OS facilitators and process skills

[Peg Holman]

While rare, I, too, have offered sessions during open spaces for which I
have held space.  In every case, it has been a setting where I had a partner
in holding space, so that while I stepped into the convenor role, I knew
there was someone whose energy was fully present for the whole group.

In a way, the challenge for me was to be there for the session I convened
since part of my attention remained with the whole community.  And re-entry
to the larger space always has a period of re-orientation as I tune fully
back in to the energy of the whole event.

I have never convened a session during a client sponsored event -- only ones
in which I was playing a dual role of sponsor and space opener/holder.
(e.g., an Open Space on Open Space, a gathering on Women Leaders)  I think
because I was going in with that duality of sponsor/space opener as part of
the mix, convening a session allowed me to participate by exploring what
inspired me to be part of making the event happen in the first place.

Peg Holman


-----Original Message-----
From: ralphsc <ralphsc at EARTHLINK.NET>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Date: Sunday, February 28, 1999 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: OS facilitators and process skills


>Hi,
>
>Everyone's being so extra-careful, it seems.  I wonder if Harrison and I
are the only ones who have ever offered their own session/discussion during
an open space...?
>
>I also want to amend what I have said about this very interesting issue.  I
agree that it probably isn't a good idea to offer a session if the
motivation is to provide a fix or do some level of intervention.  Thanks to
experiences with OS (being in them and facilitating them ­ both teach me), I
have gotten much better at sitting on my hands.  Another way to put that is
that I don't have to grab my ass in frustration as much as I used to.
>
>Ralph

>From  Wed Mar  3 09:47:39 1999
Message-Id: <WED.3.MAR.1999.094739.0000.>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 09:47:39 +0000
Reply-To: bjpeters at amug.org
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: BJ Peters <bjpeters at amug.org>
Subject: Re: Open Space Facilitators
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Esther, thank you for your wonderful contribution to the discussion on
Open Space Facilitators.

Your thoughts validated and strengthened my thinking in a current
situation.  I have been talking with a potential client (CEO of a
non-profit in the behavioral health field) whose organization is truly
in a bleak situation, and he has painted himself into a "victim's"
corner.  I awoke the other morning thinking about what I might say to
him, suggestions I might have for what he can do to improve the
situation.  I was not generating very much that seemed useful, I was
feeling confused and frustrated, and then I had this flash of insight:
questions, framed thoughtfully, are the greatest gift I can give this
person.  Why would I expect to be able to solve his problems (fix his
situation)?  I don't have the knowledge or breadth of experience in his
organization to do that.  He and the members of his organization are the
only ones who can.  My role is to be present and ask questions to help
them find their own answers.  I DO know this, AND I DO forget it from
time to time.

Thank you for adding clarity and support for my process.

BJ

**************************************
“We must be the change we seek in the world."

                                                            Gandhi
**************************************
BJ Peters
Consultant, Facilitator, Coach, Trainer
6523 N 14th Street #112
Phoenix  AZ  85014-1458
602 279 4805 Home/Office
602 279 4806 FAX
bjpeters at amug.org