[OSList] [SPAM] - Re: [SPAM] - Re: Trust
Annamarie Pluhar
annamarie at pluharconsulting.com
Sun Feb 2 15:06:24 PST 2014
Hi Harrison - just to you.
Saw your response on my iPhone walking into church. Glad to create an
opportunity for you to write the below to the community. : )
If you ever find yourself in the Brattleboro area, St. Michael's
Episcopal is a gem of a church. A rarity of excellent music, great
liturgy and a true spiritual community. I'm pleased to report that our
newly built and consecrated chapel is called. (ta-dum!) The Chapel of
Mary Magdelene, the First Apostle. ! It was a bequest of a woman who
died too young and was a follower of a woman in Maine whose name I can't
find. (Christian, perhaps Gnostic theology? Christianity is all about
love only... )
And of course it would be fun to see you. I'm here year round. Very
happy to be in the country. Using my more current signature..
Peace,
-Annamarie Pluhar-
Founder, Sharing Housing, Dummerston, VT
I help people live with home-mates happily.
Author of [Sharing Housing, A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good
Housemates](http://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Housing-Guidebook-Finding-Housemates/dp/099101040X)
Workshops and Presentations
(802) 387-0487 | skype annamarie_p | G+ +AnnamariePluhar
Blog www.sharinghousing.com
Twitter @sharinghousing | Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/SharingHousing
On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:03, Harrison Owen wrote:
> Annamarie – Meditation. It has been my experience that meditation
> prior to opening space, particularly in a “difficult” situation,
> is the only absolutely essential prework for the facilitator. All the
> rest can be helpful, but coming to the circle scattered, confused and
> anxious is a good way to fry your soul and create an environment that
> matches your state. The core issue is that losing your center is very
> nervous making – and in such a state it is all too easy to fall back
> into that old bug-a-boo, The Need for Control. Of course you will
> never achieve Control, but the mere search for it is the total
> antithesis of trust. And you can see where that gets you...
>
>
>
> It is certainly true that OS seems to work even when the facilitator
> is a nervous wreck, which I think says more about the power of self
> organization than anything else, but how much better things seem to go
> when you enter that circle calm, cool, and comfortable – just
> radiating trust in the people and their capacity.
>
>
>
> The key for me is presence and focus. Being totally present and at one
> with the situation. There is no magic here but a period of meditation
> has been my way. Others will find a different way, a good walk for
> example.
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> 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.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> OSLIST Go to:
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>
>
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Annamarie
> Pluhar
> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 9:33 AM
> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Subject: Re: [OSList] [SPAM] - Re: Trust
>
>
>
> As another who only occasionally pipes up.
>
> Carmella - I have noticed (but where?) how HO talks about meditating
> before an OS. Like for two hours? Do I remember that right? In any
> case I do think that the trust, integrity, authenticity must come from
> being really centered and connected to..... okay I'll use the word
> "universe."
>
> My two cents.
>
> Annamarie Pluhar
>
> Pluhar Consulting
> http://www.pluharconsulting.com
> 802.451.1941
> 802.579.5975 (cell)
>
> On 2 Feb 2014, at 9:06, Carmella Mazzotta wrote:
>
> Wow, I rarely say anything on the listserve but I must react to this.
> The trust factor is really a big one for me in my work in Washington
> DC these days. From every angle, top down and bottom up and sideways,
> there is little trust. The pertebation of more diverse voices makes
> sense and a wider invitation and I’m getting resistance there for
> many reasons…all controlling and forceful and fearful driven.
> Anyhow, keep these stories going. Brenden, when you walked that circle
> and others, can you describe your magic that day or is it not
> possible? I imagine the prework and the centering before and all that
> but what reflections have you on that, if any?
>
> Carmella Mazzotta
>
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Brendan
> McKeague
> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 2:15 AM
> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Trust
>
> A lovely little side-step from the initiating story...
