Openening space, transfer-in, small spaces

[Michael M Pannwitz]

Dear Judy,
you (and others on the list) speak of how they "open space". In my
work I always go to some length to talk to the sponsor about his role
of which one important part is that he/she "opens the space". My role
as facilitator is then to introduce the os-technology and try that
which we all call "holding space and time". Do you use this "opening
the space" casually or is it intentional?


On Mon, 1 Jul 2002 23:13:18 -0300, Judi Richardson wrote:

>I am just returning to email.  Thank you for your eloquent thoughts.  In
>the past 14 days I've had the unbelievable privilege to open space 6
>times,

Another thing that I intentionally do not do (I mean stumbling into
the circle is a wonderful story)
is this "transfer-in process" that you describe as many of us doing
naturally. People sometime comment on it and I respond with my
observation, that "transfer-in" by the facilitator is a "space
invasion", just like "helping" a group getting out of a seemingly
non-creative, tired mode is shutting down their space for being
non-creative or tired. Or am I missing something here?

>I believe many of us have used
>transfer-in processes naturally for some time -- telling a joke to get
>everyone to
>laugh, having music play softly in the background and then turn it up
>for everyone to "tune in" to.  I once had a room all set up, went to the
>bathroom, and upon my return I stumbled across the door jam into the
>room -- successfully gaining everyone's attention <grin>!

People keep asking me about the smallest open space possible. Well,
we are down to ZERO.
Still, I am interested to hear who sponsored the open space you had
with three people and what the theme was.

>Last week I opened space
>for
>three people -- something I would not have thought could be successful,
>and
>I grinned as I remembered Chris C. opening space for no one and every
>one!! It is why I hold space for others to tell their stories to each
>other.  I believe that in authentic conversation change occurs before
>the end of the
>conversation.

Greetings from Berlin
michael




Michael M Pannwitz
boscop
Draisweg 1
12209 Berlin, Germany
FON +49 - 30-772 8000     FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464
www.michaelmpannwitz.de

An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" für deutschsprechende open space-PraktikerInnen interessiert? Enfach eine mail an mich.

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