This week, I want to keep it light and playful, and as always, practical. Harry Webne-Behrman is a close friend and co-leader of the JOFC workshop in Madison and an expert on conflict resolution. Harry loves trying to teach me Yiddish phrases and loves it even more when I try to use them. Last week while working on an Intervention model, I discovered that the keys to intervention actually lie in an ancient and rather commonly used yiddish phrase. I share these ancient secrets with you in this week’s article, OIVEY, the Lost Secrets of Intervention. Please click here to read the whole article.
Thank you for this fun AND useful piece. I love the acronym, and will actually use it this afternoon and tomorrow as I facilitate two group meetings. Both groups have elements of dysfunction, and it is vital that I be able to provide OBJECTIVE feedback and a safe space for the conversation. OIVEY reminds me to follow all five steps for a good resolution.
Hi Steve,
I enjoyed your successfully light hearted ancient secrets.
You may have saved a faith with your inquiry and validation.
THank you.
Scott Gassman
An old Armenian proverb states: “A watermelon will not ripen in your armpit.” Neither will a common yiddish phrase unless put to practical application. Thank you for the OIVEY. It put into theoretical terms what I feel I do intuitively and has given me one more reason to use ‘OIVEY’ in my daily conversations.
Hi Steve, a nice tip. I’m running a facilitation class in a couple of weeks and this is a useful reminder.
I particularly like the reminder that we infer a great deal!
Cheers
John