The challenge of "luminaries" - and circles
Deborah Hartmann
deborah at hartmann.net
Tue Aug 21 10:33:27 PDT 2007
Especially for BarCamps, it can be a challenge to find good venues for
many people... what if the facilitator walked around the auditorium,
inviting people to look around and see who's there? Walk a little,
stand and speak, draw people's eyes there.... then walk a little more.
Obviously, this assumes a wireless mic or good acoustics.
This seems (to me) to do a couple of things that are different from the
circle:
- the facilitator literally "draws a circle" around the space (i.e.
clarifying that the space consists of everyone there);
- the facilitator encourages people to let go of the assumption that
there's a "front" to each session, by asking them to "turn around!"
When a circle is very difficult to accomplish (for whatever reason) and
the problem can't be solved creatively, maybe this is an alternative?
deb
Brendan McKeague wrote:
> Hi Kaliya - your approach is really interesting - I had not thought of
> these dimensions before - especially the notions of being 'fanatical
> about the circle' or imposing my beliefs, or about working a community
> into a circle....much food for thought indeed.
>
> In my understanding of Open Space, which my experiences have
> confirmed, the initial journey of the leader is to open and walk that
> circle of connection - which, without doubt has created unease and/or
> anxiety in some or many of the participants....among other aspects,
> this is about evoking chaos and confusion (desirable, if not
> essential, for OS to work as well as it possibly can?) and about
> illustrating or modelling to the gathering that it's ok to walk into
> this circle of uncertainty, this 'unknown space' and engage with the
> issues you and others bring.
>
> I don't walk the circle to 'impose my belief' - rather to take a
> leadership role that invites the group to engagement in this circle of
> 'open space' - and to embody the reality that all space is boundaried
> - the space occurs within the parameters of this meeting of people who
> care about the issue....
> I think that the circle is a fundamental part of Open Space. For me,
> to have a semi-circle would break the connection and focus. The group
> can be tempted to look/focus outside the circle for their
> direction/solutions/expertise, rather than embodying the invitation to
> recognise the wisdom that is in the circle (whether be expressed
> through 'really smart amazing people' or others) ....
>
> The circle is not there for 'its own sake' to prove equality - as I
> see it, it is a configuration for gathering that is deeply archetypal,
> with many layers of meaning and symbolism. It has the capacity to
> touch something within people that I agree may have been lost or
> driven out. In my own Celtic mythology for example, it is a symbol of
> community connection, hospitality and the nature of infinity (no
> beginning, no end).
>
> I guess it may well be culturally way out of bounds for some folks -
> and as facilitators I think it is important for us to recognise this
> aspect - within ourselves and within the group that gathers.
>
> I wouldn't be without it though!
>
> Cheers
> Brendan
>
>
>
> At 10:12 PM 21/08/2007, you wrote:
>
>> On Aug 21, 2007, at 4:10 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>>
>>> Kaliya -- I might take small issue with you regarding the
>>> strangeness of the circle. In my own experience the circle is the
>>> most common and natural configuration (geometry) for human
>>> communication. We all do it most of the time, a fact that shows up
>>> repeatedly in our language and expressions, as in "Circle of
>>> friends", Family Circle, "In the loop (circle)," "The Inner Circle,"
>>> "Coffee Circle," "Knights of the Round Table." How strange it would
>>> be to have a "Semi-circle of friends?" Seems like something is
>>> missing, dropped out, disconnected. Then we have the old Gospel Hymn
>>> -- "Let the Circle be unbroken." But I guess that does make the
>>> circle weird and strange. J
>>
>> Right.
>> so then all these open space people get 'fanatical' about the
>> "circle" and miss out on the fact it can be culturally way out of
>> bounds for some convening. Is the point of open space to help them
>> create a great day together - with an agenda that is their own making
>> OR to impose my belief that the circle is totally 'natural' and
>> 'normal' and then make it difficult for them to access the process
>> because of the form.
>>
>> Let me be clear - I work my communities into a circle for openings
>> over time. There are already many cultural hurdles to doing open
>> space and adding in the circle at the very beginning for its own sake
>> to 'prove' a point of "equality" etc. is not what I choose to do.
>>
>> I get the circle is very natural. It is also something that has been
>> driven out of these cultures bringing it back in takes some time and
>> isn't for me the 'first' thing I do.
>>
>>> I am sure there are people who feel uncomfortable in a circle but I
>>> suspect they are the ones who want to pontificate as opposed to
>>> communicate.
>> Nope they are just not used to it.
>>
>>> Doubtless there is a place for such people and their feelings -- but
>>> probably not Open Space, which they may find terrifying, out of
>>> control, and other terrible things -- not to mention New Age!
>> you don't "need" a circle to do open space. you need really smart
>> amazing people who you support in creating their own agenda the day
>> it happens.
