[OSList] OST training? (was: Re: Teach Them to Fish / A Note to My Friends)

Sun Feb 26 15:48:14 PST 2012

An invitation to grow - Arthur you have summed up very well what "training-learning" opportunities are really about in my mind - I will share other ideas on what you mentioned Arthur but before I want to say that I agree with Harrison as well about reading your book or just experiencing OS and then doing it. 

If the concern is that people will perceive that training is required, I agree that it should not be the case. I don't know anyone who offers certification for OS or implies that people must take some training to do OS. If there are some, as you say, what can we do about it other than have this conversation. Invitations I saw are about exploring and going deeper. I personaly encourage people at every OS event I facilitate, to just do OS (no talk of training) - I'll say more in a minute on how but before, a word on why to even consider inviting people to "training-learning" of OS. 

OS is not there, now, or in the foreseeable future for many. They just don't have the chance to experience it. For those people who prefer doing or talking with others as a learning style or who already have a passion for OS from what they read and now want to live it, why not offer the opportunity?  And for those who want to go deeper, why can't they have the chance for face to face collective reflection? We know OS itself is so much richer, face to face. One (reading or living) does not exclude the other (learning with others). It just contributes to make OS known and used by more people. It's about keeping the space open for learning and letting go of people who may not offer learning as we would like it.

Suzanne, I connect with your feeling of "coming home" when you experienced OS. That is exactly how I felt when I did my training on OST that Harrison lead. I do see at learning events, that many people have a transformative experience of one type or another. It's all a gift and our community keeps on giving it, in a variety of ways.

Just DO IT - How I encourage participants at any OS event to "just do it": every participant has a one-pager of the principles with a very short line of what they mean as described in the opening, and they have the report form with a few lines about the news room. Before the closing, I say: "You have experienced Open Space, you have the basic tools, you see how important it is to have a theme of real interest, you know about the invitation and the question. Just do it. If you want to know more, there is a good book called OST Users'Guide. " Many do tell me immediately that they will do it with their classroom or their team etc. 

Arthur, CULTIVATING together is a wonderful image! I'm with you. When I invite people to an OS learning event, they first experience OS after having read the book in advance, they reflect together, then go deeper with an OSonOS on their questions some of which are often about how to prepare and how to work with sponsors to increase chances of a more sustained impact. Exploration, story telling and looking at how OS can be an ongoing way of being in organizations and in our lives are all part of the co-learning, Wave Rider included. Participants are also invited - those who wish to on the 3rd day -  to jump right in and do an opening of OS in a small group (like putting on the training wheels on the bicycle right away to break the ice). It's amazing how afterwards, they talk in a different way of the essence of Open Space. 

Their words about the essence of OS are treasures for life.

