[OSList] Beware of Bad Bosses... Take it From the Dilbert Cartoon

[Jeff Aitken]

Yes, it seems that the paradigm of authoritarian leadership is exactly what
OST and other participatory methods are intended to remedy.

The postwar work in social systems by folks like Kurt Levin and others were
a response to the tragic origins of the second world war, along with the
outdated mechanistic notions of human organization. OD work and later OT
work like Open Space have this in their genealogy.

I'm so curious how we may have differing perspectives on where such
authoritarian impulses are present now, and what to do about them.

Not to "go there" right here and now, but to invite an inquiry into the
resources of this legacy of theory and practice as a guide for muddling
into the near future.

Maybe skilled hosting would be called for in such a case. (Not
volunteering, as I am surely holding one of the "poles".)

Warmly,
Jeff


On Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 12:28 PM Marc C. Trudeau via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Mark, check out Daniel Mezick’s A-1 Meeting, as a way to give the bosses a
> taste and help them test their own resolve. You could build the A-1 around
> the OST Principles and Law. Odds are, some of the bosses really are Open.
>
> Peace,
>
> Marc
>
>
> Marc Trudeau
> mobile 774-641-8302
>
> LikeBreathin.com <http://likebreathin.com/>
>
>
>
> Effective teamwork and team leadership feel nearly effortless, Like
> Breathin’​. Partner with us to experience how.
>
> On Dec 12, 2021, at 11:48 AM, Mark Carmel via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> 
> Greetings!!
>
> Bosses that SAY they are Open are perhaps ALL talk...  THEREFORE, Beware
> of Bad Bosses.  This is My New 1st Law of OST, unwritten and unspoken, of
> course. In my humble (or not so humble) opinion, All believers in and
> Facilitators of Open Space Technology must understand times have changed.
> In the US, we now live in Retaliation Nation. Don't believe it, just look
> at any and all the news. One smear campaign after another. Yet, the great
> USA is the most open and envied society on earth, right? Before leading
> your Open Spacers into the Tiger's Den, prior to the invitation stage and
> setting up the theme, i suggest you first vet the true intent of the
> bosses.  Look at their past behavior and figure out whether they are open
> or if they repeat past behavior to pounce on open and honest people they
> consider Snitches.  If a boss is dishonest and fake, do not consider
> honoring them with the miracle of OST.  They don't deserve trust and will
> crush criticism like a bug.
>
> Take it from today's Dilbert Cartoon:
>
> Dilbert holds an Open Meeting... Dilbert says...We won a guvmint contract
> to build a CO2 capture machine. We are only brainstorming so remember,
> there are no bad ideas... Alice says...we could capture CO2 with a net.
> Aren't you going to write that down?  Dilbert says...No, I'm fairly
> confident I'll remember that suggestion for the rest of my life... then
> Wally says...we could attract the CO2 with some sort of food... then
> Dilbert says...Forget it. You're all idiots. I'll just design the stupid
> machine myself... As employees exit the meeting, Alice says...that was
> fun.  Then Wally says...
> I love brainstorming!
>
> Wishing Peace to the Peacemakers and TO ALL those you serve.
>
> Mark Carmel, OST Facilitator
> Collaborator King
> Circle of Synergy
> Circle of Champions
> Circle of Peace
> Chief cook and bottle washer...
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