[OSList] How do you "hold space?"

[Michael Herman]

Here's some of what I think is going on for me when facilitating... I do
sometimes leave the room, but not for what I'd call long walks.  If we're
in a hotel, I might have a reason to go retrieve something from my room,
pretty much out and back.  If it's a long walk, I might pass through all
the spaces we're using, on my way out and on my way back.  Mostly, I am
aware of awareness, swinging between how I am feeling as a body and how the
workspace is feeling to me, between what I am doing and what others are
doing, between doing things like picking up cups and not doing anything at
all.  Just sort of there taking care of everything, which includes myself.
And the reporting, if we're playing that way.  If there's a newsroom, it's
a good place to hang out, but I like to make passes through the rest of the
space.  I don't do other work, read a book, listen to music or anything
like that.  Unless you count glancing at headlines of a newspaper on a
table or in a hotel gift shop, or maybe scanning headlines online for a
minute or few, to give my attention a rest from the space.  But any of
those diversions are about being interested and paying attention to things
rather than leaving the group.  Nobody would see me as checked out.
Mostly, it's just being very aware of awareness and staying loose and
moving, inside and out, letting it go, letting the whole experience flow
through and around me.  There's nothing to do.  Even when the newsroom is
cooking.


--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
312-280-7838 (mobile)

MichaelHerman.com
OpenSpaceWorld.org




On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 12:25 PM Chris Corrigan via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Harrison has described as being “totally invisible but completely
> present.”  I rarely leave the room. But I also never intervene. If asked to
> help I respond with “what would you like to do? Why don’t you take care of
> it?” It’s about radical return of passion and responsibility to the people.
> It is indeed risky. But the reward is immense.
>
> Chris.
>
> _____________
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> www.chriscorrigan.com
>
> On Feb 8, 2020, at 12:45 PM, Jake Yeager via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> 
> Many questions these days. Thank you for entertaining them. :)
>
> This past week, I facilitated an eight-hour Open Space split across two
> half-days. The attendees were an Organizational Development team, of which
> I am a member. My AVP sponsored the event, because we had recently merged
> with another group, and there was lack of clarity. So, our theme was: "Who
> are we, and how do we collaborate to drive success?" Also, my AVP--who is a
> leader in Learning & Development--wanted to experience Open Space in order
> to understand it better as it is new to my firm.
>
> Since I am a fledgling facilitator, I chose not to participate in the
> breakout sessions, even though I am part of the group. I wanted to make
> sure that I provided the best experience for everyone, and participating
> would have dampened my focus. I shared this with my manager, after she
> inquired after the first day why I had not participated.
>
> Long story short, after the event, my manager had major concerns how I
> facilitated the event. I had gone for long walks while the group was
> working, and she felt that was very risky. I told her that the
> facilitator's role is to remain "invisible" to allow the group to build its
> capacity for self-management. She said that our firm's culture is very
> hierarchical and that "baby steps" are needed. She suggested even
> intervening in a group if it gets "stuck." I believe I mentioned that
> intervening is not part of Open Space facilitation.
>
> So my question is: how do you "hold space?" I found Chris's description on
> his website: "an Open Space Technology facilitator is neither seen nor
> heard, but his or her presence is 'felt.'" I guess by going for long walks
> and not being in the room, my presence was not "felt." One of my colleagues
> provided feedback that by not being there, it didn't seem like I cared.
> This is definitely not the case. I went on long walks as an act of love,
> not negligence.
>
> Anyway, would love your thoughts.
>
> Thanks,
> Jake
> ________________
>
> When the mind is quiet, the sun of your heart will shine once again, and
> you will be free of problems.
>  - Robert Adams <http://www.robert-adams.info/>
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