[OSList] Wonderful video of two journalists running a short Open Space

[Harrison Owen]

Jeff and Everybody-- Thanks! (Peggy for bringing this to us, Suzanne for
being her usual enthusiastic self, and Jeff for being Jeff). It is always
great to hear about space opening, especially by folks who think it is
weird, and "do" it anyhow. 

And Jeff -- you do raise some interesting and pertinent questions. Like: "OS
is cool -- But for Diversity? Suppose the participants choose to exercise
the Law of Two Feet, and just don't want to deal with all that "diversity
stuff" -- at least as the "experts" define "diversity", and "stuff". And
then I think you said something about: "whether OS is the right container?"

On the question of the appropriateness of OS for "Diversity Adventures", I
think it is to the point that one the primary pre-conditions for "doing" an
OS, for whatever reason, is the presence of Diversity, measured and defined
in the broadest possible terms. To this we could add: A real serious issue
that people care about, Massive complexity, lots of passion and complexity,
and a very short fuse (real urgency!). Sounds like a good fit to me.?

Practical experience (at least my practical experience) tells me the fit is
more than theoretical. In fact, over the years the single most significant
wonderment of watching folks in Open Space has been how groups manifesting
radical diversity, usually attendant with serious conflict, are enabled to
deal with each other respectfully and even affection, all the while coping
with complex issues in a productive ways. Perhaps even more remarkable was
that none of this was prefaced or accompanied by any sort of Diversity
Training, conflict management, or mediation. They did it all by themselves,
no help needed or wanted. 

My take-away from this experience (and it has been a universal experience,
no exceptions) is that much, perhaps most, of what we collectively do and
have done under the heading of Diversity, conflict management, and mediation
may be very useful academic exercises from which we have learned a great
deal. But when it comes to the practicalities of dealing with the issues at
hand (conflict, disrespect, and other nasty stuff) my experience has been
that given sufficient time/space, the people can handle it all by
themselves. Which has several added benefits: it is quicker and cheaper. But
best of all it provides the people with a life lesson that is theirs for
life. I recognize that my experience and conclusion may not be widely
shared, but I am struck with them.

When it comes to specifically dealing with Diversity, I have found that
things really only get better when diversity is seen as a magnificent,
essential benefit and no longer as a problem to be solved. Making this
switch is best accomplished by experience, when the people involved
encounter "The Other" in a common, purposeful task -- and best of all when
the task is successfully accomplished. Suddenly, all those nasty, stupid,
weirdoes that I never wanted to meet become peers, colleagues, and even
friends. I know it sounds like magic, and it does seem like magic as you
watch it. And I have seen it take place 1000's of times. So at the end of
the day, I have found myself disinclined to engage in Diversity Programs.
Just identify a common issue, open the space, and magic usually breaks out. 

Harrison  





-----Original Message-----
From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
Jeff Aitken
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 3:02 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Wonderful video of two journalists running a short
Open Space

Great to see this! What courage for two OS newbies to jump in like that.

I'm curious about other experiences of hosting conversations about diversity
using Open Space.

I co-facilitated a daylong OS for the faculty at a graduate school,
sponsored by the Faculty Diversity Committee, and it was a very useful day
of conversations and reflections.

I have also seen trained diversity facilitators convene sessions in OS where
important and powerful conversations are beautifully held, in part because
of their training in doing so.

There is a question whether OS is the right container when, for example,
people can use the law of mobility to avoid conversations which might
trouble their worldview. Or when, for example, the only people who convene
conversations about sexism in the workplace are women. (Extend the example
to racism, homophobia, etc.)

What's your experience? Any ideas about theme or invitation or resources
(like the posters) to help enhance the learning and transformation that's
possible?

Jeff
San Francisco



On 6/9/14, Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Love it Peggy...!  Great idea to have the short data posters spread 
> out in a few places.
>
> Thanks for sharing!
>
> Suzanne
> On Jun 9, 2014 11:32 AM, "Peggy Holman" <peggy at peggyholman.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I believe I wrote a while back about some journalists I've been 
>> coaching long distance on opening space.  Check out this wonderful 
>> video of their latest effort.
>>
>> I'm grinning for them!
>>
>> http://www.wecreatehere.net/2014/06/03/video-empowering-communities-c
>> onversation-entrepreneurship-diversity-intersect/
>>
>>
>> Peggy
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> 425-746-6274
>> www.peggyholman.com
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