OS facilitators and Space holders

[Andrea Barrett]

Greetings from Oz

As the person who posed the initial query re space holders and workshop convenor dual role capacity, I have been inundated with ideas.I thought I actually responded to the responses, but maybe I was dreaming eloquently.

Thank you for your consideration and attention to detail, the query posed was indeed a fundamental one.

In my experience, Open Space offers participants a rare opportunity to be open and naieve in their learning. OS also provides the space for participants to be spontaneous in relationship to others, two faces of humanity often masked in organisations.

In an environment of trust, openess and learning there comes a time in groups when the group mind, becomes more visible and known. During this time the primary urges of the group are mobile and expressed and in my experience it results in a particular state of being. The only way I can describe that state, be it be seen in fleeting glimpses or sustained across a few days is that of primary relating or "love" (dare I say it) of the other(s) as unique and creative beings.

It is within this context, rare and exquisite that it is, that I pitched my question re facilitating the whole OS and convening workshops. "It is only when we move beyond our conventional expectations of learning..." it is only when we challenge the usual conserves that have us operating the way we do in groups that I believe real learning takes place. The OS facilitator is part of that, holding the space, faciltating the space, facilitating the experience, being part of it. The analogy of the role of therapist is not adequate, it's good in terms of role definition and professional ethic and primary responsibility but it falls short in the face of the potentiality of OS.

I suppose I like to think that each OS event has the potential to become a place of heightened awareness of humanity, learning and community. Within a business context this is no less relevant than any other. OS methodology as it has been described safegaurds the learning of the group.

The spontaneity (appropriate, adequate and creative response) of the facilitator plays a role in the development of the group and to what extent is of interest to me.

So what I take from the discussion so far is that my role as OST facilitator is affirmed as the primary one and there may well be occasions when to convene a session could be a well placed. Being in tune with the group to the extent that this would be accurately determined will be the emerging skill for me as I adventure in the world of OS.

I really like the the idea of OS disappearing, absorbed into the fabric of organisational life.....

Thanks for your wonderful responses.


Andrea.


Andrea Barrett

Process and Organisational Consultant
Systemic Intervention Consultancy (sic!)
PO Box 3, North Fremantle, West Australia 6159
Tel: (08) 93356989 mobile 015 606 678 fax (08) 9335 6989