Hi everyone
Long time not jumped into such an interesting conversation - I miss them- but I try to catch up from times to times. I believe that there are different levels of opening space. In myself first. it took me years to dare open myself to space, and as Michael says, sometimes it’s wide open, sometimes only half and at some points completely closed. It depends on many factors, including subject, confidence, passion, responsability etc.. Right now there is a battle inside me between opening and closing and it’s painful. My inner battle speaks about leadership : do I feel confident enough in my vision for people to follow me ? Last year, I co-facilitated 3 open space events for 400 people. I was introduced to the client by a colleague whom I respect deeply, a very good professional, who participated in one of Harrison’s open space (she said training, but as Harrison don’t train people, who knows what she meant). We worked together, designed a first workshop for the managers to explain the new vision of the company and prepare everyone for the OS events. I discovered in this workshop that I have a big blind spot, which is a tendency to flee when there is something difficult going on that I don’t understand . She did handle it : it was a logistic question : rooms were not indicated properly so some people could not join the team they wanted to join and were upset. it took a moment to understand the cause -room not labeled- Everything then went fine. But, she would not trust me fully after that and I could understand why. So we decided to be 2 facilitators for each OS events. And a team of experienced facilitators to handle newsroom, logistics etc. As she wasn’t available for the 3 events, I co-facilitated with another guy twice. I loved the co-faciltation process. I hated the co-facilitation process. It was sometimes smooth, sometimes difficult. We had lots of logistic problems for the first event to solve : noisy and crowed space, as at the last moment the space was smaller than formerly agreed. So we used rooms of some participants to add some extra breakout rooms. When space opened, I saw that my view of an OS facilitator was different from my co-facilitators : they would intervene much more than I would. They would for instance suggest to some groups to split into 2 if the group was big. They would suggest to move a bit to find a quieter space etc.. I would tend to be available to chat with people who needed a bit of permission to lead a session (it was a whole company OS, all from top to bottom, and although the company is pretty « flat » and owned by them, assistants were less comfortable leading sessions on sensitive topics like salary, bonus etc. than experts). Is this important ? Does it talk about opening space and self-organisation ? or has it something to do with helping the client achieve his goal ? What should I learn form this ? Where do I stand ? Am I open to learn ? As always in an OS event, no matter what role I have, I had to make space inside me for 2 different spaces : my own individual inner space, chaotic as I was living all those questions, and my inner space as facilitator , whose role is to be present and « keep" space open for the group. The second one is the space that it opens in each participant. My colleague had advised the leadership team not to jump into discussions and do much listening. That was very interesting to see the different reactions of each of them. No-one of those 17 people offered a session for any of the event. OK, we are in France folks, we are supposed to be very top-down (sometimes I agree) so the fear is that when the boss says something, they all shut up and agree. Maybe. I am not convinced. But what I could see is that this leadership team did not dare to open fully. For the first half day of the first open space, the leadership team shut up. and thought things like « oh my god, they lack so many information, they tell bullshit, we won't get anywhere ». I encouraged them to speak but still some didn’t. When the Managing Director finally spread up the word « speak up, explain to them everything », they finally did. waooo. After the mission was over, when we debriefed everything, the Managing Director said : « it has been the most fabulous moment I ever lived in my professional life ». waoo again. My belief is that it it opened something inside himself. As OS always does. I won’t tell you about opening from people who were not used to lead, for it be biased by what happened after the OS event - the tendency to close space and go back to prior state of equilibrium applies here. And finally the group itself opens its own space. It always opens in a OS event, no matter how small the space is of cours you all know that.You see it while looking at the fluidity, the movements, the noise up and down, the law of 2 feet used or not that much. A mediator recently sent me a paragraph he wrote for a book soon to be published , where he tells the story of the most complex mediation he ever participated in (he is one of the leading figures of mediation in France). It was an OS event I facilitated a few years ago, who occurred 5 years after the first one with same actors. I would not dare call it mediation, but he did. From my perspective, the second event was a « light blue one » , busy people, buzzing but quietly, when the first one had been a dark red one, with very big breakout groups and not many people moving because there had been so many divergence of opinions and everyone was aware of it. To conclude I would say that the discussions in this list also open space for me. Sometimes so wide that it frightens me. But I love it ;) Christine > Le 9 mai 2019 à 15:22, Alan Halford via OSList > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> a écrit : > > c’mon guys, > it isnt that complicated! > Issue an invitation, sit in a circle, create an agenda, get to work! > > On 9 May 2019, at 9:04 pm, Barry Owen via OSList > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> > wrote: > > Dear Michael! > I think what you have written is FABULOUS! > A mini-course in the usefulness of trusting the process