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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Doug -- I am not so sure that this is really a fork
in the road -- somehow that image is just too linear, suggesting that there is a
single road. It feels to me rather more like a deepening of the experience, or
maybe broadening and deepening. An image I would feel more comfortable with is
"an expansion of the circle." So it is nothing new -- but rather more and
deeper. That may be splitting hairs, but it enables me to deal with your coments
about "the secret tool bag." I don't think there are any secrets, it is just
that we have never noticed before. I think we have all noticed that in Open
Space, conflict of all sorts is dealt with in usefuol and productive fashions.
Indeed, I have never encountered a situation where it was necessary to intervene
and resolve (mediate) the conflict. The group has always been able to handle the
situation, and usually learns from it PROVIDED they have plenty of space/time to
work in. So our function (my function) -- is to open space, and keep it open.
And when it appears that the space is too small (clostrophobia is imanent) --
the answer is quite simple -- open more space. And on rare occasions that
means opening a LOT more space. I think this is what I did. In the case of
the Israelis and Palestinians, my action was purely intuitive. I suppose I could
have given some explanation at the time, but truthfully, I would have been
grasping at straws. I honestly didn't KNOW what to do, as in knowing a
particular technique or approach. And I definitely found myself in the space
Toke speaks of (<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>"- meaning that I connect to
this detached place in me where I do not need to look good, be popular, be
responsible for the agreed outcome or pleasing peoples and my own fears -
and I let go to it somehow....."). </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial size=2>From a personal point of
view, this was definitely a growth moment -- and while I certainly benefited
from it, it is not something that I would look forward to every day. In the
second situation I described (with the non-profit), I did have some idea of what
to do, but I must confess that my anxiety level was right up there. In fact the
night before I found sleep a sometime thing, but as Toke points out the object
of real concern was not (in the first instance) them, but me. It took me most of
the night to find that detached place -- that centered space from which I could
open a whole mess of space for others. </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last thought. I don't think I was describing a new
way to conclude and Open Space. If anything it was more about kick starting the
whole operation with a radical re-opening of Space. It was also about giving
everybody the clear opportunity to make their own choices in a way that placed
the responsibility for that choice totally on them. Did they choose to go on --
or drop out? No blame either way, but the choice was theirs. It is true that I
left the circle, but I promised to come back in one hour (seemed like a
reasonable time). All those who chose to do so could come back. And anybody who
found something else to do would be missed, but not judged. I have to say that
hour (in both situations) felt like almost an eternity. However, I never felt
like I was leaving the space, only the circle, which I think is important. If
anything I sensed a deeper connection with the participants.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison</FONT><FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=76066.515@compuserve.com
href="mailto:76066.515@compuserve.com">Douglas D. Germann, Sr.</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 21, 2004 11:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Unintend Consequences,
Collateral Damage and Truth Telling</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Harrison--<BR><BR>It seems to me you have invented a different
way to conclude OST. I think<BR>there are 3 ways that are talked about here on
the list:<BR><BR>1. Convergence (the first way).<BR><BR>2. Reopening the space
for action planning (Chris Corrigan's way).<BR><BR>3. Opening breathing room
(for times of shock).<BR><BR>So we have a fork in the OST road, and (no)
surprise--we have choices!<BR><BR>It seems to me that opening space is
something everybody should be able to<BR>do--and indeed we all do it all the
time. In other words, there are no<BR>experts keeping the secrets to
themselves. Yet this last one seems to be in<BR>the secret tool bag of the
practitioner. Is it not known to all of us that<BR>when there is a fire in the
circle, we must stop what we are doing and<BR>evacuate the room? (Or something
on that order?)<BR><BR>So, how do we, when do we, tell our people about it,
share it with the<BR>world? This one needs to be explored further, and the
learning shared,
yes?<BR><BR>
:-Doug.<BR>
Seeking people making
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