Hi, I think trusting the principles includes trusting the people and trusting the people leads us to behave according to the principles.
This may be a question of the chicken and the egg. It may not really matter which comes first as long as they are understood. I was explaining OST in an OD meeting last night and when came the moment to point out how OST was different from other processes, the feeling and thoughts that came to me were someting like this: - the fundamental values, attitudes or something of that nature on which OST is based and operates is trusting people and fostering openness and "positivity" (looking at things from the perspective of possibilities - Whatever happens, whoever is there, etc) - and the behaviour of letting go which is coherent with these "values". All of which are reflected in the OST principles. So trusting the principles includes trusting the people and vice versa. Diane Gibeault -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Jack Ricchiuto Sent: March 11, 2005 9:40 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Trust the Process OR Trust the People? Harrison, full alignment here. Would it be equally accurate to say that in OS, we are trusting both the principles and the people? I ask simply from the observation, working with facilitators over the years, that for some, the lack of (what I would call appreciative) principles lead to more emphasis on managing the process. Peace, Jack ~~~~~~~~~~ jack ricchiuto two.one.six/three.seven.three/seven.four.seven.five www.designinglife.com / www.appreciativeleadership.org ------------Original Message------------ From: Harrison Owen <hho...@comcast.net> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Date: Fri, Mar-11-2005 9:14 AM Subject: Trust the Process OR Trust the People? Several evenings ago I was invited to participate in a group considering "Strategic Planning in a Self-Organizing world." The topic really interested me and I was hoping for a great discussion. As it turned out, we had a great discussion, but the focus turned to Open Space which I suppose was understandable given my history. The conversation moved to a consideration of the role of the facilitator, and several people in the group made it quite clear that the notion of standing in the middle of a circle of 300 folks who may not like each other very much was very nervous making (at least to them). Question: How do you do that? Answer: "Trust the Process." And when that answer was given just about every one in the group nodded their heads in agreement as if Truth had been spoken. "Trust the Process" is, and has been, the mantra of group work for as long as I can remember, and when the words were spoken, my head started to nod along with all the rest. But suddenly my head stopped - mid-nod, so to speak. Something seemed quite wrong and I found myself thinking - NO - it is really all about trusting the people! The people present were largely OD (Organization Development) practitioners for whom the design of processes which enable groups of people to get useful work done is their stock in trade. And running those processes with multiple groups is how they make their living. I myself have been there and done that. Trusting the process (especially when things got a little bit hairy) is the standard mode of behavior and the accepted path to salvation when it seemed that everything was falling apart. So what was my problem? It suddenly dawned on me that we had been placing the process above the people, and in that act had assumed a god like position of omniscience. For the best of reasons (usually) we tacitly assumed that our infinite wisdom would enable those poor benighted souls to rise to the level of Inspired performers. With this new process - whatever it was - salvation was definitely close at hand, and we were present to usher in that beatific state. What an ego trip! And of course - the way forward was, Trust the Process. But . . . you might reasonably ask - Isn't Open Space simply another example of the same sort of thing? Just another "process." I am sure that most people who have heard about Open Space, and not a few who have actually used it, might think so. These are the sorts of people who show up in every training program I have conducted with the objective of "finding a new tool for their toolbox." In most cases, before the program has concluded they have either left early in frustration - or more likely have found their minds twisted in some curious ways. If Open Space is a process, just like any other process, it is definitely a very odd process. It was "designed" in less than an hour on the strength of two martinis. For a successful application, there are zero requirements for advance training for those who will participate, no special steps to remember, no private language to learn. The facilitator "does" next to nothing, and it always works provided nobody (and most particularly the facilitator) attempts to "manage" the process and/or take charge. Of course, on some level Open Space is a process - but it is a process that is totally internal to the people involved. There is nothing to learn, they are already there - although it may be true that there is much to un-learn. The role of the facilitator then becomes one of trusting the people to be fully what they already are. And more often than not that is what happens. Trust the People. Some thoughts on a beautiful March morning here in little old Potomac. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
