Hi Raffi, Louise, and all,
Instead of bringing my own much-loved talking stick, I've shifted to
watching for what might emerge in the group as a meaningful "talking
object", maybe like your marker, Louise. That's the best because it's
attached to the group mind. It doesn't always happen though.
When I'm facilitating meetings, fidget toys can help people stay
focused. (koosh balls, chenille stems, etc.) I learned from a
colleague that some people can say difficult and/or emotional things
more easily when they have a soft stuffed animal to hold and pet. So,
I began including them in my facilitator kit.
Now, in case the talking object doesn't emerge, I bring a back-up
small stuffed toy that I think _could_ connect with the group. For
example, in a group where a "chickens and pigs" involvement metaphor
is strong, I will have a small stuffed pig on hand. In an
organization where the project name/metaphor was SOLAR, I found a
teddy bear with a sun embroidered on its belly. I look for a toy
people can hold in one hand with very soft, touchable "fur". (I've
drawn some interesting looks from other shoppers as I methodically
feel all the animals in a store to find the softest.)
As the toy travels the circle, I see some people just hold it while
they talk, then pass it on, and I see others who thoughtfully stroke
its fur or gently pull its ears while they think about what they have
to say. It seems to help some participants find their voice in the
large circle.
I prefer to find the emergent talking object, but as a backup the
stuffed toy works as well. Someone always wants/needs to take the toy
away as a reminder of the Open Space, and the group decides to give
it to them. Which feels like another nice touch to me. The object
stays in the group.
Diana
Diana Larsen
503-288-3550 www.futureworksconsulting.com
co-author, "Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great!"
Amazon Best Books of 2006
Top Ten Editors' Picks: computer & internet
http://tinyurl.com/ynacvb
Attend "Agile Open Northwest 2007: Agile for Real" January 30-31
2007, Portland OR
http://www.agileopennorthwest.org
On Jan 23, 2007, at 10:50 AM, louise wrote:
Hi Raffi,
I understand how the talking stick may feel awkward. To me, this is
a tool that helps to bring respect and dignity to a conversation
through deep listening. And it reminds us of the spirit of OST. As
you suggest, I usually leave it in the middle of the circle and
provide something else to handle. Such as a small rock, also known
as a power objet. i.e the power of the Word. I have a collection of
small rocks in my tool box, because people often leave with them...
I once used a marker as talking stick because this was all what we
had. And a very powerfull deep conflit resolution happened.
From experience with a talking stick, it is a lot less awkward, and
much more powerfull, whatever object we use, if people commit to
use it first. And it takes somme minutes before the tone and rythm
sets in.I alos ask people to personally deliver the talking object
to whoever they want to hear, instead of leaving it in the middle
of the circle as the tradition goes.
The trick is that it seem like such an simple tool. But, given the
usual discussion or debate mode we are used to, true conversation -
and this is what the talking stick invites us to, might need some
previous distinctions between those modes. I use the story of the
talking stick as an introduction to the conversation mode.
To me, using an object that the group can relate to as their own is
probably helpfull.
And I hope to be of some help here
Raffi Aftandelian <ra...@bk.ru> a écrit : Date : Mon, 22 Jan 2007
15:52:31 -0700
De : Raffi Aftandelian <ra...@bk.ru>
Objet: Re: OSONOS -- The Chaordic Dance Continues!
À : osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Dear fellow spaceholders,
Much of this discussion about the evolution of the OSonOS is about
how we
are developing as a community/organization, our relationship to our
own
traditions, and how we develop new ones.
I have attended three international OSonOS, in 2004, in 2005, and co-
hosted the last one. And have been on this list since 2001. From
where I
sit i see a second generation of spaceholders coming of age ("G2").
Might
there also be a G1/G2 divide or gap? Don't know. I do notice that the
discussion of the evolution of the OS on OS seems to be happening
at the
time of a significant evolution of the OS on OS, most specifically as
represented by the OS on OS by the Sea, which maybe I'll be able to
make
this year.
Why is this relevant? I am not entirely sure but I do know that it is
asking to be said.
I *do* want to add another question to further complicate the mix. I
implied in Moscow that I was not sure of the place the talking
stick that
Chris Corrigan so generously gave to the world OS community/
organization
in the OSonOS. At each OSonOS I have noticed just how unwieldy or
awkward
it has been for people to hold it. Even when we have been given
guidelines
on how to hold it, what it means, etc., people have not observed it
and
treated it appropriately. The end of the stick has been pointed up, at
other people. Other examples galore.
The talking stick and the OSonOS -- it has felt like an awkward fit.
I learned that I probably misused the stick in Moscow...and I'd
been to
two OSonOS'es previous. Am I just a hopeless case? Talking stick
learning
disabled as it were?
Or...might it be time to introduce something else as a speaking
object at
the next OSonOS? Perhaps the Vancouver talking stick could stay in the
middle of the circle as a way of honoring our Elders, but not as a
speaking object? And maybe the hosts at future OSonOS'es could use
a local
object, something found near the grounds of the OSonOS location?
Jana, your thoughts?
warmly and in appreciation,
raffi
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ipsé, soi-même en latin
louisebrisse...@ipsai.net
http://ipsai.net
+1.514.271.0318
un leadership créateur : pour une écologie du travail
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