Letter to Those Interested in Contracting the Services of the Experiment in Alternative Leadership
April 2002

Dear (organization leader who is requesting services of The Experiment),

Thank you for the trust you are extending me as we explore how I might be able to help your organization to be more effective. In this letter, I would like to give more background to my work and address the issue of compensation for my services.

I launched The Experiment in Alternative Leadership for two reasons:

1) A growing conviction that traditional leadership practices, all too often, hinder groups and individuals from realizing their potential. Leadership that fails to empower people causes - directly or indirectly - human suffering.

2) Increasingly, organizations and networks were benefiting from my experience and skills. I wanted to focus my energy and time toward assisting groups who were soliciting my involvement. Please see remarks accompanying this letter from people who represent several groups with which I have worked.

My quest to learn and discover empowering management and leadership practices began more than 15 years ago. The corporate world was my training ground for seven years. For more than a decade, I have been privileged to work with two corporate strategic planning experts, both having more than 40 years experience. I have attended numerous training programs sponsored by industry leaders such as IBM, XEROX, Sony, and Panasonic.

Since 1991, I have worked in the nonprofit sector with grassroots and non-governmental organizations primarily in Haiti and the U.S. I am co-founder of two institutions that promote alternative education: Beyond Borders, based in Philadelphia, and Limyè Lavi Foundation, based in Port-au-Prince. I serve on the Board of Directors of Open Space Institute.

The Experiment provides organizations and networks, which often have very limited resources, access to cutting edge leadership development research and experiences.

The Experiment's budget is funded by two sources: financial contributions from my friends and family members (primarily in the United States); and fees and contributions - financial, material, and services - made by individuals and groups who receive my services.

I request that every group or organization inviting my collaboration make a contribution of some kind to The Experiment. There are three advantages to this policy:

1) Investing resources fosters more careful thinking and planning. I delight in working with groups who are intentional about and committed to their development and evolution. If a group is not willing to invest in their own development, it is probably a good sign that the timing is not right for me to intervene. A group that decides to make a contribution of some kind to obtain my services is going to be more prepared to maximize on what they receive from me.

2) The Experiment will stay viable and responsive by depending on support from clients or partners. People who invest in a service expect performance and results. Meeting expectations builds strong, productive partnerships. Groups that pay generously for services defray costs for groups that are able to pay little to nothing.

3) The Experiment will become less dependent on external funding, allowing contributors to support other effective but financially needy initiatives.

I invite you and others in your group to discuss how you might compensate me for my collaboration with you. Once you have had an opportunity to talk with your team, we can discuss your group's reflections, expectations, etc. and then determine an appropriate plan for our work together.

Again, I am pleased to have the opportunity to work and learn with you and your colleagues.

Sincerely,

John Engle
The Experiment in Alternative Leadership

Its great to see cutting edge ideas and methods of communication and leadership being developed in Haiti and exported around the world. Keep up the good work, John.

Rob VanderZaag (Frequent visitor in Haiti)
Shell Oil
Barbados
Open Space is already starting to pay off. We had a remarkably successful meeting yesterday with Favilek. Please forgive the hyperbole, but this follows so many meetings where I was talking to a wall or was like a wall talking. The switch to more participative methods along with deepening trust and comprehension on the part of Favilek and ourselves is changing the situation, I believe.
It actually worked and there was a jump in their level of clarity. I think the format can be significant as well because it encourages democratic structures and participation. I think it would help us (lawyers and clients) to continue receiving training from you in Open Space and Touchstones and continue exploring its application for our particular situation.

Arthur Kim, attorney, International Office of Attorneys
Port au Prince, Haiti

Open Space has removed tradition bound notions within my attitudes. I am living the spirit of a popular educator in this program of The Experiment in Alternative Leadership. Each of us is learning, one from another. There is not a better method. I've been facilitating groups all of my adult life. Meeting facilitation is my life. I've been writing a book on the subject. Experiencing Open Space is causing me problems. I have had to rewrite every single chapter in my book.

With Open Space there are not ideas that are hidden and unspoken. I can't imagine that there could be a better method for enabling a group to discover its potential.

Straus Verdrine, President, MHDR (grassroots organization)
Jacmel, Haiti

John Engle is one of the best meeting facilitators I have ever known.

Jean Claude Cerin, Director, MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates and President, Board of Directors, Limyè Lavi
Port au Prince, Haiti

John is methodical and gets things done. We stand to learn much from him.

Philippe Armand
President, Multi-Dynamic
Chair, Rotalpha (Literacy initiative of Haitian Rotary Clubs)
Port au Prince, Haiti

Shimer College
438 North Sheridon Rd.
P.O. Box 500
Waukegan, Illinois 60079
phone: 847/623/8400
web page: http://www.shimer.edu

Thursday, August 23, 2001

John Engle
The Experiment in Alternative Leadership
C/O Lynx Air
P.O. Box 407139
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33340-7139

Dear John,

Thank you so much for coming to Shimer to lead our annual staff retreat. Numerous comments from my colleagues affirm that Open Space was just what our community needed, and it's clear that your approach to leadership was central to our success.

As minimal as your direction was, I know how hard you worked to set the table four our two very successful days of meetings, and I am grateful. I think that when we run our own Open Space retreat in January--a number of colleagues have asked that all our retreats use Open Space from now on--more of us will discover that minimal leadership is a lot of work. I am also convinced that it is work that my colleagues and I will choose to do.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Steven Werlin
Dean of the College
Shimer Colleg

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