Facilitator must be part of the conversations

[Elwin and Joan]

Doug,

In response to your question:
"Could we have a conversation about why it would be good to
participate,please?"

The answer from me is "NO"!

In 15 years, I have never entered into a session discussion. The
reasons you gave are my reasons too.

Keep it simple and true--just hold space!!

Elwin

Future Development International
Baltimore


--- Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Doug – as with most things, there are few absolutes. My exception
> to that
> might be my nap :-) I am with Chris. When I am with groups I know
> and where
> the subject is something I am interested in (either as learner,
> contributor,
> or both) I will certainly participate, always allowing time for my
> nap :-)
> :-)
> 
>  
> 
> For some reason, most of the Open Space gathering I have
> facilitated in the
> last several years have involved groups of people, usually large
> ones, who
> speak a language(s) I don’t understand and whose issue is not mine
> –
> although I may be deeply concerned. Add in massive complexity and
> no small
> amount of conflict – and my judgment has been that the most useful
> thing I
> can do for the gathering is to hold the space. And truthfully, when
> complexity, conflict and group size begin to go off the charts,
> holding
> space is about all I can do. 
> 
>  
> 
> Harrison
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Chris
> Corrigan
> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 2:30 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Facilitator must be part of the conversations
> 
>  
> 
> Hi Doug...
> 
> There are levels of hosting and facilitating in these processes. 
> In
> Conversation Cafes, World Cafes and Open Space meetings there are
> facilitators who are responsible for the overall space and there
> are hosts
> within the space that take responsibility for the conversations. 
> In OST we
> call thes folks conveners (or we use other names) and in the Cafes
> they call
> them table hosts. 
> 
> I think in general its a good idea to have the overall event
> facilitator
> "hold space" and to have the hosts within the gathering take as
> much
> responsibility as possible for the outcomes.  The advantages of
> doing it
> this way are clearly that passion bounded by responsibility gets
> things
> done.  
> 
> I am not entrenched on the question of whether the OST facilitator
> can or
> cannot participate in the event.  There are many factors that come
> into
> play.  In events I have done within my community, where the
> community has
> had some previous exposure to OST, I am perfectly comfortable
> opening space
> and then participating.  It seems that the groups is able to hold
> space for
> all just fine.  In other places, where a client is doing something
> completely strange (apprenticeships, post-secondary education
> policy,
> sustainability planning for an unfamiliar community) then I just
> sit on the
> edges, taking care of the space, helping with the proceedings,
> answering
> questions and talking about the process with the curious. 
> 
> And still other times, when there are a team of facilitators to
> help hold
> space, I feel more free to participate, especially if the work is
> with
> people close to me.
> 
> I think the question is, what are the benefits of having space
> holders at
> all levels? 
> 
> Chris
> 
> On 7/30/07, douglas germann <76066.515 at compuserve.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi--
> 
> Peggy Holman's Change Handbook has a description of Conversation
> Cafés,
> which raises the question: why would it be good for the facilitator
> to
> take part in the conversation? What would be the advantages of
> taking 
> part?
> 
> After all, it appears that the host in Conversation Cafés does take
> part, in circle process does take part, and in The World Café may
> take
> part in the conversations.
> 
> The risks it seems to me: the facilitator is seen as the one with
> the 
> answers, simply because of standing at the front/center of the
> room; the
> temptation, even subconsciously, to push your own agenda because of
> that
> standing position.
> 
> But the advantages might outweigh: one more voice heard; a more 
> inclusive whole to the group.
> 
> We seem to avoid taking part in the conversations: Harrison takes a
> nap;
> Michael only does it in a middle time slot.
> 
> Could we have a conversation about why it would be good to
> participate, 
> please?
> 
>                         :- Doug.
> 
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> 
> -- 
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> Facilitation - Training
> Open Space Technology
> 
> Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
> Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> 
> Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
> http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com * *
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