Everyone a Facilitator of Open Space

A rather belated Happy New Year 2003 to all. May this be a year of peace and prosperity.

In the process of Open Space, the facilitator opens the circle and the space, holds the space, and closes the space – always allowing for the possibility that it can be reopened at another time for another issue or an extension of the current issue. The open space enables the group to address complex issues to which there is no obvious solution from a diversity of sometimes very divergent viewpoints. Passion and responsibility are evoked.

This simple ritual can have a wider application. The facilitator is not a special person with special powers and training. He or she is simply another human being with the passion for opening up possibilities for themselves and others who is willing to shoulder the responsibility of opening and closing the circle for that particular group and holding the space for them while they are participating and contributing.

As we start another new year, we can all think of ourselves as facilitators and potential facilitators of our own life, our family, our business, our work, our community, our country ...

Facilitation is very much about dealing with what is in the present reality, the now. It’s also about the quality of being that we bring to the now reality and our willingness to listen to what is going on around us.

As I look around my own circle of family, friends, and business associates, I am aware of a lot of people opening new circles and new spaces in their lives: relocating continents, moving house, reassessing relationships, ending employment commitments, seeking alternative business premises, seeking wider employment opportunities, experimenting with new forms of business development and of family, and community living. The list goes on. I myself have made the business decision to relocate to Melbourne as my main base. This means I will have more energy to put into working rather than maintaining a presence in two places. I see this move as opening up the possibility of my working long term in a wider international context than has been possible up till now and I intend to hold open the space for this to happen.

Pursuing the metaphor of Open Space, once we have, as facilitators, opened the space for whatever personal projects we have passion and are willing to take responsibility for, we can both hold the space for ourselves and others to participate and learn. And then prepare to be surprised.

I wish you all much Open Space in 2003 and many pleasant surprises in the experience.

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