<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class=""><div dir="auto" class="">Hi Jake,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I’m thinking of your insidership and your existing relationships to and in the team and that you might be considered as more than a pure facilitator. I come to think of Dee Hock’s advice to devote – in addition to devoting 50% of all efforts to manage self –</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">25% to manage superiors (“Without their consent and support, how can we follow conviction, exercise judgment, use creative ability, achieve constructive results or create conditions by which others can do the same?”), </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">20% to manage peers (“Without their respect and confidence little or nothing can be accomplished. Our environment and peers can make a small heaven or hell of our life.”)</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">(and only the rest 5% to subordinates, which is closest to the standard facilitator’s focus of – “introduce them to the concept, induce them to practice it, and enjoy the process.”)</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Kindly,</div><div class="">Thomas</div><div class=""><br class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><!-- signature open --><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" class="">___<br class=""><br class="">All is possible together</span><!-- signature close --></div><div dir="ltr" class=""><br class="">On 8 Feb 2020, at 20.44, Jake Yeager via OSList <<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" class="">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a>> wrote:<br class=""><br class=""></div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">Many questions these days. Thank you for entertaining them. :)<div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This past week, I facilitated an eight-hour Open Space split across two half-days. The attendees were an Organizational Development team, of which I am a member. My AVP sponsored the event, because we had recently merged with another group, and there was lack of clarity. So, our theme was: "Who are we, and how do we collaborate to drive success?" Also, my AVP--who is a leader in Learning & Development--wanted to experience Open Space in order to understand it better as it is new to my firm.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Since I am a fledgling facilitator, I chose not to participate in the breakout sessions, even though I am part of the group. I wanted to make sure that I provided the best experience for everyone, and participating would have dampened my focus. I shared this with my manager, after she inquired after the first day why I had not participated.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Long story short, after the event, my manager had major concerns how I facilitated the event. I had gone for long walks while the group was working, and she felt that was very risky. I told her that the facilitator's role is to remain "invisible" to allow the group to build its capacity for self-management. She said that our firm's culture is very hierarchical and that "baby steps" are needed. She suggested even intervening in a group if it gets "stuck." I believe I mentioned that intervening is not part of Open Space facilitation. <br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">So my question is: how do you "hold space?" I found Chris's description on his website: "an Open Space Technology facilitator is neither seen nor heard, but his or her presence is 'felt.'" I guess by going for long walks and not being in the room, my presence was not "felt." One of my colleagues provided feedback that by not being there, it didn't seem like I cared. This is definitely not the case. I went on long walks as an act of love, not negligence. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Anyway, would love your thoughts.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks,</div><div class="">Jake<br clear="all" class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class="">________________</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">When the mind is quiet, the sun of your heart will shine once again, and you will be free of problems.</div><div class=""> - <a href="http://www.robert-adams.info/" target="_blank" class="">Robert Adams</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><span class="">_______________________________________________</span><br class=""><span class="">OSList mailing list</span><br class=""><span class="">To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org" class="">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a></span><br class=""><span class="">To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org" class="">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a></span><br class=""><span class="">To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:</span><br class=""><span class=""><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org" class="">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a></span><br class=""><span class="">Past archives can be viewed here: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" class="">http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a></span></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>