My experience is that the time you described is the worst time for a space invader to try and control the process because at that point it is moving into full fledged chaos. So that is one point in your favour. However, I think you handled the situation well by asking her to post a topic. If pressed I would clarify with her that what she was saying makes sense, and it's useful to invite people who are interested to do it with her.
As I was saying this stuff, I think I would stand close to her and allow the chaos in the room to develop it's own momentum. It would be important not to let her comanndeer the troops. That might be another way to have handled it, but it would have had the same result, so basically was there anything wrong with how you handled it? It would be interesting to know if the woman forgot her concern once the discussions started or whether or not she held onto that stake and let it bother her as much as it did you! My suspicion, and it's only a hunch, is that she probably figured out how things worked and got busy rather than dwelling too much. It's a fine line between leaving people to their own devices and abandonning them. But that's what holding the space is about. And you obviously held the space and let it remain open so that the group could get down to it. Now, I would like to invite YOU to start a discussion at http://www.tmn.com/new on stories of handling space invaders. I have a few as do others.... Chris -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Consultation - Facilitation Open Space Technology http://www.geocities.com/chris_corrigan 108-1035 Pacific Street Vancouver BC V6E 4G7 Phone: 604.683.3080 Fax: 604.683.3036 cor...@interchange.ubc.ca * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed
