Quick thoughts. Preparation and especially the work of involving leadership and those with power and influence is what makes any strategic conversation actually strategic. So for me, like you and like Lisa Heft too, teaching OST in the context of good pre work and good design is essential. Learning how to work with OST in context and without compromising its potential and impact is a key aspect of using the process well in most strategic contexts.
On the term "holding space," much like the Tao itself, it disappears when you name it, but of course it is one way to describe the practice of doing not-doing, or being totally present and completely invisible. This is a radical break with how most people are taught to understand "facilitation" and so having a different name for the practice is helpful to disrupt expectations. Also the term "holding space" is very much present in the literature and people often ask me about this practice. That is the reason I wrote the Tao of Holding Space in the first place. You will also notice that I use the term "facilitation" too because the world defies an easy categorization of the practice of presence. As for the OS/OST debate, I do find that the semantic discussion of these terms is important in a limited context. Very few people who call me up these days ask for an "Open Space Technology" meeting. Most ask for Open Space. Some ask for Open Source meetings and still others are interested in "that Open Concept thing you do." I love the story of how "Technology" got appended to the name because it says something about how people whimsically use language. This was never a thought out decision but rather a spontaneous improvement that fit a particular context in the moment. And it stuck. So I try not to get too orthodox about it because I find that most people outside of us very few practitioners don't really think about the distinctions and at any rate "Open Space" did fine before it instantly became a "Technology" and still does fine to describe the process. Everyone does get a chuckle out of the stories though. Using the terms interchangeably (rather than either/or) helps me to normalize the process and makes it accessible to people who are not inclined in the moment to have a theological discussion about the name of our meeting format. Normalizing and bringing ease to the use of the method and the way we talk about it is indeed something I've thought a great deal about. I'm looking forward to the workshop. It's been more than ten years since I've taught this method in this deep dive format. We have 20 or so already registered and I think our time together will be rich and interesting. Chris. -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Harvest Moon Consultants Facilitation, Open Space Technology and process design Check www.chriscorrigan.com for upcoming workshops, blog posts and free resources. > On Mar 31, 2016, at 5:57 AM, Birgitt Williams > <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> Hi Chris, >> Looks like you have a great program planned. I value the importance of >> designing and preparing for OST meetings, particularly for the purpose of >> the greatest effectiveness in existent organizations. When this is done >> well, the organization reaps greater and long term benefits from the >> investment in the OST meeting. I also value assisting the leadership in the >> organization figure out how to make the most of the outcomes and outputs of >> the OST meeting. We also include this same in our Genuine Contact workshops. >> The biggest challenge for leaders, in my experience, is that they think they >> are ready for the results, and they end up overwhelmed with the quality and >> quantity of both outputs and outcomes. It is a beautiful challenge to have, >> of course, and yet it is a challenge as well as a fabulous opportunity. >> >> In my years of working with OST, I am less sure about the phrase 'holding >> space' and wonder if you could comment on what this means for you. I have >> personally stopped or at least reduced using this phrase. >> >> I also notice on the list more so than in the past, the tendency to use >> 'open space' rather than 'open space technology'. Some many years ago I had >> written on the list that 'open space' is created by God, and 'Open Space >> Technology' as a meeting format was offered by Harrison Owen...and that the >> two are not the same. This comes also from my view that what we refer to as >> 'open space' is 'sacred space' and may not be 'space' at all, simply a >> different frequency. I would appreciate hearing from you about your choice >> to use 'open space' rather than 'open space technology' as I am sure you >> also have given this a great deal of thought. >> >> I hope that you get a great turnout for your workshop. >> Blessings, >> Birgitt >> >>> On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 8:59 PM Chris Corrigan via OSList >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> As a 20 year practitioner of Open Space Technology I’m proud to invite you >>> to join me for a two day deep dive into Open Space. This workshop will >>> include: >>> >>> An introduction to the process and the hosting/leadership practice of >>> “holding space” >>> A comprehensive look at designing and preparing and implementing the >>> results of Open Space meetings >>> Experience of modelled and participant led Open Space events experience and >>> practice using the process. >>> An evening Stammtische, an informal round table over drinks and food where >>> we share stories and connect with local practitioners. >>> A copy of the Tao of Holding Space, newly designed and published, to be >>> launched at the training >>> >>> The workshop will be held at the beautiful Wosk Centre for Dialogue at >>> Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Early bird rates are still >>> in effect. >>> >>> To register or learn more, visit: >>> http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/events/open-space-technology-facilitator-training/ >>> >>> Hope to see you in Vancouver in June! >>> >>> Chris Corrigan >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> Past archives can be viewed here: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Birgitt Williams >> >> >> >> President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. >> >> http://www.dalarinternational.com >> >> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network >> http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com >> >> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact >> Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership http://www.genuinecontactway.com >> >> >> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. >> http://www.genuinecontact.net >> >> >> >> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility >> and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change. >> >> >> >> Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the >> Extraordinary Leadership Network >> http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com to participate in an online >> leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills >> and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant >> change. >> >> >> >> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 >> >> phone: 1-919-522-7750
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