I have found myself in exactly the situation you describe on a number of occasions, and the only problem (a real one) is that it is sometimes difficult to maintain the role of "Space Holder" when the discussion becomes hot and heavy in an area of particular interest to you. It is so easy to get sucked in. I found, however, that it is possible to do two things at the same time IF you remember which one is the most important, at least most important in terms of your participation in the Open Space. If you are the facilitator - that is job 1. Frankly I find it easier, more pleasant and productive to look for an "outsider" to do the facilitation so that I have complete license to play. However it does work either way, particularly in a situation where the group has had some prior experience with Open Space. It seems that the group pretty quickly figures out how to hold its own space, and then everybody is free to follow their druthers.
Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Marks & Margaret McAvity Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 10:31 PM To: [email protected] Subject: FACILITATOR AS PARTICIPANT Hi folks; And Happy New Year. I would appreciate a little advice. I am part of a well knit "Christian" community of 13 persons that steward the life of a wonderful little Retreat Centre called Rivendell on Bowen Island near Vancouver (just down the road from Chris Corrigan). We have been developing the centre's philosophy, offering spiritual hospitality and companionship as well as being available as facilitators to the wide variety of groups that come here. In a way we are the centre's staff, though it is a non-stipendiary service. As a community we have a community retreat ourselves three times a year ( normally there are only 2 or 3 here hosting the centre at any one time). Our next retreat is early next week. And we have just decided that for the "content" of this retreat that we would like to explore developing a covenant for ourselves to both deepen our commitment to each other, and to state clearly who we are and what we are endeavouring to do. Now here is the "rub" and the challenge. I have volunteered to facilitate an Open Space for this exploration- something I have done about half a dozen times over the past 3 years, with much satisfaction and seeming success. However, in this case, I want to be able to "open" and "hold" space, AND to be a full participant. Has anyone had any experience of doing this? In our case, it seems necessary to do this exploration totally "in house", but it ought to include us all. Any advice you might have for me as I prepare for this venture would be much appreciated- short of telling me I shouldn't do it as I am now committed. Cheers and thanks in advance. Marks of Margaret & Marks McAvity S50, C16 Galiano, BC Canada V0N 1P0 [email protected] 604-616-7260(cell-Marks),250-539-2881(Galiano) 604-328-4406(cell-Marg), 604-947-0077(Bowen-us) * * ========================================================== [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, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
