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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Joelle, Steve, Kerry,
Harrison – thank you for this interesting thread! What a beautiful story you
share, Joelle. This direct asking would not have happened if it hadn’t been in
Open Space and the person asking feeling safe enough to ask… Creating this
sense of “held open space” is our highest goal and biggest job.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Love, Catherine<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Catherine
Pfaehler Senn<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Open
Space Begleitung & Coaching<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
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2503 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Biel</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>c.pfaehler@bluewin.ch<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>Von:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Joelle Lyons
Everett [mailto:JLEShelton@aol.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Gesendet:</span></b> Donnerstag, 16. November
2006 21:09<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betreff:</span></b> Re: Proximity and Open
Space after presentations</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Geneva><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Geneva;color:black'>Steve--<br>
<br>
I read Catherine's sentence (</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial
FAMILY=SANSSERIF><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>What
would the risks be if we opened space and it wasn’t certain to be safe?) </span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Geneva FAMILY=SANSSERIF><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Geneva;color:black'>somewhat differently than you did. I
thought she was referring to a situation where the supposedly Open Space did not
feel safe for participants.<br>
<br>
This is why seasoned OS facilitators stress the importance of prework with the
organization, getting to know the organization well enough to discover whether
top managers are prepared to be surprised, or whether they know in advance what
outcomes they will accept.<br>
<br>
It is possible that opening space in an organization that is not really open to
it could damage my professional credibility and the reputation of Open Space as
a way of working. But my first concern is that participants who speak
their own truth in Open Space will not be punished in some way for that truth,
and that participants not be asked for ideas which management has no intention
of using.<br>
<br>
I opened space with one organization which was facing major restructuring, and
most of the participants felt that the meeting was just "for show,"
that the decisions had already been made (which was not true, but I can see
where that feeling came from). There were lots of conversations the first
day, but participants were very guarded, not much creative work. At the
beginning of the second day, one of the participants addressed this issue
directly, requesting that one of the managers sit down with him and answer the
questions that were hanging unasked.<br>
<br>
Most of the participants chose to be part of this conversation. The
convenor was straightforward with his questions, but never attacking. The
director, sitting on the floor in the circle, answered every question honestly
and without defensiveness. Someone got a flipchart and made notes of <br>
"What we know about our situation." It was a beautiful piece of
work. I sat on the sidelines and held space. My only intervention
came the night before, when I refused the director's request to design a
different type of meeting for Day 2. <br>
<br>
The rest of the day, the emotional climate was entirely different.
Conversations were both lively and creative, and many expressed gratitude in
the closing circle for this opportunity.<br>
<br>
In answer to your last question, Steve, you should not be fearful. In
fact, courage is probably your most valuable contribution. But sometimes
Open Space is not appropriate for the situation. You will learn from
experience, so wade right in!<br>
<br>
Joelle Everett<br>
Sound Resources<br>
Shelton, Washington, USA </span></font><font face=Arial
FAMILY=SANSSERIF><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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