Dear readers,

Since 2008, we have been organising the oe-tag – the forum for (non-profit) organisational development – once a year. Each year, we focus on a topic related to organisational development and examine it in depth – such as leadership, culture, self-organisation or improvisation. The oe-tag has never been an event for mere consumption, but always an invitation and an opportunity to engage in conversation with one another: to share experiences, perspectives and questions; to explore new ideas through cognitive exchange or active experimentation.

Why am I writing this „preface“?
This year, we are focusing on the experiences, impressions and aftermath of the so-called „period of transition“ – a period that continues to have an emotional and cultural impact on all of us in our own unique ways. This involves structural issues such as the balanced representation of East German executives, as well as more subtle questions, such as.

• Which stories resonate today – and which do not?
• How much ambivalence, contradiction and complexity is permissible in categorising people beyond the simplistic opposites of winners and losers of reunification?
• How can experiences of privilege and violation be addressed and thus further processed and dealt with?

For the first time, I find myself being critically questioned by my friends – in addition to receiving approval and recognition: „What exactly is your question?“ – and immediately afterwards: „Are you aware that you have been socialised predominantly in West Germany?“ These questions and my emotional reaction to them have made it clear to me that, how closely the discourse is interwoven with our personal and collective identities. I was – perhaps somewhat naively – surprised at how deeply the topic affected me and how uncertain I suddenly felt. As paradoxical as it may sound, at times I felt that, as a „Wessi“ (West German), I had less legitimacy to even start a conversation, listen, ask questions, or speak.

It was a conscious decision not to hold this year's oe-tag in Berlin and to choose a dialogue-based focus against the backdrop of different thematic approaches. These may be only small, symbolic steps – but it is precisely such signs that can be significant. Because if we – regardless of whether we are from the „East“ or the „West“ – do not engage in dialogue together, even with uncertainty, where and how else should it take place?

At the same time, I had completely different experiences during the preliminary discussions: conversations that inspired me – in which curiosity, connection and the need for deep exchange were palpable over the telephone. That made me want more – and look forward to this oe-day. It gives me courage.

This time, I am going into the oe-tag with more questions than usual. This, in turn, shows me that we are getting closer to the original purpose of the oe-tag: to create spaces where genuine encounters are possible – spaces where there is room for joy as well as pain, irritation, helplessness or insight. The oe-tag is not a place for polished presentations. It is a place for listening, for sharing stories, for asking structural questions, for changing perspectives – and for searching together for language and meaning.

And, of course, we also ask ourselves the question:

What can we take away from the oe-tag that will carry over beyond this one day? What can we learn that will help us create structures that enable genuine exchange – not just once, but again and again?

When experience and contradiction, curiosity and appreciation come together, a picture of reality emerges that is not necessarily simpler, but certainly richer. And if we start finding a language for the unspoken on this day and experience how honest conversations create connections, then this day could become part of a culture of listening that we so desperately need in organisations and society.

It's worth a try.

Christian Baier