AND the people. > > Recently, I attended a Real Estate Training program that is all the rage here > in the US http://ninjaselling.com <http://ninjaselling.com/> . . . > Early in the presentation, we encountered "TSW" with no explanation . . . On > day 2 of the 4 day training, we learned that "TSW" = "The System Works" > This was an invitation not to mess with the process because we know THIS > "works" > Of course, OST always works . . . even when the process is wildly altered . . > . but my observation is that, done consistently "by the book" works "better" > Each piece and nuance matters in the unfolding of self-organization because > many of the participants are experiencing a freedom they've never experienced. > Anyone can disagree . . . and anyone can fiddle with the process . . . and > it'll still "work" but why tamper with a sure thing? > > TSW > > Barry Owen > Real Estate Strategist > Pareto Realty, LLC \pə-ˈrā-(ˌ)tō\ > <http://www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php?file=bixpar02&word=Pareto&text=%5Cp%C9%99-%3CSPAN%20class%3Dunicode%3E%CB%88%3C%2FSPAN%3Er%C4%81-(%3CSPAN%20class%3Dunicode%3E%CB%8C%3C%2FSPAN%3E)t%C5%8D%5C> > The Vital Few > 4004 Hillsboro Pike Ste 234-B > Nashville, TN 37215 > Connect: 615-568-2123 <> > BarryOwen.US <http://barryowen.us/> > "I Help people (Organizations) self organize to find resolution to important > and complex issues." > > > On Thu, May 9, 2019 at 3:25 AM Michael M Pannwitz via OSList > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> > wrote: > Dear Alan, > > some time ago when I was still employed and had the joy of working with > a grand colleague employed in the same outfit we did a lot of odd stuff. > What we did usually worked, in fact, it was stunning how well it worked. > > Other folks working in the same organisation but in different parts of > Berlin, hearing of what we were doing would say: "Oh well, of course, > you guys in Steglitz (one of the districts of the city)!" (Similar, it > appears to me, to someone saying: "From Fremantle, no wonder!") > > We felt they accepted what we were doing and pointed out that we were in > a different space (geographically and perhaps in other ways). What they > did not know and we ourselves were also unaware of, this was long before > we ran into OST, was our way of dealing with control. This is what I say > in hindsight. > We had some principles such as: Never offer people ways of doing stuff > or giving them advice, even though we were "consultants" or maybe > because we were consultants. We turned up here and there to watch and > listen. And then folks came and asked us, we had plenty of time, and > some kind of relationship began out of which or through which stuff > unfolded that had been there but was folded. > > From my present point of view, I also assume that space is. Sometimes > it is widely opened and other times it is less opened and sometimes it > is shrunk to almost zero. I also assume that if it is completely closed > it has the character of stuff in which all thermal motion ceases, that > is at O Kelvin, or at -273.15 C / -459.67 F, and stuff just turns into > dust when you touch it. This is what also happens to groups, > organizations and systems of our own making when space has shrunk to > zero. They simply disappear. > > Then OST came to me and I tried it. It worked and I kept with it. It > working was what I liked. As I got practice I appreciated the 5 or 6 > prerequisites for selforganisation and some details about the various > roles and their functions in the process. > > Presently, I feel it works very well if the prerequisites are in place, > no shortcuts are taken, the sponsor opens the event in such a way that > it widens the space just a bit and the facilitator introduces the > approach (kiss, of course). In this process the persons and functions > change: the sponsor becomes participant, the facilitator disappears and > the participants lead, structure, connive, manage and act. > Instead of setting up a container, space is expanded (control reduced) > and the needed structure, call it what you like, is created, maintained, > adjusted, changed, etc. by those that can best decide what they need, > the participants in selfcontrol. They are the ones that take or leave > the invitation to attend, offer or do not offer issues... if those > things dont happen, the event is over (for some reason I have never > experienced this but someone among us probably has... what I did > experience in one case, however, is that after an OST-event, a well > established and seemingly thriving organisation folded a week after the > event, hmmm!). > > In real events stuff happens such as the sponsor (in this example the > CEO) turning up in polished shoes, fine thread and perfect tie... and > after his opening taking off his polished shoes, fine thread and tie and > slipping into sneakers, jeans and a T-shirt to sit in the circle of > participants. The facilitator disappearing into the background when all > the issues have unfolded and have found their place on the bulletin > board. The participants taking over everything that needs to happen. > > What I also discovered is that Action Planning after all issues have > been dealt with is very successful when done as a "second" open space > (some call it Action Space). It is superior to statistical methods such > as voting or weighing with dots because it has at its base not that > which is important but which folks will act on with passion. This arose > from the observation that often those proposals with the most dots did > not find a single actor. > > As far as my own role as facilitator is concerned I have no better way > of describing than the mantra "is totally present and completely > invisible". This sounds impossible and probaby is. Of course, many feel > that OST is impossible when the first hear of it. When they engage in > one they are usually surprised but no longer feel its anything special > but it puzzles and tickles and you want more. I think it is a natural > process that continues to be remembered and it is for free. Anybody with > a clear head and a good