[OSList] facilitator neutrality

[doug]

Carms--

I think the way you describe the facilitator in each of those instances 
makes that person a space invader, and the disgruntled comment was right 
on. I could have said it!

It makes a difference how and when these things are done. The second 
instance: the facilitator could hold open the space for posting topics a 
little while longer, demonstrating waiting for those who are more 
pensive and less forward. And if anyone asked, could say why in a mild 
mannered, this is just how I see it sort of way.

And the comment about waiting people could more properly fit in a 
breakout session, but again without being commanding.

The first instance, which sounds like it actually happened, strikes me 
as the facilitator's own hang-ups showing. The chairs have to be in a 
circle for me to feel like I am doing OST right. Bull puckey! We have 
had OS in fixed bleachers, in semi-circles, in oblongs, with people 
seated or standing or being their own bulletin boards. It works. Let it 
work. Let go of your own stuff. And Carms, since you noticed, you 
probably wanted to go up to the person and say something. Let go of that 
too!

Tough to do? Tough to know what to do? Yes to both.

:- Doug.




On 04/26/2013 07:52 PM, Carmela Ariza wrote:
> Dear Kerry, Chris, Michael, Doug, Kari
>
> Thanks for all your wonderful insights.
>
> I just quickly viewed the Tao book and will read that one of these days.
> I already watched the musical on OST which was lovely. Would be great to
> have the text also so we could understand all the lines sung
> spontaneously...
>
> If anyone has more thoughts on these I am still interested to hear what
> other have to say.
>
> Here is a more specific situation, that you may want to reflect with me on:
>
> If an OST facilitator directs how the seating arrangement of the
> participants in one of the OS sessions so that everyone sits in the
> circle (and no one is outside the circle) in somewhat a commanding voice
> - does this constitute violating open space principles? In this
> instance, when the facilitator did this in a strong  voice, one
> participant commented "I thought this is Open Space?"
>
> Or in another situation, in a very direct manner, the facilitator tells
> the group to give a chance for some people to share their thoughts and
> encouraged the more dominant players to be to listen to the less
> dominant participants, is this also an indicator of lack of neutrality
> in facilitation?
>
> Of course, the purpose of directing how people are to arrange the
> chairs, how they should be seated, who should listen to whom and when -
> was to ensure that the less dominant players are heard. As we all know
> it is possible that one group from a culture that is more forward,
> assertive, more frank - could easily dominate the discussion. While
> those coming from cultures that are more meek, submissive, less
> assertive, etc. would not have so much voice in a very important
> gathering that has an impact on the lives of the less dominant participants.
>
> Is the OST facilitator in these instances mentioned above, becoming less
> neutral with respect to participants, and does this constitute a
> departure (to some extent) from the very essence of OST?
>
> Would love to hear your thoughts....
>
> Carms
>
>
>
>
>
>
> /*If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having. --
> Henry Miller*/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Kerry Napuk <knapuk at gmail.com>
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> *Sent:* Saturday, 27 April 2013, 7:17
> *Subject:* [OSList] facilitator neutrality
>
> Hi Listers
>
> Neutrality of the facilitator is tied to "holding the space."  You
> cannot hold space if you participate in the event.  Simple as that.
>
> If you want to participate, become a participant.  The facilitators
> holds the space, IMHO, by sublimating his or her ego to the group's
> integrity.
>
> Here is one example:  I did an event with an organiser who was so adept
> at PR that he got four newspapers and a TV station to over the event
> which was in a rural setting.  The TV crew wanted to come into the hall
> and film part of the process.
>
> As the theme involved suicide and self harm, I asked the group what they
> wanted to do with the TV crew's request.  The did not want it and so,
> probably for the first time in their life, they were banned from
> shooting live footage. The organiser had to simulate a breakout group
> with his staff in a side room.
>
> Cheers
>
> Kerry
> Edinburgh
>
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