Dear Paul,
from where I stand there are no rules in the Open Space Technology process.
The principles neither qualify as rules nor even as principles. The way
I see them they are valuable observations, I call them "Facts of Life".
Of course, there is an admonition (the possible punishment is not
mentioned) and there is the "Law" which turns out to be a mild
suggestion of what might be productive behaviour if someone winds up in
a situation where she/he can neither contribute nor learn anything.
Regarding "opening space" I keep reminding myself that it is not me who
"opens space"...it might be part of the job of the sponsor...mine as
facilitator is to introduce the participants to the OST process...I can
and have been doing that for quite a while without even mentioning the
words "open space". The process, once the participants enter into it,
effects the expansion of time and space for selforganisation to do its
thing. And it is true that thats where my passion is, not neutrality, of
course.
But my passion can easily also close down the space a little bit or
quite a bit. So before I intervene, I take a deep breath and start
counting slowly... if I remember correctly, I have never reached 10,
actually its mostly 5 or 6, and then the "system" manages by intervening
in itself... I love it, experiencing selforganisation manifesting itself.
Once I was asked by a participant to take on the role of space invader
asking me to suggest an energizer since the system sitting in a circle
had not done anything for about a minute. I started counting, well
pretty soon someone said "why do you want to interrupt us in our phase
of enjoying doing nothing?" The system smiled and shortly thereafter
they continued...
For me, this is intensive work, exhilarating and at the same time
binding all my energy... just enough left to take a walk, a nap.
So, take me out of the "We" that open space for possibility or for humanity.
Have a great weekend
mmp
On 27.04.2013 07:58, paul levy wrote:
Well, well, well.
I'm facilitating an open space later this morning and I may also
participate.
You see, whoever comes are the right people.
Or is there are new rule? Whoever comes are the right people (except for
the facilitator.)
When we open space it isn't for a rules to limit that space. Nor do we
open it for a select group.
We open space for possibility. We open space for humanity.
Whoever comes...
Now clearly some facilitators are space invaders. But hey, speak for
yourself please.
Stop putting open space into a Nightingale's cage.
And now to breakfast...
Paul Levy
On Saturday, 27 April 2013, Kerry Napuk wrote:
Hi Listers
Neutrality of the facilitator is tied to "holding the space." You
cannot hold space if you participate in the event. Simple as that.
If you want to participate, become a participant. The facilitators
holds the space, IMHO, by sublimating his or her ego to the group's
integrity.
Here is one example: I did an event with an organiser who was so
adept at PR that he got four newspapers and a TV station to over the
event which was in a rural setting. The TV crew wanted to come into
the hall and film part of the process.
As the theme involved suicide and self harm, I asked the group what
they wanted to do with the TV crew's request. The did not want it
and so, probably for the first time in their life, they were banned
from shooting live footage. The organiser had to simulate a breakout
group with his staff in a side room.
Cheers
Kerry
Edinburgh
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