Opening Space and Participating at the same time?

[Peggy Holman]

Hi Johannes,

Harrison said it well: it is possible but difficult.  The more experience I've gotten, the more willing I am to participate under certain conditions.  

When I have been asked in by a sponsor to open a space, I don't participate in the content.

When I am part of the organizing and it is a subject of interest, I will sometimes sit in on sessions of interest.  I almost never post a session myself.  If I do post a session, it is because I'm working with partners, so there is more than one of us consciously holding the space.

As Harrison said, tending to the space is job one.

Best of success to you.

>From sunny Seattle,
Peggy


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Peggy Holman
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On Mar 17, 2010, at 3:55 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:

> Johannes said: "I take it the first-best solution would be to have someone
> else open
> and hold space. Assuming that's infeasible: what are your experiences
> with opening space and participating at the same time?"
> 
> Always possible but difficult. If you understand that your FIRST job is
> holding space and participation is second it can work. But the real issue is
> how the other participants will see you. If this is a contentious issue and
> you are perceived to be one of the contending parties your role as a
> "neutral" force will be really hard. Good luck!
> 
> Harrison
> 
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
> Phone 301-365-2093
> www.openspaceworld.com
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Johannes
> Terwitte
> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:54 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Opening Space and Participating at the same time?
> 
> Dear community,
> 
> Over the past few months I have introduced OST in two NGOs I'm
> involved in. In those few Open Spaces I tried to open and hold space -
> and resist the temptation to jump right in and participate.
> 
> Now there are three 1-day Open Spaces coming up in the near future,
> two with around 20 participants and one with around 10. In all cases
> the topic will be very dear to my heart, and in some the nature of the
> topic will require me to be involved as a participant. My intuition is
> that opening space and participating would not be much of a problem -
> it is *holding* space and participating which don't go together so
> well. Who would collect the empty coffee cups while I'm involved in a
> discussion? Maybe someone would... then how much holding space is
> necessary?
> 
> I take it the first-best solution would be to have someone else open
> and hold space. Assuming that's infeasible: what are your experiences
> with opening space and participating at the same time?
> 
> Appreciatively,
> 
> Johannes
> 
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