Self-correcting OS : Learning and Humility

Andrew Rixon Andrew.Rixon at csiro.au
Thu Jul 28 16:23:46 PDT 2005


Hi Viv,

Marvellous to hear from you, and yes, I did mention that you and Brian are doing a GREAT training course in August. :)

>Learning to facilitate open space is the easy bit, I think. Learning to 
>be present in open space is the hard bit - something I still struggle 
>with as a facilitator.

True! I just tried to breathe, listen and believe in the people participating. I remember you mentioned 'the struggle' .. aptly put, I experienced it first hand! :)

That reminds me actually... There is a great story about a quote. Once a young prince went to a master craftsman with a ring which he wanted engraved. He said to the master craftsman that he wanted it to be engraved with something which would help him in his times of most need, and humble him in his times of greatest triumph.... When he returned to pick up the ring, engraved upon it were the words:

"It will pass..."

Warm regards,
Andrew


 
--
Andrew Rixon B.Sc(hons) PhD
Urban Water Infrastructure
CSIRO- Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology
http://www.cmit.csiro.au
P.O Box 56 (Graham Road), Highett, 3190, Victoria, Australia
Tel: +61 3 9252 6363
Fax:+ 61 3 9252 6249
Mobile: 0400 352 809
Email: Andrew.Rixon at csiro.au
 

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Viv McWaters
Sent: Friday, 29 July 2005 8:44 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Self-correcting OS : Learning and Humility

Hi Andrew

Congratulations on giving OS a go! The theme the facilitators ended up 
discussing - trying to understand open space - is the very reason why 
OSonOS is such a fantastic experience and why so many of us go back (or 
try to :-) year after year to learn more (and reconnect).

Learning to facilitate open space is the easy bit, I think. Learning to 
be present in open space is the hard bit - something I still struggle 
with as a facilitator. This is some of what you experienced first hand 
on Wednesday night. It also interests me how other facilitators react 
to OS - sometimes as facilitators (and I'm speaking just for myself 
here) we like that feeling of (supposed) control that comes from more 
structured facilitation processes. OS is always such a revelation for 
both participants and facilitators.

I hope you told them all that Brian and I are delivering some OS 
training soon <big grin> We do lots of stuff on getting a 'good' 
theme...

Cheers

Viv

On 28/07/2005, at 2:00 PM, Andrew Rixon wrote:

> Dear All,
>
>  
>
> Last night I had my first opportunity to give the OS gift to a group. 
> Being a member of a facilitator network group we (my wife and I) were 
> given the opportunity to facilitate a meeting, of course, selfishly I 
> chose to use open space. The theme which we came up was "For a great 
> meeting: What would you like to do?" ... We tried to come up with a 
> theme which would allow for new & spontaneous members to feel part of 
> the theme as well as, I guess, an existential theme which might just 
> work.
>
>  
>
> What emerged however was a new theme that the participants spent the 
> whole evening discussing "What is this strange animal, open space?" .. 
> Challenging as it was, I practiced the art of silent facilitation and 
> let the group evolve and emerge with its discussions, sometimes I was 
> drawn out with a question which I felt I could help...
>
>  
>
> Interestingly, initially there appeared to be a lot of discomfort, 
> that, at a facilitators network meeting, there was no clear 'leading 
> facilitator' to stimulate and prompt the group... by the end of the 
> meeting however (just 2 hours which flew by the way) everyone felt 
> energised and inspired in some way.
>
>  
>
> It seemed like there was some ability for OS to self-correct itself 
> based on the true passions of the participants...
>
>  
>
> Moral of the story: There is good reason why choosing a theme (and a 
> good one!) is important.
>
>  
>
> Ps-
>
>  
>
> I miss you too viv. J
>
>  
>
>  
>
> --
>
> Andrew Rixon B.Sc(hons) PhD
>
> Urban Water Infrastructure
>
> CSIRO- Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology
>
> http://www.cmit.csiro.au
>
> P.O Box 56 (Graham Road), Highett, 3190, Victoria, Australia
>
> Tel: +61 3 9252 6363
>
> Fax:+ 61 3 9252 6249
>
> Mobile: 0400 352 809
>
> Email: Andrew.Rixon at csiro.au
>
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
> Harrison Owen
> Sent: Thursday, 28 July 2005 8:19 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Not in Halifax
>
>  
>
> Viv -- you will be missed for sure. At least I for sure will miss 
> you!!!
>
>  
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>  Potomac, MD  20854
>  USA
>  301-365-2093
>  207-763-3261 (summer)
>  website www.openspaceworld.com
>
>  
>
>  
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>  From: Viv McWaters
>
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 7:28 PM
>
> Subject: Not in Halifax
>
>  
>
> Greetings from a cold and wet 'downunder'
>
>  As you prepare to gather in Halifax, I'm sitting here in my office
>  wishing that the Jetsons had turned out to be true and that I could
>  teleport, miraculously, from one side of the world to the other. I'll
>  just have to be content with the miracle of electronic communications
>  instead :-) Having sprung an open space event on an unsuspecting group
>  on Friday and received confirmation of a major national OS in a few
>  weeks, training with Brian in August, and not being in Halifax when I
>  had planned to be there - well, OS is pretty much on my mind. I've 
> also
>  been mentoring a couple of people who are using OS and I'm always
>  reminded how a depth understanding of OS makes decisions about what to
>  do or not do quite straightforward, while a superficial understanding
>  of the mechanics raises all sorts of questions. Hence the importance
>  and significance of OSonOS where we can delve into those sometimes
>  murky depths. So I'll experience Halifax vicariously through Oslist 
> and
>  will look forward to all the goss when Brian returns. Have a great
>  OSonOS!
>
>  Cheers
>
>  Viv
>
>  ***************************
>  Viv McWaters
>  Beyond the Edge Pty Ltd
>  PO Box 665 Torquay 3228
>  Australia
>  (03) 5261 9498
>  0417 135 406
>
>  "Thus the task is not so much to see what no one yet has seen, but to
>  think what nobody yet has thought about that which everybody sees. "
>  Schopenhauer
>
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***************************
Viv McWaters
Beyond the Edge Pty Ltd
PO Box 665 Torquay 3228
Australia
(03) 5261 9498
0417 135 406

"Thus the task is not so much to see what no one yet has seen, but to 
think what nobody yet has thought about that which everybody sees. "
Schopenhauer

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