For me your 3 Cs model of PoP passing through the eye of Conflict, Chaos and Confusion is the pinnacle learning of all these methods; if any other one has a higher human learning construct, lets hear it; otherwise lets be confident that open space is the simplest standard we can all DO - because it is the only one whose cases experience got this far into what open communion and intercommunion needs to be if everyone is to multiply their deepest contexts so that all human beings can be the change and sustain the greatest collaborations people are capable of
chris macrae -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: 13 July 2004 15:02 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: the dark side of circle practices -- and related themes Zelle -- I think you have hit the nail precisely on the head. We need all the help we can get when it come to being fully and productively in the moment -- a clear witness to the ongoing power of self organization. I think it also becomes clear that the task is also a very simple one -- Just be in the moment. No learning, no technique will get us there, and while all (AI, Dialogue etc) can be helpful in terms of pointing us in the right direction, helping with first steps, reminding us of what is important . . . At the end of the day you just have to Do it. In my own experience, there comes a point when the details and complexities of the techniques (approaches) stand in the way of the experience. Case(s) in point were the several instances when a colleague suggested doing a Dialogue in the midst of an Open Space. Although I deeply respect the process and the thought/research that lies behind it -- I also found the experience annoyingly restrictive. Doubtless my annoyance arose from my innately prickly personality -- but I found myself wondering why we were engaged in this elaborate process when dialogue (small "d") was happening all around us, all by itself. Don't talk about it, don't think about it, don't "process it" -- just do it. I have had the same experience with AI. There is absolutely no question that the insights and approach embodied in AI can and does bring a group of people to some good places they may never have visited before. But again -- when difference is appreciated as a matter of course -- as often seems to be the case in Open Space (self-organizing system) why not just appreciate the appreciation? My real hope in raising some the issues that I have was/is to open some space beyond Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, Dialogue, Community building and the like. If it is true that difference is appreciated, deep conversation achieved, community enlivened, etc -- all as the natural concomitant of a well functioning self-organizing system -- how do we build on that? This is not so much a matter of "doing a better Open Space" -- but rather doing better in the open space of our lives. In "The Practice of Peace" I attempted to use what I perceive to be the learnings from Open Space (start with invitation, convene a circle, welcome passion and responsibility) as a first approximation. But I think it is only that, a first approximation. Where do we go from here? Harrison ----- Original Message ----- From: Zelle Nelson <mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 6:25 PM Subject: Re: the dark side of circle practices -- and related themes some thoughts on our role as facilitator... Harrison Owen wrote: ...And what about all those other great experiments -- Dialogue, Appreciative Inquiry, Community Building, and I suppose "Circle practices" (although I am not quite sure what they are)? Speaking just for my self -- I must say that each of these have been profound teachers. From the practitioners of Dialogue I have learned what intense and productive communication can be like. From Appreciative Inquiry I have learned the incredible power of a positive, appreciate approach to my fellow human beings. And from Scott Peck and Co. I have learned much about the nature and function of effective human community. Each of these has opened my eyes, sharpened my attention, and raised my expectations in terms of what and how we can function at optimal levels both individually and collectively. But my deepest learning occurs when with open sharpened, eyes I see exactly the same things happening in Open Space -- all by themselves, and all without the overt intervention of some prescribed, facilitated process. I find my emerging conclusion to be basically mind-blowing -- although some may take it to mean that I have blown (lost) my mind. It seems to me that genuine dialogue, deep appreciation of difference, and the manifestation of real community are all the natural concomitants of any fully functional self-organizing system. If this is true, the real focus should be on enabling/allowing the self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do -- rather than trying to "fix" apparent and real problems encountered along the way with special interventions and added processes, as fascinating as those processes and interventions might be. As I said, Don't fix it if it ain't broke -- just make sure that "it" (good old self organizing system) has plenty of time and space in which to breath. Harrison Zelle writes: I'm oscillating between two prime pillars: 1) Learning and adopting tools (Appreciative Inquiry, Dialog, etc.) to help us interact ultimately in a state of grace*** 2) Living, being, experiencing as our path to learning and as a way of life. ***sidebar*** Living in a State of Grace means coming from a place where peace is our ultimate goal in any relationship rather than striving to keep the status quo of a relationship at any cost. When we hold onto our idea of a relationship at any cost we are coming from a place of fear - fear of loss, fear of pain - Living in a State of Grace does not mean we hold the relationship as a sacred cow, but rather we hold the people involved as sacred. I never want to see you walking down the street and feel I need to cross over to the other side to avoid talking to you, whether we agree on certain issues or not. To learn more about how to more fully live in a State of Grace visit www.stateofgracedocument.com*** The way of being I hold is a paradox. In Open Space I can use the tools I've learned towards better relationships with others and myself. And I can practice being in Open Space, living as the waves and tides of my internal and external world compel me to move, act, speak, listen, and be. I seek to live by the principles of Open Space, since I see the act of formally opening space as an acknowledgment of what is already out there to be lived. I need neither skills nor advanced training to take responsibility for myself and my passions, yet in my experience, I more richly engage in bountiful relationships when I utilize skills and tools which