Hello to my dear Open Space family,
This is a story about a daughter, a father and Open Space. Something
happened in Berlin in May, but the story started a long time ago and
with buckets of gratitude, I want to gift it to all of you, my Open
Space family, hoping what happened to me also happens to you.
While at the WOSonOS in Berlin, I happily spotted the Open Space
Technology Guide in Italian on the Access Queen Auction table. I was
determined to bid and win this valuable book with the intent of giving
it to my dad, an Italian aficionado who is now fluent in Italian after
more than a decade of learning the language, traveling to Italy to
visit many Etruscan ruins and an avid reader of Italian newspapers on
the internet. He is 80 years old. I overbid the young Michael Pannwitz
a few times; he graciously stopped bidding when he saw how much I
wanted it. As I was collecting my prize, I had the good fortune of
running into Gerardo De Luzenberger, who had translated this wonderful
guide. I asked him if he would inscribe it for my father which he
did, in Italian. I would have to wait until I returned to Florida to
know what he wrote. My intention then was for dad to read Gerardo’s
note and perhaps scan a few pages in the book, which hopefully might
give him a better understanding of Open Space. Lord knows he had heard
me talk about it often enough, like a smitten teenager with a new
boyfriend.
I have struggled to explain OS to dad (and many others) in terms that
he could relate to. As a retired radiologist and student of life in
everything from science, to ancient history, art and music , Dad has
always been someone more focused on data, facts, and accuracy than on
the workings of people dynamics, collaboration, and large system
transformation which he sometimes described as politics with too many
controlling leaders – probably lots of truth to his assessments.
Throughout my life, dad and I had had more than our share of talking
“at” each other rather than “with” each other in the ways of many
daughters who want to be like their dads yet fail to realize that it's
more about being yourself and living the best of who YOU are. That
said, our debates are similar to those everywhere with facts and
wanting to prove something blocking us from the essence of what's
important..
Well things are different now between us because of Open Space. Yes
we still talk about facts but we also talk about the "other stuff"
too. We share in ways we have never shared before, with an easiness
and joy of just being together. He tells me stories of his youth, of
his life, dozens and dozens of them, some I've heard, many I have
not.. We laugh and we share with mom listening on quietly as
entertained by the stories as I am. What's also really different now
is how interested he is in the details and essence of the work I am
doing. Still sometimes hard for me to explain it to him but I'm
getting better at it.
The ITALIAN Open Space guide was a big breakthrough and I still smile
at what happened. Well dad read the ENTIRE book from COVER to COVER.
He was glowing in his assessment of how easy it had been to read,
describing the excellence of the translation which according to him,
captured the essence and feel of the English language in which it had
been conceived now written in the new language that he loves. Was I
ever surprised but should I have been?
And then here’s where the fun begins. Boy did I get grilled! All of
a sudden he was interrogating me about the Open Spaces I had been
involved in this past year, asking if they had fully met the criteria
outlined by this chap Harrison Owen, a guy he evidently admired as he
glowingly described his common sense and “tell it like it is” style
which is also dad's style. Of course dad was referring to the Open
Space event that have: a real issue of concern, high levels of
complexity, diversity, voluntary self-selection and a decision time of
yesterday. He asked me about my “topic themes” , the groups and who
they were, and about the book of proceedings and reports. Admittedly,
many of my early ventures in Open Space were timid and did not fully
conform but at least I was plunging in. My mom, who was eavesdropping
on our telephone conversation that day, tried to mediate what became
heated and passionate discussions between us. In the end, probably
the best compliment a daughter can get from her dad is to hear him
say: Sue you’re going to be really good at this; you’re made to do
this kind of work. And then the conversation opened up in a whole new
direction with us animatedly talking about all the situations and
possibilities of where Open Space can make a huge difference in the
world, the stuff he cares about and the stuff I care about. The list
was endless.
Now as I come out of our second annual Open Space with my NuFocus
family having spent 2.5 intense days together looking at our
international future and possibilities I see the same powerful
breakthroughs between the guys and the girls that make up our
company. The layers peel off, gently at first when we started a few
years ago and then so very fast as we revel in being together,
exploring our future and just being ourselves. Open Space is a
precious gift. I see it as the invitation to take that first big bold
step of courage as it was for us: to bravely be who we are, to notice
ourselves and others and then just get on with our beautiful life.
Magic in so many ways!
So Gerardo, thank you translating the OS guide and for your personal
note to my dad and Harrison well, Happy Father’s Day. Who knows maybe
you and dad will one day enjoy a martini together, which is something
else you have in common besides being “straight talkers”. Happy
Father's day to all the OS dads out there as I wish you all the same
beautiful journey of love with your kids as I have with my dad (and my
mom) in this last chapter of their lives.
Yes, much has changed in my life since I met Open Space and what I
realize now, more and more, is that this simple STORY is the STORY of
many, people in all kinds of situations, people with passion who want
to make a difference. Simple stories because of the predictable
patterns that unfold and that allow us to release the unique
leadership that's inside of each of us. These individual insights of
us as leaders are the true building blocks of community and a
collective. It all starts with the "simple" stories of who we are.
Much love to all on this Father's Day,
Suzanne
