<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Perhaps the other side of "control" is "expectations".<div><br></div><div>This is one of the reasons I always post the "Be prepared to be surprised" sign. </div><div><br></div><div>Artur and Harrison, your thinking has me thinking. I realized that part of what I can get "hooked" on are the client's expectations, which, if I'm not staying awake will make their way in to my own expectations.</div><div><br></div><div>Life is always more interesting than my own expectations.</div><div><br></div><div>Warm wishes from cooler (under 100 degrees) Phoenix,<br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p align=""></p><p align="">Christine</p><div><div>Christine Whitney Sanchez, Partner</div><div>Innovation Partners International</div><div>480.759.0262</div></div><a href="http://www.innovationpartners.com">www.innovationpartners.com</a> <br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><span><img height="69" width="179" src="cid:B71363CD-3161-4487-8B7C-B7E5B885823E@ph.cox.net"></span><span><img height="72" width="96" src="cid:D5A8DA7F-A226-4236-AE13-E3B896C0D29D@ph.cox.net"></span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></div></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></div><br><div><div>On Sep 11, 2011, at 5:58 AM, Artur Silva wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f">Thanks for your tough provoking post, Harrison. Some thoughts and questions inline.</font></span></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; "><div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><font size="2" face="Arial"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Harrison Owen <<a href="mailto:hhowen@verizon.net">hhowen@verizon.net</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' <<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Saturday, September 10, 2011 11:07 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [OSList] Control, Perceived Control, and the Loss Thereof<br></font><br><div id="yiv2090841070"><style><!-- #yiv2090841070 _filtered #yiv2090841070 {font-family:"Cambria Math";panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv2090841070 {font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv2090841070 {font-family:Consolas;panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;} #yiv2090841070 #yiv2090841070 p.yiv2090841070MsoNormal, #yiv2090841070 li.yiv2090841070MsoNormal, #yiv2090841070 div.yiv2090841070MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"sans-serif";} #yiv2090841070 a:link, #yiv2090841070 span.yiv2090841070MsoHyperlink {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;} #yiv2090841070 a:visited, #yiv2090841070 span.yiv2090841070MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;} #yiv2090841070 p.yiv2090841070MsoPlainText, #yiv2090841070 li.yiv2090841070MsoPlainText, #yiv2090841070 div.yiv2090841070MsoPlainText {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;} #yiv2090841070 span.yiv2090841070PlainTextChar {font-family:Consolas;} #yiv2090841070 span.yiv2090841070EmailStyle19 {font-family:"sans-serif";color:windowtext;} #yiv2090841070 .yiv2090841070MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;} _filtered #yiv2090841070 {margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} #yiv2090841070 div.yiv2090841070WordSection1 {} --></style><div class="yiv2090841070WordSection1"><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal">Keith wrote: “Loss (or perceived loss?) of control is also something that some senior leaders struggle with.”</div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal">True – and not only in Open Space. It may be my own perversity, but I find this to be a very useful struggle which may bring these folks to a deeper understanding of themselves, the organizations they serve, and the world in which we live. The actual truth of the matter (and for sure my personal experience) is that control of the sort they are afraid of losing never was theirs to begin with. Agonizing over something the doesn’t exist is not only a little silly, it also bespeaks of something approaching delusion, if not delusion itself. The pain of their agonizing is to be regretted, but it is a self inflicted wound, and unfortunately its impact is not limited to the nervous executive(s). It can (and often does) effect the entire organization in adverse and sometimes lethal ways.<b><u> Space closes,</u> innovation withers, agility get clunky – and organizational health shows critical signs of decline in terms of loss of productivity, efficiency, effectiveness – to say nothing of employee morale and self-respect</b>. Not a pretty picture.</div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f">Would you agree then that those organizations, at that point in time, can be considered "closed"? </font></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal">(...) </div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal">There is no question in my mind that there are massive good works to be done coaching executives through their addiction to control. And it really is an addiction, I think, and should be treated as such. Those in the “Addiction Business” will tell you that, of the many barriers and difficulties to be faced and overcome –<b> The Enabler is a major obstacle to health. Enablers are typically good hearted souls who in the name of sympathy, empathy and compassion do little things, and large, to effectively shield the addict from a direct confrontation with his/her addiction. I more than suspect that when <u>we seek to shield an executive from the possibility of losing control in Open Space</u>, we are doing something of the same sort, and for sure we are not doing anybody a favor</b>. <b>Should our efforts take the form of assuring people that “certain” items/issues will be kept carefully under protective cover (read “control”), that constitutes promises we can’t keep.</b> If the items/issues are truly important to somebody (other than the nervous executive) – they will be present, one way or another. If not in a “session” then for sure in some back hall conversations where it is most likely that they will fester and grow. <i></i></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#00007F;background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Would you agree that all the past discussions about the "givens" were precisely about that - one way to try to shield the executives that some "givens" will be out of discussion at the OST event?</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal">Pre-work, as Lisa Heft is wont to tell us, is important. But I find that (at least in the case of executive fears) it can be pretty straight forward. I simply describe what Open Space is and the kinds of results I have witnessed, making little reference to how it works – unless asked. In most cases we proceed directly to operational concerns: Theme, location, dates, etc. But in the event that the conversation moves to issues of control and the perceived lack of same, I tend to call for a time out, suggesting that maybe they need some more time to think about their needs and the appropriateness of Open Space. If I don’t think they have heard me, I put it a little stronger. I suggest that they think about any other way to achieve their ends. And should they run out of options, call me back. I run about 50/50 on the call backs. But when they call they are ready to go. So am I.</div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><br></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f"><div class="yiv2090841070msonormal" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#00007F;background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">And what do you think about an almost opposite strategy for the Pre-work of trying to "prepare" the prospective client that he/she will lose control but that is ok...? (I say "almost opposite" as your way seems to recommend that the facilitator gets out of the way and let the client think and decide, and the other is almost trying to "educate the client"...)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="yiv2090841070msonormal" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black; background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></div> <div class="yiv2090841070msonormal" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:#00007F;background:white">Thanks for any clarifications.</span><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv2090841070msonormal" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:#00007F;background:white"><br></span></div><div class="yiv2090841070msonormal" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:#00007F;background:white">Regards</span></div></font></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f"><br></font></div><div class="yiv2090841070MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#00007f">Artur</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>OSList mailing list<br>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:<br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><br></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>