[OSList] How do you "hold space?"

Sat Feb 8 15:04:10 PST 2020

There is also the possibility of sitting in the sessions, when you're part
of the group.  Tricky in the first go-round though.  When I do sit in, I
tend not to say very much, as I'm having a very diff experience than
everyone else.  I don't sit in sessions during first or last sessions, so
they get started without me and i'm ready for closing or evening news.  But
for this it helps for the group to have at least one experience of OS and
it's another layer of pulsation of awareness for the facilitator, between
the group you're in and the rest of the field.

--

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

MichaelHerman.com
OpenSpaceWorld.org

On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 3:58 PM Jeff Aitken via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Hi Jake. For me, to hold space is to attend to the field that extends
> beyond the center of the opening circle out to wherever participants are
> moving.
>
> Harrison's famous story is to be sitting at the hotel bar, while
> participants are following the law of mobility into breakouts and butterfly
> conversations around the grounds. Choosing your level of engagement is at
> the core of the law.
>
> It sounds like the feedback is to stay a bit closer to the center of the
> opening circle, so that the fact you are holding the field is more
> apparent. That's a practice in sensing the field.
>
> I often stay nearby for a while, then move away, then come back as the
> energy of the event turns toward closing.
>
> It also can take particular attention to hold space in an organization of
> which you are a member. If it seems ok for me to do it at all, I might also
> invite an outside cofacilitator who can notice subtle dynamics that i miss.
> Such as in the important transition after the OST into the daily work and
> dynamics of the organization.
>
> Jeff
> Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
>
> On Sat, Feb 8, 2020, 11:41 AM 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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