SV: Holding space in the small group

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Mon Mar 5 14:26:35 PST 2007


Sheila wrote: "I know this doesn't address your question specifically but
perhaps it provides some food for thought." Actually Sheila, I think you hit
the nail right on the head! The group ( and the individuals) learns, and as
it learns, it empowers itself. A group enjoying it own power is definitely
exciting. Great job sitting in the corner! 

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Sheila
Beauchemin
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 3:58 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: SV: Holding space in the small group

I recently held an open space in which some of the issues you mention came 
up - dominant individual, different facilitation styles/abilities of 
convenors etc.  I am new to facilitating in open space but I resisted the 
urge to jump in and "correct" what traditionally would have been viewed as 
poor group dynamics.  I remained in my corner seat, quietly avaiable as I 
had mentioned I would be.  Gradually, over the course of the morning, 
something interesting happened.  Every now and then, someone would stop by 
and sit down at my little cafe table.  One person said, "You didn't give 
any guidance on how to facilitate in the small groups and it is 
frustrating.  The convenor doesn't seem in charge and is not writing on 
the flip charts."  My response was to ask, how could you have contributed 
to the group to resolve what she saw as an issue?  Could you have offered 
to capture some of the ideas on a chart?  Being a convenor does not 
necessarily also mean responsibility for 100% of the facilitation of the 
group.  Faced with this notion, the individual seemed to look at the day 
very differently.  I had a couple of other questions of this nature 
throughout the morning but by the afternoon, those floating to my table 
were more interested in sharing their excitement and fascination with 
their experience then with any perceived facilitaion problems.

I know this doesn't address your question specifically but perhaps it 
provides some food for thought.

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