Dear Suzanne,
when the participants know each other (same outfit, such as boscop--the
berlin opens space cooperative -- where I am also a member or the
National Youth Agency for which I have facilitated 25+ events) and also
know me well here are a couple of ways of dealing with this
--at our twice a year three day boscop retreats we have for some time
now have not had a facilitator (one of us used to take on that role,
seems a long time ago, these retreats having taken place for the last 7
years)... the space is set up by all of us looking exactly as a space we
would facilitate and then we sit in the circle mostly in silence for
several minutes letting the introduction pass through us until someone
gets up an offers the first issue
--at the National Youth Agency (their annual retreat) the intro kept
getting shorter, once they tried a self-facilitated mode which they did
not try again because it kept a couple of the participants in the
"facilitator-participant" mode limiting their participation...
There is a third way I remember a few years back when HO offered his
Practice of Peace gathering in Berlin. He felt that he should no do the
intro each day (especially since he also stood up giving a talk on each
of the three days)... so on the second day a Russian speaking colleague
did it in her language, grand... and the third day I did it using no
spoken language, just going through the motions and some pantomine, it
was definitely brief!
Other modes?
cheers
mmp
Suzanne Daigle wrote:
Dear Michael (first) and all the other amazing people who have spoken
here also,
Meshing the physical, the words, the feel, the intention: how well you
have described this Michael starting with the beautiful example of the
wheel chair. In that moment, I somehow felt what it must feel like to be
sitting in a wheel chair and how often, they must feel people tower over
them. Not wanting to tower over people by being too close can also
happen as my eyes meet those of the participants so I apply this same
intention leaving private space for people to breathe into what they are
feeling, nervous, uncomfortable, etc. That's why as I let my eyes meet
those of the participants walking the circle for the first times, with
some people it may only be a split second, with others a tiny bit
longer. I want to honor and respect their physical space and internal
space.
I also just love the transition you describe from the focus on you to
the group beginning to focus on itself while walking the circle.
Harrison mentions how he invites the group to let their eyes go around
the circle; your description brings awareness to this transition.
And then finally, the pre-work you speak of in weeks and months) which I
have also experienced, feeling at times it is a journey of mutual
courage to accompany a client and a team as they wrestle with the
difficult moments of inviting people to something that they cannot fully
describe as most often they have not experienced open space themselves.
I am always humbled by their trust and the deep relationship that develops.
But oh my....what I have understood so "/painfully" /just now is what I
have done wrong too many times, "caring too much" for the theme,
sometimes almost more than the sponsor or host. When the theme touches
my sense of values and principles, I become so energized...too energized
during the pre-work and I know now (painfully but with such appreciation
to you Michael for bringing it to a very deep awareness for me) that in
doing so I was consuming space that belongs to the host and the group.
Learning this and practicing this will be my next very big challenge. I
also realize now that by engaging too much on the theme with the host,
it can make the post-work all the more difficult. I think that perhaps
my relationship with the host/team may be too close.
Now to lighten the topic a bit, I agree Harold that it's so wonderful
walking the circle when we know some or many of the participants. I've
often thought of opening space is the same way that I like to welcome
people to my home. Typically in the most comfortable way possible (not
too stuffy or fancy or to impress) I prepare everything ahead (food,
space, dishes, fridge full, welcoming, tidied up and clean with time
before they arrive for me to relax and imagine them there). Then my
mission is to have my home become their home, no hosting or
working/serving just showing them where stuff is and then letting
everyone be equal to just relax and have a great time.
Hugs to all, smiling now as I think of all this wonderful insight for
Eleder, who in the end need only remember to just be himself and enjoy.
Suzanne
On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Michael M Pannwitz <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
A few years ago I badly strained my foot and could move about only
in a wheel chair... which I also did facilitating an open space with
200 highschool students on the issue of racism ("Me, a racist?" was
the theme). I did feel very relaxed being "de-elevated" and at the
same level with the students as I "walked" the circle.
Reflecting on that experience I now always take care to have a
circle of at least 10 meters in diameter so that I am not too close
to the seated participants, too towering as I walk (my habit is to
walk it once or a bit more than once, sometimes two times...
changing my mode of movement after that "focusing the group" part
which I do with the idea that the group begins to focus on itself...
and eventually using the entire space as a dancer would on a stage
with the idea that it is a space that can be used in all ways possible).
On prework: I do work intensively with the sponsor and the planning
group on all aspects of the event sometimes months before the OS
event itself with the result that I get to know them, they get to
know me and, of course, I also get to know about their theme and
what it is they want to achieve.
All that I now consider a side-effect.
What I am really interested in is that they craft their event and
that they are clear on their theme and on what they want to achieve.
