I´ve read this over and over again, the list from Lisa of the facilitators job, what to do, and what not to take responsibility for.
I love the thoughts, and I find it hard to live by. I worked last nigth with a group, early pre work I wold call it. We used the syclus og sorrow,medicine wheel, and planned the next step. ( The group is not stable, and they are mostly tired and overloded with work, standing before at big developing work with small recourses ) I ask myself today: Did I have a need to be clever ? Yes. Did I try to give them a good experience? Yes Did I have a ned to be productive and show some results? Yes. Did they experience selvorganizaton? I don't think so...... Im just shearing my own evaluation. Because I need to develop as a facilitator. I need to trust the selforgnaization myself, what I`d like to encourage them to trust. To do less, and gain more. To be aware of the situation... From windy and rainy Norway Hege 4. sep. 2012 kl. 21:15 skrev Tenneson Woolf <[email protected]>: > Yes, my thanks also. > > I love the emphasis that Lisa offers on the OST format for holding the space > for a group to do its work. > > I also love the distinction of what is the group’s work and what is the > facilitator’s relationship to conflict and resolve. > > Great stuff here for all of us practitioners deepening ability in the complex > environments in which we use OST and other participative methodologies. > > Thanks Lisa, all. > > Tenneson > > > > On Sep 3, 2012, at 11:57 PM, Koos de Heer wrote: > >> Thank you Lisa and thank you Chris! >> >> This mail originally came in during my holiday in Sweden, so I did not read >> it at the time. >> >> Thank you Chris for bringing this to our attention again. >> >> And thank you Lisa for writing so well about the things that are so dear to >> me. I did indeed sit down with a cup of tea and I am glad I did. >> >> You truly are fabulous, Lisa. Can you write something like this for me every >> morning? :-) >> >> Love, >> >> Koos >> >> At 19:50 3-9-2012, Chris Corrigan wrote: >>> Love in your brilliance and clarity here Lisa. I have some clear image of >>> you as Open Space 2.0. >>> >>> Love you. >>> >>> Chris >>> >>> --- >>> CHRIS CORRIGAN >>> http://www.chriscorrigan.com >>> +1 604 947 9236 >>> >>> On 2012-07-30, at 1:48 AM, Lisa Heft < [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Hello, all - >>>> >>>> I am enjoying this conversation. >>>> >>>> Get a cup of tea, folks - this one is very long because instead of >>>> responding to individual moments in this thread I am going to try to >>>> combine into one message for your in-box. >>>> >>>> My observation is that many individuals - which therefore includes >>>> facilitators - are conflict-averse. >>>> We see something we name as conflict, and we either want to avoid it or >>>> solve it away. >>>> We are not very good at sitting with it; breathing through it. I am >>>> talking about those conflicts where your life is not immediately in danger >>>> but instead where voices are raised and people are angry and upset. >>>> >>>> And for some of our cultures - what one culture sees as conflict (raising >>>> of voices, dramatic gestures, angry faces) - another culture sees as >>>> passion or simply as expression and communication. >>>> So all those cultural filters are at work (us, our groups, our personal / >>>> cultural style, our family-of-origin / relationship history - oh so many >>>> things). >>>> >>>> So to me - as a facilitator - my job is to know.. >>>> - what is the group's work (and what is my own internal work) >>>> - to breathe (and to breathe as a way to hold space for others) >>>> - to do thoughtful work (including the pre-work and analysis for / >>>> selection of best-fit dialogue process) >>>> - and to care for self and others (in specific ways like making sure I am >>>> hydrated, rested and fed, and holding in my heart and mind that their work >>>> is their own and that I think they are amazing). >>>> >>>> Conflict without violence is to me - passion. Someone struggling to name >>>> their own truth - which while not perhaps true for others, is true for >>>> them, at that moment. >>>> >>>> Harrison I disagree with you - I don't think conflict is something that >>>> can often be resolved in a single meeting. By a single intervention. >>>> Resolution is not what I seek by offering Open Space as one of the >>>> possible tools for a certain meeting. The ability to breathe through >>>> conflict - to witness rage without blows - to