Doug as with most things, there are few absolutes. My exception to that might be my nap :-) I am with Chris. When I am with groups I know and where the subject is something I am interested in (either as learner, contributor, or both) I will certainly participate, always allowing time for my nap :-) :-)
For some reason, most of the Open Space gathering I have facilitated in the last several years have involved groups of people, usually large ones, who speak a language(s) I dont understand and whose issue is not mine although I may be deeply concerned. Add in massive complexity and no small amount of conflict and my judgment has been that the most useful thing I can do for the gathering is to hold the space. And truthfully, when complexity, conflict and group size begin to go off the charts, holding space is about all I can do. Harrison _____ From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Corrigan Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 2:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Facilitator must be part of the conversations Hi Doug... There are levels of hosting and facilitating in these processes. In Conversation Cafes, World Cafes and Open Space meetings there are facilitators who are responsible for the overall space and there are hosts within the space that take responsibility for the conversations. In OST we call thes folks conveners (or we use other names) and in the Cafes they call them table hosts. I think in general its a good idea to have the overall event facilitator "hold space" and to have the hosts within the gathering take as much responsibility as possible for the outcomes. The advantages of doing it this way are clearly that passion bounded by responsibility gets things done. I am not entrenched on the question of whether the OST facilitator can or cannot participate in the event. There are many factors that come into play. In events I have done within my community, where the community has had some previous exposure to OST, I am perfectly comfortable opening space and then participating. It seems that the groups is able to hold space for all just fine. In other places, where a client is doing something completely strange (apprenticeships, post-secondary education policy, sustainability planning for an unfamiliar community) then I just sit on the edges, taking care of the space, helping with the proceedings, answering questions and talking about the process with the curious. And still other times, when there are a team of facilitators to help hold space, I feel more free to participate, especially if the work is with people close to me. I think the question is, what are the benefits of having space holders at all levels? Chris On 7/30/07, douglas germann <[email protected]> wrote: Hi-- Peggy Holman's Change Handbook has a description of Conversation Cafés, which raises the question: why would it be good for the facilitator to take part in the conversation? What would be the advantages of taking part? After all, it appears that the host in Conversation Cafés does take part, in circle process does take part, and in The World Café may take part in the conversations. The risks it seems to me: the facilitator is seen as the one with the answers, simply because of standing at the front/center of the room; the temptation, even subconsciously, to push your own agenda because of that standing position. But the advantages might outweigh: one more voice heard; a more inclusive whole to the group. We seem to avoid taking part in the conversations: Harrison takes a nap; Michael only does it in a middle time slot. Could we have a conversation about why it would be good to participate, please? :- Doug. * * ========================================================== [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 -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Facilitation - Training Open Space Technology Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd. http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com * * ========================================================== [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
