Very small OS

[Jeff Aitken]

Hi Ros. My experience is there are special challenges to facilitate OST in
a small group - yet it has worked consistently well. Trust the process down
to the finest detail, I suggest. Have fun!

These things tend to happen: the group creates a bulletin board and
marketplace and then decides to stay together as a group and go thru the
agenda items one by one. Perhaps they cluster some items, but the agenda is
still attended to in a linear fashion.

In effect every person has agreed to combine their topics. I have noticed
that some people find that their topic does not get addressed, and in the
closing circle they are disappointed; it can be a bit intimidating to be
the only person to leave the group in the midst of the meeting and convene
their own topic in another breakout space.

I am not suggesting any intervention unless, during the marketplace, the
group asks you "can we combine them all and work on them together?" I might
simply reiterate what I already told them in my talk about how to deal with
conflicts among topics, in which I emphasize to be mindful about combining
sessions because it may be more valuable for two small groups to address
similar topics than for one large group to combine them. I may add "my role
is to protect the law of two feet, so I only remind you that anyone who
posts a topic is always welcome to break out and convene it in another
place."

After the marketplace, in a small group it's harder to be "totally
invisible" to use Harrison's words -- we are sitting right there in plain
sight, doing nothing, while our paying clients struggle thru their agenda!
Like in any other OST, I consider everything that happens between the end
of the marketplace and the beginning of the convergence or closing circle
to be "breakouts" - into which I do not intervene. I feel free to leave the
room. Yet I have experienced, the value in my being present in the room,
silent, holding the space. It's "facilitation as spiritual practice" to an
intense degree.

I also notice that a small group is more likely to complete their business
prior to the scheduled time for closing or convergence -- so there may be a
point at which the group comes to the decision that "it's over" and would
rather begin the closing/convergence prior to the scheduled time, rather
than take a break until that time. This only means I suggest being nearby
towards the last portion of their scheduled breakout time.

Jeff

-
Jeff Aitken
NOTE NEW PHONE STARTING 11/15: (01) 707-769-8155
Petaluma CA USA
JA at svn.net

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