In a message dated 10/29/03 3:54:18 PM, bria...@mira.net writes: << Maybe I haven't yet gotten to the stage of real "letting-go" for my own part. I suspect we have always to be working at that, and it's a continuing challenge. BUT the biggest delicacy seems to me - both in myself and in organizations I work with - is the fear of "loss of control" which is epidemic in proportions in our business and not-for-profit communities, as I see it. Somehow, this real fear transmits very easily into the whole organization, and the challenge we bring with Open Space is the exact reversal of that in a way which often increases that fear - and touches us as well. >>
Brian-- I currently have a client who is just terrific. She is the assistant executive director of a not-for-profit organization; her job is really operating manager. During my initial presentation to this organization, she asked, "Are there known to be conditions where Open Space will just not be successful?" I said, "The one condition that is known is that Open Space will not work in organizations where the leaders feel that they must keep control of the outcomes." She just burst out laughing, and said, "Well, now I know what my challenge is going to be." In our next conversation, when the management team was making a decision whether to use Open Space, this same woman said, "I know this is going to be hard for me--and I really want to do it, because what we are doing now is not working well enough." She has continued to struggle to understand how Open Space plays out in the ongoing work and attitudes of the organization. I notice in the recent report they sent me that several ideas proposed in the OS meeting are being carried forward by the group that proposed them, with the blessings of the top team. I agree with your estimate that we always have to be working at letting go of control, internally and in our work with clients--at least if feels that way to me. OST helps by giving me some language and methods for thinking and talking about this important piece of--I think--spiritual work. Joelle * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
