Thanks, PR. It's really a cyclical thing. I think he will persist in one way or another, anything to have employees jump through a lot of hoops (with him watching but doing no risking himself)...so he can sidestep accountability or confrontation (therapeutic or otherwise) with himself. I remember when he made all the senior staff do the Meyers Briggs and stand up and explain their personalities in detail to the entire company. I looked at him and chirpily asked, When will you be presenting yours? He immediately started mumbling, oh I don't think it's that great a tool, I prefer the Eneagram, and changed the subject. Busted. So...again, OTHERS had to be vulnerable, not the guru.
He does get diverted when I make thiNgs happen for him that he craves, that he can't arrange/attract on his own. Likewise when I edit his leaden stuff into more personable prose...which he sends everywhere. He actually asked me to co-write a book with him once. I made a series of dumb excuses and went back to myself thinking, I'd shoot myself first! Can't imagine a more draining, horrible use of ... this.
Anyhow, I really don't think he'll pursue it much, when he gets general pushback. If he does, no, I won't refuse (and thus be "the one who wouldn't play on the team"). But I can defuse it for myself in other ways (mediating during, take a Valium before, memorize a few deep-sounding observations, speak French, whatever). I'll be okay.
I never ever have or would share with him that I personally see a T. Yoicks. Way too inviting of more invasions. He just asked me if I know of anyone in the community, since he lives way out of town and I'm a multi-decades resident connected to people in town/church/volunteer orgs, etc. He knows I'm interested in/respect the language/systems of pychology. That's all. I told him I asked a knowledgeable friend for suggestions and he didn't pry who/where/why.
It ain't going to happen anyway, though perhaps he'll persuade ProdMan to go. I dunno. It would be amazing if he went himself.
Hops