be able to walk away (and >>>> walk back in) - to hear another person's story (without trying to solve or >>>> change it) - these are all the things that an Open Space (of two days, >>>> ideally) can offer. Resolution? Take any human behavior - there are so >>>> many things that inform and change and hold in place certain behaviors. >>>> The meeting is just one part of someone's life, life history, life after >>>> the meeting, real life 'on Monday', social norms, support for change and >>>> so on. But what the meeting can do as the 'massage' so the human can >>>> witness their own inner dialogue, feel witnessed, notice and wonder, try >>>> to articulate, stumble through, step back and step back in? Amazing. >>>> >>>> I say two days ideally because in any process - including Open Space - on >>>> Day 1 people are often naming their grief and loss. Day 2 does not >>>> magically change that but with the overnight, with eating together, with >>>> feeling witnessed as they tell their story again and again on Day 1 - >>>> seems like enough people shift a bit on Day 2 to not lose their own story >>>> but walk forward into imagining a slightly different story, together. >>>> As you say, Harrison, '...given the time / space to do it." >>>> >>>> It is what happens before the meeting and afterward that also count. Which >>>> is why I think of Open Space or any other facilitated process as one in a >>>> chain of steps of change and shift as part of a greater whole. >>>> >>>> I agree with Peggy - there does not necessarily have to be trust - but: >>>> like any couple's relationship when they are having rocky times - they >>>> have to walk in hoping / wanting / wondering that there might - just might >>>> - be a light at the end of the path somehow back to each other. Or at >>>> least (same as couple counseling) that in exploring some things together >>>> their agreement to step apart will be more thoughtful and hopefully more >>>> kind. As Peggy said: 'willingness'. >>>> >>>> And yes - one of Lisa's favorite topics: Pre-work. As I recall, Harrison - >>>> and Tova, Avner and Carol if you are reading this you can correct me - >>>> didn't it take something like a year of invitation for one of those OSs >>>> bringing together Israelis and Palestinians? A year. Finding allies. >>>> Making personal invites. Thinking how best to reach each individual and >>>> build relationships. Lots of strategic, creative and passionate work on >>>> that part, I am sure. >>>> >>>> Kerry - for me - as the facilitator - I think there is an issue about >>>> trusting the people who participate. I trust them fully. I trust in their >>>> ability. Not their outcome - not their path - which is theirs to inform. >>>> But that humans are incredible. I trust the people and I trust the process. >>>> >>>> I agree with the 'givens'. I think it is not useful to say 'this is what >>>> you cannot talk about' / 'this is off the table'. Humans will talk about >>>> whatever is the story within them that has the strongest pain or yearning >>>> or discovery or passion - even if we want them to talk about 'x'. However: >>>> An example of how a marvelous client of mine said this - Catholic Diocese >>>> - this was the Bishop, and the OS was for strategic (pastoral) planning >>>> for the next two years. "You can talk about wanting more women clerics in >>>> the Church" (for example) and that is fine - but that is not what we have >>>> money for to fund for this next two years of our strategic plan. We are >>>> not able to inform or control that in our greater Church at this time - >>>> although rest assured we remain passionate about it as well. What we do >>>> have money to fund is in these three key strategic areas (Lay people in >>>> the Church, Youth Ministry and Living Catholic Social Teachings - the >>>> three areas identified by the parishioners for the coming years' focus). >>>> So you can talk about other things but we hope you will also spend some >>>> time in these retreats helping us with the three upcoming strategic plan >>>> issue areas." >>>> >>>> So he did not say something was a given or off the table. He invited >>>> anything anyone wanted to talk about - but encouraged people to think >>>> within the diverse stream of these key identified-by-the-parishioners >>>> areas. Nice. >>>> Usually: I think the client does not have to say anything. People will >>>> talk about things and that's fine. Most will talk about what is named as >>>> the OS task, and that is fine. Nothing