First thanks to Elwin for stepping into my skin. Good points. On 8/2/07, douglas germann <[email protected]> wrote: > > Chris-- > > On Thu, 2007-08-02 at 12:55 -0700, Chris Corrigan wrote: > > Hosting has to do with all of the capacities we use when we engage with > clients around an open space. Some of these might include: > > > - Seeing and sensing patterns in the organization that help to find > "accupuncture points" for change, > > > How do you do that unless you are immersed, somehow, (how?) in the > conversations? >
Well, when I work with a client, I don't usually just show up for the Open Space meeting. Elwin talks about the givens, and I have similar kinds of conversations with the client as we develop the theme and the invitation for the event. I like to work appreciatively with a client finding the patterns that give and sustain life in the organization. We can use those paterns to give life to a juicy Open Space event too, inviting people to step into to their work in a deeper way. In that sense, if we think of a gig with an organization as an extended conversation, I am very much in the conversation up front. > - Taking a courageous stand for clarity. > > > 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? > As Elwin said, offer examples of being clear in the event. I have noticed over the years that when we arrive at clairty, action becomes easy. The more clarity we have, the easier it is to act. So I serve clarity by helping sponsors find a clear theme, and by challenging participants in the Open Space to find the clarity they need to more forward. in doing so, 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. > > > Again, you have to be there to practice your art. Show up, as it is said, > yes? > > 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.... > > 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? > At some level every conversation is ours. And because it is OURS and not MINE, sometimes it serves US better if I step out. 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. > > > And should we not be doing this in our hosting? Guess I'm just trying to > convince myself. > Yes and always in conversation with yourself about what you are learning and contributing, and always asking yourself where could you be that would serve. Sometimes that is a physical place, and sometimes it isn't. Presence is a tangible yet ineffable thing Fully present, completely invisible. Chris -- 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
