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<DIV>Sometimes we know a highly emotional time is coming, particularly in
multiple day OS's. What best serves the group when we know this is
coming?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>After years of experiencing the rhythm of groups at work, I almost always
know when people are bringing "downloads" with them into the morning
circle. (It is particularly easy to predict when something powerful
happens the evening before.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For those who read the description of the Story Field Conference (SFC),
Wednesday morning was a turning point. The morning circle was intense and
very controversial, and for most, highly productive. As I have reflected
with other colleagues on the choice we made to use the morning circle as a
reflection space, I have wondered if our choice is what best served the
group. In my conversations, three alternatives emerged, each with its
strengths and short comings. I've shared them below. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'd love to hear how others have handled such challenging moments.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>appreciatively,</DIV>
<DIV>Peggy</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>*************************************8</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">When you know there will be lots
to process in the morning, here are three options:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* Do it in the circle</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* Send the energy back out
into the breakout spaces</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> * </o:p>And a
non-traditional thought:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Take 30 minutes in groups of 4,
then 30 minutes in the large circle</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG>Doing it in the large
circle</STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The pros:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* If it is a well hosted
space, it can the safest space in the room for those who bring a different
voice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">* </SPAN>When there is as much to be surfaced,
the benefit of it being a collective experience can be a turning point, creating
a deep sense of shared experience and community.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">What can be lost:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* People who find the space too
intense check out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the
gathering is held in a location that is easy to leave, they would
likely be gone for good.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">* It sets up a dynamic that everything of
significance needs to happen in the big group</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">* T</SPAN>his significant opportuity
for people to have the experience of the fractal nature of conversation is lost
</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* It breaks the lived
experience that this is a system in which the parts that care about someting are
handling it on behalf of the whole.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG>Keep the morning circle
short and send the intensity into the space</STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The pros:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">* P</SPAN>eople experience the fractal nature of
conversation</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* People learn and
experience that ideas<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>can and do filter
back into the whole.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">* </SPAN>It allows people to meet their own
needs; those who are focused on "let's get it done" can do so and not be
subjected to stuff they don't want to be subjected to.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no tyranny of the whole
operating.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Much easier to follow
the law of two feet.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">What can be lost:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* a different group of
people check out - the ones who have trouble speaking out because they
don't have a safe space</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">* some people take
their angst into butterfly conversations, which can help it come out in the
larger whole.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By going sideways
first in the small, helps clarity and confidence surface in the large
circle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>* A risk is that the conversations never
happen.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p><FONT
size=4> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p></o:p> </P>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><STRONG>Reflect in small groups that feed back into the
whole</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>In the context of OST, it is the least known, since it isn't part of the
traditional form.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Variation:
Having a home group, or buddy; can be a volunteer function)</FONT>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>The pros:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>* It ensures some level of personal processing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>What can be lost:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>* a risk is the most important angst is
dissipated</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">* </SPAN>May be most comfortable
because has a foot in both worlds, allows processing time </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>though it may not generate the benefits of disturbance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">* </SPAN>May be best way to
suppress what might be creative dissonance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One last note from the Story Field Conference: my bias would have been to
send people out to handle their "stuff" via breakout sessions and butterfly
conversations. My colleagues - Mark Jones, Candi Foon and Anne Stadler -
felt that this would have caused the most marginalized voices to remain
silent. As you reflect on your own experiences, I'm particularly
interested in this aspect of dominant culture voices and those who are least
heard or seen.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BTW, I don't think there are right or wrong answers on
this. Each alternative results in something useful and something
lost. I'm just interested in understanding the consequences of our
different choices so that we can grow in wisdom and consciousness.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>________________________________<BR>Peggy Holman<BR>The Open Circle
Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, WA 98006<BR>(425) 746-6274
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: <BR><A
href="http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
burnt, is to become <BR>the fire".<BR> -- Drew
Dellinger</DIV></BODY></HTML>
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