Open space facilitation

Great, authentic sharing about practical 'Open space' facilitation:

Open space technology is an ‘innovation’ that has been created to provide a forum for development stakeholder interaction. It works by breaking away from the stilted western influenced ‘one-man shows’ where an ‘expert’ occupies a position of power, usually on a raised dais with, the others sitting in a square or semi triangular shape below him. In open space there is no boss and the no real rules of interaction. The format is meant to ensure everyone is able to interact with everyone else.

First the people sit in a circle.

There is a minimum of ceremony. The gathered people start by identifying the key issues that have brought them together. If several issues are identified then the circle will break into several smaller circles to discuss each of them and suggest solutions. A closing circle will later be created to bring all this input together. Everybody who wants to speak has a chance to do so. There are no titles here, no affectations and no honorifics. The cleaner sits shoulder to shoulder with the manager and the driver surprises everybody by her well reasoned and animated contributions. It is amazing how much openness and trust this simple but powerful tool brings.

Open space technology was created by Owen Hanson in the 1980’s as a methodology for conducting meetings. He acknowledges that, in developing the methodology, he was influenced by ‘his experience of life in an African village.’

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