I, however, focus on the myriad of things that I know support their
work: the space, the time, the material, the food, the documentation
technicalities, the public address system, the team, the briefing of
the sponsor, facilitating the planning meeting and the Next
Meeting(s) after the event... and, of course, getting myself into
the mysterious mode of "presence and invisibility".
Essentially, my relationship with the theme will not substitute
their passion for it. I respect it, yes. And my relationship with
the people which inadvertendly developes is much less essential than
the spirit that developes in the Planning Group, for instance. I
love them, yes.
My experience is that me getting into the theme (more than even the
participants) or my relationship with the Planning Group becoming
intensive (more than the relationship between the members of the
Planning Group) can deflect the focus in a way that both my presence
and invisibility necessary for my focus on space and time for the
forces of selforganisation are deminished.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
Harold Shinsato wrote:
Great sharings from all around...
This might also help... something I read in a book about llama
care. Llamas don't like to be touched normally, but if you do it
often enough they become desensitized and won't mind being
touched and handled. The same is true for a lot of things humans
don't feel comfortable about - at first. It's one of the reasons
Lisa's training was so valuable for me - getting experience
walking and talking in the circle "desensitizes" to the
discomfort so one can spend more time tuning into the energy of
the room and being what they need from me as a facilitator.
That's also a lot easier when I already feel I have a
relationship with the theme and the people because of strong
pre-work (another thing Lisa emphasizes).
It has also helped knowing a lot of the people in the room -
getting a chance to talk make eye contact even before getting
into the circle, and having some friendly faces to help remember
it's all good.
And the trick that Harrison mentioned is also something that
Dale Carnegie put in his "How to Win Friends and Influence
People" classic. If you feel nervous, just admit it and move on.
The transparency puts people at ease and you stop having to
fight wondering whether anyone is noticing that you are nervous.
Harold
On 11/18/10 9:42 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:
Hello, dear Eleder - once again you ask great questions.
Everyone has shared so wonderfully.
The only things I would add are:
In my Open Space Learning Workshop one of the things folks
do is practice walking and talking in that circle.
And yes - others have mentioned as you have their concern
with having their backs to someone as they speak.
What they have found is similar to what was mentioned here -
if you look a few people ahead and keep moving (slowly,
breathing, present) you are indeed never having your back to
anyone for very long. If you turn your head as you move you
are including people behind you as you travel, as well. If
your voice is loud enough or you have a microphone everyone
can hear you even if you are not facing everyone.
Of course this is all different if some people in your
circle have any hearing differences such as deafness or
other hearing loss - so it is always good to ask on
registration forms who has any access / ability / mobility
issues they would like to bring to event coordinators'
attention. Then you have this extra info if you need it for
some individuals, and can give them extra eye contact or
some notes as well.
*
/
It is true that having too small a circle and towering over
people is hard for them - so do make a nice big circle with
room in between each chair. And if it is too small on the
inside I see no problem with walking the outside of the
circle (though when I have done this some of my OS
colleagues have *gasped* !. But it is so I do not close
everyone in too tightly, in those instances.
I have also learned from my workshop participants that if
you have any nervousness about looking people in the eye,
try instead....looking at the tops of their heads (!).
It often feels like you are looking at them - try it.
But I think you will become more and more comfortable as you
practice, sort how you like to say things, and experience
yourself doing it more and more.
Sometimes if it is a tense event to come - I may set up the
circle and then walk, it, before any participants arrive.
And I envision the participants and their listening faces,
and I smile and welcome them before they get there.
Mostly - Suzanne said it so well: it is of course not about
you. It is about them. So if you focus on them and on making
your voice and the instructions something they can hear and
that invites them, then once you begin you are in
partnership with them - and they can feel it...
And the other 'mostly' is: remember you are in your walking,
your breathing, your explaining - creating a container that
is open and welcoming and has tools and a process - so that
they can do their best work.
You are with your walk, your voice, your instructions, your
breathing... weaving that open and inviting container. And
in your walking you are invoking (calling in) energy.
And you know how to do that, dear Eleder - just....
breathe.... and ... go.... and be amazed, as I know you are....
Lisa
Lisa Heft
/
*
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
*Opening Space*
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
--
Harold Shinsato
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
* * ==========================================================
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Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
www.boscop.org <http://www.boscop.org>
Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 412 resident
Open Space Workers in 71 countries working in a total of 141
countries worldwide
Have a look:
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Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
twitter @suzannedaigle
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Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
[email protected]
www.boscop.org
Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 412 resident Open
Space Workers in 71 countries working in a total of 141 countries worldwide
Have a look:
www.openspaceworldmap.org
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