G'day Raffi
Good on you for putting out a very tough situation. Although it seems you are in a very tight spot, and although I don't have war and terrorist acts raging a round me, these same situations occur in my work even when overtly there is no obvious violence. To take open space literally I call this "closed space." Other people either forcing their agenda on others or others seeking some "authority" to tell them what to do. This can be done with a gun or people simply "pulling rank" on you. The fear or anger this engenders feels the same. There are no easy or pat answers to what you are experiencing. But your willingness to open space is a great start. By encouraging of others to take responsibility, and the personal witness of your own way of being has larger ramifications than you will ever realise. I have a colleague who has a very adversarial way of dealing with people. I have felt at times like I'm literally in a boxing match as she trys to "point score" in a conversation. I have tried to maintain my integrity in this situation because being of a fiery nature (Irish, redhead, left handed etc.) my natural bent is to engage in sparring. I have found by speaking my truth and taking action on things I have concern about, that a lot of this posturing on her part is futile. She has been keen for me to take responsibility for her concerns. But when allowed to take that responsibility herself she defaults every time. I, like you, am working for a largely closed organisation. I see my role as opening space wherever I can with the communities we work with (we are an environmental outfit) and within the organisation itself. Believe you me although I'm not literally dodging bullets, it feels that way at times when I come up against ego and power games in our organisation. I don't know if any of this is helping. All I would really like to say is BE an open space where you are; this can't help but ripple out! All the very best. I am with you in opening space. Mike Copeland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Raffi Aftandelian" <ra...@pochta.ru> To: <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> Cc: <ma...@mail.nsk.ru> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 3:46 AM Subject: opening space for <5 in toxic workplace > Hi folks! I hope folks get this email, otherwise I hope > Lena you can post this for me (for some reason, the server doesn't let > me post my messages.) > > I have started a new job as a manager of a youth program at an int'l > humanitarian NGO in Ingushetia (borders Chechnya). The program serves > both refugee youth living in a tent camp in Ingushetia and refugees > who have returned to Chechnya, where the situation remains very > unstable (explosions, disappearances, lawlessness, torture, etc.) > > I would like to be able to use the spirit of OS in my work more, but I > notice the following constraints: > > 1. my boss seems to like to micromanage; and as an older person that > seems to have worked well for her as a life/work strategy-- and so she > doesn't quite trust me. I need to be very careful about any > innovations (best for them not to attract too much attention). > > 2. There is a lot of rumor mongering at work. (This is true of the > Caucasus in general) So, I am constantly watching what I say. > > 3. Very low level of trust at work. > > 4. Very little time (1-2 hours) to talk to my field staff I need to > conduct planning (field staff arrive from Chechnya exhausted, etc.) > > 5. I cannot go to the field because of security > considerations/regulations. > > Any ideas on how OS-like/spirit activity might help here? > > thx much, > raffi > * * ========================================================== 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 ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ############################################## * * ========================================================== 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
