[OSList] Facilitating the Uncovering of Assumptions

Wed Sep 18 22:50:40 PDT 2013

Dear John,
in my case, I have been through 45 years of what you describe in your 
journey.
The first 28 years working on  "how can we appropriately help guide the 
definition of the banks of the river so the flow is powerful and focused 
and dynamic" and the last 17 years expanding space for the river to 
explore and structure its dynamic and focus it sees appropriate for 
whatever it is up to.
In other words, working on ways of getting out of the way, skipping 
control, unattaching myself from the goals of the river...
Now, I would not say that the first 28 years were wasted time as they 
were part of my journey but much of my ongoing unlearning is tough.
I am happying myself with the journey including mystifying myself with 
what on earth is that force that I call "selforganisation", something 
that seems to lead to all kinds of unexpected, never heard of, 
completely improbable etc. developments, transitions, paradigm shifts, 
etc... just the everyday life I see around me.
Nice effects of working under these "assumptions" have been for me not 
to care about peoples or groups or organisations or systems assumptions, 
their goals, the quality of their cooperation or their dialog, how 
leadership is playing out, feedback-loops, their energy level, their 
motivation, their team spirit, organigramms... in fact, I know that 
busying myself with all that stuff would just reduce the immense energy 
I need to get out of the way...
I find it hard work and wonder who else is on that journey and how they 
are faring...
Greetings from Berlin
mmp

On 19.09.2013 03:14, John Watkins wrote:
> As much as I love OST, and as much as I recognize the inevitability and
> desirability of emergent processes, as well as their power to engage and
> compel people, after some twenty-seven years (probably more, but at
> least officially) facilitating groups and watching groups engaged in
> deep conversation about important topics, I firmly believe there is
> nothing like the appropriate and creative application of a structure to
> a conversational problem or issue at the right time.  That is, so often
> as people talk, an idea for how to organize the conversation for maximum
> creative input emerges (and often it is someone with some knowledge of
> great process tools, though that may not necessarily be an official
> "facilitator") that dramatically increases the ability of the group to
> dig deeper and go further and achieve some intention or accomplishment
> they might not have without it.  An example is using graphic organizers,
> such as concept mapping tools, to organize the ideas that are emerging
> in the conversation.  Or analytic tools, or causal mapping tools, or
> ways to rank ideas.  All of these add value to conversation by providing
> structures that enhance emergent purposes toward accomplishing something
> of value.  So, to me, the challenge becomes, not, how can we get out of
> the way and let it all just flow, but how can we appropriately help
> guide the definition of the banks of the river so the flow is powerful
> and focused and dynamic?  Great questions, always, frame great
> conversations, per Harrison's point below.  And sometimes it helps to
> have a process to use to address them.  World Cafe is one such process
> that helps structure the conversation and guide the energy.  I see it as
> a creative tension.  I see it also as a necessary tension to address in
> how groups work together.  I'd love to hear others' reflections on this
> question.
>
> John
>
> On Sep 18, 2013, at 4:20 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
>> You will not be surprised to learn that I suspect you are working much
>> too hard. Just open space with a question – “What are the issues and
>> opportunities for bringing Justice to our world?” If anybody cares, it
>> will be rich. And no special design required.
>> ho
>> Harrison Owen
>> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>> Potomac, MD 20854
>> USA
>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>> Camden, Maine 04843
>> Phone 301-365-2093
>> (summer)  207-763-3261
>> www.openspaceworld.com <www.openspaceworld.com%20>
>> www.ho-image.com <www.ho-image.com%20>(Personal Website)
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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>> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> *From:*oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
>> <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org]*On
>> Behalf Of*Evan Walsh
>> *Sent:*Wednesday, September 18, 2013 4:35 PM
>> *To:*OSLIST
>> *Subject:*[OSList] Facilitating the Uncovering of Assumptions
>> Beautiful OS community,
>> My question is not strictly focused on Open Space or its application,
>> but since I know you each have a wealth of experience in all kinds of
>> hosting, I couldn't help but see if you could help me.
>> For an upcoming conference, we would like to host spaces that
>> encourage participants to (i) discover how assumptions that are left
>> unexplored contribute to broken systems and injustice, and (ii)
>> explore and identify assumptions we may be holding that could be
>> playing into those systems of injustice.
>> So my question for you is: Do you know of any amazing activities,
>> structures, spaces that facilitate the uncovering and identification
>> of assumptions?
>> Ideally we would like this uncovering to happen in a safe and
>> constructive way (i.e. We don't want people shouting at one another
>> pointing out their biases).
>> One example we've thought of us theHuman Library
>> <http://humanlibrary.org/>, which is a beautiful way of breaking down
>> barriers. Any other examples you've come across? Any stories to share?
>> Have you seen this happen in OS? What lead to it?
>> Thank you,
>> Evan
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>
>
>
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Michael M Pannwitz
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