A propos of what I am not quite sure -- but as our discussions have gone on recently, I found my self thinking about Who is the client?" The easy answer, and one that I subscribed to for a long time -- "The person who pays the bill," doesn't seem so easy any more. I am finding that the role of client is a variable one, changing with time and circumstances. At the initial point of contact, the client is obviously the person at the other end of the phone, table, or email. Conversations about intended result, possible approaches, and the up and down sides of all of the above, are essential. Should there be a Go Decision, and opening space is the chosen means (and in my case, of course, few would believe that I could do anything else, even if I wanted to), I find that the "client" changes rather radically in my mind from the "point of contact" to the group as a whole. And in terms of the group, my concern is not only about the immediate objectives (a strategic plan, new product, organizational renewal/transformation etc.) but also about the longer term function of the group and the enrichment of the lives of the constituent individuals.
This change of mind set can have some rather odd consequences, as for example, a conversation I found myself having with the "original client" (the bill payer) which went something like as follows: " I am not here to save your job, or even your organization. I am here to enable this group of people to function at the highest possible level combined with a profound sense of satisfaction and joy in who they are and what they are accomplishing. If your job is secured, and this present organization flourishes, that will be a marvelous bonus." Surprisingly, the "client" didn't blink an eye. In fact his only comment was, "Of course." With the focus on "the group as client" my primary concern is the group's realization of its own power and its own capacities. Doubtless there are cases where it would be useful for the group to learn new approaches or methods, but where the group already has the power and the capacity which remain hidden solely because neither have been exercised, I find myself intensely holding the space so that the group will see itself as it is in reality. This can get very uncomfortable -- for everybody. At such times, I can truly understand Jeff Aitkens feelings -- " I sometimes find the conversations frustrating and disappointing, and I long for a process such as "Dialogue" to help focus our attention in ways that might deepen the level of the conversation." But out of that discomfort come remarkable breakthroughs. And anything I do seems only to impede the breakthrough, if only because it may appear that I did it -- when the reality is -- They Did It. Doubtless there are situations where the pathology present in the life of the group is such that only radical, direct intervention, to say nothing of surgery, will save the day. But strangely enough, I have never personally encountered such a situation. People (even dire enemies) can, and do, treat each other with respect, listen deeply, and inter-act constructively, all without external assistance -- so long as they have the space/time to do so. I think all that is a natural act in which intervention at worst gums up the works, and at best makes the natural appear to be a matter of artifice. As they say in The Great State of Maine --"Don't fix it if it ain't broke." So what do you think? Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-469-9269 fax 301-983-9314 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh 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