I enjoyed half a day with Amanda Bucklow yesterday who is keeping the circle open on how do we explain or do other pre-work for openspace to the people who most need to permit it- this being one of 6 project circles that emerged from the UK OSonOS in February http://www.openspaceuk.com/projects/index.html I am just jotting some notes which blend that conversation with the one I have been trying to rehearse on Open Space as most undervalued technology there is and wholly different from any other facilitation café etc . Any comments: anything stand out? anything my own baggage? I bet some of this is so obvious to all of you (apologies if its all obvious!) chris macrae DISCOVERING : INNOVATION, RENEWAL, PEOPLE CONNECTIONS If we are going to resolve and sustain reconciliation of any of the worlds biggest conflicts, open space will likely play a part in communings immense but invisible way. Given that, most other innovation challenges are childsplay for OS. 3Rs of Renewal: -Restoring trust where illwill was systemised; -Restoring spirit where many may have forgotten the experience. -Restoring access to the sustainable connections so that the community/network will be strong whatever the forces are out there that will seek to disconnect the people again. 1 Know that there is a great energy force when people come around the same deeply human context, the more so if their passions are diametrically in conflict. Know the 3 Cs (Conflict, Change aka Chaos, Confusion) as a way to see through the systems barriers (Conflict means theres huge value here (lets turn system of that from destruction to construction); Change is always part of the root cause of conflict and the longer this has compounded the more complex or personally frightening the change field is likely to be. Usually the top, if has insisted on ruling above all, will have compounded conflicts however unknowingly so it is the first Confusion to caringly get a peaceful timeout from space from the top is one of the greatest gifts a facilitator can host 2 Innovate through big conflict by taking power over people wholly away from the conversation so that there is a climate of high trust with people seeing and respecting one another as people first and , and everyone flying through the Spaces equality of participation freedoms, and all the self- and mutual confidences that multiplies 3 Provide a stage/circle/dance-space where people feel the spirit as the very opposite of what they may experience in everyday organisational work etc; leaving the question open why cant we open more spaces every day in every way; could it be the secret of lifting ourselves up from misery starts with something so naturally simple? 4 Establish during the days of the space enough deep connections and seeds for conversations so that from the parting, the network, the community will continue; make sure everyone leaves with full documentation and permission access to find where all those seeds for reconnecting with are whenever most needed
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