I have listened to the stories from Berlin and other spaces. I find that I have a sense of sometimes missing the point.
If I am responsible for opening a space that is truly open my task is to guard that space and allow those in it to do what they will. If I am a participant what are the issues on concerns that I need to deal with in that space relating to the focus question or invitation. For the most effective use of my time I need to bring all my energy, knowledge and enthusiasm/passion to the space, for if no one comes I have a lot of work to do to capture the outcomes of my thoughts, ideas etc. When many come I need to work hard and use what ever process, facilitation skill I have to capture the essence and learning from our group. When I go to another session I need to take all my skills and knowledge to ensure that I assist the growth and development of the people in that space. To develop and capture the learning, decisions, directions of the session so that it generates wealth (something more than was there before the session started). I need to understand myself so that when it is over for me I move on. In this Mad Mad world it seems that adults need to be given permission to do things. Even to go to conferences where the ringing of gongs and buzzers are a sign to me that the space is closed but to others it seems to be a sign that "All is Right with the World" and another talking head is about to fill the air with ____. I would like you to consider the recent Olympic games in Sydney. The feed back from many people was that in a brief few weeks Sydney was transformed to a single community, a place of happy people who laughed and cried together as one family. As we know now this did not just happen. Ten years ago the planning started, five yeas ago the gardens were planted and spaces were constructed, one year ago it was ready, it was tested and fine tuned. Three or four months ago the Olympic flame was ignited. So began the development of expectation and focus on Sydney. As the flame crossed the world, the pacific and then totally circumnavigated the continent, reaching into both tiny communities and large cities it ignited passion and a sense that the Sydney Olympic games were going to be the very best we Australians could make them. This all took wing when, in a blaze of fire and water the opening ceremony declared the Games had begun. Like a master switch it happened the whole of Sydney responded. The rest is history. Eva Cox reported that she felt that for once the whole community had a common focus or vision that was based on the single outcome of a great games for all. As I reflect on this I feel that Open Space is like that, the preparation in the gathering of the people and the focus of the effort. The cultivation of the participants to the point that when The "Space" is declared "Open" it happens! Notice that I have not talked about the events, the drug issue, the gold medals or Eric the Eel (after Eddie the Eagle from the winter Olympics). In many ways these were side shows to the main event People doing their thing - competitors, spectators, transport operators, staff providing food, cleaners, coaches etc. The result was the proclamation that the Sydney Olympics Games and the Sydney Para0lympic games were the best ever. The outcomes are young people thinking I too could be an Olympian. Children asking their parents for a wheelchair for Christmas so they can play wheelchair basketball. When seeing a person in a wheelchair in the street a child was heard to ask "what basketball team do you play for?" This all did not just happen it was as a result of very carefully planned set of events. The closing of the main events only gathered the participants to acknowledge that the time had come to and end, the events had been run the medals awarded, the people were thanked and stories were told, the convergence was left to each of the events and their own special needs. I feel that we need to think and discuss more about the process that will get the same level of passion and commitment at all Open Space events. In the words of one Olympic participant (who was well down in the field in his event) when asked if he would choose to withdraw said "he had not come to start the event but to finish it" and he did! * * ========================================================== [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected] Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== [email protected] To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed
