speaking from the center
Michael M Pannwitz
mmpanne at boscop.org
Fri Nov 19 12:54:06 PST 2010
Our colleague Colin Morley who died at in the bombing on July 7th of
2005 would have loved to be part of that grand story!
mmp
See also
> http://www.openspaceworldmap.org/moreinfo/businesscard.php?p_id=165&country_name=United%20Kingdom&c_id=187#
ANNE BENNETT wrote:
> Here is a story from today, 'speaking from the circle', this time the
> /Circle line/ of the London Underground. The amazing Jon Harvey, friends
> Winston Moore and Anthony Albert Moore Bastos and myself undertook a
> small experiment - we 'opened space' on a sunny subterranean Friday
> afternoon between station stops with travellers hopping on and off with
> fellow strangers - what kind of space, we are now asking [/why/ is
> certainly another question - see www.scarletwindmill.blogspot.com
> <http://www.scarletwindmill.blogspot.com>] ? Well we each felt the
> sanctity of the internal space - the independent and private and
> protected individual passenger...the very British reserve in two of our
> team, and the very Bolivian warmth of the other two. We encountered the
> solo, the coupled, the groups, different personalities, different moods,
> different reactions - a (surprising? assumptions becoming conscious)
> large proportion wanted to connect, to engage, to support the idea of
> direct human communication (in unexpected context, contrasting the
> exclusion that comes with those engrossing phones and web-based
> garrulousness) - so many non-Brits so adamant that London is a friendly
> and chatty place, the word 'sorry' comes before the offensive gesture,
> the ear-phones were readily removed, the wary smiles wanting to be
> reassured - and of course we were at our least intimidating/weird
> [entirely subjective I guess] - and plenty of others did not get
> disturbed through unconscious/unobservable collusion. Jon feared that
> standing over the seated passenger would be wrong, I felt that this made
> me seem less committed/imposing than sitting besides....our young
> colleague was boldest in inviting strangers to converse with each other
> (bypassing our estimable facilitation). A sense of community/social
> capital circulating on the circle today? [in the midst of news stories
> here about 'who is having a good/bad time of it really?', and what
> measures happiness, and how people were Good Samaritans or Apathetic
> Bystanders during our tube terror attacks in 2005, etc etc] - an
> existential moment is opened - a psychic and social space.
>
> On the subject of 'owning' a theme, and of 'engaging too intimately'
> with the people doing the work...here we were more authentic
> (conscious/sentient/reflective practitioners?) I think - a pure
> disengagement/affected indifference is as great a risk to the quality of
> interaction and outcomes as the unthinking misuse of the hosting power?
> We were drawn into our agendas, we looked for appreciative inquiry, we
> drew on our practice and experience with (among other things) group
> relations, systems thinking and Zeldin's big conversations...would love
> to hear more from people drawing on meta-methodologies to weave these
> new human fabrics....
>
> *Anne *
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Sent:* Friday, 19 November, 2010 12:06:57
> *Subject:* Re: speaking from the center
>
> Dear Michael (first) and all the other amazing people who have spoken
> here also,
>
> Meshing the physical, the words, the feel, the intention: how well you
> have described this Michael starting with the beautiful example of the
> wheel chair. In that moment, I somehow felt what it must feel like to be
> sitting in a wheel chair and how often, they must feel people tower over
> them. Not wanting to tower over people by being too close can also
> happen as my eyes meet those of the participants so I apply this same
> intention leaving private space for people to breathe into what they are
> feeling, nervous, uncomfortable, etc. That's why as I let my eyes meet
> those of the participants walking the circle for the first times, with
> some people it may only be a split second, with others a tiny bit
> longer. I want to honor and respect their physical space and internal
> space.
>
> I also just love the transition you describe from the focus on you to
> the group beginning to focus on itself while walking the circle.
> Harrison mentions how he invites the group to let their eyes go around
> the circle; your description brings awareness to this transition.
>
> And then finally, the pre-work you speak of in weeks and months) which I
> have also experienced, feeling at times it is a journey of mutual
> courage to accompany a client and a team as they wrestle with the
> difficult moments of inviting people to something that they cannot fully
> describe as most often they have not experienced open space themselves.
> I am always humbled by their trust and the deep relationship that develops.
>
> But oh my....what I have understood so "/painfully" /just now is what I
> have done wrong too many times, "caring too much" for the theme,
> sometimes almost more than the sponsor or host. When the theme touches
> my sense of values and principles, I become so energized...too energized
> during the pre-work and I know now (painfully but with such appreciation
> to you Michael for bringing it to a very deep awareness for me) that in
> doing so I was consuming space that belongs to the host and the group.
> Learning this and practicing this will be my next very big challenge. I
> also realize now that by engaging too much on the theme with the host,
> it can make the post-work all the more difficult. I think that perhaps
> my relationship with the host/team may be too close.
>
> Now to lighten the topic a bit, I agree Harold that it's so wonderful
> walking the circle when we know some or many of the participants. I've
> often thought of opening space is the same way that I like to welcome
> people to my home. Typically in the most comfortable way possible (not
> too stuffy or fancy or to impress) I prepare everything ahead (food,
> space, dishes, fridge full, welcoming, tidied up and clean with time
> before they arrive for me to relax and imagine them there). Then my
> mission is to have my home become their home, no hosting or
> working/serving just showing them where stuff is and then letting
> everyone be equal to just relax and have a great time.
>
> Hugs to all, smiling now as I think of all this wonderful insight for
> Eleder, who in the end need only remember to just be himself and enjoy.
>
> Suzanne
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Michael M Pannwitz <mmpanne at boscop.org
> <mailto:mmpanne at boscop.org>> wrote:
>
> A few years ago I badly strained my foot and could move about only
> in a wheel chair... which I also did facilitating an open space with
> 200 highschool students on the issue of racism ("Me, a racist?" was
> the theme). I did feel very relaxed being "de-elevated" and at the
> same level with the students as I "walked" the circle.
> Reflecting on that experience I now always take care to have a
> circle of at least 10 meters in diameter so that I am not too close
> to the seated participants, too towering as I walk (my habit is to
> walk it once or a bit more than once, sometimes two times...
> changing my mode of movement after that "focusing the group" part
> which I do with the idea that the group begins to focus on itself...
> and eventually using the entire space as a dancer would on a stage
> with the idea that it is a space that can be used in all ways possible).
>
> On prework: I do work intensively with the sponsor and the planning
> group on all aspects of the event sometimes months before the OS
> event itself with the result that I get to know them, they get to
> know me and, of course, I also get to know about their theme and
> what it is they want to achieve.
> All that I now consider a side-effect.
> What I am really interested in is that they craft their event and
> that they are clear on their theme and on what they want to achieve.
> I, however, focus on the myriad of things that I know support their
> work: the space, the time, the material, the food, the documentation
> technicalities, the public address system, the team, the briefing of
> the sponsor, facilitating the planning meeting and the Next
> Meeting(s) after the event... and, of course, getting myself into
> the mysterious mode of "presence and invisibility".
> Essentially, my relationship with the theme will not substitute
> their passion for it. I respect it, yes. And my relationship with
> the people which inadvertendly developes is much less essential than
> the spirit that developes in the Planning Group, for instance. I
> love them, yes.
> My experience is that me getting into the theme (more than even the
> participants) or my relationship with the Planning Group becoming
> intensive (more than the relationship between the members of the
> Planning Group) can deflect the focus in a way that both my presence
> and invisibility necessary for my focus on space and time for the
> forces of selforganisation are deminished.
> Greetings from Berlin
> mmp
>
>
> Harold Shinsato wrote:
>
> Great sharings from all around...
>
> This might also help... something I read in a book about llama
> care. Llamas don't like to be touched normally, but if you do it
> often enough they become desensitized and won't mind being
> touched and handled. The same is true for a lot of things humans
> don't feel comfortable about - at first. It's one of the reasons
> Lisa's training was so valuable for me - getting experience
> walking and talking in the circle "desensitizes" to the
> discomfort so one can spend more time tuning into the energy of
> the room and being what they need from me as a facilitator.
