Went to the wrong place?? ho ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harrison Owen" <[email protected]> To: "Malcolm Best" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:15 PM Subject: Re: What could be left out |
> Malcolm Wrote: What are the key activities and non-activities that I can > engage in to facilitate > emergence of a higher order of creativity in a group? > > If we take the common experience in Open Space as our guide -- then the > answer to your (very good!) question might be -- Provide focus (presence), > direction in the sense of suggesting a way forward, but not giving the > detailed steps -- and plenty of space (psychological, mental, and even > physical) for the group to move around in. And if you were to combine these > thoughts with the parting shot from Zelle about an "invitation" offered > repetatively -- we really might have something. When I think back on the > times when the time was short, and the stakes were high -- and a Leader > steped forward, he/she never appeared with "the plan" -- but rather with an > invitation, presence, direction, and lots of space to work things out in. I > guess I would add: Continuing Presence. This was not a one time shot, see > you in the mroning sort of thing -- but a real presence. I (he/she) am > there. With you. All the way. > > Harrison > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Malcolm Best" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:30 AM > Subject: What could be left out | > > > > I am intrigued by the question about what could be left out. > > > > Lately I am coming to believe that our "salvation" and a path to > sustainable > > living in the world will come from the emergent properties, including > > intelligence and collaborative learning, in certain kinds of groups. My > > avid interest is to discover what allows a group, at a particular time and > > in a particular context, to self organize and exhibit intelligence much > > higher than any member, while other groups turn into dumb mobs. What are > > the key activities and non-activities that I can engage in to facilitate > > emergence of a higher order of creativity in a group? > > > > Kevin Kelly ("Out of Control") listed 4 characteristics of what he called > > "swarm systems": > > > > The absence of imposed centralized control > > The autonomous nature of subunits > > The high connectivity between subunits > > The webby nonlinear causality of peers influencing peers > > > > This last one relates to 'Whatever happens is the only thing that > could." - > > permission to influence and be influenced because there's no way of > avoiding > > that anyway. > > > > Howard Rheingold ("Smart Mobs") quotes Michael Suk-Young Chwe on public > > rituals (like an Open Space opening):' "Public rituals are social > practices > > that generate common knowledge", which enables groups to solve > coordination > > problems'. > > > > Instinctive (as in "selected for during evolution") drives that hold > > individuals back or channel them into irrelevant noise, dumb groups down. > > For example when I ask myself "when should I contribute?" (status, > > reputation, credibility), "who is free riding?" (it's all a free ride), > and > > "should that be sanctioned?" (two feet) - these are settled with maximum > > trust and minimum friction in the Open Space framework. > > > > Thanks to everyone for marvelous writings in this list. > > Malcolm Best > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Automatic digest processor" <[email protected]> > > To: "Recipients of OSLIST digests" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 11:00 PM > > Subject: OSLIST Digest - 11 Jul 2004 to 12 Jul 2004 (#2004-188) > > > > > > > There are 3 messages totalling 782 lines in this issue. > > > > > > Topics of the day: > > > > > > 1. OSLIST Digest - 10 Jul 2004 to 11 Jul 2004 (#2004-187) (2) > > > 2. the dark side of circle practices -- and related themes > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 15:15:44 +0200 > > > From: "Pannwitz, Michael M" <[email protected]> > > > Subject: Re: OSLIST Digest - 10 Jul 2004 to 11 Jul 2004 (#2004-187) > > > > > > Dear Ralph, > > > how do you usually explain it? > > > (one part in my explanation is to quote a couple of old German > > > sayings, one of which translates to: If the dog would not have taken > > > a shit he would have caught the rabbit...German: Wenn der Hund nicht > > > geschissen hätte, hät er den Has gefangen) > > > (The other one goes "Wenn das Wörtchen wenn nicht wär, wär mein Vater > > > Millionär" which roughly goes like. If it were not for the word if my > > > father would be rich) > > > > > > You can easily see that I would certainly not leave this one off > > > because there is usually a boistrous chuckle... > > > > > > As far as Harrisson losing his mind is concerned: there is definitely > > > space in open space for losing your mind (or other things)...in the > > > most recent os I facilitated just a week ago under the heading of > > > "Adventure growing old...and that in a foreign homeland" one issue > > > was "Be crazy" which definitely drew the largest crowd. > > > Greetings from Berlin > > > mmp > > > > > > On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 08:54:54 -0400, Ralph Copleman wrote: > > > > > > >So, what can we do without? > > > > > > > >I've been thinking maybe next time I'll leave out ,"Whatever happens is > > the > > > >only thing that could." > > > > > > > >Not because it isn't true, but because I have never explained it in a > way > > I > > > >myself clearly understand. We're talking maybe 200 times here - and I > > never > > > >seem to nail it. (On the other hand, nobody ever asks me to explain it > > > >further, so maybe I do nail it.) > > > > > > > >Or maybe I'll post it on the wall with the other three, as I always do, > > and > > > >then not mention any of them specifically - just say there's a list of > > > >guidelines one can use if one wishes. > > > > > > > >I don't know. What do you think? > > > > > > > >And Harrison, yes, you've definitely lost your mind. But please don't > go > > > >looking for it. > > > > > > > >Ralph Copleman > > > > > > > >* > > > > > > > > > > > > Michael M Pannwitz > > > boscop > > > Draisweg 1 > > > 12209 Berlin, Germany > > > FON +49 - 30-772 8000 FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464 > > > > > > Informationen zu open space und future search: > > > www.michaelmpannwitz.de > > > > > > 123 Berliner open space-Veranstaltungen von 12 BegleiterInnen in 16 > > verschiedenen Bereichen: > > > www.openspace-landschaft.de > > > > > > An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" interessiert? Enfach eine mail an > mich. > > > > > > * > > > * > > > ========================================================== > > > > > > Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 18:25:41 -0400 > > > From: Zelle Nelson <[email protected]> > > > 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" <[email protected]> > > > >To: <[email protected]> > > > >Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 1:00 PM > > > >Subject: Re: the dark side of circle practices > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>--- chris macrae <[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! Mail - Send 10MB messages! > > > >>http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > > > >> > > > >>* > > > >>* > > > >>========================================================== > > > >>[email protected] > > > >>------------------------------ > > > >>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > > > >>view the archives of [email protected]: > > > >>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > > >> > > > > > > > > > * > > > some thoughts on our role as facilitator...<br> > > > <br> > > > Harrison Owen wrote:<br> > > > > > > <blockquote type="cite" > > > cite="mid001401c4667b$af6f3d10$dc7dfea9@holaptop"> > > > <pre wrap="">...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 > > > > > > > > > > * > > * > > ========================================================== > > [email protected] > > ------------------------------ > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > > view the archives of [email protected]: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
