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At 09:22 AM 7/22/2002 +0100, Martin Leith wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Douglas,<br><br>
Thank you for daring to challenge one of the orthodoxies of Open
Space<br>
facilitation.</blockquote><br>
I guess if we ever get to the point that we have orthodox dogma that
takes courage to challenge, we are truly in deep doodoo. For something
that began life inspired by two martinis, this would be a sad fate
indeed. As near as I can figure out, the 18 year experience with Open
Space has been one of constant sharing and challenge out of which has
emerged a practice/approach which works. And if it doesn't we change it.
All of the things Martin and Douglas mentioned just showed up over the
years, seeming to be good ideas at the time -- and over the years what
worked stuck, and what didn't didn't. So welcome to the continuing
challenge and sharing. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Maybe the facilitator stays out of
the way unless feeling *deeply moved* to<br>
participate - unless her or his non-participation does a disservice to
the<br>
group (for example, by witholding vital information or
insights).</blockquote><br>
This is pretty close to what I think most of us do. There are certainly
times when I not only participate in discussions, but will initiate them.
For example in our annual OSONOS. At the beginning when I was the host --
I suppose I was as actively involved as anybody. I felt free to do that
if only because the group itself seemed perfectly competent to hold the
space for itself. Marvelous. But even in those situations where I was
participating in / convening a session, I had to keep clear in my head
what my primary responsibility was -- holding the space for others. The
problem, I found, with my active participation when I was also the
facilitator is that I tended to get confused, or more exactly get sucked
into the discussion. Then there are other times -- my recent experience
in Rome, for example with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Holding
space in that situation was definitely a full time job. So for me, there
is a choice, and I do make it -- but I make based upon a prior
understanding of what my primary function is. When that function is ably
fulfilled by the group or some other person, I feel free to fully
participate. When I don't, I don't. I guess there is also another
important aspect to the facilitator's role as being separate from that of
the group. It comes as a powerful challenge to what I call the expert
syndrome -- the notion that seems to afflict many people that they have
no power, authority or knowledge of their own -- they have to have the
expert. The net effect is a learned helplessness and passivity which is
the end as far as I am concerned. I want to say to folks, and back it up
with my walk, talk, and mode of being -- look to yourself. And the
experience is that they do -- and most usually are pleasantly surprised
to find that they are not dunces. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>How about some more orthodoxy
challenges? Here are a few for starters:<br><br>
* Participation must be voluntary</blockquote><br>
This one comes pretty close to a "rule" for me. And the reason
is all about choice and responsibility. When people are forced into
any situation both choice and responsibility go out the window, and with
their absence personal and group performance is pretty abysmal.
<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>* People start off sitting in a
circle</blockquote><br>
It seems to work. Would something else work? Well we have certainly tried
all sorts of configurations over the years, and when it comes to intense,
engaged discussion, the circle seems to win hands down. The geometry of
the circle makes sure that everybody is eyeball to eyeball and on an
equal footing (sitting) Seems to me to be a good starting
point.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>* The facilitator must walk the
circle, and in a solemn manner</blockquote><br>
Again -- it seems to work. I don't know about the "solemn" part
-- I guess it depends on the situation, but I can't imagine a "fun
and games" approach with my Israeli and Palestinian
friends.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>* Always display the four
principles and one law on the walls - oh, and be<br>
sure to include a few pictures of butterflies and bees, or the magic
won't<br>
work</blockquote><br>
I just find it a nice touch -- and usually improves drab hotel walls and
makes it "our space" -- Don't like it? Don't do it. No magic
involved.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>* Post the session reports on the
wall</blockquote><br>
Again -- this is just a matter of experience. Folks seem to like to see
and touch what is happening around them. I have tried just keeping it all
online, but that seems to loose something. No hot bodies crowding around
the latest news. Not essential -- but nice.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Thanks again Douglas. It's high
time we challenged these basic assumptions.</blockquote><br>
And thank you Martin for continuing to do what I think we have been doing
all along -- share and challenge. And if that is not the case, now would
be a very good time to get started. Space is definitely open for all of
the above.<br><br>
Harrison<br><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com\~owenhh</a><br><br>
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