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At 12:22 PM 6/23/2003 +0400 Raffi Aftandelian wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>The facilitators didn't do many of
the things that I associate with<br>
OS's form and yet the event had many of the qualities of OS, though<br>
admittedly not all of them. This led me to wondering just how<br>
absolutely essential these pieces of the form are.</blockquote><br>
The important thing to remember (for me) is that Open Space is all about
enabling the natural powers of self-organization. As a natural power,
Self-Organization is already there, working, but maybe not as well as it
could. Under circumstances where self-organization is just clicking right
along -- no need for Open Space. You are already "there."
On the other hand, if a little (lot of) help is needed, that is where
Open Space fits in -- never doing more than you have do, and always
remembering to do one less thing -- just to see how much is really
necessary.<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>What wasn't done:<br><br>
1. no walking in a circle (the two co-facilitators sat at the head
of<br>
the room)</blockquote><br>
Walking the circle focuses and centers the group. If the group is already
focused, and knows where it is, save the effort and sit down.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>2. no attention to breath, request
to look about the room</blockquote><br>
Breathing is always nice, and when folks are so pre-occupied that they
forget, it is useful to remind them. But if they already have the
situation in hand (breathing in and out) why bother? As for "looking
around the room", I guess I do this (say this) more often than not.
I find people putting most of their attention on me (the
facilitator) and they "should be" focused on the true resources
for the day -- which is all around the room. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>3. the theme was framed very
generally and almost accidentally. We all<br>
knew why we were gathered. We usually leave the last day of the<br>
conference for planning the year ahead. No desired result was
framed<br>
either.</blockquote><br>
If everybody knows why they are present -- why bother with more words? In
such situations I have often gone with the No-Theme Open Space. The folks
already know it better than I could say it.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>4. clear explanation of the need to
draw on one's passion and to take<br>
responsibility for the session topic offered</blockquote><br>
Always a useful suggestion.<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>What was done:<br>
1. request to walk to center, write topic, write name, and post.
(this<br>
was done once, not three times as I understand is better)<br>
2. report forms given out<br>
3.<br><br>
Also facilitators took it upon themselves to tell us where we
should<br>
post the topics.</blockquote><br>
Sounds reasonable -- <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>But the energy of the sessions felt
very much like OS. I wouldn't call<br>
it full OS. </blockquote><br>
If you think that Open Space is the way we are (which I do) -- but
sometimes we forget -- then we are always in Open Space. Albeit
forgetfully. So the facilitator doesn't create or do a thing -- Just
reminds folks of what they already are. Some times this reminder requires
the Whole Enchilada -- and sometimes just a whisper will do. In the best
of times -- NO words are required.<br><br>
Harrison<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Harrison Owen</blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">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://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a><br><br>
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