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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Harrison, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am about finishing OST User's Guide
Book. Everything seems so clear and simple, thank you for
writing it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But I am also very happy that you brought up this
subject " what to do when there is no air in the space?"...because this is
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>something I keep on thinking while reading the
book.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Listers, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am curious to know some "exemples of invitation"
as described in the book " provocative, evocative, imaginative, open
ended...that says </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>enough to catch attention, while leaving sufficient
open space for imagination "</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>thanks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Funda</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net" title=hhowen@comcast.net>Harrison Owen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 21, 2004 5:55
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Unintend Consequences,
Collateral Damage and Truth Telling</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One of the earmarks of any good Open Space (and
I've never seen a bad one) is that Truth is spoken. It may be the sort of
truth that manifests when professional colleagues honestly and authentically
access the relative merits of particular approaches to a given issue -- not on
the basis of who invented it, but rather the likelihood of success regardless
of authorship. More than occasionally it is also the sort of deep truth that
everybody knows, but all are in fear of uttering. There is a reason for this
fear, for when the truth is out in its wholeness, including the ugly parts --
it must be dealt with, and that act will exact a price in terms of pain and
general disruption. Say what you will about the positive and cathartic effects
of telling (facing) the truth -- it always seems to bloody well hurt.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There have been multiple examples of this sort of
thing in my journey in Open Space, but two in particular stand out for me. The
first was the occasion when I was privileged to open space for the 50
Palestinians and Israelis in Rome two years ago. I have told this story before
and you can find the details on <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A> if you want.
Basically these individuals came together (in the words of the conference
theme) to consider the issues and opportunities for ending the cycle of
violence in the Middle East. And in order to do that, it was necessary to face
that cycle of violence in all of its grim reality un-protected by facile
excuses and distribution of blame. To their great credit the participants did
just that. And it quite literally took their breath away. It had been our
intention to move from general discussion (two days) to action planning on the
third day -- but all of that seemed rather a pointless exercise, at least
until breath returned.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This past week I found my self in a similar
space. I had been asked to work with the CEOs of the affiliates of a large
American Non-Profit, The history of this organization is impressive, and
its work is well known and often dangerous.For almost 70 years, these
people have been at the cutting edge of social reform and service to people
who might not otherwise be served. Not unlike other institutions of a similar
age, it had grown bureaucratic and rigid with multiple fiefdoms all protected
with jealous zeal. The flash point had come at the interface of the National
organization and the local affiliates and the atmosphere was toxic and
destructive. Everybody knew it, but nobody would name it except in the back
corridors and dark corners. To do so would seem to provide comfort to the
multiple oppositions and thereby jeopardize the all important mission. In Open
Space the unspeakable was spoken, and once again it seemed that oxygen had
been sucked out of the room. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I bring all this up for the simple reason that I
suspect that many of you have faced similar situations, and many more will do
so in the future as our world lurches towards whatever future lies ahead. My
response in both cases seemed to work, but I am sure there are other
possibilities and many improvements, which if we put our heads together, might
just show up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My response in Rome was essentially intuitive. I
didn't have a clue what might be done until I was well into the middle of it.
With the wisdom of hindsight, I think I recognized that when people are
in shock, the first aid is to make sure they have some air. I suppose you
could argue that urging people to soldier on might be appropriate, but in
fact what I did was to call a time out and made every effort to open some more
space -- breathing room. Specifically, I started the day by noting that it
seemed to me that the day was a day of choosing. The choice was simple
to state, albeit difficult to make. The people could see the preceding day's
work as yet another example of failed hopes and dreams -- or they could
understand that it was only because they had truly engaged each other that the
tragic enormity of their situation apparently overwhelmed them. If the former
was correct, it made little sense to continue. And if the latter -- then it
would seem worth while to carry on, accepting the pain and seeking some deeper
resolution. To enable the choosing (open a wide space of possibility) I said
that I was leaving the circle and would return in an hour. Those who chose to
return could do so, and those who chose differently must make their own plans.
I did return in an hour with a talking stick (olive branch -- literally) and a
question. "I see you have all returned -- and now where to you want to go?" --
and passed the stick. For the next 2 and 1/2 hours the group deeply shared
their pain, hopes, and frustrations. When that was through, it was time for
lunch. I had thought that we might still move to action planning, and
suggested that before departing for the meal, those who felt so inclined might
announce and post Issues for Action which would be addressed in the afternoon.
Interestingly enough none were posted, but the afternoon was scarcely wasted.
In fact real plans and commitments were made by some, and the remainder found
it most useful to continue conversations in a more informal manner. By the
evening meal, the group had congealed in a most remarkable way.
Awesome!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As I said -- this past week I found myself in a
similar space. Very different group and totally different issues -- but when
the oxygen sucked out of the room, I knew I had been there before, and this
time I had a much clearer idea of how to proceed. As you might have
guessed, I did exactly the same thing I had done in Rome. Following some
brief remarks, I left the circle -- although you could hardly leave the
space. </FONT> <FONT face=Arial size=2>I returned an hour later with a
talking stick (hand held mike) and for the next 2 hours the group shared hopes
and fears with great intensity. Once again -- Awesome! And then there was
lunch, but this time we did return for more issues, opportunities and action
planning. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So there you have it -- two different situations
with great similarities. My Reponses (intuitive first and
then intentional) seemed to meet the needs -- and according to the
participants appeared to convert immanent disaster into deep learning moments.
My own feeling state was intense to say the least, and anybody who thinks that
holding space under those circumstances is a walk in the park must be
operating in some radically different space than I. Obviously, what I
did should never be done casually or routinely, and doubtless there were
alternatives -- Although I confess not to have seen any.
Thoughts?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison</FONT> </DIV>* *
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