[OSList] No-Go-area's as OS facilitators

Michael M Pannwitz mmpannwitz at gmail.com
Mon Feb 4 08:05:55 PST 2013


Dear Kari,
instead, try taking a nap.

My experience as a late-comer to os (I was 56 and had been into OD 
processes for decades) is that I had to do a lot of un-learning... and 
no end in sight.
For some reason I had developed the stance of "unattached to outcome" in 
other contexts but could still "direct" a lot with my coniving 
facilitation skills. Letting go of all of that when working as an 
os-facilitator was tough but I found ways to redirect most of my control 
mania and live my control-mania by being a real stickler in every detail 
BEFORE the event.

I have no personal experience in joining a break-out session in events 
where I was in the role of facilitator.
However, I do remember a couple of situations that might be relevant to 
your question:

--- I have been asked several times by members of break-out sessions 
(some being very clear that I had to come immediately to fix whatever it 
was that troubled them) to join their session and always found a way to 
fend off the invitation... and did get feedback from those that had 
asked me to join such as "we did manage very well..." or "good thing you 
did turn down our invitation, we handled it ourselves and found that 
exhilarating..."

---On one occasion we needed everybody in the team to join hands in I 
forget what it was exactly... and discovered that a couple of the team 
members had joined breakout sessions with the result that we could not 
deal effectively with the task that the team was responsible for...

---One time, I got into a very interesting and fascinating discussion 
with one participant... reminded me of a meeting of two butterflies... 
Not very long into that my assistant danced up to us and got me to leave 
that wonderful encounter. As I followed him he reminded me of my role: 
How on earth could I keep totally present and also be completely 
invisible doing what I did. After taking a deep breath, I thanked him 
and saw to it that he was in the facilitation team every time!

Get yourself a tough assistant.

Lets have more question, Kari.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp

Cheers
mmp

On 04.02.2013 16:28, Kári Gunnarsson wrote:
> Dear Gijs and others on the list
>
> I like to explore this topic theme a bit more closely.  I have been
> learning so much for the past few years that I have been practicing
> the open space. I like to know your examples, your thoughts and
> experiences?
>
> An introductory questions on No-Go-area's:
>
> At one time I was hosting an open space and I happened to join a group
> discussion on the topic witch was close to my hart and I shared some
> of my hopes and experiences for I was there with the passion to to
> that and the small group had a interesting topic. Now I feel like this
> is something I should not have done, that I took some space instead of
> holding it or others that where there to do something about the issues
> at hand. What are your thoughts and experiences?
>
> With love from Iceland
> Kári
>
> On 2 February 2013 04:09, Gijs Mega <gijs at megainternational.com.hk> wrote:
>> Hi Chris,
>>
>> The first time I saw you was in the circle in San Francisco 2008. Your kids
>> took part as well and "lived" the law of 2 feet, and shifted from
>> butterflying to bumble being. Observing this was great : open space life.
>>
>> Your comments on the list are often a real contribution. So was your last
>> one:
>>   "
>> This is key for those of us who are Open Space facilitators.  Please never
>> try to Open Space for other people bigger than the space you are willing to
>> open for yourself.
>> "
>> In the context of our society your point is clear.
>> When you generalize it for facilitators, I read it as an advice for being
>> authentic and sincere to the principals, the topic, the invitation and the
>> sponsors intention.
>> However, I hope to challenge people to elaborate more in detail about
>> no-go-area's for ourselves as a facilitator or as a parent.
>>
>> Gijs van Wezel
>> Shanghai
>>
>>
>> Send from iPad
>>
>>
>> On Feb 1, 2013, at 1:32 AM, Chris Corrigan <chris at chriscorrigan.com> wrote:
>>
>> This is key for those of us who are Open Space facilitators.  Please never
>> try to Open Space for other people bigger than the space you are willing to
>> open for yourself.
>>
>>
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>
>
>

-- 
Michael M Pannwitz
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49 - 30-772 8000



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