heart can do it and most of us have a clear head > and a good heart. Perhaps practically everybody. At times, > my wife does wonder about my clear head and then I ask for her advice. > > Who do you have near you that you ask for advice? > > Greetings from Berlin > mmp > > > > Am 08.05.2019 um 17:21 schrieb Alan Halford via OSList: > > It is becoming abundantly clear to me that every time I have the privilege > > to facilitate an Open Space that the space is already open and my > > responsibility is to set up the container and hold the space for those > > participating. In saying that I am from Fremantle in Western Australia and > > we are possibly considered a bit odd! > > Alan > > Alan Halford & Associates > > Open Space Technology Aficionados > > Mediation and Conflict Transformation > > Facilitators > > > > www.alanhalford.com.au <http://www.alanhalford.com.au/> > > www.conflictcompany.com.au <http://www.conflictcompany.com.au/> > > 0421 475 252 > > skype: alanhalford > > > > > > > > > > > > On 8 May 2019, at 11:11 pm, Birgitt Williams via OSList > > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> > > wrote: > > > > Dear friends and colleagues, > > "Who Opens the Space" > > > > I believe that I open the space for myself. I show up. I make a conscious > > choice about how much space I choose to open for myself, for myself as a > > whole person to participate. Sometimes the space feels safer to me than > > other times. Regardless, it is my choice for me of how much space I open > > for myself in every situation, how much I choose to participate within that > > self created open space, and for how long I choose to keep the space for > > myself open. > > > > I appreciate the effort and love of the facilitator of the Open Space > > Technology meeting. The role is important, assuming it is carried out with > > care and love and clarity, to make visible that a bigger space is open and > > ready for participation. This is a valuable role. Yet, it is still me, that > > opens the space for myself...no one can do this for me. > > > > I appreciate the role of the sponsor is opening the space within the > > organization for a conscious opening of space for a particular theme to be > > explored. Sometimes the sponsor chooses to open a big space, sometimes it > > is a smaller space...Both are fine so long as there is honesty about the > > amount of space being opened. Yet, it is still me that opens the space for > > myself to consciously choose my participation. > > > > Now, I am wondering about the importance of providing the people who attend > > the OST meeting with the concept that the amount of space that they are > > opening for themselves is their responsibility. Your thoughts? > > > > in genuine contact, > > Birgitt > > > > > > Birgitt Williams > > Supporting Next Level Leadership "Leading So People Will Lead" > > Author, Senior Consultant, President Dalar International Consultancy, Inc > > Founder Genuine Contact Program > > Co-owner Genuine Contact Group, LLC > > Founder Extraordinary Leadership Network > > > > Learn with us for your growth and development for the new leadership > > paradigm > > > > Genuine Contact Summer Academy theme is Genuine Contact: a holistic > > approach to change June 22-28, 2019 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, > > Canada--early bird registration price still in effect. Approximately 30 > > participants from many countries taking a deep dive into working with > > change, learning more about thriving in today's performance environment of > > constant change. > > > > Trail-Blazing Membership to the International Community of Practice > > Available Now--the international community of practice working with the > > Genuine Contact program since 2001 is now evolving itself as a membership > > organization. Trail Blazing members have the opportunity from now through > > August 2019 to help develop the membership model. I hope that you will > > become a Trail-Blazing Member, adding your support to the growth of Genuine > > Contact in the world...and there are membership benefits that are sure to > > make this worth your commitment. > > > > PO Box 19373, Raleigh, NC, USA 27613 > > Phone: 01-919-522-7750 > > _______________________________________________ > > OSList mailing list > > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > > <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> > > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > > <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> > > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> > > Past archives can be viewed here: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OSList mailing list > > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > > <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> > > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > > <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> > > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> > > Past archives can be viewed here: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > > > > -- > Michael M Pannwitz > Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany > ++49 - 30-772 8000 > mmpannw...@gmail.com <mailto:mmpannw...@gmail.com> > > > Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 480 resident Open > Space Workers in 76 countries working in a total of 141 countries worldwide > www.openspaceworldmap.org <http://www.openspaceworldmap.org/> > > At my publisher you find books and task cards on open space, most in > German, some in English, some as ebooks, some multilingual > https://www.westkreuz-verlag.de/de/Kommunikation > <https://www.westkreuz-verlag.de/de/Kommunikation> > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > > > Alan Halford & Associates > Open Space Technology Aficionados > Mediation and Conflict Transformation > Facilitators > > www.alanhalford.com.au <http://www.alanhalford.com.au/> > www.conflictcompany.com.au <http://www.conflictcompany.com.au/> > 0421 475 252 > skype: alanhalford > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
_______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org