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some thoughts on our role as facilitator...<br>
<br>
Harrison Owen wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid001401c4667b$af6f3d10$dc7dfea9@holaptop">
<pre wrap="">...And what about all those other great experiments -- Dialogue, Appreciative
Inquiry, Community Building, and I suppose "Circle practices" (although I am
not quite sure what they are)? Speaking just for my self -- I must say that
each of these have been profound teachers. From the practitioners of
Dialogue I have learned what intense and productive communication can be
like. From Appreciative Inquiry I have learned the incredible power of a
positive, appreciate approach to my fellow human beings. And from Scott Peck
and Co. I have learned much about the nature and function of effective human
community. Each of these has opened my eyes, sharpened my attention, and
raised my expectations in terms of what and how we can function at optimal
levels both individually and collectively. But my deepest learning occurs
when with open sharpened, eyes I see exactly the same things happening in
Open Space -- all by themselves, and all without the overt intervention of
some prescribed, facilitated process. I find my emerging conclusion to be
basically mind-blowing -- although some may take it to mean that I have
blown (lost) my mind. It seems to me that genuine dialogue, deep
appreciation of difference, and the manifestation of real community are all
the natural concomitants of any fully functional self-organizing system. If
this is true, the real focus should be on enabling/allowing the
self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do --
rather than trying to "fix" apparent and real problems encountered along the
way with special interventions and added processes, as fascinating as those
processes and interventions might be. As I said, Don't fix it if it ain't
broke -- just make sure that "it" (good old self organizing system) has
plenty of time and space in which to breath.
Harrison
</pre>
</blockquote>
Zelle writes:<br>
<br>
I'm oscillating between two prime pillars: 1) Learning and adopting tools
(Appreciative Inquiry, Dialog, etc.) to help us interact ultimately in a
state of grace*** 2) Living, being, experiencing as our path to learning
and as a way of life.<br>
<br>
***sidebar*** Living in a State of Grace means coming from a place where
peace is our ultimate goal in any relationship rather than striving to keep
the status quo of a relationship at any cost. When we hold onto our idea
of a relationship at any cost we are coming from a place of fear - fear of
loss, fear of pain - Living in a State of Grace does not mean we hold the
relationship as a sacred cow, but rather we hold the people involved as sacred.
I never want to see you walking down the street and feel I need to cross
over to the other side to avoid talking to you, whether we agree on certain
issues or not. To learn more about how to more fully live in a State of Grace
visit <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.stateofgracedocument.com***">www.stateofgracedocument.com***</a><br>
<br>
The way of being I hold is a paradox. In Open Space I can use the tools
I've learned towards better relationships with others and myself. And I can
practice being in Open Space, living as the waves and tides of my internal
and external world compel me to move, act, speak, listen, and be. I seek to
live by the principles of Open Space, since I see the act of formally opening
space as an acknowledgment of what is already out there to be lived. I need
neither skills nor advanced training to take responsibility for myself and
my passions, yet in my experience, I more richly engage in bountiful relationships
when I utilize skills and tools which I have been taught or have created
to facilitate living the reality of responsibility and passion.<br>
<br>
To address what Harrison wrote:
<pre wrap="">"It seems to me that genuine dialogue, deep
appreciation of difference, and the manifestation of real community are all
the natural concomitants of any fully functional self-organizing system. If
this is true, the real focus should be on enabling/allowing the
self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do --
rather than trying to "fix" apparent and real problems encountered along the
way with special interventions and added processes, as fascinating as those
processes and interventions might be."</pre>
Having learned many skills and tools which enable me to better know how
I wish to be in relationship with others has greatly enhanced my ability to
act and move within a "formally" - being in circle, stating the law and principles,
creating a marketplace of ideas - opened space. I am more "fully functional"
within a "self-organizing system" because of the tools I have learned. Leaving
space open for others to learn techniques within the bounds of a "formally"
opened space, in my experience, can be beneficial. Our challenge as facilitators
of Open Space is to know when to hold um and know when to fold um - know
when to offer aid in facilitating dynamically changing relationships and
when to simply hold space for each individual to find their own way and their
own learning. As I've seen from posts here and heard from discussions with
colleagues the ultimate path to knowing when to do what comes full circle
back to following our passion and our responsibility on an individual basis
as spirit arises. <br>
<br>
When "formally" holding space I like to provide opportunities for topics
to be posted relevant to facilitating the resolution of the questions addressed
in the invitation, including opportunities for learning tools and processes
that foster fruitful relationships. These opportunities must, in my opinion
be as voluntary as the other topics which arise. Often these opportunities
are offered outside of the "formally" opened space and are not a prerequisite
of being involved in an Open Space event.<br>
<br>
In my experience once I "formally" open space I rarely do anything but
hold space and try to bounce back any attempts to bring me in to facilitate
a discussion, by saying something like, "This part of the meeting is yours.
