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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Masud -- the word "manipulative" is a curious one. In the
circles that you and I usually move in -- it is a "bad word." But if I go to a
chiropractor or a therapeutic massage person -- and am not "manipulated" I
should be very unhappy. I think the significant issue is not to manipulate
or not to manipulate -- but rather to what end and to what purpose. Hopefully,
my ends and purposes are in line with the client. If not, they should fire me.
If so, I expect to be fully compensated. But manipulaton comes with the
territory, I think.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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=masheikh@COGECO.CA href="mailto:masheikh@COGECO.CA">Masud Sheikh</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, May 28, 2005 8:35
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: The Question(s)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Thank you Harrison,<BR>I understand and accept what you are
saying - that your client is the<BR>organization, and that some people may
need to move on. I am glad that you<BR>did not use the word "caring" in this
note. In the example you gave, I<BR>suppose the facilitators and sponsors did
not know the reasons why some<BR>did not accept the invitations within the
48-hour notice period.<BR><BR>Labelling those who do not participate to be
"non-caring" seems<BR>judgmental, and perhaps manipulative - to me, at
least.<BR>Take care<BR>Masud<BR><BR>Harrison Owen <<A
href="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net">hhowen@comcast.net</A>>
wrote:<BR><BR>>Masud --The issue you raise is of course a real one. But for
some reason,<BR>in my experience, it is mostly a theoretical one. This may be
due in large<BR>part to the fact that in the early conversations with a client
I am a<BR>great pains to insure the broadest possible representation. I Insist
that<BR>the invitation be as broadly extended as possible. There may be
some<BR>limitations because of physical space available, in which case my
practice<BR>has been to make the guest list expansive and then set in motion
an<BR>acceptance system based on "first come, first served." In one large
Open<BR>Space that I did with Peggy Holman in a large US corporation (which
was<BR>very troubled/conflicted) -- we actually issued the invitations in
defined<BR>blocks according to the proportional representation of
the<BR>skill/professional/geographic groups involved. Folks were given
something<BR>like 48 hours to respond and invitations that were not accepted
were<BR>returned to "the pool" and available to anybody who cared to come.
It<BR>wasn't perfect, and it seemed to work. At least I never heard
any<BR>complaints -- although maybe Peggy did. (Peggy ??). But more to the
point,<BR>if there was a significant issue in the minds/hearts/soul of
anybody<BR>anywhere in that company that did not show its head (ugly or
beautiful) --<BR>I never heard anybody say what it was. Which brings to mind
another point.<BR>I am sure that there have been somewhere, some time, some
individuals --<BR>who felt excluded for some reason or another. Truthfully I
feel sorry<BR>about that, but in terms of the end result, I am not really sure
it makes<BR>that much difference. The reason is a simple one. If the issue
felt by the<BR>one apparently excluded by faulty invitation or personal choice
is a real,<BR>hot, juicy one -- you better believe that somebody will raise
it. There<BR>are endless numbers of situations where the gossip said that if
THAT issue<BR>were ever raised -- Heads would roll. Ordinarily that contraband
issue is<BR>an "early appearer" -- despite all predictions to the
contrary.<BR>><BR>>I suppose it is now time to reveal my personal bias
-- focus, or<BR>whatever. As much as I appreciate and support the rights,
needs, and<BR>feelings of the individuals involved -- my focus is always on
the group or<BR>organization. In another time and place I have confided to
those who asked<BR>that in my opinion, Open Space was not to be confused with
individual<BR>therapy -- although it is certainly true that may people have
found it to<BR>be of enormous therapeutic value. But that is another story.
Once I start<BR>working with a group or organization, I make it very clear
that my<BR>personal concern is that the group or organization reach its
highest<BR>possible level of effectiveness (however that may be
defined). At some<BR>level this requires profound respect for all the
individuals involved. But<BR>there are also cases where some of the
individuals involved probably need<BR>to seek alternate employment, or
whatever. And for them the most useful<BR>outcome may well be to clearly
understand that their current organization<BR>is simply not their cup of tea
-- and it is time to move
on.<BR>><BR>>Harrison<BR>><BR>><BR>>Harrison Owen<BR>>7808
River Falls Dr.<BR>>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>>USA<BR>>301-365-2093<BR>>207-763-3261
(summer)<BR>>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A><BR>><BR><BR>*<BR>*<BR>==========================================================<BR><A
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