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

Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com
Mon Dec 13 12:07:43 PST 2021 

Yes thanks John!

Michael, I want to ask about one element of your story, and propose that it
makes a difference in human systems. Curious your thought about it!

As an OST facilitator you are present for "the expanded time and space for
the unfolding of selforganization." Another term for being present as a
facilitator is "hosting."

I notice that attentive "hosting" among humans makes a difference in the
quality of our experience and collaboration together. We might host one
another without a facilitator, but attending to this relationship in some
way can bring a huge leap in quality.

So I modify my idea like this: "learning to trust the forces of HOSTED self
organization" is a remedy for institutional or personal habits of control.

Warmly,
Jeff





On Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 11:36 AM john watkins <johnw536 at mac.com> wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> And, maybe to be a little redundant to say, but meant to be respectfully
> honoring, both Chris Corrigan and Peggy Holman have really beautiful
> graphics that describe this path.
>
> John Watkins
> Oakland, CA
>
> On Dec 13, 2021, at 10:15 AM, Jeff Aitken via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> 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 <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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