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G'day folks - a wee story....<br><br>
Last week I had the privilege and deep pleasure of sharing a presentation
with the very reverend and esteemed Brian Bainbridge.<br>
In a moment of magical madness (or inspiration) we had concocted the
title of a workshop for the annual Australasian Facilitators Network
(AFN) / International Association of Facilitiators (IAF) conference, held
in Adelaide. The conference theme was
<font face="Verdana" size=4>The Next Chapter: Showcasing the purpose of
Facilitation <br>
</font><font face="Verdana">and the title of our workshop was: 'Letting
Go - heretical or heroic?'<br><br>
We were expecting a relaxing, easy 1.5 hour session with a few colleagues
(there was 130 at the conference so we anticipated about 20 at our
workshop) and had prepared our session rather loosely over a coffee the
day before - or something like that. <br>
I suggested that we perhaps tell some stories about our experiences of
Open Space that illustrated these tensions around 'letting go'....and in
his own inimitable style, Brian responded with - whatever
happens....!<br><br>
On the day, over forty folks crowded into our circle and were poised
waiting for the 'delivery'....Brian and I looked at each other and I
could tell by the mischevious glint in his eye that he was saying,
'another fine mess you've got us into McKeague'... in his other eye, I
could clearly see the affirmation: 'let's walk our talk now...time to let
go...' <br><br>
And so we did. <br><br>
We had the SIGNS on the wall behind us and I told the first story about
my very first 'paid' Open Space event when the sponsors began to pull
individuals out of the conversation groups and form a rather exclusive
group right in the middle of the space - what should I do? They
were ruining the process. How dare they do this to the process (to me!).
Why aren't people rebelling? How disrespectful....<br>
And so I did the only thing I possibly could have done - I went outside
for a walk!<br>
(it turned out that the sponsors were responding to a 'directive' from
their Government Minister and needed to compile a reply
quick-smart....everyone in that room 'knew' that this was what was going
on - except me - and it was accepted as a normal part of the culture of
that department - no worries!)<br><br>
Well that raised a lot of curiosity among the mob of professional
facilitators - and the questions flowed effortlessly from the discussion
that followed...<br><br>
Brian followed with the story of an Open Space sponsored by a
multinational mining company and members of the local community - the
angst and anxieties embedded in the adversarial energies that gathered to
work out the best way forward when the local mine was ordered by Head
Honchos overseas to expand or close down - and the need for Brian to 'let
go' when the emotions were escalating and the conflict was running
hot.....<br><br>
Another round of conversations and questions and before we knew it, the
90 mins were gone and we'd only told one story each - we had prepared for
about three each....<br><br>
The feedback was positive and affirming - with some longer-term
facilitator colleagues remarking that, at last, they now understood what
the essence of Open Space was about....<br><br>
And so, the Catholic priest and the Irishman went off on their separate
ways, enriched and emboldened by their magical adventure into yet another
'mysterious space' where letting go, with positive intention and
willingness to flow with the energies that emerge, once again provided
the stuff of life....<br><br>
I just love this 'work'....<br>
and the people who do it - thanks Brian!<br><br>
Cheers<br>
Brendan<br><br>
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