Doug, Let me play Chris for a minute. Here are my replies (ALL CAPS) to your questions:
* Seeing and sensing patterns in the organization that help to find "accupuncture points" for change, Q- How do you do that unless you are immersed, somehow, (how?) in the conversations? FOR ME THIS IS ESSENTIAL IN ESTABLISHING THE âGIVENSâ WITH THE OST CLIENT. * Taking a courageous stand for clarity. Q- Again, seems to me you have to be in the conversation to take a stand. Could you give an example please of what this might be? WHEN I âOPEN THE SPACEâ AFTER ANNOUNCING I WILL NOT TAKE QUESTIONS BECAUSE ALL QUESTIONS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER, âDO WHATEVER YOU DECIDEâ. I âCOURAGOUSLYâ AND CONSPICUOSLY WALK OUT OF THE HALL/BUILDING AND GO TO BED. IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH? I have stumbled upon the idea of fields, hosting and so on. It has made me no longer a facilitator per se but more of what John Abbe and others call "a process artist," living as an artist, trying to find the art in everything about process, including how I ride the bus and step into a venue to open space. Q- Again, you have to be there to practice your art. Show up, as it is said, yes? YES AND NO! I PREFER TO âBE PRESENTâ WHICH IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE. IT IS ALSO âTELLING THE TRUTHâ. With integrity, aware of your influence as Lisa and Mark say, but not being afraid to take your stand, which Martin Buber says is necessary.... Q- This seems to me is key. We need, in the right circumstance, to stand up, challenge people to do what is necessary, for instance, work toward consciously evolving the world. The time is too short to hold back because the rules say Stand aside, it is their conversation, not yours. Is it not ours? NOT IF OUR ROLE IS FACILITATOR. THE VERY NATURE/ESSENCE OF OST IS TO âCHALLENGEâ THE STAKEHOLDERS (PARTICIPANTS) TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED BY APPLYING THEIR PASSION AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. WE DONâT DO THAT, WE FACILITATE THAT! If we are in the world saying to clients that "If you are not learning and contributing, go somewhere where you can" why would we not practice that in our family and life? It is my ten year old daughter's favourite principle for her life - last week she wrote it out on a piece of paper and taped it to the dining room wall. Q- And should we not be doing this in our hosting? Guess I'm just trying to convince myself. MY OST FACILITATIONS HAVE âALLâ BEEN LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THE PASSION AND CARE I GIVE TO MY FACILITATION ROLE IS, I FEEL, A CONTRIBUTION. CHRIS, I HOPE YOU DONâT MIND ME STEPPING IN HERE. Elwin Guild Future Development International Baltimore * * ========================================================== [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
