life in open space

Sun Oct 22 17:18:28 PDT 2006

Taking a stand for not only your own integrity, but the integrity of the
method....sounds pretty world-changing. 

It occurs to me that one of the signs of a mature personality is being able
to say no to something big and juicy and tempting that could distract one
from one's real work in this world. No doubt you could have made a
difference whatever the parameters. But it is not your job to make a silk
purse out of a sow's ear.

It is your job to sit and pay attention, alert for that one square
centimetre of genuine opportunity - and be ready to act with all your power
when it does appear. Your gut has already told you this is not it. So, wait
some more. It will come.

Joanna Fletcher
Lion Life Coaching
jo at lionlifecoaching.com
604-340-1855
www.lionlifecoaching.com

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Phelim
McDermott
Sent: October 21, 2006 5:27 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: life in open space

Hello folks,

OK guys here's the scenario. And sadly I have to pussy foot here.

So I apologise if there's code happening..

You do an open space gig which you set up yourself.. and it causes a  
bit of a stir. Of course.. It works.  So people talk about it and you  
get asked to do some more. By other people in the same sector..the  
arts..

As ever you feel like you're simultaneously a sort of "joan of ark"  
because of your passion and at the same time a pretender...  I mean  
there's people out there who have been doing this for years ..  
however you take courage because as Harrison says anyone with a good  
heart... etc   and today you feel ok about where you're coming from.

Anyway..  through various connections the big gig comes knocking on  
your door.  it's something you really care about. its close to your  
own passion its a real opportunity and its a major kudos gig for your  
own company.. in lots of ways and you start to talk with them about  
it.....

Then as you talk you begin to suspect that they want open space cos  
it looks like it does certain things ie involves people, looks  
democratic but you suspect...

that they dont REALLY WANT to open space they want to look like they  
opened space cos that will buy them some "cred.". Then they can say  
they consulted and opened it out but then they did what they did.

When they say they want one day rather than two you suspect its cos  
they fear what might come up if there's more time.

they say THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE wont come to a two day event but they  
will to a one day.

Because its your own environment you have an emotional response to  
this and fight even harder for the value of two days... obvious reasons.

They make a demand that it happens within an unrealistic time frame  
without really even knowing what the theme or the BIG QUESTION might  
be. They want you to do it with at least SIX different groups... (I  
said it was a BIG GIG)

You know you could just  say yes and some wonderful things might  
happen because you opened space on an issue in an area thats really  
important to you but you also know it's a compromise..

the more they say do six one day events the more you find yourself  
arguing for TWO DAYS

THE  MORE THEY SAY YES BUT WE NEED TO MOVE FAST YOU SAY..

yes If you slow down make sure the invitations are right before we  
proceed... you will move faster..

You find yourself asking...... If it was someone who wasnt so  
emotionally involved would they just go with what they were asking for?

You realise its happening...

  yes... you are TALKING YOUR WAY OUT OF A REALLY BIG GIG...

You dont want to do open space to tick someone's cool consultation box..

as you are making your decision

You simultaneously feel noble and STUPID..

You find yourself getting more demanding and outrageous in your  
suggestions...

"Forget six separate gigs do ONE enormous g
ig if you really want to sort this... get some diversity and .ask the  
BIG question!"

You also know actually this is true  !  it would be amazing  but are  
already seeing that maybe it's not going to happen.. there will be  
different gigs happening they will probably even ask someone else in  
to do open space because we said we couldnt do it to their schedule...

You tell them you dont feel its right for us to do this gig and they  
probably want something other than open space

You feel a bit crap.. and dont quite know what happened..

You feel like you've failed because you didn't manage to communicate  
well about why you were being so adamant about certain things..

you feel a bit isolated..

you know its good long term but momentarily you feel sad..

You hope someone else understands how you're feeling..

Phelimxx

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist