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

Mon Jan 6 03:47:54 PST 2020

Hello and good afternoon!

Great learning I’m doing here!

Thank you all for sharing this well of knowledge and experience!

Hi jeff,

totally agree, it is better to work with others!

I dont plan on both sponsoring and facilitating an open space right now but
I live in a small community and your refrasing my Q helped me understend
that being a sponsor is an importent role in the (minimal) construction of
the open space, and can be done in different ways but must be.

Thanks for bringing in your perspective and experience, Birgitt!

I loved what you said about the distinction between the ever existing open
space within communities and the use of the OST for better advantages.

It is very true that empathy can not and must not be forced. It can only be
given freely and willingly so I find this sentence to be very importent for
me “ Open Space Technology does not create or promise safe space. The
principles of OST and the one law provide guidance for people to self lead
including for taking personal responsibility for safety”

I see now the diference between having an empathic mindset when creating
and holding the space for Open Space event, on one side, and asking for the
participants to be empathic, on the other.

And also, my tendency to be (some might say over..) protective as not fully
trusting the self-organizing power of people when they freely choose to
“accept the invitation to attend”.

 “in our preparations we need to be aware of this and tailor our leadership
to allow people to overcome the reluctance to join and contribute”

Thank you for that, Rob!

best wishes,

Sagit

‫בתאריך יום א׳, 5 בינו׳ 2020 ב-23:55 מאת ‪R Chaffe via OSList‬‏ <‪
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org‬‏>:‬

> Thanks HO
> The act of joining the circle is a very powerful and for some confronting
> so in our preparations we need to be aware of this and tailor our
> leadership to allow people to overcome the reluctance to join and
> contribute.  The facilitator has a major responsibility to do their job
> well.  There is no prescriptive process just be at one with the sponsors
> and the participants.  Then be truely present.
> My experience has been as Harrison describes the lion and the lamb sit
> down together and in all my experience they leave with new understanding
> and in many cases new fiends. Yes, things do get done.
>
> Regards
> Rob
>
> On 6 Jan 2020, at 1:50 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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