Going underground as facilitator

Wed May 21 05:38:56 PDT 2008

Marc – I have done what you are proposing (actively participate in a
gathering I facilitate) on multiple occasions and have never encountered any
problems, and I rather think you will have a similar experience. I would
never suggest that you try such a thing if it were your first experience
facilitating an Open Space, but that is obviously not the case. 

The art of Holding Space is of course critical and because it is so
different from what most people have come to understand “facilitation” to
mean – it is just too easy for the first time facilitator to get sucked into
the action and forget to mind the store. But with experience, at least in my
experience, you can keep that old intuitive sense alive and functioning even
when actively engaged in a conversation of passionate concern to you. As I
think about it, this is probably where we all hope to end up anyhow. At some
level every conversation is an Open Space, and the more open the space, the
better the conversation. And a really great conversation has a powerful
(passionate) focus while still being open to everything else that is going
on in the environment.

Approaching the same thoughts from a slightly different point of view, I
find that when a group really begins to groove/cook/work – space holding is
a community activity. In fact, enabling a group to reach a point where it
will effectively “hold its own space,” might well be the Holy Grail of OST.

So anyhow, I would think that rather than a problem, you have a real
opportunity to enhance your own capacity as facilitator by moving into that
marvelously “zeny” place where you are simultaneously attached and
non-attached – passionately concerned about an issue and always free to move
beyond. And if you want to share this opportunity with your colleagues
(different people opening space every day) that would work for me, or at
least it always has.

Have fun!

Harrison

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com

Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Marc
Steinlin (I-P-K)
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 1:18 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Going underground as facilitator

Dear OS list members,

I have been following this list for almost two years now and have enjoyed
many of your conversations, learnings, ideas and inspirational thoughts!
Many thanks for all that valuable insight and encouragement!

I myself over the last 2 years have organised/ facilitated approx. 20 OS all
over the world (from Switzerland to South Africa, from Indonesia to
Ethiopia), some as large as 70 participants (unfortunately I never had the
opportunity for a larger group - would love to try that!), some as small as
5 persons - and I (as well as the participants!) enjoy it greatly each time!

We, the KM4Dev (a global community of practice on Knowledge Management for
Development; http://www.km4dev.org) have decided to run this year's annual
meeting over 2.5 days entirely as an OS. We are about four persons who have
already facilitated OS and are preparing the facilitation of the event.

However, all of the four of us are also greatly interested in the topics
which will be discussed, it's certain that we also want to propose topics
for groups to work on. Therefore my question:

Is it possible, that a facilitator opens the Open Space, but once the market
place starts, she/ he will transform into a regular participant and mingle
with the rest? I always attached great importance to "holding space" - I
have never been doing anything actively, I have done my best to get out of
the way, however I have been there, almost invisible, but still...

Do you have any experience or advice on whether the facilitator can give up
her/ his role and become a normal participant until to the closing circle?

Alternatively, do you have any thoughts about rotating faciliators: person A
doing it on the first day, B on the second day, so that we all have the
opportunity to participate in the discussions with our own topics? I guess
none of us would want to limit her/ himself for the full duration to just
holding space...

Your experience is much appreciated!

-marc

IngeniousPeoplesKnowledge

Marc Steinlin

marc.steinlin at i-p-k.ch

Skype: marcsteinlin

PO Box 27494

Rhine Road

Sea Point

8050 Cape Town

Republic of South Africa

Mobile: +27 (76) 222 81 12

Zweierstrasse 50

CH-8004 Zürich

Switzerland

Mobile: +41 (78) 850 42 32

http://www.i-p-k.ch

P Help save paper - do you really need to print this email ?

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ Margaret Mead

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