| October 9,
2001 - An Invitation...
An
Evening of Discussion:
OD and the Tragedies
AAA
Mid-Atlantic |
About a dozen PRODN members met at AAA-Mid-Atlantic on October 9 to continue
our dialogue about the events of the past month. While we came to no definitive
conclusions, the conversation allowed us to hear each other’s thinking and learn
about the variety of perspectives from which people are experiencing the situation.
The listening and tolerance for other views was greatly appreciated and made
for a comfortable, rich and safe discussion.
We ended with no specific action plan but still feeling there may be something
we could do individually or collectively. Consequently, we agreed that we would
do a bit of online brainstorming with the rest of PRODN members to see if there
are any suggestions for how we could make a contribution to our community and
our world. To that end, if you have an idea or suggestion as to how PRODN could
act collectively, please email Phil Hyde at PhilHyde99@cs.com.
Any ideas you make should be ones that you feel strongly enough about to become
involved. Once we collect the ideas we will publish them and see if there are
other members who want to become involved. If there is sufficient support, we’re
off. If not, that will be OK as well.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Program Announcement
The opening PRODN
Program on September 25 was devoted to discussion of the September
11 tragedies. The group didn’t feel comfortable simply talking about
OD and PRODN without considering "Connect, Network and Reconnect"
in the context of the changed world we now live in. The discussion
ranged from personal reactions to feelings about our nation’s leaders
to views of the tragedy in historical context to what OD practitioners
can do to help. We talked about understanding and the need for introspection.
We didn’t focus on producing an output, but one theme that emerged
is the possibility of OD work with leaders as they grapple with
how to help organizations move into the new and changed world of
the future.
Although we talked
for nearly two hours, the group did not feel as if we were finished. We agreed
to meet once again - on October 9 - to continue the dialog. We might just end
up with a better understanding and greater personal insight, or gain insight
into how we can help as individuals or through groups, or we might explore how
PRODN could help. We met a mere two weeks after the incidents. We knew then,
and know even better now, that however this is resolved it will take many years.
There will be many opportunities for OD practitioners to help. We hope many
people will join us.
| Reflections
from September 25 |
| From Phil Hyde: ...I found our conversation
to be very affirming for several reasons. First, everyone
seemed to feel comfortable expressing their feelings, even
though there were many diverse opinions and reactions to
the events of the past two weeks. It felt like a truly safe
place to process and express your feelings. Second, the
dialogue led to several ideas for how I could help my clients
and use the events as learning tools with them. I don’t
want to "capitalize" on the events but found some
great ways to use the events in a constructive, respectful
and appropriate manner. Finally, the continued sense of
"community" that PRODN affords me and the commitment
to meet on the 9th has provided reasons to look forward
to a new, albeit as yet to be defined, sense of normalcy.
My personal thanks to all those who attended and gave me
these gifts. |
| From Warren Hoffman:
The discussion on Tuesday was unusually personal and
engaging. Everyone truly participated and connected. The
discussion ranged from personal reactions to the recent
tragedies to feelings about the response of our political
leaders to views of the tragedy in historical context to
what OD practitioners can do. One theme was that we can
help leaders grapple with how to help organizations and
perhaps society move into the new and changed world of the
future. A theme emerged of encouraging introspection – building
understanding of how we are viewed – so we create not only
a world as free from terrorism as possible but more just
and fair as well. I personally feel strongly that we should
not just wait for society to "wake up" to the
futility of punishment as a response. I am looking forward
to more engagement. |
| From Barry Cross: On Tuesday, September
25, 2001, PRODN's September Monthly Program was changed
from "Connect, Network and Reconnect" to "How
as OD Professionals could Facilitate the Healing Process."
After introducing ourselves, we checked-in using the theme,
"So how are we doing since, September 11, 2001?"
It became clear, that for most of us the healing process
had not begun yet. We had a very personal, reflective discussion
about the impact of that day on each of us. We found that
we were all in similar yet different places and that seemed
to be okay. We talked about the images we are left with
and our opinions that are forming. We talked about friends,
family and colleagues who were there or near there. We wondered
about the military, political, financial and social responses
being debated. And we ask, "why?" Most of all,
we listened to each other and it was okay to have different
opinions. At the end of the night, for some us the healing
process had begun and we found a ways to start these conversations
and processes in some of the systems in which we work. |
|
