Here is a little book I wrote on this topic a number of years ago: http://archive.org/details/TheTaoOfHoldingSpace
On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 9:16 AM, doug <[email protected]> wrote: > MMP and friends-- > > Thank you for this dive into the present and invisible and expanding of > time and space. > > Although I have been doing OST for a decade, this is a practice I have yet > to perfect. Often I feel at the end of an OS that I was not really there > because I was facilitating. That is, I cannot tell someone else what went > on or what the results were. (Sure I can count issues and assess the depth > of the closing circle, but that is not the same as having been a > participant. It is different when at an OSonOS I can simply be a > participant.) > > So can you and others say some more about how you practice being present > and invisible, what it feels like to expand time and space? Is it for you > more than picking up coffee cups? > > :- Doug. > > > > > > On 04/26/2013 04:31 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote: > >> Dear Carms, >> basically, there is no such thing as a "neutral" facilitator. >> As far as I can remember, and thats a few decades back, potential >> clients often ask for a "neutral" facilitation or consultation. >> >> Seems to me that the way to tackle this is to ask myself what I am not >> "neutral" about. And that, I found out, varies from case to case and >> from situation to situation. >> >> So, when I am facilitating I find it helpful to discover what I do not >> want to be "neutral" about and focus on that particular thing. >> When facilitating an Open Space Technology process I focus on being >> "present and invisible", "expanding time and space" (for the forces of >> selforganisation to do its thing). >> This I find is more than a full time job... any other interests that >> crop up (getting involved in issues participants post or paying >> attention to a co-facilitator...) simply have no space. The moment they >> do press for space and my attention I know I am no longer really paying >> attention to my task as facilitator. >> In practice this means that I am in desperate need for a team in the >> background that takes care of all the things I love to meddle with and >> control so that I can focus... which sounds simple but aint easy. >> >> A co-facilitator who has clear positions on issues and is absorbed by >> such stuff does not compromise "neutrality" of the team. He exerts >> control and that is from my experience a surefire way to reduce or even >> close space. >> So, how to deal with a co-facilitator of the kind you describe? >> It depends, of course. >> One way to avoid this destraction is to simply strike the position of >> co-facilitator. >> Have a great day >> mmp >> >> On 26.04.2013 01:44, Carmela Ariza wrote: >> >>> Thanks Kari for your thoughts and suggestions. >>> >>> How would you deal then with a co-facilitator who has a very clear >>> position on issues that are being tackled and who runs the risk of >>> compromising neutrality of the team of facilitators? >>> >>> Will take a look at the Amsterdam Musical Lecture on Open Space soon. >>> This seems interesting... >>> >>> Carms >>> /*If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having. -- >>> Henry Miller*/ >>> ------------------------------**------------------------------** >>> ------------ >>> *From:* Kári Gunnarsson <[email protected]> >>> *To:* Carmela Ariza <[email protected]>; World wide Open Space >>> Technology email list >>> <[email protected].**org<[email protected]> >>> > >>> *Sent:* Friday, 19 April 2013, 7:35 >>> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] What does neutrality of a facilitator mean in >>> Open Space? >>> >>> Hi Carmela >>> >>> I am perhaps not the best on neutrality, I am easily swept off my feet >>> in passion for this or that, and usually I like to marvel in the novelty >>> for a short while. >>> >>> I don't think there is any one truth that we can speak here. There is >>> some big notion of neutrality in the academia, somehow born from the >>> abstract thinking of the scientific methought. There is this belief that >>> if I am to close too or worse - one of the locals, then I must be to >>> bias to speak any truth. >>> >>> But what I have found is that if I am the owner or manager of the item >>> in question, then I might have some previews thoughts and dreams that I >>> may try to enforce it in the process with no regards to the underlying >>> reality of the matter, if given the possibility. >>> >>> Also if this person is someone I am trying to please, I may be to >>> co-dependent towards any power play that he might use for the same >>> reasons. >>> >>> There is always the spiritual work of begin willing to be present and >>> holding the space open by keeping a check on my charisma while the >>> discussions take place. >>> >>> As soon as I try to force the outcome by closing the space, then the >>> space is no longer open. I sacrifice the productivity by forcing my own >>> will of outcome upon the group. The only way for me to not do this is >>> simply to not have a way about how the outcome should be. If I am not >>> willing to not have a way, then I have some personal work to do by >>> cheeking my motives and fears and let go of them. >>> >>> If this is not possible, then I would suggest a twinning, where you find >>> someone not in our department to do your open space and then do same for >>> them. >>> >>> But I think that I am allowed to care deeply and have an opinion as long >>> as my personal homework is done and I am spiritually fit to not have a >>> way, and to let them have their own experience. >>> >>> I also have an experience where a small group where half of the group >>> was familiar with Open Space, we decided to hold the space as a group >>> and participate in our own open space. There was no external sponsor or >>> external facilitator, but we managed to hold the space open because we >>> cared. >>> >>> I like to end with an Amsterdam Musical lecture on Open Space: >>> http://youtu.be/BgcomPDIUHY >>> >>> On 18 April 2013 22:40, Carmela Ariza <[email protected] >>> <mailto:carmela_ariza@yahoo.**com <[email protected]>>> wrote: >>> >>> Dear OST friends, >>> >>> I would like to hear your thoughts on neutrality of facilitators in >>> OST. Below are some specific questions... >>> >>> What does it mean in practice? >>> If you are an interested party or have a stake in the outcomes, how >>> must you facilitate? >>> What are the ways to maintain neutrality (towards participants and >>> topic/outcomes) even if the facilitator is also interested in the >>> quality of the participation and also the outcomes? >>> >>> Your inputs/insights will be highly appreciated - especially sharing >>> of experiences. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Carms >>> /*If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not >>> having. -- Henry Miller*/ >>> >>> ------------------------------**------------------------------** >>> ------------ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ______________________________**_________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> <mailto:OSList@lists.**openspacetech.org<[email protected]> >>> > >>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave@lists.** >>> openspacetech.org <[email protected]> >>> >>> <mailto:OSList-leave@lists.**openspacetech.org<[email protected]> >>> > >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.**org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-** >>> openspacetech.org<http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Kári Gunnarsson >>> [email protected] >>> <mailto:kari.gunnarsson@**simnet.is<[email protected]> >>> > >>> gsm: +354 8645189 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ______________________________**_________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> OSList-leave@lists.**openspacetech.org<[email protected]> >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.**org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-**openspacetech.org<http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> >>> >>> >> ______________________________**_________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to > OSList-leave@lists.**openspacetech.org<[email protected]> > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.**org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-**openspacetech.org<http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> > -- --- CHRIS CORRIGAN Facilitation - Training - Process Design Open Space Technology Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com *Upcoming workshops* * * Authentic Leadership In Action<http://aliainstitute.org/blog/track/2013-aoh/> - Halifax, NS, Canada *Designing Strategic Change from the Inside Out* June 16 - 21, 2013 * * * Art of Hosting <http://aohrivendell.withtank.com/> - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration November 11-14, 2013, Bowen Island, BC, Canada. * Upcoming Art of Hosting in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and San Francisco. Email me for more information. * *
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