> That's also a lot easier when I already feel I have a
> relationship with the theme and the people because of strong
> pre-work (another thing Lisa emphasizes).
>
> It has also helped knowing a lot of the people in the room -
> getting a chance to talk make eye contact even before getting
> into the circle, and having some friendly faces to help remember
> it's all good.
>
> And the trick that Harrison mentioned is also something that
> Dale Carnegie put in his "How to Win Friends and Influence
> People" classic. If you feel nervous, just admit it and move on.
> The transparency puts people at ease and you stop having to
> fight wondering whether anyone is noticing that you are nervous.
>
> Harold
>
>
>
> On 11/18/10 9:42 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:
>
> Hello, dear Eleder - once again you ask great questions.
>
> Everyone has shared so wonderfully.
> The only things I would add are:
>
> In my Open Space Learning Workshop one of the things folks
> do is practice walking and talking in that circle.
> And yes - others have mentioned as you have their concern
> with having their backs to someone as they speak.
>
> What they have found is similar to what was mentioned here -
> if you look a few people ahead and keep moving (slowly,
> breathing, present) you are indeed never having your back to
> anyone for very long. If you turn your head as you move you
> are including people behind you as you travel, as well. If
> your voice is loud enough or you have a microphone everyone
> can hear you even if you are not facing everyone.
>
> Of course this is all different if some people in your
> circle have any hearing differences such as deafness or
> other hearing loss - so it is always good to ask on
> registration forms who has any access / ability / mobility
> issues they would like to bring to event coordinators'
> attention. Then you have this extra info if you need it for
> some individuals, and can give them extra eye contact or
> some notes as well.
>
> *
> /
> It is true that having too small a circle and towering over
> people is hard for them - so do make a nice big circle with
> room in between each chair. And if it is too small on the
> inside I see no problem with walking the outside of the
> circle (though when I have done this some of my OS
> colleagues have *gasped* !. But it is so I do not close
> everyone in too tightly, in those instances.
>
> I have also learned from my workshop participants that if
> you have any nervousness about looking people in the eye,
> try instead....looking at the tops of their heads (!).
> It often feels like you are looking at them - try it.
>
> But I think you will become more and more comfortable as you
> practice, sort how you like to say things, and experience
> yourself doing it more and more.
>
> Sometimes if it is a tense event to come - I may set up the
> circle and then walk, it, before any participants arrive.
> And I envision the participants and their listening faces,
> and I smile and welcome them before they get there.
>
> Mostly - Suzanne said it so well: it is of course not about
> you. It is about them. So if you focus on them and on making
> your voice and the instructions something they can hear and
> that invites them, then once you begin you are in
> partnership with them - and they can feel it...
>
> And the other 'mostly' is: remember you are in your walking,
> your breathing, your explaining - creating a container that
> is open and welcoming and has tools and a process - so that
> they can do their best work.
> You are with your walk, your voice, your instructions, your
> breathing... weaving that open and inviting container. And
> in your walking you are invoking (calling in) energy.
> And you know how to do that, dear Eleder - just....
> breathe.... and ... go.... and be amazed, as I know you are....
>
> Lisa
>
> Lisa Heft
> /
> *
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
> *Opening Space*
> lisaheft at openingspace.net <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net>
> <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net
> <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net>>
>
>
>
> --
> Harold Shinsato
> harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com>
> <mailto:harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com>>
> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
>
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> --
> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
>
> ++49-30-772 8000
> mmpanne at boscop.org <mailto:mmpanne at boscop.org>
> www.boscop.org <http://www.boscop.org>
>
>
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>
> --
> Suzanne Daigle
> NuFocus Strategic Group
> 7159 Victoria Circle
> University Park, FL 34201
> FL 941-359-8877;
> CT 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>
> s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com <mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com>
> twitter @suzannedaigle
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--
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org
www.boscop.org
Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 412 resident Open
Space Workers in 71 countries working in a total of 141 countries worldwide
Have a look:
www.openspaceworldmap.org
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