>
> The truth about trust was brought home to me a few years ago when I
> facilitated an Open Space in Broome in the north west of Western
> Australia. The context was about 100 or so folks gathering to consider
> how to provide better mental health services for all the people of the
> region. There was about 50:50 presence of indigenous and
> non-indigenous people, service users and service providers. I was
> fortunate enough to have an Aboriginal co-facilitator accompany me -
> now that's another story!
>
> The day went well with a very enthusiastic closing circle indicating
> that participants and sponsors were pleased with the opportunity to
> engage as equals, the depth of conversation and the attractive action
> outcomes.
>
> Now for 'the gift'
>
> At dinner afterwards, I was passing by an old Aboriginal woman who
> waved me over and softly said something like:
>
> "Young fella, when you walked around the circle this morning, I
> didn't understand much of what you were saying but I felt your energy
> and I trusted it.
>
> I knew this was going to be a good day...and it was"
>
> I have carried those words of affirmation as a blessing ever since.
>
> Cheers
>
> Brendan
>
> On 02/02/2014, at 3:54 AM, Elwin and Joan wrote:
>
> Well, I can’t help myself here. I normally write to Harrison on the
> “side” but now I’m in Open Space.
>
> Trust!
>
> My Brother, you continue to speak the profound, in the most humble
> manner. Your “trust” response provokes me to write to the List,
> because it speaks to me so very deeply.
>
> I now sit poised to Open Space three days from now for the USAID
> Mission in Sarajevo, Bosnia (thank you, ho) and your reference to
> integrity, authenticity and trust nearly brought me to tears!
>
> Upon entering this US Government bastion of organizational cadence,
> clearly in “harms-way”, I realized that my demeanor, shaped by 20
> years of OST, had an immediate effect. Senior management, although
> anxious, leads me to believe they think I‘m authentic.
>
> So, on Wednesday, I Open Space for 2 ½ days for 10 Americans and 40
> Bosnians and the theme is: “What are the opportunities to improve
> our job satisfaction and performance, and enhance the Mission’s
> Goal?”
>
> Whoa! Is this going to be fun! And it is all because, like most of
> you, experience in Open Space gives us the ability to be truly
> “present”.
>
> While I’m at it, you can view a bit of video of an Open Space I
> recently did for about 65 citizens of my hometown of Portland
> Connecticut. The film crew struggled a bit but if you’re patient it
> “picks up” at the 4 minute mark. http://portlandplan.org
> http://portlandplan.org/http:/portlandplan.org/http:/
>
> Thank you Michael Herman!!
>
> Open Space. What a gift!
>
> Love you Harrison.
>
> Elwin Guild
>
> Future Development International
>
> On Saturday, February 1, 2014 6:07 PM, David Osborne
> dosborne at change-fusion.com wrote:
>
> Trust = the safety condition for self-organization.
>
> D
>
> On Sat, Feb 1, 2014 at 11:31 AM, Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
> wrote:
>
> Brendan said: “And in my view , all germinating from that initial
> transfer of trust between mentor and sponsor” Right on! I don’t
> think it makes a bit of difference how elegantly one “does” the
> Open Space. It is really all about TRUST. When I said that anybody
> with a good heart and good mind can “do it,” that is just a long
> winded way of saying what I’ve always found to be true. Expertise is
> interesting. Integrity and Trust are essential. A new comer to the OS
> world, opening space for the very first time, muffing some lines, and
> forgetting others – can do every bit as well as a 20 year veteran.
> The coin of the realm is Integrity, authenticity, trust. But none of
> that should be news, for that trio is the bedrock of all positive
> human encounter, I think. Which may just be another way of pointing
> out that OS is not some special process we do, it is just life lived
> well. Or something.
>
> ho
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> USA
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>
> Camden, Maine 04843
>
> Phone 301-365-2093 x-msg://1280/
>
> (summer) 207-763-3261 x-msg://1280/
>
> www.openspaceworld.com http://www.openspaceworld.com%20/
>
> www.ho-image.com http://www.ho-image.com%20/ (Personal Website)
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> OSLIST Go
> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Brendan
> McKeague
> Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 12:57 AM
> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Sponsor PreWork Conversation (long)
>
> A very interesting question Chuni Li...
