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<title>was: urgent</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Reinhard – Well Done! You did it!! As
for the Four Principles, I see the words and they seem to make sense – so
I guess that is all to the good. And I always find it useful to remember that
the Principles are not instructions to the people as to what they “should”
do – but rather a simple statement of what is going to happen regardless
of their (the peoples’) intent. The fact that the Principles may seem
odd, counterintuitive, wrong, even revolutionary -- doesn’t change
anything. And changing the wording isn’t going to change the result, so
far as I can see. People will be people, so to speak. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span 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 style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I feel sorry for the Board member, and
when it comes to resolution, I would be thinking about a new board member. He
obviously didn’t “get it.” I don’t mean he didn’t
understand Open Space. That is obviously true, but it is also a very small part
of the problem. What he really missed was the passion, intensity, thinking and purpose
of the people. The long term outcome from such situations is quite predicable.
To the extent that he manages to work his will all that good energy and high
expectations will be crushed. At that point the really good people will leave,
and the remainder will come to look more like robots than intelligent human
beings. The impact on organizational function and creativity is obvious –
as I said, I would be thinking ab out a new Board Member. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span 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 style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>In terms of the future of that business
organization, such a prognosis is not a happy one. Sort of like getting a terminal
disease before you even really get started. For the people, however, it may not
be all bad. Given sufficient cognitive dissonance they may come to recognize
the real situation and then set about to create something more whole and
healthy for themselves. That has happened before, and could happen here.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span 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 style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Harrison
Owen</span></font></st1:PersonName><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>189 Beaucaire Ave</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Camden</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">ME</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">04843</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>301-365-2093 (Winter)</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Website <a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a> </span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Personal Website <a
href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</a> </span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>OSLIST</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
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color:navy'> </span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>To
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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'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Reinhard Kuchenm ü
ller<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, July 11, 2008 11:45
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> was: urgent</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:6.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
</span></font><font size=1 color=navy face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:navy'><br>
Dear friends in open space,<br>
<br>
We made it! we had an open space session with eighty coworkers of a big
company, and i facilitated my first open space! And i think that would not have
been possible without your help! So i want to thank you for your contributions,
Kerry, Jon, Carla, Harrison, Gerard and Esther. You were really very helpful.
The most i got from Gerards proposal of a paradoxical approach, and that is
what we did. We proposed two other methods, kind of modified world cafè, and
finally the young and curious hr-manager asked: and if we did an open space in
pure form? He invited two colleagues from the middle management, and after some
hesitation both spoke in favor of o s, so we got it.<br>
<br>
Only we had to accept an introduction of a board member who also wanted to
close the session. And they definitely did not want the principles in their
normal form, because they did not tell them anything. So i undertook the work
of redefining them – and am curious what you think of that. The theme of
the o s we defined: “At the starting point of the new company: what are
we proud of? Where are potentials and chances? What do we want to start
with?”<br>
<br>
The first principle is: here the right people come together! The second
principle is: here happens what is possible right now! The third principle is:
We simply start! The fourth principle is: and then one has to be able to stop !
.... ...whenever a theme is finished for someone, open space offers
a very special solution. It is so important, that it is formulated as a law
– the law of two feet! .....(the German text was a bit more convincing i
think!)<br>
<br>
For my preparation i found the texts of Michael Pannwitz and Matthias zur
Bonsen very helpful, including the lists of items you need, although i had to
work a while until i could formulate my own introduction. I really had to dive
into the essence of o s, what an experience!<br>
<br>
And then of course we accompanied the o s with our visualization, what for some
of you is not the pure thing, but for me again was such a convincing way
of saving the essence of the group work, much more than the written texts could
do. Three woman draw images, one hundred and eighty images, while i was
busy holding the space , me this time without drawing. And watching, how these
eighty people spontaneously analyzed their company within one day, and
developed splendid proposals how to proceed. They were really great.
Accordingly also the</span></font><font size=1 color="#00007f" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#00007F'> final round was
strong. About half of the people spoke. And what they said again and again were
three things: <br>
<br>
“i have been very cautious and hesitating before, but now i am totally
convinced of open space. Couldn’t we do it more often? <br>
<br>
And: the visualization is simply great! Can we get the images? All of them?
<br>
<br>
And: How will the upcoming conference of 150 managers deal with our proposals?
Will they understand them, and accept them? “
<br>
<br>
Only too soon we had to see, that their worst expectations came true. <br>
<br>
Because then the board member came back and spoke – he did not mention
the theme of the open space, he did not honor the group work, he only said: now
we must trimm the results, so that they fit with our four value definitions,
and that will not be easy! <br>
<br>
Many of the coworkers were shocked, and up to today, four days later, i have no
idea how to proceed. We cancelled the very creative concept of our next
workshop immediately, because we have to avoid, that also these people run
against a wall if they are creative and use their fantasy. We hope to find a
way to help this company, i am already dreaming of it.<br>
<br>
So thanks friends, that you helped us to bring this o s together, and if there
is some development to tell about, i will comeback to you!<br>
<br>
Reinhard<br>
VISUELLE PROTOKOLLE<br>
<br>
www.visuelle-protokolle.de<br>
<br>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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