[OSList] facilitator neutrality

[paul levy]

Yeah, take me out of the WE too - sometimes.

Are you getting this, Kerry ?

On Saturday, 27 April 2013, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:

> Dear Paul,
> from where I stand there are no rules in the Open Space Technology process.
>
> The principles neither qualify as rules nor even as principles. The way I
> see them they are valuable observations, I call them "Facts of Life".
> Of course, there is an admonition (the possible punishment is not
> mentioned) and there is the "Law" which turns out to be a mild suggestion
> of what might be productive behaviour if someone winds up in a situation
> where she/he can neither contribute nor learn anything.
>
> Regarding "opening space" I keep reminding myself that it is not me who
> "opens space"...it might be part of the job of the sponsor...mine as
> facilitator is to introduce the participants to the OST process...I can and
> have been doing that for quite a while without even mentioning the words
> "open space". The process, once the participants enter into it, effects the
> expansion of time and space for selforganisation to do its thing. And it is
> true that thats where my passion is, not neutrality, of course.
>
> But my passion can easily also close down the space a little bit or quite
> a bit. So before I intervene, I take a deep breath and start counting
> slowly... if I remember correctly, I have never reached 10, actually its
> mostly 5 or 6, and then the "system" manages by intervening in itself... I
> love it, experiencing selforganisation manifesting itself.
> Once I was asked by a participant to take on the role of space invader
> asking me to suggest an energizer since the system sitting in a circle had
> not done anything for about a minute. I started counting, well pretty soon
> someone said "why do you want to interrupt us in our phase of enjoying
> doing nothing?" The system smiled and shortly thereafter they continued...
>
> For me, this is intensive work, exhilarating and at the same time binding
> all my energy... just enough left to take a walk, a nap.
>
> So, take me out of the "We" that open space for possibility or for
> humanity.
>
> Have a great weekend
> mmp
>
>
> On 27.04.2013 07:58, paul levy wrote:
>
>> Well, well, well.
>>
>> I'm facilitating an open space later this morning and I may also
>> participate.
>>
>> You see, whoever comes are the right people.
>>
>> Or is there are new rule? Whoever comes are the right people (except for
>> the facilitator.)
>>
>> When we open space it isn't for a rules to limit that space. Nor do we
>> open it for a select group.
>>
>> We open space for possibility. We open space for humanity.
>>
>> Whoever comes...
>>
>> Now clearly some facilitators are space invaders. But hey, speak for
>> yourself please.
>>
>> Stop putting open space into a Nightingale's cage.
>>
>> And now to breakfast...
>>
>> Paul Levy
>>
>> On Saturday, 27 April 2013, Kerry Napuk wrote:
>>
>>     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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>>
> --
> Michael M Pannwitz
> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
> ++49 - 30-772 8000
>
>
>
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