>
> The sponsor was being mentored by one of my colleagues in our local
> Open Space community of practice (Wave Riders) who suggested to him
> that OS was the right method/model for the task at hand. As his coach
> (the formal role as perceived by the organisation), my colleague
> encouraged the sponsor to get in touch with me to avoid any perceived
> conflict of interest. The sponsor researched OS for himself first and
> then engaged me to provide the specialist knowledge....Harrison often
> says that anyone with a good heart and head can open space - and I
> agree - while at the same time, I acknowledge that 'Open Space wisdom'
> is often helpful, if not necessary, in situations of increased
> complexity and potential conflict.
>
> After his initial attraction to OS in theory, and as part of his
> research, the sponsor then ran a mini Open Space within his own
> jurisdiction to see how it worked in reality - he wished to speak from
> his lived experience when engaging with his higher-uppers. He also
> watched a few of the growing library of YouTube clips that are so
> wonderful for educating potential sponsors.
>
> Now totally convinced, the transfer of trust was complete at various
> levels....trusting the process (OST works) AND trusting the
> facilitator (who was aligned with the essence of OST - i.e living in
> it) AND trusting that both facilitator and process were
> 'fit-for-purpose' in this context.
>
> And in my view , all germinating from that initial transfer of trust
> between mentor and sponsor
>
> Hope this story helps
>
> Cheers Brendan
>
> On 31/01/2014, at 1:10 PM, chunili2000 at yahoo.com wrote:
>
> Thank you Brendan for taking the time to organize and share this
> information - so precious and such a generous gift!
>
> I am curious about the sponsor who "put his neck out" to make the
> event happen.
>
> Had he experienced OST before? Did you have to "convince" him? What
> made him willing to "jump through the hoops?" Was it the OST process
> or was it you that he trusted?
>
> Chuni Li
>
> New Jersey
>
> From: Brendan McKeague mckeaguebrendan at gmail.com
> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 9:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Sponsor PreWork Conversation (long)
>
> You're very welcome Tricia - this List continues to live the
> invitation issued by Harrison all those years ago - to share what we
> learn...
>
> An addendum to the story is that the sponsor is now preparing to host
> mini Open Space meetings on the key themes that have emerged from the
> Book of Proceedings. This is very much within his own responsibility
> range so no convincing or permissions now required. And some of the
> 'higher-uppers' who attended the event were very impressed by what
> happened that they will carry this positive story back to the State
> Committee as evidence. 'Whatever happens is the only thing....'
>
> I continue to be guided and sustained by Margaret Wheatley's
> invitation to activists to 'let go of the need to make a
> difference'....
>
> and it seems to me, that when I don't NEED to make a difference, and
> engage from another place within me, that is when I do!
>
> Ah the paradox of it all....
>
> Cheers Brendan
>
> On 31/01/2014, at 4:31 AM, Tricia Chirumbole wrote:
>
> Thanks so much Brendan for taking the time to share this! I have saved
> your information for my own training and I am likely to plagiarize at
> some point :)
>
> Tricia Chirumbole
> US: +1-571-232-0942 x-msg://1280/
> Skype: tricia.chirumbole
>
> On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Diane Gibeault
> diane.gibeault at rogers.com wrote:
>
> Well said Brendan! These are the kind of questions people new to OS
> who plan on offering, organizing or facilitating an event, want to be
> ready to answer. Thank you for that brief and effective way of sharing
> your informative answers.
>
> Diane
>
> From: Brendan McKeague mckeaguebrendan at gmail.com
> To: OS Listserve oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 12:32:33 AM
> Subject: [OSList] Sponsor PreWork Conversation (long)
>
> Hi folks
>
> I've recently completed a one-day OST meeting with around 150
> participants. It went very well and the sponsor was delighted (and
> much relieved) as he had 'put his neck out' with his 'higher-uppers'
> all along the way in order to have the event in the first place. One
> of the hoops he had to jump through beforehand was to to present a
> business case and justification for using OST in this context....I've
> recorded some of the email conversation that we've had as we
> progressed the discernment towards decision - over about three months.
