<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hello Elwin,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I have facilitated an Open Space where one of the resulting actions was a key person leaving a position of leadership and the group. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I did not know about the conflict going into the os - I was actually filling in for Chris Weaver when a family need came up for him which conflicted with the scheduled os.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The situation i was in seems different, but I'll offer my story:</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The group was a 12 member council putting together a conference in North Carolina called Earth Spirit Rising. I found out later - a year or two - that there were several people in the group who had done some pretty powerful group processes in their lifetimes, a real asset. One of the members, a man who had done a great deal of primary groundwork on the project and was deeply invested, was in conflict with some of the other members, and was having some personal issues to deal with on his own.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Right from the beginning after opening the space the issue of the conflict between the man I mentioned and the group flared up. Some of the group wanted this man to leave, others had tacit support for him, and others wanted the best for the project and the conference, and the man was conflicted himself about whether he wanted to leave or not, but at the beginning was resisting being thrown out. Everyone turned to me to directly facilitate the conflict, and I told them that it was now there meeting, their passion, their responsibility to deal with the most pressing issues as adults. And I left the room, essentially opening more space.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>It was hard to leave the room and let them proceed without me, but it was the best thing I could have done. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I returned after about an hour to see how they were doing. They survived, they self-organized. The man in the center of the conflict ended up deciding it was best for him and the group to leave the project. The group as a whole created and dealt with an exit plan/transition strategy.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>And then a beautiful, powerful moment unfolded as the group designed a parting ritual that took place in the middle of the circle, with the man in the center surrounded in circle by the rest of the group. And they thanked him for his contribution and together they found healing.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I don't know what will happen with your project, but I've found Open Space to provide a very powerful container for conflict, drama, passion and responsibility.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>So, whatever you decide to do, prepare to be surprised!</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>with grace and love,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Zelle</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Zelle Nelson</DIV><DIV>Know Place Like Home/Engaging the Soul@Work/State of Grace Document</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>www.knowplacelikehome.com</DIV><DIV>www.engagingthesoulatwork.com</DIV><DIV>www.stateofgracedocument.com</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><A href="mailto:zelle@knowplacelikehome.com">zelle@knowplacelikehome.com</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>work/home:<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>(001) 828.693.0802</DIV><DIV>mobile:<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>(001) 847.951.7030</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Isle of Skye</DIV><DIV>2021 Greenville Hwy</DIV><DIV>Flat Rock, NC 28731</DIV><DIV>USA</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Aug 29, 2006, at 5:31 PM, Elwin and Joan wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Dear Colleagues,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">A few days back, while I was on assignment in Ethiopia, a consulting</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">firm I have long association with emailed to say they needed me to</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">cover a 2 day management training and team building job with a US Gov’t</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">office in DC.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Fair enough I thought. The consulting firm knows me well and our</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">history together has always been one of success.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I asked for and received a Statement of Work (SOW) that was the usual</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">referencing of interactive approaches to building cooperation, respect</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">and a sense of teamwork.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Based on the SOW, I wrote a proposal for a 1 1/2 day Open Space</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">conference with the theme, “Looking for Opportunities to Improve Our</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Teamwork”. <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The proposal was accepted by the client.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I am now Stateside. I just talked with the client and things look</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">pretty ugly.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I now<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>know the “real” interest in this exercise is to get rid of one</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">or two of the office employees. These two people are viewed by a new</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">management (my clients) as subversives, if not terrorists. The new boss</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">wants them “gone.”</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In 5 days I am scheduled to do this Open Space with six employees</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">including the boss.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I am not at all reluctant to change my proposal and do my “hard hat”</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">management consultant routine.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>On the other hand this might be a perfect OST opportunity.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">What say you?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">eg</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Elwin Guild</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Future Development International</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Baltimore</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="mailto:elwinandjoan@yahoo.com">elwinandjoan@yahoo.com</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">*</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">*</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">==========================================================</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">------------------------------</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">view the archives of <A href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</A>:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</A></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>*
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