Going underground as facilitator

Wed May 21 08:31:26 PDT 2008

I echo the voices saying that this is not only possible, it can be a
good thing for the organization.  I've tried this alone and also with
a partner.  I felt much better with  a partner.  With four of you, I
would think you could all 4 be involved in breakouts without any
trouble losing the space-holding that you're all doing.  Can't wait to
hear how it goes!
peace,
ted

On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Michael Herman
<michael at michaelherman.com> wrote:
> i'm encouraged by and encouraging of this, mark.  thanks for sharing the
> question.
>
> this, to me, is the next step of the "facilitator" learning to disappear.
> it seems to me that we'll ultimately have more and more open space
> if/when/as people/leaders learn to do this from within, not abandoning their
> position as leader, but refining a pulsation between directing or actively
> guiding, on the one hand, and inviting and hosting on the other.
>
> i think your sense of several being able to share the role, or support each
> other in it, is helpful as well.  but i would encourage a faster pulsation
> than daily.  consider a second law:  the law of two roles.  or maybe the law
> of two minds.  one mind inviting, hosting, holding and the other mind still
> nominally in charge, at the top, as director.  somatically, this can be
> understood as pelvis (literally holding a space for everything stacked on
> top) and brain (seeing, visioning, choosing and directing).  the whole thing
> mediated by heart in the middle.  so you can find your way between the two
> roles you've identified by following heart, same as navigating learning and
> contributing as participant using law of two feet.  so the practice is to
> refine your pulsation between the two, until they look and feel like the
> same "being".
>
> two cautions, or mileposts really, on the way...
>
> first, while you're pulsing back and forth, i find it's easy to get lost.
> yes, sometimes that means getting caught up in conversation, letting
> attention focus locally and forgetting about the larger space, maybe
> forgetting to ring the bells for evening news, for instance.  it's helpful
> to have partners to remind you, or to ring them for you.  in the same way,
> it is also possible to accidentally not be fully present in a breakout
> session, to be not fully local, and in that state, be offering views of the
> world that nobody else sees or can understand, cuz they don't have this
> larger view of space.  the caution isn't about not sharing, but about
> recognizing that it's possible to do, possible to try to be in a breakout
> session but bringing experiences that are totally foreign to those who are
> apparently your colleagues and partners in the group.  this not an
> unfamiliar situation for leaders who regularly have more information, a
> wider view, that those in the "trenches" in an organizaiton.
>
> the second caution or noting here is less obvious, or peculiar to straddling
> the facilitation/participation divide in open space.  i don't think fr.
> brian will mind if i tell a story about osonos in oz to illustrate.  he was
> facilitator and host, but also a member of the community.  he ran a great
> event, facilitated the whole thing "by the book".  there was somebody there,
> however, who had not had firsthand experience with our approach.  she also
> knew that brian was a priest.  when she had a difficult time with how things
> were going in open space, and discomforts do naturally arise for
> participants at various and random moments, her experience with "priest"
> allowed her to dump responsibility for difficulties on "how the facilitator
> is", what he's doing, how he's run things, etc.  all of that story she was
> making was nonesense and after a long talk, she understood that her
> difficulty came from what he wasn't and didn't do.  it was the openess of
> the space, the press of responsibility and reality that was making her
> squirm.  so it was the combination of *her* newness in open space and her
> (in this case rather thin) connection to brian that allowed her to make up a
> story that was getting in her way.  so if you have colleagues new to this
> experience and you are still known as some sort of 'leader' or just some
> sort of guy to these folks, they might be confused by what is open space,
> what is you, what is you as leader and what you as facilitator, and so on.
> in the end, this is just a noticing that such confusion is possible.  there
> is nothing to "do" about it, other than know it's there and possible.  if
> you notice it along the way in your meeting, and maybe it'll be there or
> maybe it won't, then all the clarity you will bring to the process from the
> very beginning, is all you will or can or should bring to that moment.  just
> be as clean in both roles as you can, and as clear about what is you and
> what is reality of org/world, and it's all still open space, or not.
>
> good luck!  i hope you'll find this is a great and fun practice, and come
> back and tell some of the internal story of how it goes for you...
>
> m
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 8:07 AM, Jack Martin Leith
> <jack at jackmartinleith.com> wrote:
>>
>> Harrison, those are some of the wisest words I've ever read. Thank you!
>>
>> Jack
>>
>> 2008/5/21 Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>:
>>>
>>> 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 www.openspaceworld.com
>>>
>>> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>>>
>>> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>>>
>>> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
>>> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----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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>>
>>
>> --
>> Jack Martin Leith
>> Bristol, United Kingdom
>> Mobile: 07831 840541 (+44 7831 840541)
>> Skype: jackmartinleith
>> email: jack at jackmartinleith.com
>> www.jackmartinleith.com * *
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>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
>
> 312-280-7838 (mobile) * *
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-- 
http://AboutUs.org/TedErnst
+1 312 371 6625

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>From  Wed May 21 15:58:57 2008
Message-Id: <WED.21.MAY.2008.155857.0400.>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 15:58:57 -0400
Reply-To: 76066.515 at compuserve.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: douglas germann <76066.515 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Head on a Stick
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
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Hi friends--

                            Head on a Stick

The International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers held their annual
convention near Detroit, Michigan, for 3 days in mid-May, 2008. Gathered
were about 2 dozen lawyers with interests in collaborative law, a coach
approach to law practice, healthy practices, and so forth.

The convention started with a six directions circle ceremony and then a
viewing of the film, â€œOne,â€ on Thursday evening. Friday through Saturday
morning were a half-dozen presentations to the circle of lawyers.
Saturday afternoon was given over to Open Space.

The time allotted was from 1:00 to 5:30 pm. Two break out sessions of 90
minutes were invited. In the first half hour, 12 topics were posted by
the 18 or so people who were in attendance. Three of these sessions were
combined to one. The topics were: 

     1. Holistic Lawyers doing their own inner work.

     2. Balance teaching.

     3. What's nextâ€”back rubs.

     4. I secretly wanted to be L-- and K-- in law school. How do they
        and others get to joy?

     5. Planning 2009 conference.

     6. Teaching other lawyers how to do what we do.

     7. Evolution of consciousness new physics and the coming legal
        profession.

     8. Languaging the movement.

     9. Grounding technique.

    10. Who sees clients' auras?

    11. How to market holistic law so the customer buys!

    12. Getting paid for doing good.

About 30 minutes into the second session time, one of the organizers
observed to me that the conversations seemed to be falling apart, that
several people had left, and asked me what should we do? Indeed, her
observation seemed accurateâ€”people were milling about, speaking in
groups of twos and threes, some were working on their computers, a
couple were sleeping on large pillows in the middle of the floor. What
seemed to generate this state of affairs was that near the end of the
first session time, many of the hosts for the second time slot gathered
around another conversation not yet complete and were ardently engaged
in that conversation for another 20 minutes or more. I suggested we just
trust the people to work it out for themselves.

At the appointed time for the closing circle, 16 people showed up! One
said that he had gone to his room for a nap and felt quite refreshed.

The comments in the closing circle on â€œWhat has this afternoon meant to
you?â€ were rich and deep, more than many open spaces I have observed.
There were tears and laughter, a sense of coming together. The listening
stick was from a presenter the day before, an object she called â€œa head
on a stick.â€ This captured the sense of the group that they wanted to
move beyond being a head on a stick to full human beings. Their
conversations seemed to have done that work.

Photos of the event are here: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8850949@N06/sets/72157605178783304/ 

Of course, this is now my classic getting down to work in OS picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8850949@N06/2512207700/in/set-72157605178783304/ 

:- Doug.

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