Begining in OS

[Shikha Shrestha]

Dear all,

Open Space is something that gives live to the sessions, it gives
opportunity for participants to talk into the issue that they feel people
should be talking to. I cannot believe it has been around 6 years, I was
introduced to Open Space, whenever I facilitate it, I still feel that there
are always more to learn.

We should focus more on preparation to make the open space the candid space.
It starts with the conceptualizing the space, invitations, agenda wall and
group spaces where people can feel relaxed and non threatened. The another
challenge in my part is making people move from one group to other
especially high profile people and politicians who are very much eager to
give speeches from high base podium, it is hard for them to share the equal
spaces with participants. In this case, I generally have pre discussions
with these people so that there are few voices against the space.

I think I have also repeated this earlier, in areas where there are multiple
languages then people feel comfortable with the local language. In this
case, we need to pair up with the people who speak their local language and
the person should act as the major facilitator as the language does play
great role.

Sharing your space is competitive world, another challenge for facilitators.
However, I feel that there is no harm if there are more open space
facilitators, we are knowledge spreaders so we should not hide our wing of
knowledge, we should let it go. Wherever I go and facilitate I usually try
to work with group of co facilitators so that they are also equipped to do
my work on their own.

We should be smart enough to have alternative plans depending on the mood of
participants. As the facilitator, we should be a good mood reader and should
be flexible enough to make changes so that people feel comfortable in their
space. There are also incidents where I have to shorten time slots so that
people can discuss on more topics or vice versa.

We should not be boring people with lots of orientation on methodology.
However, the principles of circle while opening the space has been very
helpful in igniting the space. In our community, we generally sit in circle,
like in winter there is a fire in center and people sit in circles. So,
relating the circle with community practice also help in generating
ownership to the circle of space.

I can go on and  on;) hope I have not bored you all,

take care,

Shikha

On 5/7/09, Michael Wood <mjwood at admin.uwa.edu.au> wrote:
>
>  David
>
>
>
> Good question you’ve raised.
>
>
>
> I echo what Lisa has said and add the following:
>
>
>
>    1. Recommend you to F. Capra’s book, “The Hidden Connections – a
>    science for sustainable living” which is a very readable invitation to shift
>    our thinking from competition to collaboration (using the ecological
>    paradigm). I have personally wrestled with this, and some of the competition
>    psych dynamics which Jack refers to. I am now finding that the more I give
>    away (including equipping and empowering other OS facilitators), the more
>    keeps coming in. Capra’s observation is that what is good for the entire
>    ecosystem is also good for the individual components.
>
>
>
>    1. if you can link up (by which I mean face to face) with a few other
>    OS facilitators who share the above philosophy, then that can be very
>    mutually supportive. We have a great emerging network on that front in
>    Western Australia.
>
>
>
>    1. Given it seems you are willing to travel – try to get along to the
>    next World Open Space on Open Space (WOSONO) in Taiwan.
>
>
>
>    1. Attending a training program in OS, particularly with someone who
>    has attended a WOSONOS, can be useful. This can offer more than learning the
>    “technicalities” – it can help deepen one’s own integration of the “spirit”
>    of Open Space (which is related, I think, to what Harrison said about how
>    comfortable we feel about doing less and less!)
>
>
>
>    1. In terms of attending an OS with another experienced facilitator.
>    Two benefits: a) watching/experiencing/picking up the “vibe” of how other
>    people Open Space (for example, one of the best learnings I got from the
>    last WOSONOS was simply watching Lisa open the space) b) as in point 4
>    above, learning what it feels like to do nothing.
>
>
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
>
> Michael Wood
>
> Perth
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] *On Behalf Of *Lisa
> Heft
> *Sent:* Tuesday, 5 May 2009 10:59 PM
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: Begining in OS
>
>
>
> ...and that's how we are all delightfully different.
>
>
>
> Jack, I honor how you feel and see things.
>
> And yet I do see them differently.
>
>
>
> I see abundance instead of competition.
>
>  I see inviting others to help me in events that I facilitate as an
> opportunity for wonderful help, greater service to the client and a
> colleague who is rich with observations and insights.
> Plus the extra added value of helping a colleague grow into the field and
> gain more experience.  And I see it as my 'pay it forward' for having
> received such rich learning and opportunities from my diversely experienced
> colleagues.
>
>  I see their putting these jobs on their resumes (for example, 'Newsroom
> Coordinator' as an essential role assisting an organization in utilizing
> their own documentation for their continued growth and learning) as a real
> job with real responsibility required, whether or not they were paid or pro
> bono consultants on that job.
>
>  I ask all clients if I can bring someone along to assist and ask them if
> they have funding for this. Often they do. If not, I try to find funding
> from my own resources. If I do not have resources it is often seen as an
> unpaid collaboration for the benefit of learning.
>
>  I find that offering learning opportunities for colleagues helps
> strengthen our work and our field.
>
>
>
> I invite some of you on this list to share with us your experiences of
> being invited to help on Open Space events as you were / have been emerging
> into this field and this practice.
>
> I invite others of you to share your experiences of bringing a newly
> emerging facilitator into a job of yours.
>
> Tell us the (mutual) benefits and the learning - even your stories of when
> it has not been a good idea for the client, participants, or for you.
>
>
>
> I think we have a learning opportunity here.
>
> Thanks to David and Jack for tickling these thoughts in my head and opening
> up the learning opportunity.
>
>
>
> I look forward to hearing others' thoughts on this.
>
>
>
> A warm hello from a gray Berkeley California morning,
>
>
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
>
> *Lisa Heft*
>
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
>
> *Opening Space*
>
> lisaheft at openingspace.net
>
> www.openingspace.net
>
>
>
>   Jack Martin Leith wrote:
>
>    - What the client is really paying for is the consulting work and the
>    design and organisation of the event. Facilitating the event is the easy
>    bit that happens at the end. So to get maximum value from working with an
>    experienced practitioner you'd really need to be involved in the entire
>    project.
>
>
>    - How do I explain your presence to the client?
>
>
>    - What would your role be on the day, aside from helping get the space
>    ready? Once the agenda is created and the sessions are up and running,
>    there's very little for the facilitator to do.
>
>
>    - I'll probably get shot down in flames for saying this, but what the
>    hell: Here in the UK, OS consulting is a crowded marketplace. Do
>    I really want to help make it even more crowded?
>
>  I mentioned that last point because I suspect that the "training a new
> competitor" issue is often there, if unconscious, when an OS consultant
> is asked "Can I be an extra pair of hands?" and it's best that you're aware
> of it. Although the Open Space community is very supportive, and I do
> whatever I can to share knowledge and help others, the reality is that we're
> operating in a very competitive environment. I've competed with friends and
> collaborators for OS work on several occasions.
>
>
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