Wendy -- Well said! And just to add a bit -- it has been my experience that even in intensely conflicted situations the groups themselves will find their best way. This can be very nervous making for the facilitator, but in all the years that I have been working in Open Space I have never seen a situation in which the group did not find an effective way to deal with its conflict -- and perhaps more to the point did not learn mountains for having dealt with their issues. The whole thing can seem extraordinarily messy, and the urge to clean it up and calm it down can be almost overwhelming. BUT -- the people will make it. They always have if not in one session then in a following one, or as a congregation of bumble bees or a flight of butterflies.
Harrison NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!! [email protected] Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Wendy Farmer-O'Neil Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 2:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Process in Breakout Groups Hi Jimmy, I agree with Lisa. If you really feel you need to do something like this, do it on the first day before you open space. But my experience has been that unless you have some serious information that people really need to inform their conversations in the Open Space, most folks come away stating that they wished they could have had the two days in Open Space--that they find it far more productive and meaningful. I am going to be blunt, but I think this is important--so imagine this delivered with a smile and a friendly arm about the shoulders... It sounds to me like you are still struggling under the impression that you are in control. For me, the one essential quality that an OS facilitator needs is an unshakable faith in the resource, the capacity and the wisdom of those present. If you are prepared to be surprised, the participants will create more amazing ways of hosting their sessions than you can imagine--and they will all be exactly what needed to happen--what could happen. Just as the openness of the marketplace process in an OS event creates agendas that are more appropriate than any one person could create, so too does the openness that continues on into the sessions. Some conversations will be free form, some will evolve into circles, some will be focused, some will be dance classes, some will be play sessions, some will be workshops with Q&A--the point is that the process that emerges will be the process that is most effective and appropriate--FOR THOSE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN IT. You've gotta trust them--or you're in for a rough ride. JMHO, Cheers, Wendy -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jimmy Pryor-SunBody Sent: November 17, 2005 10:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Process in Breakout Groups In all that I've read about OS, I don't recall seeing much about process within the breakout groups. How is that usually determined? I have seen mention in some posts of combining OS and "cafes". I have envisioned using OS and allowing those that post topics for discussion to include the method of consideration. For example, someone might say "I want to have a conversation cafe on x." or "I want to give a presentation on the work I am doing to clean up Japhet Creek and then lead a conversation on how we can do it better." or "I will give an introductory workshop on nonviolent communication." Lisa Heft recommended to me in an off-list email that traditional workshops and speeches not be part of the OS period - do that on the first day of the conference, and OS the second day. What has been the experience of others. One of my fears is that if the process format of the breakout groups is not specified they will all be free form discussions. While that is fine for some conversations, I really like circle dialogues and more structured conversations, too. Jimmy Pryor * * ========================================================== [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 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.3/173 - Release Date: 16/11/2005 * * ========================================================== [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
