The challenge of "luminaries"
Kaliya Hamlin
kaliya at mac.com
Tue Aug 21 07:12:39 PDT 2007
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
>
>
>
> 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
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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