Cameron wrote: "What would you recommend focusing my precious study time on considering that I am not a facilitator, nor do I really have any experience in it(other than conducting meetings at work). I have met some "facilitators" however, and am blown away at how, well, "easy" and smoothly meaningful conversations happen in their hands. I wanna be like that!"
Cameron, it may well be that your fundamental advantage at the moment is that you are NOT a facilitator. In working with folks over the years as they move into Open Space it has become clear that a major portion of the effort is more about "unlearning" than learning. The practice of Facilitation, as it has evolved, is often understood to be the collection of various tools and techniques that are then "done" to, or for, people. And the expert Facilitator is understood to be the person with the biggest tool box. Such people, when they show up at an Open Space training program, are usually disappointed and sometimes quite miffed because it turns out that OS does not fit comfortably into that tool box. >From the beginning it has been clear that anybody with a good head and a good heart can "do" Open Space, for it is less about technique than personal authenticity. People who truly (authentically) possess a good head and a good heart naturally create nutrient time/space in which others may realize their dreams and aspirations, which usually takes place in deep and authentic conversations with their fellows. The facilitator's role in OS is less about doing than being. At a practical level, I have found it useful to think of one more thing NOT to do each time I have the privilege of opening space. Things have now gotten down to pretty much of the bare bones, although I am sure there is more that I might let go of. My suggestion to you is quite simple -- just read the book and do it. The book in this case is "Open Space Technology: A User's guide." (Berrett-Koehler,1997). Folks tell me that it provides just about all you will need to know in order to get started. From there on out, the fun begins. And while I think it is absolutely true that "anybody with a good head and good heart" can "do" OS -- it may in fact take you a lifetime to "be" it well. Certainly true for me. Harrison NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!! hho...@verizon.net Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Kevin Cameron Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 6:15 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: New member introduction Thanks everyone for your reply. I'm still trying to check out (I'm trying to force myself to stay offline as much as possible when out of the office) all the links and leads you guys sent. @Patricia: > This is the US response to the UN Decade that was launched just last March - and initially > introduced to the UN by the Japanese. The Partnership's international liaison, Will Duggan (contact > info on uspartnership.org site), can give you some contact names for Japanese participants in the > Decade - might be a good way to meet like-minded people. Interesting that you should write this, before I got a "real job" I had some fanciful ideas for on online (I was a web-developer before sustainability geek) education community for sustainability. I'll have to get in touch with them. > I sparked to your message also because my son lives in Tokyo and I have very much enjoyed visiting > him. If your ever back here, let me know. What is your son here for? > I don't know if you encountered folk schools during your time in sweden, not the school itself, but some very unique and impressive people who have attended them, and played a little part in the potential planning of a new one. @Lisa: > If you have the funds to travel for taking a workshop with others, you > could ask the folks in Taiwan if they are giving a learning workshop > soon. If you or a funding organization are interested, I can also come > give a learning workshop in Tokyo That sounds interesting. I have the funds to send me someplace else, though Canada sounds more attractive than Taiwan (no offence, Taiwan) but I doubt I have the funds to bring you here :). Unless I could swing something with a client, which I will keep in the front of my mind... >Before I walked into a workshop on Open Space where Harrison was > teaching this marvelous method, I was a facilitator - I've been one for > over 30 years. I have also been an interactive learning specialist > (helping people who teach redesign their curriculum or learn how to > teach using more participant-centered activities rather than lecturing). What would you recommend focusing my precious study time on considering that I am not a facilitator, nor do I really have any experience in it (other than conducting meetings at work). I have met some "facilitators" however, and am blown away at how, well, "easy" and smoothly meaningful conversations happen in their hands. I wanna be like that! @all: I'm sure the answer is "word of mouth" and "building relationships", but I still gotta ask, where do you folk's clients come from? @Julie: > to OST because it embraces many of the same assumptions that > Transformative Mediation, which I practice, does. Dang! Just one more thing I am compelled to research ;P Cheers, Kevin Cameron http://www.bastish.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/bastish/ * * ========================================================== 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