FW: The challenge of "luminaries"

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Tue Aug 21 04:10:57 PDT 2007


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. :-)

 

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.
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!

 

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

 

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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