Opening Space? I can certainly understand what Michael is talking about. For sure the sponsor(s) invites the people, and with this invitation, space is open(ing). But there is moment when you as facilitator enter the circle for the first time when (it seems to me) it is all in your hands. For a group's first time in Open Space this is a scary, strange, weird moment. Not a shred of evidence about what will happen, where they will go -- Just some person out there saying something like, "Welcome to Open Space." Even the sponsor (perhaps most especially the sponsor) is in some real state of confusion, not to say profoundly nervous. For that moment, and for the next 10 - 15 minutes, it is all in your hands. I don't think it is stretching a point to say that you hold their lives in your hands -- and in some cases I have been in, that is literally true. I would guess that at that point you are just about as visible as a person can get. For sure there is nobody else out there with you. But then things change, and I think they radically change. After a brief few words of introduction, the participants are invited to take over the circle, and with a large group, you (the facilitator) are reduced to the role of microphone stand. And not long after that, you basically disappear. I see this as a dance which models essential behavior. At least central behavior for life in Open Space. When I enter the circle, I enter it with real passion, usually not for the issues themselves, but for the people's potential. And I know I am very visible with my passion. But then I get out of the way, making room for the even larger passions of the people. So I see all this as a progression from central visibility to invisibility. And that progression effectively creates a vacuum (I think) which draws the people in. But then they too will disappear -- at least disappear to the several groups or out on the lawn as butterflies. In/Out, In/Out -- breathing so to speak. Or something.
And Michael, I have watched you do the thing on multiple occasions. And I can tell you that when you enter the circle you are really there, really Michael, and anything but invisible. Good show. And then you leave. . . Harrison 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 Michael M Pannwitz Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:25 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: What is the largest group size for OS-role of facilitator Dear Christine, dear Peggy H., on my erratic facilitator-journey on trying out ways to in some manner approach the seemingly impossible mode of "totally present and absolutely invisible" I have asked myself in which way my perception of my role as facilitator of OST events influences this and especially how my practice as facilitator is congruent with that perception. This has been and keeps being a tough excercise for me even though I have been in the open space business for a decade now but on top of 30 years of being a consultant with entirely different agendas and views. Ok, here are two things I have been trying and practicing which came to my mind when Peggy said in a recent mail "I brought together about 2100 as well-..." and you said in your mail below "I opened the space....": -whenever the opportunity arises, I point out to myself and to the sponsor,the planning group, the team, etc. that it is the sponsor who invites people to come to an event (that often leads to having my name move way down in the invitation, making me a little less visible)and does everything possible to make it inviting and attractive, in other words, the sponsor "brings" people together -similarly, the information that it is the sponsor that opens the space and that I come in to introduce the technology and contribute to keep the open space open and holding the time.... Now, this stuff keeps me busy and I am very interested to hear how you and all you others on the list have fared with being "totally present and absolutely invisible". What has worked for you, what not in holding time and space? Especially under the consideration that from my experience to date the function of "creating time and space" is not my part but rather that of the sponsor and the participants who created time and space by showing up. Greetings from Berlin mmp Christine Whitney Sanchez wrote: > Deb, > > At the 2005 Girl Scout National Convention, I opened the space on the topic > of governance for over 1,600 delegates. The report for this project can be > found at http://i.b5z.net/i/u/540396/i/GSUSAfinalreport06.ppt > > Thanks for asking and good luck with your article. > > Christine > > Christine Whitney Sanchez > KAIROS Alliance Inc. > 2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue > Phoenix, AZ 85048 > 480.759.0262 > www.kairosalliance.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah > Hartmann > Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 11:31 AM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: What is the largest group size for OS? > > I'm wondering: what is the largest group size, as experienced by the people > on this list? > > I'm writing an article and wanted to say "up to 500 people or more" > thinking of a series of OS sessions run in Ontario, Canada. > But I'm curious... has it been used with bigger organizations or > conferences? > > Thanks > deb > * * ========================================================== 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