I think we're in agreement here Harrison about what we do, just not as to whether we use the term or not<br>
<br>
I have been in that dreaded position of actually having a member of the
group, one who weilded much power and influence, grab the mic and try
to demand that we do this another way. And my reaction to it was
to think about what he ws saying and conclude that my responsibility
was to the openeing of space. I thanked him for his thought and
suggested that actually most of the people who had gathered were
promised an Open Sapce and that's what we were here to do. I
don't know how happy he was but the group got on with their work and
some very very difficult issues were broached and dealt with.<br>
<br>
So I know a little about what Harrison is saying, and to some exten I
don;t disagree with the idea that certain people in certain places are
going to react strongly against our expectations of the event and space
will feel like it is closing. We could call these people space
invaders, but if that's the case, there has only been that one
person. On another occaision a person derailed the process ina
perfectly acceptable way, stepping out from the circle and naming the
fact that sponsor had not levelled with the group and that there was a
need for the group to talk about the sponsor's agenda before opening
space. As it happened the sponsor had in fact pulled me aside
just prior to the beginning of the meeting and shared information with
me that was completley at odds with what the group was thinking.
In that case my partner and I simply acknowledged the truth of the
situation and left the room. I think what we did was to offer the
group the space that the sponsor had in fact, in secret, already closed.<br>
<br>
I guess my take on the whole thing is that the term "space invader"
doesn't quite catch the nuances of these interventions and it doesn't
capture the complexity of the dynamics that the situations
embody. When one is in the moment, all kinds of thoughts arise:
did we do this right? Is the problem with our framing of the
issue? Did I screw up? Is this person insnae? <br>
<br>
The judging mind is moving at a million miles and hour. The
intuitive heart is blocked, hiding, smothered by questions and
anxiety. If one can access that part of one's tool box - the
intuitive discerning heart - then a way forward will suggest
itself. Simply labelling the situation "space invader" and acting
out of that place hasn't been helpful to me, and I appreciate
Harrison's explication of these nuances.. <br>
<br>
So in the end, yes, I have banished the term. But what I have
tried to develop in it's place is a more open approach to the situation
at hand. <br>
<br>
After all, it's Harrison's own advice, that when conflict arises, open
a little more space. The trick is finding out where that space
needs to be and how much "doing" I am being called to..<br><br>
Chris<br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/9/05, <b class="gmail_sendername">Larry Peterson</b> <<a href="mailto:larry@spiritedorg.com">larry@spiritedorg.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">It was a marvelous OSonOS, to be
sure.<span> </span><span>Much
learning and connection.</span></span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">I was somewhat of a "space
invader" at Lisa's session.<span>
</span>I arrived late, got to get, respond to and pass on a question.<span> </span>I then remembered I had a report to
write and left.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">I have some difficulty of the
term "malignant space invader" but I agree with the direction of
the view.<span> </span>"Space Invader"
still reminds me of the early video game and shooting one down is now what were
are talking about here. <span> </span>However, I
recently experienced, during an Opening process (when folks were at the wall),
one person in a relatively small group trying to organize all the topics into a
logical format that allowed him to go to every session he wanted to.<span> </span>He was a tall, spiritually deep and
respected part of the event and everyone was following his attempts and
organizing the wall.<span> </span>I gently
tapped him on the shoulder and asked to talk with him.<span> </span>When I suggested that there might be
advantages to letting the order emerge rather than him organizing it for the
group he immediately understood what I was saying.<span> </span>In the closing circle, he and a dear
friend of his both saw that emergent order was possible and that going with the
flow could create surprising results.<span>
</span>He appreciated my "tap" and what he learned about
himself.<span> </span>Guiding group spiritual
practice can lead to attempts to control and he saw the possibilities of going
with a deeper flow.<span> </span>His friend now
saw some further steps he needed to take in his journey.<span> </span>Were that it was so easy always.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">I do think it is the role of the
OST facilitator to "open" the space and to me this is part of the
opening – dealing with those who would try to control it before the
momentum begins.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">Larry</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">Larry Peterson</span></font><font color="navy" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;"></span>
</font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">Associates in Transformation</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">Toronto, ON, Canada</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy;">416.653.4829</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><a href="mailto:larry@spiritedorg.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><font size="2">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">larry@spiritedorg.com</span></font></a></span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><a href="http://www.spiritedorg.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><font size="2">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">www.spiritedorg.com</span></font></a></span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></font></p>
</div><div><span class="e" id="q_1059c74db0d9b0af_1">
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</span></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>Consultation - Facilitation<br>Open Space Technology<br><br>Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
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