> I thought some co-learners might be interested in parts of the to-ing
> and fro-ing dialogue - and would love to hear your comments around the
> questions this first-time user of OST is asking....or rather, being
> compelled to ask.
>
> Cheers
>
> Brendan
>
> Q: Does OST work with bigger numbers - the work shop will be large
> with an estimated 150+ diverse state and local government, industry,
> NGO and possibly some citizens attending.
> R: Open Space Technology (OST) is applicable regardless of numbers and
> diversity - indeed, we often find that the more stakeholder
> complexity, the better it works. I have worked with up to 350
> participants and colleagues elsewhere with over 2000.
>
> The workshop is part of the finalisation of the Draft Strategic Plan
> and is being held to respond to the various propositions and issues
> raised in the public comment phase early this year. I have very
> briefly outlined the draft objectives and role of the selected
> facilitator below:
>
> Objective:
> The Strategic Plan is a new format for xxxxxx planning that challenges
> the current status quo of planning. Further consultation is required
> to provide a greater level of understanding of the ‘systems’
> concept, and seek input on content and implementation issues. Main
> objectives include:
>
> · To build a collaborative environment ;
> R: OST certainly creates the opportunity for this - with the benefit
> of no predetermined agenda, all participants are invited to
> collaborate in co-creating the agenda around what's really important
> to them.
>
> · provide a greater understanding of the legislation impetus;
> R: OST allows participants to diverge and engage with others who have
> similar questions/issues in order to clarify understandings and pursue
> ideas that matter to them
>
> · genuine input and actions to assist in the finalisation of the
> Strategic Plan
>
> R: OST invites those who wish to contribute according to interest
> (passion) and responsibility - and then to offer to be part of ongoing
> actions beyond the event itself
>
> Main role for Facilitator:
>
> · Organisation of 150 stakeholders – some groups will be considered
> high risk.
>
> R: In OST, the participants self-organise and self-manage around what
> they care about - its a marvellous, fluid way to enable
> genuine/transparent
>
> collaboration, participation, inclusivity and emergence - thereby
> diminishing the likelihood of distraction by the disgruntled or a
> hi-jacking by the heavies
>
> · Creating a strategic, dynamic and collaborative process in and out
> of the workshop
>
> R: OST is a world-leading technology for this type of process
>
> .. memorable, positive, inspiring – has to have the same takeaway as
> previous (Deliberative Democracy) forum i.e. participation was worthy
> of time, feel inspired, have made a difference -
> R: no process (or facilitator) in the world can guarantee these
> outcomes - unfortunately for me! OST can create the space where they
> are most likely to show up, provided that the sponsors have done their
> preparation properly - i.e. asked the right question, issued the right
> invitation, created the right space....then, the folks who care to
> show up in response do the rest by themselves. The power of a great
> OST mtg comes from the release of passionate energy when people are
> given the freedom to do what they really care about
>
> · Participants must go home with a greater more positive
> understanding (including impetus for use) of the SPS and systems
> thinking
>
> R: its very difficult to enforce the 'must go home with' aspiration
> when working with a group of mature (and diverse) adults. I can
> however say, from my experience of facilitating over 250 OST mtgs
> around the country in the last 15 years, that OST does provide
> everyone with the opportunity to participate at the level they chose,
> to ask the questions they bring with them, to engage with others who
> care about similar issues, to record their conversations, to
> contribute to action outcomes and to learn more about the topic about
> which they're meeting. And in all of that, they usually have a lot of
> fun too!
>
> · Defining clear objectives and parameter of discussion
>
> R: Once again, this is the work of the sponsors beforehand - we call
> these 'the givens' that form part of the invitation in OST - the
> container in which 'the space is open' - then let the people get to
> work around what they came to do
>
> · Day round up
>
> R: OST usually finishes with a Closing Circle for comments from
> participants and sponsors
>
> Dear Brendan,
>
> In an attempt to manage stakeholders expectations and ensure effective
> facilitation of diverse ~150 stakeholders within the broad scope
> (theme: Making the Planning Strategy a Success) , could you please
> kindly advise based on the desired outcomes (below) as to whether any
> other facilitation method would achieve the same outcomes as Open
> Space Technology (OST).