You have the ability and the responsibility to follow your own two feet and
solve problems and challenges on your own." Outside of "formally" opened
space I tend to still stay out of trying to "teach" something that I "know"
unless I am invited to do so.<br>
<br>
In my experience tools and skills which help us to be more fully present
in dynamic relationships (Appreciative Inquiry, Dialogue, State of Grace
Documents, Byron Katie's Loving What Is) focus on
<pre wrap="">"enabling/allowing the self-organizing system (which we all are) to do what it alone can do"</pre>
Do we need these tools to be and self-organize into active, responsible,
passionate bodies? - No. Do these tools enable and allow self organizing
systems to be more fulfilling, fruitful, and rewarding? - In my experience,
Yes. As long as these tools and skills are not "required" as a ticket for
admission into a seemingly open space.<br>
<br>
With Grace and Love, <br>
<br>
Zelle <br>
<br>
************ <br>
Zelle Nelson <br>
Engaging the Soul at Work/Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.stateofgracedocument.com">www.stateofgracedocument.com</a>
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:zelle@maureenandzelle.com">zelle@maureenandzelle.com</a> <br>
office - 828.693.0802 <br>
mobile - 847.951.7030 <br>
<br>
Ravenswood - Isle of Skye <br>
2021 Greenville Hwy <br>
Flat Rock, NC 28731 <br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid001401c4667b$af6f3d10$dc7dfea9@holaptop">
<pre wrap="">----- Original Message -----
From: "Artur Silva" <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:arturfsilva@yahoo.com"><arturfsilva@yahoo.com></a>
To: <a
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"><OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU></a>
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: the dark side of circle practices
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">--- chris macrae <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:wcbn007@easynet.co.uk"><wcbn007@easynet.co.uk></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">The process starts erring to absolute democracy of
everyone must have
equal time contributions to speak at each phase
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">(...) In other
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">word's the circle's communal harmony ... can
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">co-create such
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">deep love of nice
behaviours to each other that it misses the biggest
spiral out above our
communal thinking's common denominator
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">That's interesting, Chris.
I have been, at times, in situations like that one -
circles (or squares) where everyone must "be in
place", must "speak in his turn" and must have a "nice
behavior".
They call this democratic, but in fact it is a
dictatorship. In a democracy I can stay silent if I
want. When everyone is obliged to speak that is not
democratic. This can be a "rules' dictatorship"
(created by the rules previously defined,) a "leader's
dictatorship" (the leader(s) imposes that everyone
must speak), or even a more interesting type - a
"majority's dictatorship" (where the rule is created
at the moment by the majority).
Apart from claiming to be democratic, this type of
groups/sessions also claim that they are following
"good principles". The two I have heard more often are
"appreciation" (like in "appreciative inquiry") and
"dialog".
Democracy (and Open Space) are made of dialogs AND of
discussions. If one suppresses discussion and impose
dialog (as in "everyone must be nice to each other and
hear the other with appreciation") then there is no
democracy and no open space, I think.
Apart from the fact that there are some people that I
don't want to hear with appreciation (say, Bush, to
give only one example) the point is even more strange.
"Playing the appreciative game" (an expression I have
created just know) is only one form of "playing games"
- and that is the essence of Argyris and Schon's Model
1.
If, in a meeting or organization, one imposes dialog
and appreciation, then a close session or organization
will come to place.
Artur
PS: I never heard to call this "circle" and even less
Open Space. But I would not be too surprised if some
would call that. I have already referred to a
respectable group of practitioners of "Communities of
Practice", USA based, that not long ago claimed that
they had used "Open Space" (OST) in a meeting because:
- they assembled in a circle
- they gave participants the opportunity to ADD issues
to a large group of issues pre-prepared by the
organizers
- they divided the large group in small groups to
discuss those issues (by choice of the organizers, if
I recall well - but I recall well that there was no
reference to "the law" - people were not expected to
leave their group! That would not be considered
"appreciative" to the other group members, I
suspect...)
But don't worry about what some people do "in your
name", Harrison. You can always remember what some
have done (and are doing) in His name. And at least
about you I know that you exists - something I am not
prepared to say about the Other...
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="$mailwrapcol">--
ÐÏ à¡± á</pre>
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