[OSList] Definitions...

[Michael M Pannwitz]

Dear colleagues,

reading this from Mark Carmel in the note of Dec 5

"What IS Open Space Technology if not to inspire participants into 
action to pursue their passion to accomplish their aims? Their purpose? 
To become successful in their life?"

made me wonder about this statement and about the many other things OST 
is supposed to achieve, accomplish, etc.

I suspect that all statements in this direction are manifestations of 
the assumptions we find to be pretty solid truths.

The manifestation of my assumption around OST goes like this
"OST is a tested and reliable approach to expand space for the unfolding 
of the power of selforganisation."
Nothing more, nothing less. This also keeps it entirely open und 
unpredictable what happens when the force has a better go at it in 
comparison to the normal conditions under which is restricted.
When we take a look at what happens in OST events we can see myriads of 
things, including folks taking action on stuff that they care for and 
are ready to fight for.

In my thinking I believe  I as facilitator should not worry or bother 
myself with what can be achieved with OST. I simply know that there will 
be more space for the force. What happens is definitely  of interest to 
all the folks involved.
And usually they know but dont take much notice of the fact, that they 
have been doing and achieving all this stuff under the influence of the 
force of selforganisation, all by themselves. They dont really think 
much of it because they apparently are pretty happy with what they are 
doing. And any attempts on my part (or other facilitators) to get them 
interested on what wonderful things they have been achieving (Community, 
Leadership of All, Selfmanagement, Vision building, Goal setting....they 
are rather bored with those exercises and want to spent their energies 
for getting on with what is at hand for them).

Definitions of such things as "success" are endless. In the context of 
an OST event I have become more and more interested in not being noticed 
after the market place activities. The less I am noticed the more 
success I feel.

Greetings from Berlin
mmp


-- 
Michael M Pannwitz
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49 - 30-772 8000
mmpannwitz at gmail.com