>>
>> I choose to take an attitude of understanding and respect for
>> professional cultures that are not used to the form and adapt to them
>> - not imposing to much change to fast.
>>
>> =Kaliya
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Harrison
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> *From:* OSLIST [ mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] *On Behalf
>>> Of *Kaliya Hamlin
>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:51 AM
>>> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>>> *Subject:* Re: FW: The challenge of "luminaries"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Following the conference, we head from one of them, who was
>>> quite turned off by the whole experience. Here's an excerpt:
>>>
>>> > Instead I was at a New Age, "open circle" conference where
>>>
>>> > the questions were as flat and meaningless as possible so no
>>> one would feel
>>>
>>> > excluded.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have to say honestly - I totally understand this reaction. Some
>>> times 'typical' open space can get into this 'circle grooviness'
>>> that some how demeans people with high professional expectations.
>>> When I first introduced open space to my tech community we sat in a
>>> multi ring semi circle with the agenda wall at the front that we
>>> then filled. When first introducing open space to technical
>>> communities not used to the 'circle culture' I often use theater
>>> style - they are already doing a radically different process then
>>> normal. I don't need to force 'circle" on them too. I always close
>>> the day in the circle though and sure enough in good time (like by
>>> the third conference) they get the process and begin in circle no
>>> problem.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> She cancelled at the last moment because she just didn't see a role
>>>> for herself. She described herself as a high introvert and without
>>>> a role, felt she would not be comfortable there.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Interesting. The 'luminaries' in my community LOVE the Open Space
>>> and the fact it mixes things up. They get to hear from others who
>>> are thinking about innovative things AND they get to talk about
>>> their latest thing - but not because someone on some committee
>>> picked them - because they wanted to.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> So, here's my question: these folks (even the ones with egos) have
>>>> gifts to offer. What experiences have you had in creating
>>>> conditions where luminaries/elders/experts actually see a role for
>>>> themselves and make a productive contribution to an Open Space?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Perhaps the best thing that I have found is to use a wiki to let
>>> them all output what they want to talk about before hand - The
>>> luminaires who are all like 'i want to speak about x' you just put
>>> all that up on the wiki and say they get to put it on the agenda the
>>> day it happens. The "luminaries" in my community are the biggest
>>> fans of the process and are infact active inviters of new people who
>>> would otherwise not come.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> would avoid doing a "round the circle" at the beginning, which I
>>>> personally find less than useful for two reasons. First it delays
>>>> the actual start when people go to work -- and this is the most
>>>> important consideration for me. Secondly, all those names and
>>>> needs/wants/desires badly confuses this old mind.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I almost always do 'audience/attendee' introductions for my events
>>> yes and even when we are sitting in theater style. The thing is a
>>> lot of folks 'know' each other form correspondence on mailing lists
>>> AND reading each others blogs but have NEVER met or seen a photo.
>>> Making the visual connection between person and name along with
>>> identifing the company or organization they are will his helpful. I
>>> can get a room or 150 people to do rapid fire introductions in 10 min.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Agreement on the needs thing - a bit much time wise and energy wise
>>> for a group. Best to do that kind of thing on paper.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> It seems strange to go to an Open Space conference and then
>>>> complain about the format
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> He was expecting what he had understood an 'unconference' to be -
>>> which in one conception of the process that was put forward in the
>>> tech community had a chosen topics and a chosen 'luminary
>>> facilitators' "leading a discussion" in a theater style room with
>>> anywhere from 25-200 people. Needless to say this is not very open
>>> space (and it never claimed to be - geeks are not known for their
>>> face-to-face group process literacy but they were trying their best
>>> to step out of conference norms.) It put the luminary in the
>>> 'center' controlling a room.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I hope this perspective helps.
>>>
>>> =Kaliya
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Kaliya - Identity Woman
>>>
>>> kaliya at mac.com <mailto:kaliya at mac.com>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.unconference.net <http://www.unconference.net/>
>>>
>>> http://www.identitywoman.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> skype:identitywoman
>>>
>>> Y!:earthwaters
>>>
>>> AIM:kaliya at mac.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 510 472-9069 (bay area)
>>>
>>> 415 425 1136 (on the road)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> Kaliya - Identity Woman
>> kaliya at mac.com <mailto:kaliya at mac.com>
>>
>> http://www.unconference.net <http://www.unconference.net/>
>> http://www.identitywoman.net
>>
>> skype:identitywoman
>> Y!:earthwaters
>> AIM:kaliya at mac.com
>>
>> 510 472-9069 (bay area)
>> 415 425 1136 (on the road)
>>
>>
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>> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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--
Deborah Hartmann
Agile Process Coach
deborah.hartmann.net
mobile: 416 996 4337
"Learn the principle,
abide by the principle, and
dissolve the principle."
-- Bruce Lee
*
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