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

Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com
Mon Dec 13 10:15:43 PST 2021 

Hi Michael. Yes that's an interesting framing thank you.

I am partial to the "chaordic path" taught in the Art of Hosting. This
short video with a group of trainers talks about control, order, and chaos,
and the sweet spot of leadership found in the dance between order and
chaos.

https://youtu.be/B8SNaAH20fk

To try a first response to your question, I might say that "learning to
trust the forces of self organization" is a remedy for institutional or
personal habits of control.

With my best for your holydays as well,

Warmly,
Jeff





On Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 12:29 AM Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Dear Jeff,
>
> all the best to you in 2022 and Merry Xmas.
>
> I wonder in which way the assumption
> "OST and other participatory methods are intended to remedy ..."
> is congruent with the assumption that OST is not intending to remedy any
> particular situation.
>
> As ost facilitator my assumption is that OST is an effective approach to
> expand time and space for the unfolding of selforganisation and that
> control accomplishes the opposite... and that it is utterly impossible
> to know what the forces of selforganisation will bring about.
>
> Isn't that what makes the OST approach unique?
>
> Greetings from Berlin
> mmp
>
>
> Am 13.12.2021 um 03:38 schrieb Jeff Aitken via OSList:
> > So yes, my question wasn't fully formed until now:
> >
> > I am fascinated that folks who are passionate about Open Space can be in
> > differing "poles" of the "polarity" in the USA, and also be able to show
> > how OS is a kind of guide to understanding their own view.
> >
> > Which leads me to wonder if good old OS can help unlock insights into
> > the situation in a fruitful way.
> >
> > Being USA centric in an international list has its issues, but any
> > insight from outside the USA is welcome and important, including a
> > request to keep it among us folk.
> >
> > We may not want to "go there" here, and that would be fine, but i would
> > feel remiss not to mention it, as 2022 draws near. It will be a big year
> > in these parts.
> >
> > Warmly,
> > Jeff
> >
> > On Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 2:08 PM Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com
> > <mailto:r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> >     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
> >     <mailto: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 <tel: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
> >>         <mailto: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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> --
> Michael M Pannwitz
> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin
> +49 30 7728000     mmpannwitz at gmail.com
>
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