derails anything. And yes, Kerry >>>> and Artur - I do let the client know of what might happen, what could >>>> happen, and are they ready for that. For surprise directions. For those >>>> certain scary things being raised as an issue. For that same person who >>>> always says that same thing to say that same thing again. And if they are >>>> fine with that? We move on to OS. If not? We move to another process. >>>> >>>> Marie Ann - again I would try not to squish things into too small a >>>> meeting time. People need and deserve the room to breathe, name, explore, >>>> feel, make mistakes - the whole thing. And I like the idea of also giving >>>> individuals witnesses - 'listening posts' - to share their own story with >>>> one person and feel fully heard. There is a whole ecology of things that >>>> can be done - together, and over time - to help a community having >>>> challenges. And it did not take one day to fall into this situation - so >>>> it may take many nutritious moments over time to help some people breathe >>>> and shift a bit. Though other people might be fully-served by staying >>>> right there in that painful story. >>>> >>>> I am also a strong believer in meeting a group where they are. Are they >>>> asking for the help. How do they respond when you offer. Is it the time >>>> for help or is it the time to fully witness exactly where they are? >>>> >>>> And how else do you show them to each other as individuals rather than as >>>> positions. Do they get a chance to eat together. To do a project together >>>> that is not about their conflict areas at all. Do they need to. >>>> >>>> Susanna - same question - should you bring them together to work on the >>>> 'issue' - or can you mix and match and combine them in small and large >>>> ways to experience each other in other ways as individuals. >>>> Should you be the event sponsor? Well - are you being asked to? You >>>> mentioned not being sure the women's organization 'would be convinced of >>>> an OS process'. '..try to convince them of the value...' That wording - is >>>> it your job to convince or sell OS? Doesn't really work that way. Are you >>>> meeting the group where they are? You might be - I don't know the answers >>>> to those questions - maybe you do. And if it is decided to do an OS should >>>> you facilitate? No matter how you feel you can hold space for all >>>> different sides and viewpoints - how are you *seen* or *perceived by* >>>> others - even if you do not feel that about yourself? >>>> >>>> My colleague Zach Metz - who does OS in high conflict zones in the world - >>>> also really appreciates Public Conversations Project for some meetings - >>>> sometimes earlier in the chain of meetings than the OS, which happens >>>> later in the chain. I am not skilled in that but you might want to read >>>> about it. It is more facilitated but Zach truly believes in >>>> participant-centered work so I am guessing and have heard it is pretty >>>> amazing for what are perceived to be polarizing issues. >>>> >>>> Susanna - it is not necessary the wording of an invitation that will get >>>> people to show up. It is the relationships and outreach strategy - the >>>> invitation strategy - that gets people to show up. Who is asking each kind >>>> of individual. Someone who they trust? Who thinks like them? Who looks >>>> like them? How and where are they being asked? In person? Over the phone? >>>> After temple or mosque service? Over food? On a walk? What will work for >>>> each individual so that they, too, will feel there is a place for them in >>>> that room? Sure, the text and the messages are important also. But you see >>>> what is most important - actions and relationship-building more than words >>>> embody true invitation. In my experience, anyway. >>>> >>>> Oh dear I did go on. >>>> >>>> Thank you for your reading patience folks - who got this far - and for you >>>> others - I trust you used the Law Of Delete... >>>> >>>> Lisa >>>> >>>> ________ >>>> The Power of Pre-Work >>>> - August 8-10, 2012 - San Francisco, USA >>>> The Open Space Learning Workshop / el Taller de Aprendizaje de Espacio >>>> Abierto >>>> - October 9-11, 2012 - London, United Kingdom >>>> (before the World Open Space on Open Space in London) >>>> - December 12-14, 2012 - San Francisco, USA >>>> ________ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> OSList mailing list >>>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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