Invitation

[Harrison Owen]

Ralph -- great stuff as usual. And I was wondering how would apply what you
have said to an everyday situation? Supposing it is Monday morning at your
place of work saving the environment in New Jersey. Your inbox and todo list
are filled to over flowing -- and that cup of coffee (if you had one) is
getting cold. What do you do next?

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
Phone 301-365-2093
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph
Copleman
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 3:51 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Invitation

Power, control, and "WOW"...

When I extend an invitation for OS, I am aware that at least some of those I
am inviting may feel I am attempting to exercise a degree of power and
control over some portion of their time and/or mind.  No matter how much
"Wow" I think I have put into my invitation, I have no control whatsoever
over what others think.

My practice is to begin holding space the moment I commit to a meeting.
This is the way I know to be congruent with what I understand to be open
space.  If I seek to bend people against their inclination into thinking
that the meeting is a good idea, important, etc., and then show up and say,
"Welcome to open space," well then, I haven't been completely consistent.
And the space is not really open.

People accept invitations based on the way they think, perceive, think,
trust, and/or project.  Their lives include a range of circumstances and
previous commitments.  If I'm authentically holding the space right from the
moment the idea of the gathering is conceived, there is nothing about the
choice to accept the invitation that is not completely theirs.  I may, of
course, offer persuasion, promote possible benefits, or use enticing
language and images.  As a former public relations practitioner, I am not
adverse to employing these tools, but I seek a balance that communicates my
position and beliefs on one hand and the opportunity available to them on
the other.

So I have trouble with the idea that invitations "fail".  I like what HO
says about investigating how I could do things better if nobody shows, and I
must ultimately let "Whoever comes..." be my guide.  But if people are
unavailable, too busy, too far away, or just not interested, well, I just
figure I'm ahead of the curve!

>From sunny New Jersey, USA,

Ralph Copleman

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