[OSList] Quite a few questions about Sponsors, empathy and a safe open space for all it’s participants

Sun Jan 5 10:23:43 PST 2020

Hi Sagit. Now that I re-read my post, it sounds like a lot of work to do
both! It's good practice and more fun to work with others in calling and
hosting an open space meeting. But I know there are situations in which a
person can play both roles without problem.

Jeff
San Francisco

On Sun, Jan 5, 2020, 10:05 AM Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Sagit. I read your question to be: Must there be a separate person in
> the sponsor role? Different from the facilitator?
>
> And my response is no. One person can fulfill the roles of sponsor and
> facilitator of an open space meeting. One person who has an idea for a
> theme, and a list of people to invite and greet into a circle, can
> facilitate that open space meeting.
>
> It might not happen very often, as typically there will be different
> people playing the two roles, and their relationship and interaction will
> be important.
>
> Do you have interest to both sponsor and facilitate an open space meeting?
> Any concerns about it?
>
> Jeff
> San Francisco
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 5, 2020, 7:56 AM Birgitt Williams via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> during the OST, what makes a difference are decisions about the theme,
>> length of the OST, length of sessions, who gets invited and how, reports or
>> no reports, and whether there is an intention for prioritizing/action post
>> the OST.
>>
>> The biggest reason for good prep with many things to consider is to
>> enable the organization to get the biggest harvest possible out of what was
>> done in the OST.
>>
>> There are varying viewpoints in our discussion forum about prep, givens,
>> debrief, and later on peer with peer accountability meeting. There is a
>> difference in expectation about follow up within an intact organization and
>> whether the work has been done for the intact organization to have the
>> capacity to take advantage of what comes out of the OST. This is less
>> important for a one time conference with the follow up dependent on the
>> individuals. In my many years of working with intact organizations, using
>> OST as one of the processes/tools to accomplish a transformative change, I
>> am a strong advocate for good prep and follow up.
>>
>> The fantastic leaders that I have had the privilege to work with are
>> committed to the transformation, committed to making the most of the OST
>> meetings that they sponsor, and they are in the front line of holding
>> steady with liberating structures to allow a participatory architecture to
>> do its magic.
>>
>> I was telling a story to someone yesterday. An OST meeting about an
>> apparently unsolvable problem. The right prep and follow up. Acton plans.
>> Approval at the government level of the 10 year plan. Plan accomplished in
>> two years.
>>
>> in genuine contact,
>> Birgitt (facilitating and teaching and promoting OST since 1992..with joy)
>>
>>
>> *Birgitt Williams*
>> *Supporting You in Developing Your Leadership*
>> Author,The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership
>> <http://www.genuinecontactway.com/>
>> Senior Consultant, President Dalar International Consultancy, Inc
>> <http://www.dalarinternational.com/>
>> Founder Genuine Contact Program
>> <http://www.dalarinternational.com/genuine-contact>. Co-owner Genuine
>> Contact Co-owners Group, I <https://genuinecontact.net/about/co-owners/>
>> nc
>>
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>>
>> On Sun, Jan 5, 2020 at 9:50 AM Harrison Owen via OSList <
>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>>> This may be  a cop out on the questions… but one of the most amazing
>>> things in the 30+ years I have been privileged to explore Open Space is
>>> that common people, dealing with a common issue … while sitting in a
>>> circle, creating a bulletin board and opening a market place – and then
>>> going to work … always seem to get something useful done. And NEVER (in my
>>> experience) has blood been shed. It can get terribly exciting, and I
>>> suspect the facilitator is the most nervous. I have also heard of
>>> innumerable suggestion for good things to do before, during, and after …
>>> but none … to the best of my knowledge have made any difference. This does
>>> not mean that people can’t and don’t kill each other, and of course we seem
>>> to be on the edge of doing that (killing) more extensively at the moment
>>> BUT I have never seen that take place in Open Space. It doesn’t even take
>>> place when the participants are sworn and professional killers of each
>>> other. Now there’s a mystery.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Harrison
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On
>>> Behalf Of *???? ???? ????? via OSList
>>> *Sent:* Sunday, January 5, 2020 5:50 AM
>>> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> *Cc:* שגית רוסו יצחקי
>>> *Subject:* [OSList] Quite a few questions about Sponsors, empathy and a
>>> safe open space for all it’s participants
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I’m Sagit,  another one of Tova’s students :)
>>>
>>> I'm interested in learning more about three different topics so thank
>>> you so much for sharing your experience and opinions in one or all!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Sponsors -* how vital are they for opening a space?
>>>
>>> For example, in the case of an association that is dealing with a
>>> significant conflict. Since there is no external body that runs the
>>> association, the question arises as to whether open space can be held
>>> without sponsors? Can a community have an open space without a sponsor?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Some questions about *empathy and open space -*
>>>
>>> The first one will be - Is empathy important for a successful open space?
>>>
>>> And if empathy is important -
>>>
>>> How can empathic space be created and maintained for all its partners
>>> and voices that want to be heard?
>>>
>>> What techniques and tools do you use to bring empathy to the open space
>>> and how do you invite other participants to hold empathy together?
>>>
>>> Do you have any signs or metrics for measuring the levels of empathy in
>>> an open space?
>>>
>>>  Did you come across occasions where it was difficult or impossible to
>>> create an empathic space?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Creating an open space that allows all participants a safe and
>>> comfortable space for expressing themselves * *- *
>>>
>>> In Open Space participants are invited to stand up and offer their
>>> topics for conversation in the marktplace . I’m wondering whether people
>>> who are not accustomed to make their voices heard or such who are at some
>>> disadvantage (social, age, gender, origin etc.) Feel safe and comfortable
>>> initiating conversations in such a space?
>>>
>>> What are the ways you know for making the space truly safe and inviting
>>> for all its participants?
>>>
>>> How much does advance preparation contribute to their participation and
>>> what should it include, in your opinion?
>>>
>>> Thanks again for sharing,
>>>
>>> Best wishes,
>>>
>>> Sagit
>>>
>>>
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>>
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