Diane 

>________________________________
> From: Artur Silva <arturfsilva at yahoo.com>
>To: Diane Gibeault <diane.gibeault at rogers.com>; World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>; World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 8:42:49 AM
>Subject: OST training? (was: Re: [OSList] Teach Them to Fish / A Note to My Friends)
> 
>
>I completely  agree with you, Diane,
and especially when you say "That is why, I now
start the training workshops with no personal introductions or “expectations or
hopes" exercises - otherwise many leave believing that intros etc. are
part of OS, and that, despite the numerous explanations and reminders we used
to give as trainers. People remember what they do, not what you say. A change
of mental model is easier when people can first experience OS in its real form,
without any distractions.”
>
>
>
>Indeed, I have been struggling for some time now about giving or not a
course on OST at the Portuguese Open Space Institute. And I have concluded
(again) that I will not give a formal course, because I don't believe in
"teaching/training OST". And I also believe that there is no need for
it. 
> 
>Just do the real thing about a matter of concern for the participants,
having proposed them to read the User's Guide before. Then give time for the
participants to open some space wherever they can. Do an OSonOS to reflect on
those experiences and regularly other ones. When the time comes, and when they
see the need for it, some subjects can be object of OSonOS's on specific
matters, like the "pre-work", to give only one example. 
> 
>This is not really training - it is an invitation for learning or nurturing
learning by collectively reflecting in the practice by the community
interested. Learning and perfecting OST is like learning how to ride a bicycle.
If one follows a lot of "class training on bicycles" but never tries
to mount one, one will never learn. Later, one will need to practice and
collectively reflect on one's and others' practices.
>
>
>
>Comments?
>
>
>Artur
>
>
>-------------
>
>
>- 
>
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Diane Gibeault <diane.gibeault at rogers.com>
>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 12:26 AM
>Subject: Re: [OSList] Teach Them to Fish / A Note to My Friends
> 
>
>The
sequence you describe Harrison – Fish Distributors, Fishing Teachers, and
then “Gone fish‘in” looking for other fish to fry – captures well this rich
exchange. 
> 
>How
fast can people start fishing, one of your earlier questions, remains an important one.
> 
>Do
I truly believe that people can fish for themselves? is probably a good
place to start to address the question on how fast. 
> 
>People
are not only ok, but are better off without the usual facilitation rituals of
personal intros and exercises to connect. Accepting that is one of the big challenges I
hear from some people who participate in OST training: trusting the OS process
and the group. 
> 
>That
is why, I now start the training workshops with no personal introductions or
“expectations or hopes" exercises - otherwise many leave believing that
intros etc are part of OS, and that, despite the numerous explanations and
reminders we used to give as trainers. People remember what they do, not what
you say. A change of mental model is easier when people can first experience OS
in its real form, without any distractions.
> 
>Participants
now receive the theme, the question and the givens, weeks in advance of the
training, so they are prepared, ready and willing. I basically explain in
the morning that we are jumping right away into our Open Space event so we can
have a clear unobstructed understanding of what OS is (no mix-up with training
things) and so that, with our OS experience as a level playing field, we can
later pursue our co-learing on OS.
> 
>People
have often said often how relieved they were to not introduce themselves at the
OS opening, not having to measure up to the one-liner of experts or renowned
participants. Instead, when joining a group to discuss a topic of common
interest, they immediately felt safe to connect, eager for introductions and
did so with greater authenticity. The moment had real meaning for them. 
> 
>Introductions
- even in smaller groups at the OS opening - are also a contradiction of OS
principles, first the circle: participation on an equal basis. 
>The
other principle: whoever comes, has some passion for the theme and is willing
to contribute. 
> 
>Applying
those assumptions as a facilitator at the OS opening, in our very first gesture
with the group, is truly modeling our belief in those principles and more
importantly, our belief in people in general and in particular, those who chose to be there. 
> 
>No
surprise that participants express relief at having found a way of working
where they feel trusted and respected, …without the traditional need to be
“massaged into it”.
> 
>We
could say they not only know how to fish but have found the Zen of fishing.
> 
>We
hear them talk about liberation, about being encouraged to breath freely. 
>How
fast can people start fishing? You are right: as fast as we get out of
the way and let them go to it.
>
>
>Diane
>
>
>
>
>
>>________________________________
>> From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
>>To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>>Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 2:43:07 PM
>>Subject: Re: [OSList] Teach Them to Fish / A Note to My Friends
>> 
>>
>>Bernd – No problem. Totally understand where you are coming from. At the end of the day if you empower someone, by whatever means or degree – you have, at least to some real extent, dis-empowered them. Or at the very least, further encumbered their situation. All that said there are indeed times when the ONLY thing you can do in the moment is hand out a fish. Starving people, still less dead ones – don’t learn very well… to fish or anything else. However, if your actions end with fish distribution, or almost as destructive, you do teach them to fish, but then hover over their shoulders to make sure they do it RIGHT, well that is a different kettle of fish (sorry about that J). Maybe there is a sequence here – Fish Distributors, Fishing Teachers, and then “Gone fish ‘in” – looking for other fish to fry. Or something.
>> 
>>Harrison 
>> 
>>Harrison Owen
>>7808 River Falls Dr.
>>Potomac, MD 20854
>>USA
>> 
>>189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>>Camden, Maine 20854
>> 
>>Phone 301-365-2093
>>(summer)  207-763-3261
>> 
>>www.openspaceworld.com
>>www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> 
>>From:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Bernhard Weber
>>Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 1:24 AM
>>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>Subject: Re: [OSList] Teach Them to Fish / A Note to My Friends
>> 
>>Harrison, 
>> 
>>I have been living so long under conditions where the giver/beggar word pairing is not only a metaphor (Beira is the capital of Sofala province in Mozambique), so I had to deal with the problem also at a very practical level and on base of that I want to say:
>> 
>>I fully agree 
>>and would like to complete something that I wrote in my last posting in answering what Artur has written. 
>> 
>>Yes the giver-beggar relation creates conditions for helplessness and continued dependence and subservience. And yes, the dynamics is independent from altruistic intentions.
>>And I would complete, if you have a feeling for yourself and/or a spiritual perspective this means, such kind of giving is also bad for the giver, his/her mental costume and/or karma.
>> 
>>But when I wrote in my last posting: sometimes you should also give the fish (meaning that nobody who is starved can learn) isn't that a contradiction?
>>Yes it is, but
>>a) contradictions as such are not necessarily bad. At least they are good for triggering thinking processes if not for more (like being a basic ingredient for self-organization, this also refers to the dissence-thread of this groups)
>>b) it all depends on the real process. If temporary dependence is a price for helping out from helplessness so that further steps can follow, like learning, like disappearing of the giver, teacher, blurring/integrating of roles to teacherlearners and learnerteachers, I would say it is an acceptable price
>> 
>>Bernd
>> 
>>On Feb 24, 2012, at 3:01 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>The secondary point may be less than obvious. When you are simply handed a fish the conditions for learned helplessness and continued dependence, to say nothing of subservience are created. Even with the best, most altruistic intentions in the world, a fish handout has its problems. 
>> 
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