[OSList] Dealing with Conflicts

[Harrison Owen]

Anisha - True I did say that there was no pre-work, which was true for that
particular situation for several reasons. I was in the US and the sponsors
were in the Middle East, and also the whole thing came together pretty fast.
It is also true that the sponsors were very experienced with OS. So I guess
I was stretching it a bit. But it is also true that my prework is fairly
minimal, often not much more that asking them to read the book and ask
whatever questions. Probably says more about me??

 

Anyhow it would seem that you do have a fine kettle of fish! Of one thing I
am very sure. Given your history with the group as well as the group's
history - don't try to facilitate it yourself. Get someone else, preferably
a female. Speaking just for myself I must say that being a solo male in the
middle of a circle of angry females is more than a little daunting! I did it
once for 500 women in a strongly feminist organization. We made it, but
there were moments. 

 

On the subject of a theme, I would go for something like, "What are the
issues and opportunities for building an organization we would all like to
be a part of?" Short, positive, with lots of space to talk about anything
that people have on their minds. It could also be a nice sorting device - it
might be that some of your membership just want to complain?

 

And of course, don't try to sell Open Space. Never really works. Just tell
them what it is and what it does, and they will choose.  

 

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)

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From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of anisha susanna
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 9:28 PM
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: [OSList] Dealing with Conflicts

 

Dear Marie Ann, Brendan, Christine, Craig, Harrison, Michael, Peggy,  and
all,

Marie Ann, I'm really grateful that you started this thread of conversation!
I've been wondering for a while whether OS can be used in situations of high
conflict between people who all consider themselves social/feminist
activists but are in a seemingly intractable polar dynamic around a
particularly sensitive issue - what one side has deemed "sexual assault" and
the other has named "a one-off inappropriate behaviour" between friends.  It
began some three years ago, but things have gotten quite ugly as one side in
particular has done quite a bit of mud slinging on the social media networks
in recent months.  

My questions are as follows:

i) Might I myself, together with a small group of individuals, be the
sponsor of the event? I am really keen to get everyone in the room so we can
actually have face to face conversations, but I am not sure that the women's
organisation (of which I am an nominal member) that is currently being
attacked, would be convinced of an OS process.  Or should I speak to the
management of this women's organisation and try and convince them of the
value of getting everyone in the same space without necessarily needed a
heavily facilitated process?  Initially, I had suggested Dynamic
Facilitation, which has some excellent processes for facilitating a group
through high-conflict - but I can't think of anyone in Malaysia who might be
able to do DF in this context.  I think that many hold a fear that things
will explode and get out of hand, and so the desire for a facilitator to
maintain a well controlled "safe space."

ii) Brendan, you'd mentioned the importance of pre-work, and Harrison, you
said, none was needed...I respect you both immensely, and perhaps both are
true in different settings.  In this case, previous offers for mediation
have been rejected, on grounds that they did not have anything to do with
the selection of the facilitator.  What suggestions do you have for the
wording of the invitation such that the fiercely angry side will also show
up?  I'd agree with HO that there are no need for additional guidelines on
behaviour such as "deep listening" and so forth, because I think that the
Law of Two Feet works well when its completely established as norm.  Are
there are any samples of invitations that have been sent out for OS style
conflict resolution that someone in this list might be able to share? I'd be
really happy to see them.

iii) I have been seen as associated with one side of this divide, and thus
may not make the best person to Open Space in this context.  We do have a
small community of OS practitioners in Malaysia, and perhaps I could
approach someone else to see if they might be willing to run the OS.
However, I wondered if there were situations where someone in my position
(who is seen as alligned and "friendly" to one side of the divide) has
opened space in a situation of conflict?  I seem to be one of the keenest to
create space for engaging in direct conversations - I have faith that a
solution can be found if we just were in touch with each others' humanity,
and have those enemy images dissolve.  But perhaps, that's too much personal
investment involved to hold the space effectively, you reckon?

Thank you. Any insights and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Warm salaams,

Susanna

Susanna George
API Fellow 2011-12
http://tinyurl.com/APIFellow2011-12

Consultant
Strengthening Team Processes Through Critical Conversations
+60 12 3723234 (Please send SMS on this number only)
+81 70 54522691 (To receive phone calls until 31 July 2012)





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