The Question of Openness

[Harrison Owen]

Now that we have the weblog business settled - Soon to be open pending
resolution of techie issues, all within the parameters of blog capacity -
whatever that means. But we will see. And then there is the question of
"openness."

Open Space is a curious beast. It is open, but always within certain
boundaries. Absent the boundaries, and there would be no defined space (to
be opened). So whatever Open Space is all about - it is not about the
elimination of boundaries. They seem to come with the territory. But that
said - we have obviously not said it all. Just a start!

First there is the nature of the boundaries. For some people, when you say
"boundary" the conjured image is immutable concrete walls, all set about
with razor wire. Now that for sure is a boundary, and perhaps necessary
under some conditions. The concrete wall is a boundary established by the
powers that be with the objective of containment (The Berlin Wall - keeps
the citizens in), or protection (The Great Wall of China-keeps the
barbarians out). Or maybe both? But that is definitely not the sort of
boundary I would anticipate in Open Space.

For me, the boundary in Open Space has a very different origin and function.
The boundary in Open Space has its origin in the people who care to show up.
This is obvious even in purely physical terms. To be sure, some one person
may rent the hall and set up the chairs, but you don't have an open space
until the people arrive. No people, no open space - and also no boundary.
Just a bunch of empty chairs! But when the people come, as they usually do,
the assembled circle of folks describes the edges (boundaries) of an empty
space. And while nothing is physically present there is still a massive
presence consisting of all the (as yet unspoken) hopes and fears of those
who cared to come. The people create the boundary and its function is
neither to contain nor protect them (the people), but rather to provide a
welcoming space for all that they are and hope to become.

This people-created-boundary is not set in concrete, for almost as quickly
as it is established it dissolves into multiple new open spaces with their
attendant boundaries. And so it goes through an endless process of creation
and dissolution, stasis and disequilibrium. In the moment (perhaps a
nanosecond) it all seems quite fixed, but in fact there is a continuous
flow. It is the flow of organism, or life. Were that flow to cease, life
would cease; the open space vanishes with a poof! 

So much for the poetry and abstractions! This understanding of bounded open
space has some very practical implications and applications, I think. For
example, the notion that the space/boundaries are created by all those who
cared to come casts the role of "The Organizing Body" (be that the Corporate
Executive Committee or a single person) in a rather different light. It is
not about exclusion, but rather inclusion - of all those who might care to
come. Obviously there may be some practical limitations (the room is too
cramped, the budget too small), but each of these represents a compromise to
the potential power of the open space. And to be sure, life is always a
series of compromises which just have to be "lived with." But that does not
make them any less compromising.

However, when the organizing body seeks to exercise its role in an exclusive
fashion - all under the heading of insuring that the "right people" show up,
it always seems to me that "compromising" turns into its completed state -
Compromised! As Michael H. points out such situations do exist, as when it
is determined that the Open Space is "only" available for Senior Management.
As if Senior Management was the only folks who cared?!?!?

And what about the strangers? Particularly those strangers who are deemed to
be socially unacceptable? Pat Black tells of the "Provocateur" who showed up
at the Arts Open Space. Doubtless, he or she was not on the guest list. And
I am sure that his/her performance made many of the participants distinctly
uncomfortable, all the while offering Bill Cleveland (the facilitator) an
anxious moment or two. But I would be willing to be any amount that the open
space became full, exciting, and rich - filled with deep learning moments of
surprising sorts. And none of that could have occurred with the obnoxious
stranger. 

So anyhow, Open Space has boundaries for sure. But we may want to explore
their nature, origin, and purpose. It could be they are not what they seem.
Be prepared to be surprised!

Harrison
NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!
hhowen at verizon.net
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>

Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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