[OSList] Open Space in dictatorship

Tue Feb 11 14:57:19 PST 2014

I had the privilege of working with Marina in 2001 with a group of women leaders in Siberia.

To this day, I remember the opening circle. We — the team of 4 women from the US doing this workshop — had asked the women to introduce themselves. One by one, they stood and spoke as if they were making a speech to a crowd. In my minds eye, their words were all in capital letters with exclamation points (!).  The moment the introductions started, the other women started talking to each other rather than listening to the person speaking. We stepped in and asked that they listen to each other. Such a simple idea that was apparently not a cultural norm.

By the end of the next day, as they worked together in small groups, the conversations all seemed engaged and authentic, with real listening going on. 

One thing I learned on that trip was to never assume that I could accurately interpret what was going on. So I wonder...Marina — how do you remember it?

appreciatively,
Peggy

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On Feb 11, 2014, at 9:51 AM, Тясто Марина В. <tyasto at sapa.nsk.su> wrote:

> Dear Ulrika,
> 
> I echo Elwin as I also have extensive experience of facilitation OST events in Russia as I live here, especially with different groups of state and municipal servants in the classroom environment. At the beginning most of them looked like having freedom shock being invited to post issues they care for. But after starting discussions they began to change their way of communication and learning freely and fully. Always coming to the room for the reports and closing I've observed totally different people - with much more self-confidence, positive outlook and friendly feelings to each other. OST actually gives people the first experience of free behavior , self-organizing, self-learning and real leadership. I hardly could define Russian case as a real dictatorship, but I don't know about any bad consequences for the OST meeting participants. Even though some of them were saying something like: even though I'd be fired after I will organize something like this in my office - organization I'll do it and  finally tell the truth.
> I'm  sure it is important to bring OST to every possible place and share it with as many people as possible.
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Marina
> 
> ________________________________________
> От: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] от имени Elwin and Joan [elwinandjoan at yahoo.com]
> Отправлено: 10 февраля 2014 г. 18:09
> Кому: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Тема: Re: [OSList] Open Space in dictatorship
> 
> Ulrika,
> I have Opened Space countless times in nearly every country of the former Soviet Union, from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.
> In most cases I had the opportunity to return for further development work. I have never encountered anyone who suffered any retribution as a result of Open Space participation. To the contrary, I continue to get email thank you notes from many participants of Open Space dating back more than a decade.
> 
> It always works!
> 
> Elwin Guild
> Future Development International
> 
> 
> 
> On Monday, February 10, 2014 11:34 AM, Ulrika Eklund <ulrika.eklund at telia.com> wrote:
> Dear listmembers and all your experience
> 
> I would love to take part of your experience and knowledge about
> working with OS in countries operated by dictatorship. A closed space,
> where you are used/allowed to think as The party. "Its a lovely country
> as long as you follow the rules"
> 
> For example I had a training course with a group working in the
> authorities and governmental bodies (national and regional level), and
> they listed some of the problems in one area. After they were
> encouraged to brainstorm ideas and solutions on the problems. After the
> task I asked - what was the new ideas and insight you got? New?! We
> repeated what the party already have decided"... so it was more a
> memory test :) An other exampel: in the university where I met the
> students study a Human rights course sponsered by another country. They
> said: "its a good course. Why I asked and the answer was: we are
> allowed to ask questions when we don't understand, you know sometimes
> you read a text in the book and you don't understand and it doesnot
> help to read it many times, here we can ask, and we are also allowed to
> discuss.
> 
> So my question - how is Open Space working in this circumstances? How
> you know people that think freely are not punished after?
> 
> WIsh you all a lovley week
> Ulrika
> 
> 
> --
> Ulrika Eklund
> Bergsgatan 7A
> SE-112 23 Stockholm
> Sweden
> mobile +46-(0)70-699 86 12
> 
> --
> 
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