FW: Freedom Shock

Tue Nov 14 09:42:41 PST 2006

Harrison, thanks for the generous thoughts and travel blog from Asia. And
yes, It's always interesting to not be surprised at people's surprise with
open space in new contexts. In every open space I do, there are folks who
live the ironic double-bind of "wanting something new as long as it can be
anticipated, predicted, and (possibly) controlled." When I suggest that new
means precisely the opposite they sometimes turn their head the way small
dogs do when they hear a disturbing or unfamilar sound. All we can do is
invite and let the power do what it does and has done for the past, let's
say, only biliions of years.

On 11/14/06, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Frankly I have seen fewer and fewer examples of Freedom Shock in Open
> Space
> over the years. I am not sure why this is true. Perhaps it has something
> to
> do with my failing eyesight or possibly my own increasing comfort and ease
> in Open Space which somehow communicates to the participants. As you note,
> it is surprising just how easily people whose culture and tradition is
> quite
> rigid and constrictive take very naturally to Open Space -- almost as if
> it
> were something that they have been doing all their lives. Which I suspect
> is
> true. Having said all of that, the rare case of Freedom Shock does show
> up.
> And when it does, I think we have an opportunity to learn from it and also
> to be of service to those so afflicted. I don't think this has anything to
> do with defending Open Space -- but rather helping people deal effectively
> with the open space of their lives. Or something.
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland 20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archivesVisit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Catherine
> Pfaehler
> Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:08 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: AW: Freedom Shock
>
> Now, Harrison - why do you write this? Would you say freedom shock is
> happening within OS on a regular basis? Or would you that say through the
> specific framework for OS which we offer as facilitators, it is softened
> and
> happens only rarely? (the second is rather my experience) Or do you point
> at
> it in another context I have missed?
>
> I occasionally witness people not so comfortable within OS - often, they
> are
> probably people who need a lot of structure to feel safe. They usually ask
> a
> question and somebody answers it, or they complain to me after it's over
> that an important issue wasn't posted and they don't understand why (even
> though I had said in the introduction to the marketplace that if they
> notice
> something missing on the agenda, it's probably them who needs to post it -
> but this might just not have gotten through to them).
>
> This is why I have come to like repetitions of OS within the same
> communities - there seems to be a learning curve, people do get more
> comfortable and more efficient over time, which leads to greater
> satisfaction, more miracles, more humility and gratitude towards the
> wonders
> of life.
>
> Let's learn about your intentions... Love, Catherine
>
> Catherine Pfaehler Senn
> Open Space Begleitung & Coaching
> Kellersriedweg 8
> CH - 2503 Biel
> +41-(0)32 - 365 68 41
> c.pfaehler at bluewin.ch
>
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net]
> Gesendet: Montag, 13. November 2006 19:52
> Betreff: Freedom Shock
>
> I think I might be blamed for the phrase Freedom Shock. At least I used it
> in an early book to describe the reaction of a very bright, experienced
> group of professionals who had suddenly been granted everything they
> wanted
> with no strings attached, and it seemed to terrify them. The situation
> involved a program I ran in the late 70's for senior level health care
> executives who were about ready to take the leap to top positions, such as
> the head of Blue Cross or Surgeon General. Such people had all the
> academic
> degrees anybody might wish for and typically had a large amount of
> on-the-ground experience. Yet it was quite clear that there was an
> enormous
> difference between being part of the team (even head of a large
> institution)
> and the very public and demanding role they were about to assume. And
> there
> was precious little margin for error when the need for decision arose in
> their new situation - and even less time for learning.
>
> Under the auspices of the Veterans Administration (which among other
> things
> supplies health care for US veterans in some 350 hospitals) I devised a
> program for a small select group (10) in which they were essentially given
> a
> 2 year sabbatical with full pay and "wandering around money" in which to
> become familiar with the larger aspects of the American Health Care
> System.
> The only requirement was that they do "something useful."
>
> To give the program a little shape, we recruited a Board of Governors
> which
> included virtually all of the then senior health care executives - such
> people as the Surgeon General, Assistant Secretary for Health, the Chair
> persons of the House and Senate Health committees, etc). This was a real
> "working board" and twice a year we gathered to identify and define "the
> major issues and opportunities facing the American health care system."
> (sound familiar?) We didn't use Open Space as I hadn't had the special
> martinis as yet  -- but we definitely had the flavor. The "Issues and
> Opportunities List" effectively became the "curriculum" for the program,
> and
> the participants (Scholars as we called them) had only to "do something
> useful" with any issue, subset or combination of issues. The Scholars
> would
> make a proposal, and with Board Approval, they were off to the races. No
> strings attached - just do something useful.
>
> Some three months into the program, the first group of Scholars called for
> a
> special meeting with me. The substantive complaint was that I was not
> doing
> my job, and more specifically, there was no structure for the program.
> Seemed like they were being asked to take responsibility for themselves,
> and
> they didn't like it. :-)
>
> I had heard something of the complaint, and in preparation for the meeting
> I
> prepared my resignation. After things got started, I laid the resignation
> on
> the table, and invited anybody to pick it up. It just lay there, and we
> went
> on to other subjects. And I sat there scratching my head, wondering at the
> strange phenomenon I called Freedom Shock. Here were an outstanding group
> of
> individuals, with massive amounts of credentials and experience who
> seemingly became terrified with absence of limits - or the presence of
> real
> freedom for which they and they alone were responsible.
>
> Subsequently I have noticed the same reaction in multiple places. It
> always
> surprises me, but it probably shouldn't. The appropriate response I have
> found is to note the presence, talk about it, and move on. Folks
> inevitably
> do (or not).
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland   20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/
> >
>
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives
> Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jack Ricchiuto
Leadership coach, facilitator, author

Just Released! "Mountain Paths: A Guide on the Journey toward Discovering
our Potential" - available at www.DesigningLife.com

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