[OSList] No silence in opening

[Lisa Heft - via OSList]

Harold,
I think the key is not to *add* something that is not for everyone, but to always work in a *way* that includes everyone. 
Which you I am sure do.

So designing ample time for a non-rushed Opening Circle is one of the keys. 
Giving time for both the quick responders and the reflective thinkers. Breathing.
Being calm and centered and not rushing your own way of speaking as you explain the principles and process.
All those things.

“there should have been” or “some people” is often what one person may have enjoyed or needed but not always a spark for changing something for 100% of people.

I think if there was enough time for Opening Circle, with clarity that you will wait as folks who may still be thinking, reflecting and writing have their time as well, you are making visible the power and nature of invitation for differences. And the breathing… is in there…
Lisa

>  
> On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 12:15 PM, Harold Shinsato via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
> The Open Space for the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center (http://civicrm.jrpc.org/rising-from-the-ashes) I facilitated this Saturday went extremely well. We had a full day of sessions and high levels of engagement, and the center's Executive Director said it way exceeded her expectations.
> 
> After sitting in the glow of so many thank you's, gratitude, and "good job" the day of the event and afterwards - I was surprised and quite annoyed by a bit of feed back second hand through email...
> 
>     "there should have been a 5-minute or so thinking time."
> 
>     "Some people needed more quiet time to gather there thoughts."
> 
> As people become more familiar with Open Space, my personal experience is that rather than a long awkward and anxiety filled pause as facilitators worry if anyone will post a session - instead, especially in public OST events, people launch and line up to populate the agenda. This has bothered me, but this is the first time I've heard the complaint of a *lack* of silence in the opening.
> 
> After my initial annoyance, and speaking with an Open Space colleague, my wife, and another space holding professional, I wondered if this weren't actually something that can help there be authentic open space, and not just a cargo cult going through the motions.
> 
> I'm pondering a way to help there be space before people come to the center to announce their sessions - but without doing some heavy facilitated silence or meditation process.
> 
> Any thoughts, suggestions?
> 
>     Thank you!
>     Harold
> 
> 
> -- 
> Harold Shinsato
> harold at shinsato.com
> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush

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