and anyone else interested.  The emphasis of this second event
would be to agree the way forward and create action plans to make it happen.

Good luck.

Regards

Kerry Napuk

Edinburgh

www.openfutures.com

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