At 17:17 18-06-2001 -0700, Lisa Heft wrote:
Somebody tell me why we have periodic amnesia about letting go? About not messing up with the process?
Very interesting question, Lisa. According to Argyris and Schon(*), through the socialization process, we all have had "introjected" in our heads a Model of "theories of action" that they call Model 1. Some of the "governing variables" of Model 1 are: - maximize winning and minimize losing - unilaterally protect self and others. Every time a facilitator forgets to let go, or acts in a way that disempower the group (facilitating "too much", as in many methodologies) he is "unilaterally protecting others". And, in fact, he is also "showing off", so "winning" AGAINST the group. The point is that the others have not asked for and don't need that "over protection". When we say "trust the process" (OST), what we really are saying is "trust the self organization of the group", after it has been "liberated" from "normal" Model 1 rules, that have been replaced, for the time of the event, by Open Space "rules". And then "holding the space" means, imo, maintaining the group free of space intruders. There can be many such intruders, but the two we really must care about are (1) the sponsor; and (2) the facilitator himself!!!! (and of course other "facilitators" that would claim that "we must assure that ALL people speak" (including the ones that don't want to...)" or "try some facilitation rules of other methods", etc) Interesting isn't it? Now, and this is a contribution to Chapter XIII ("What Next?") of "the Book" (OST Guide ;-), I think that Argyris and Schon's Seminars to change from Model 1 to Model 2 are parcially innefective and take too much time. I think that OST, as it "changes the rules", has a capacity to help the group to (during the duraction of the the meeting) parcially put ALL rules off, including model 1. If this is true, repeating regularly OST with the same group, will facilitate not only the creation of an OSO, or an Inteactive learning Org, but also a community that is more "model 2 oriented" than before, and where "metanoia" (a "profound shift of mind" an is St Paul') is a commun feature. I think this can be "action researched" and would like to hear other opinions and experiences on this. Indeed, I have tryed to transmit to all of you my personnal way of feeling that metanoic process during and after OSonOS, Berlim, and would like to have others attentive to that and willing to report from the next OSonOS experience...I will not be with you in Vancouver, but should I be there my "issues" would be the relation betwen OST and Model 1/2 and with metanoia ;-) So please consider this as my "contribution" to OSonOS and i hope that a virtual forum will be opened this year as it was in Berlin - the ones that will not attend this year will be different, of course... Regards Artur (*) Lisa, I recommend you get their book "Theory in Practice" and check the model. Anyhow, as i will refer to it in a future post to the LOlist you can see already a picture of it in the following URL (and replacing the last 1 by 2 you can see the alternative Model 2): http://www.learning-org.com/images/0012SilvaModel1.jpg * * ========================================================== 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