Deep power differentials in OST

Wed Jul 20 10:10:38 PDT 2005

Hi, Harrison, Joelle and others -

(sorry for the delay in reply - I have been traveling and working away
from home and in and out of email access)

Thanks for your thoughts, folks.

To clarify - I rarely assume that some folks need extra help to feel
their power, as OS brings them that.  

And I usually counsel the host/sponsor/client not to do anything before
the space opens (no speeches, no need to 'weave people together', no
storytelling the night before [though I know this works for some of you
and I am open to it - I feel the OS brings the stories into the room,
and yes I've also seen storytelling work quite well], not even
introductions for the full group [because I have observed that going
around a circle before the things starts, people don't really listen,
and I'd rather get them into space - they remember each other fully from
their small-group conversations in Open Space].

And I also advise clients to invite for diversity.and keep inviting.and
keep looking at who is not there.and keep inviting.using multiple
methods.and bring into the site or the space those things which would
make it easier for those perceived of as being in minority or less power
those things that would help them feel equal.  Such as childcare.  Such
as free food coupons or pocket money.  Such as homestays. Transport.
Signage in their languages.  Food of their culture.  Whatever it takes.

However, in those very rare occasions where.say.a conference is about
young people, and there will be 500 adults and only 5 young people, and
where the vocabulary is very specific and unknown to those few precious
delegates. sometimes you do know this in advance.  For example, I opened
space for a statewide conference on policy for safety, health and
education for youth 0-18.  Hundreds and hundreds of adult delegates,
most of whom worked in agencies and governmental capacities - their
language was really policy-speak and legislature-speak.  25 young people
were invited.  And the host decided to bring them in a day early to give
them an amazing and creative workshop on developing policies for an
imaginary city, in a way that incorporated that vocabulary and some
concepts which would help them in the event.  And I helped them develop
a group poem defining the issues, the challenges and their hopes and
dreams for themselves (teens) and their children (many of them were
parents).   And this is what began the full conference - them presenting
their poem, in the center of the circle, facing outwards to speak this
to the hundreds of seated adult participants.  I found it to be very
young-person-delegate centered without condescending to them or assuming
they were of lesser power - on the contrary - they were the leaders (and
they were all along before any workshop or conference).

It is not about weakness or people having a lack of something it is our
job to enhance or provide pre-event  - I see it as totally different
than that - I see it as perfectly strong, rich, experienced and able
people being invited - and what tools might they like to feel
up-to-speed with the majority.  Or what data they need pre-event.  It's
an access issue to me, not a capability issue.

Thanks for this rich conversation,

Lisa
___________________________
L i s a   H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g  S p a c e
2325 Oregon
Berkeley, California
94705-1106   USA
+01 510 548-8449
 <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net
 <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net 

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Harrison Owen
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 4:44 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Deep power differentials in OST

Lisa -- the practice of bringing in "dis-empowered folks" early is one
that several folks have done that I know of. It certainly makes sense
logically, and in the instances I have heard about, it certainly seems
to work. But what I don't know is what would have happened had the
"weaker" group started with all the rest. And what might have been
gained or lost in the bargain?? One thing I am absolutely clear about is
that sufficient time is essential. A mini-openspace in a complex power
situation (or any other complex and/or conflicted situation) is
something that, in my opinion, should be strictly avoided. A full day at
least and preferably two!

But on the subject of "gains and losses" -- I find myself scratching my
head. For example, the fact that the "weak" were treated as something
"special," might that not confirm in their minds the fact that they were
"weak?" And since all the rest of the folks would obviously know (I
assume) that the "weak" came in early -- might that not tend to confirm
their feelings of dominance and superiority? Also I wonder about the
judgment being made here as to who is weak and who is powerful? -- It
has been my experience, I am sure shared by many others, that
individuals who have been oppressed, or never had a whole bunch of
opportunities -- possessed amazing personal power which they used in
gracious and productive ways. And the reverse is also true -- folks who
have all the earmarks of the "dominator group" turn out to be total
wimps living in a fear encased shell. Frankly, I can't figure out any
way to discriminate between these folks in advance.

I suppose the only way to settle all this would be to run two comparable
OS's head to head and see what happens. But even then it would seem to
me that the unseen variables and complexities would be such that making
a genuine comparison would be almost impossible. I suppose if you did
hundreds of such "head to head" comparisons the larger numbers would
wash out some of the local variables. Maybe some day when our RESEARCH
effort is rolling in high gear we could do such a thing.

In the meantime I only have my experience which has been that special
preparation for Open Space doesn't seem to make much difference. And
more often the time and effort consumed doing all that would have been
better spent having more time in Open Space, or just going to the beach.
In one situation I remember particularly, a large bank held an Open
Space for it's Fast Track folks -- the brightest and best so to speak.
The theme was "Enhancing the profitability of the Bank." However, the
judgment was made by the organizers (who happened to be the training
department) that the participants might be somewhat lacking when it came
to "creativity" -- disempowered in that regard. So a day was added to
the program for a grand experience of Creativity Enhancement. And it was
truly grand, even fun. But when the whole show was over the common
reaction was -- "Why did we waste all that time?" And I even heard some
comments to the effect that the experience was in some way demeaning --
sort of like they weren't trusted to do what needed to be done.

A more common experience has been with working with mixed groups of
adults and children/teenagers. The going in presumption of the sponsors
was that the "children" would somehow be marginalized. But when the
great day arrived for the OS, the actual experience was quite different.
To be sure the "children" behaved in somewhat different ways than their
elders -- but when it came to functioning in Open Space -- it was these
"children" who often led the way. Go figure!

Anyhow, I guess I am back where I started. Just open space -- and
everything else will take care of itself. At the end of the day I find
that when people are treated as responsible human beings (regardless of
age, sex, economics, position, etc) and given sufficient time/space (at
least one day and preferably two) -- everything works just like usual.

Harrison 

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