>
> · Time and labour efficient
>
> R: I know of no other process that will get 150 people working on what
> they want to work on together as quickly as OST; with the opening
> explanation and agenda creation taking about 45-50mins, the whole 150
> participants can get down to work quickly on issues that are important
> to them.
>
> · Memorable and inspiring
>
> R: This is a product of participation on the day. The participants
> will create their own agenda around what's important to them and so
> they are invited to take responsibility for what they offer and engage
> with i.e. if it is not memorable and inspiring, then it may be that
> they have not responded fully to the invitation and they are in the
> wrong place - they can use the Law of Mobility to move elsewhere - or
> even leave if what's on offer is not why they came. Hence the
> importance of creating a clear, transparent and irresistible
> invitation for those who wish to make this Strategy a success. It is
> extremely important for the Sponsors to be familiar with, and endorse,
> the guarantees of an OST meeting - see attached explanation.
>
> · collaborative
> R: There are many levels of collaboration. Mature collaboration is
> about engaging with others - who may have very similar or very
> different views- and taking time to listen well, to speak truthfully
> about issues that are important and to be open to what emerges. Lesser
> forms/models of collaboration adopt coercion, compliance and
> competition as a container for obtaining predetermined desired
> outcomes. OST provides a container for self-organising around what is
> identified as important by those who wish to (or even, 'have to') do
> something about implementing this strategy. The OST process models the
> intention of seeking more mature collaboration around complex issues
> involving multiple stakeholders.
>
> · Enables strategic thinking
> R: The Planning Strategy has been developed - i.e. the diagnostics
> have been completed - based on various previous consultations. Now is
> the time for moving into implementation and operationalising the
> outcomes. This requires a dialogical process - where those responsible
> for implementation have opportunities to interpret, clarify, be
> creative, innovative and consider how they are going to do this within
> their own circles of influence. As I understand it, it's exploratory
> and open - there is not one uniform way of making this work
> successfully - it there is, then OST is not needed - people are told
> what to do and resourced to do it. OST provides space for creativity,
> diverse views and novel ideas to be named and explored. This cannot be
> legislated in advance - it needs to emerge from the confluence of
> energy, knowledge, skills, experiences and potentially contentious
> views of those who show up. OST is the most transparent process for
> this, with inbuilt principles of self-determination that enable high
> levels of passionate energy, high levels of learning and high levels
> of 'fun' to show up on the day.
>
> · Rapid consensus
>
> R: This is another question entirely. In a one-day meeting of 150
> diverse stakeholders, what are you seeking 'rapid consensus' on?
>
> I would need to hear more from you about your purpose and intentions
> here. In my experience, when consensus is an expectation in such a
> short time-frame with so many people, there are too often 'winners and
> losers' and people can easily get bogged down in detail around
> language interpretation, aggressive defensiveness and even destructive
> competition to try to force a neat outcome. There are other, often
> more appropriate, ways of creating and sustaining alignment with the
> Strategy into the future (e.g. by creating and supporting 'communities
> of practice' around key themes emerging from the OST meeting)
>
> R: Thanks for asking these key clarifying questions. I realise how
> important this conference is in terms of creating a platform for
> implementation of the Planning Strategy. I agree that the process on
> the day needs to be the best match for your purpose.
>
> I have inserted a few comments and attached a brief 2 page explanation
> of OST and its 'guarantees'.
>
> In a nutshell, OST is not driven by 'predetermined outcomes' (my
> words) - it is about creating space for engagement and emergence with
> those who will be doing the work of implementation. It is a
> self-organising dialogical process that, in my opinion, is most
> suitable for this stage of your Planning Strategy.
>
> _____
>
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> --
>
> David Osborne
>
> Image removed by sender.
>
> www.change-fusion.com | dosborne at change-fusion.com | 703.939.1777
>
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