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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dear
Harrison,<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Alas,
despite best efforts to assist a client to understand the power of an Open
Space Technology meeting, and I agree that story telling is a good way to do
this, the client usually does not understand what it is really about until
he/she is right in the middle of it and reflecting on it after the fact. It is
a lot like telling a person what a date will be like. Or what marriage will be
like. There is no way to describe it to someone in a way that they can truly
understand. He/she usually only understands what is meant well into the middle
of it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I can’t
recall any clients as the type for Nasty Retribution or deadening Business as
Usual types. My experience with them is that they are overwhelmed by what
happened in the meeting and although they gave what they thought was informed
consent, they didn’t really know what they were consenting to. And then they
grieve…and sometimes behave from the shock/anger or denial…absolutely healthy
and natural. I recall (since I attended your training some 7or 8 times) that
you spoke of grief at work and that it is a natural human process. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I stress
simply that OST itself is an event that often initiates grief cycle work,
including within the client. Grief cycle work is initiated by an event of
change—and the change can be phenomenally exciting and wonderful but it is
change and therefore there is loss involved. <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>I agree with Gabi that it is important, if possible, to work
with the client to assist him/her through this.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>In most cases, there is no need to have the good people
leave. There are no villains in most of the organizations that I have come
across. Simply good people, doing their best and sometimes getting hung up in
shock/anger/denial.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Blessings,
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Birgitt<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>There is no way that I know of to guarantee that Monday
Morning will arrive without a return to the deadening reality of Business as
Usual -- or worse -- that some nasty form of reflexive retribution does not
take place. But if either should occur, I know that at the very least the
people involved now know that there is an alternative. They do not have to be
that miserable. And should they choose their misery, that is their choice. And
in the unpleasant eventuality of Nasty Retribution breaking out -- I find
myself profoundly saddened, but strangely comforted by a knowledge that the
people effected have an option -- The law of Two Feet. Organizations that
persist in the notion that their function is to control the lives and destinies
of those employed can receive a very potent wake up call when their good people
leave. Sometimes, that is the only way to get their attention.<br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<br>
Harrison Owen<br>
<br>
<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<br>
Open Space Training </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora=autourl><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=black><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> <br>
Open Space Institute </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora=autourl><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=black><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br>
Personal website </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora=autourl><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=black><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br>
<br>
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<br>
<br>
Michael M Pannwitz<br>
Draisweg 1<br>
12209 Berlin, Germany<br>
FON +49 - 30-772 8000 FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464<br>
Fax2mail: 49-30-263 917 301 521<br>
<a href="http://www.michaelmpannwitz.de/" eudora=autourl>www.michaelMpannwitz.de</a><br>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:
0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'></x-sigsep><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'><x-sigsep>Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<br>
Open Space Training <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora=autourl>www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</a><br>
<br>
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