I have been taught or have created to facilitate living the reality of responsibility and passion. To address what Harrison wrote: "It seems to me that genuine dialogue, deep appreciation of difference, and the manifestation of real community are all the natural concomitants of any fully functional self-organizing system. If this is true, the real focus should be on enabling/allowing the self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do -- rather than trying to "fix" apparent and real problems encountered along the way with special interventions and added processes, as fascinating as those processes and interventions might be." Having learned many skills and tools which enable me to better know how I wish to be in relationship with others has greatly enhanced my ability to act and move within a "formally" - being in circle, stating the law and principles, creating a marketplace of ideas - opened space. I am more "fully functional" within a "self-organizing system" because of the tools I have learned. Leaving space open for others to learn techniques within the bounds of a "formally" opened space, in my experience, can be beneficial. Our challenge as facilitators of Open Space is to know when to hold um and know when to fold um - know when to offer aid in facilitating dynamically changing relationships and when to simply hold space for each individual to find their own way and their own learning. As I've seen from posts here and heard from discussions with colleagues the ultimate path to knowing when to do what comes full circle back to following our passion and our responsibility on an individual basis as spirit arises. When "formally" holding space I like to provide opportunities for topics to be posted relevant to facilitating the resolution of the questions addressed in the invitation, including opportunities for learning tools and processes that foster fruitful relationships. These opportunities must, in my opinion be as voluntary as the other topics which arise. Often these opportunities are offered outside of the "formally" opened space and are not a prerequisite of being involved in an Open Space event. In my experience once I "formally" open space I rarely do anything but hold space and try to bounce back any attempts to bring me in to facilitate a discussion, by saying something like, "This part of the meeting is yours. You have the ability and the responsibility to follow your own two feet and solve problems and challenges on your own." Outside of "formally" opened space I tend to still stay out of trying to "teach" something that I "know" unless I am invited to do so. In my experience tools and skills which help us to be more fully present in dynamic relationships (Appreciative Inquiry, Dialogue, State of Grace Documents, Byron Katie's Loving What Is) focus on "enabling/allowing the self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do" Do we need these tools to be and self-organize into active, responsible, passionate bodies? - No. Do these tools enable and allow self organizing systems to be more fulfilling, fruitful, and rewarding? - In my experience, Yes. As long as these tools and skills are not "required" as a ticket for admission into a seemingly open space. With Grace and Love, Zelle ************ Zelle Nelson Engaging the Soul at Work/Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document www.stateofgracedocument.com [email protected] office - 828.693.0802 mobile - 847.951.7030 Ravenswood - Isle of Skye 2021 Greenville Hwy Flat Rock, NC 28731 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Artur Silva" <mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]> To: <mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 1:00 PM Subject: Re: the dark side of circle practices --- chris macrae <mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]> wrote: The process starts erring to absolute democracy of everyone must have equal time contributions to speak at each phase (...) In other word's the circle's communal harmony ... can co-create such deep love of nice behaviours to each other that it misses the biggest spiral out above our communal thinking's common denominator That's interesting, Chris. I have been, at times, in situations like that one - circles (or squares) where everyone must "be in place", must "speak in his turn" and must have a "nice behavior". They call this democratic, but in fact it is a dictatorship. In a democracy I can stay silent if I want. When everyone is obliged to speak that is not democratic. This can be a "rules' dictatorship" (created by the rules previously defined,) a "leader's dictatorship" (the leader(s) imposes that everyone must speak), or even a more interesting type - a "majority's dictatorship" (where the rule is created at the moment by the majority). Apart from claiming to be democratic, this type of groups/sessions also claim that they are following "good principles". The two I have heard more often are "appreciation" (like in "appreciative inquiry") and "dialog". Democracy (and Open Space) are made of dialogs AND of discussions. If one suppresses discussion and impose dialog (as in "everyone must be nice to each other and hear the other with appreciation") then there is no democracy and no open space, I think. Apart from the fact that there are some people that I don't want to hear with appreciation (say, Bush, to give only one example) the point is even more strange. "Playing the appreciative game" (an expression I have created just know) is only one form of "playing games" - and that is the essence of Argyris and Schon's Model 1. If, in a meeting or organization, one imposes dialog and appreciation, then a close session or organization will come to place. Artur PS: I never heard to call this "circle" and even less Open Space. But I would not be too surprised if some would call that. I have already referred to a respectable group of practitioners of "Communities of Practice", USA based, that not long ago claimed that they had used "Open Space" (OST) in a meeting because: - they assembled in a circle - they gave participants the opportunity to ADD issues to a large group of issues pre-prepared by the organizers - they divided the large group in small groups to discuss those issues (by choice of the organizers, if I recall well - but I recall well that there was no reference to "the law" - people were not expected to leave their group! That would not be considered "appreciative" to the other group members, I suspect...) But don't worry about what some people do "in your name", Harrison. You can always remember what some have done (and are doing) in His name. And at least about you I know that you exists - something I am not prepared to say about the Other... __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! 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