Power, control, and "WOW"... When I extend an invitation for OS, I am aware that at least some of those I am inviting may feel I am attempting to exercise a degree of power and control over some portion of their time and/or mind. No matter how much "Wow" I think I have put into my invitation, I have no control whatsoever over what others think.
My practice is to begin holding space the moment I commit to a meeting. This is the way I know to be congruent with what I understand to be open space. If I seek to bend people against their inclination into thinking that the meeting is a good idea, important, etc., and then show up and say, "Welcome to open space," well then, I haven't been completely consistent. And the space is not really open. People accept invitations based on the way they think, perceive, think, trust, and/or project. Their lives include a range of circumstances and previous commitments. If I'm authentically holding the space right from the moment the idea of the gathering is conceived, there is nothing about the choice to accept the invitation that is not completely theirs. I may, of course, offer persuasion, promote possible benefits, or use enticing language and images. As a former public relations practitioner, I am not adverse to employing these tools, but I seek a balance that communicates my position and beliefs on one hand and the opportunity available to them on the other. So I have trouble with the idea that invitations "fail". I like what HO says about investigating how I could do things better if nobody shows, and I must ultimately let "Whoever comes..." be my guide. But if people are unavailable, too busy, too far away, or just not interested, well, I just figure I'm ahead of the curve! >From sunny New Jersey, USA, Ralph Copleman * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
