"who ever comes is the right people". Having spent the past 7 years working directly with persons with a diagnosed disability and 20 years working in the wider community (often with people under significant stress) the same challenge remains and that is to unconditionally accept people on their terms and as they are.
The second challenge is give them the security of an Open Space where they can be heard, that is I need to listen. Rev Ray Richmond ( of the Wayside Chapel Kings Cross Sydney) gave me one rule and - harm to others is totally unacceptable and that is where a facilitator must intervene to secure the space. Maslow highlighted the conditions under which people can reach their full potential and safety and security are two conditions that are essential. Facilitating Open Space I can only make one promise and that is to the best of my ability I will create and maintain a secure space where the participants can do what ever they do. I can only promise the environment not the outputs or the outcomes. The challenge to the sponsor is are they willing to let the participants choose? The law of two feet is always an option. Working with adult persons with a disability it is a wonder when they are given permission to actually do their own thing rather than play a role to meet others expectations. Too often I have found that these adults have been "micro managed" to a level very few of us would accept. When I released the shackles of this control the wealth of contribution is spectacular. At the end of one Open Space event where the participants were encouraged to look for issues and opportunities in their work place. The participants were encouraged to make a paper aeroplane ( including one person who had spent most of her adult life to the age of 45 in mental institution). Then each ( with their own design) launched their aircraft. Each person was then asked to choose one flight that best described their "work place" ..... The insights and conversations that were shared were very rich - in their own way in their own words they gave a graphic and very accurate picture of the "workplace" and a set of opportunities which can only be describe as inspirational. As Harrison said the rewards outweigh the effort - trust the system and keep the space and of course a nap is always a good option. Regards Rob _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
