Open Space facilitators

[owen]

I find this discussion to be wonderful -- and best of all there probably is no
one right answer...
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Joe said ......
>I want to reinterate that I am sure that in some or many cases the effect of
>changing roles would be neutral at worst. However, informal as it is, this is
>a discussion of professional standards. This is no longer Harrison and a few
>others doing magical work.  It is about many people who adhere to very
>differing professional codes or none at all.  I have to say that think it is
>dangerous, even irresponsible to suggest that there should be no standard of
>practice regarding this question. Joe
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The question of professional standards (the standards of a professional) is not
a light one. I am quite clear that for PRACTICAL reasons I do not do sessions
in an environment where I am a stranger. And for many of the same practical
reasons, I do not intervene in anybody else's session either to contribute or
to make process suggestions. (Folks pretty well do it on their own, and in the
process of figuring things out they only get stronger.) But would I go so far
as to say that I SHOULD never intervene, offer a session, or contribute to one
-- and I think the answer is no. It all depends.
        I have had situations (very rare) where somebody basically "freaked
out"
with all the freedom of Open Space. Some people cannot take Freedom Shock. It
makes them very nervous and quite dysfunctional. In such a case, I did what
came quite naturally. I held them until they  could find the ground again -- a
good hug does wonders. But it has its risks. Was I going to be hauled up on
charges of sexual harrassment? Possibly, but it seemed the humane thing to do.
And frankly I responded quite instinctually, and certainly before a lengthy
thought process could kick in.
        I guess that might be the pivotal question for me -- what is the humane
thing to do? And corollary to that -- am I being authentic in my response? If
the drive is ego (somebody else was talking about this) the notion of
authenticity goes out the window. Anyhow, I can think of some "safe"
suggestions for professional behavior -- like be careful of those hugs. But the
only problem is that hugging seems to be endemic to Open Space. I have even
seen Canadian Bankers do it (Sorry to my financial friends north of our border)
-- Was I going to stand there and say "I don't hug" -- Anybody who knows me
would know THAT  was a bald face lie.

So I hear Joe's request for Professional Standards (no committees please!) but
at the end of the day I have to ask what is humane, what is authentic -- and
for the rest -- throw caution to the winds.  Whoever said Open Space was
without risk?

Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854   USA
301-469-9269 (phone)
301-983-9314 (fax)
email owen at tmn.com
Website http://www.tmn.com/~owen
Open Space Institute website
http://www.tmn.com/openspace
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