Comments on: Buying in to the Open Space discussion http://vivmcwaters.com.au/2008/09/28/buying-in-to-the-open-space-discussion/ facilitation, working with groups Sat, 12 May 2012 18:26:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Viv McWaters http://vivmcwaters.com.au/2008/09/28/buying-in-to-the-open-space-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-1152 Viv McWaters Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:56:17 +0000 http://vivmcwaters.com.au/?p=412#comment-1152 Thanks Jack - I'm reminded too of facilitator archetypes (and their shadows) that my mate Andrew Rixon has explored: the healer, the teacher, the visionary and the warrior. In a survey of Australian facilitators, many felt that the teacher and visionary archetypes best described their style of facilitation. Interestingly, few related to the warrior archetype which is the one that I most strongly relate to. I think we probably bring all of these to our work - as you've suggested above. The trick - or skill - is in knowing when to use which. Viv Thanks Jack – I’m reminded too of facilitator archetypes (and their shadows) that my mate Andrew Rixon has explored: the healer, the teacher, the visionary and the warrior. In a survey of Australian facilitators, many felt that the teacher and visionary archetypes best described their style of facilitation. Interestingly, few related to the warrior archetype which is the one that I most strongly relate to. I think we probably bring all of these to our work – as you’ve suggested above. The trick – or skill – is in knowing when to use which.
Viv

]]> By: Jack Martin Leith http://vivmcwaters.com.au/2008/09/28/buying-in-to-the-open-space-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-1150 Jack Martin Leith Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:24:43 +0000 http://vivmcwaters.com.au/?p=412#comment-1150 Hiya Viv. Looking at this clutch of articles - yours, Dave Pollard's, Chris Corrigan's, Johnnie Moore's, mine - I'm reminded of the three modes of facilitation that John Heron sets out in his book, The Facilitator's Handbook. They are: 1) Hierarchical: the facilitator decides 2) Co-operative: the facilitator and participants decide together 3) Autonomous: the facilitator delegates to the participants (but, does not abdicate responsibility and accountability). The three modes seem to correspond with Starhawk's three types of power: Hierarchical > Power over Co-operative > Power with Autonomous > Power from within The facilitator's challenge is to be able to employ all three modes of facilitation, and to know which mode to use in which specific situation. And the frustration for student facilitators is that "which to use when" cannot be taught. As you graciously admit, even experienced and highly skilled facilitators can get it wrong. In fact it could be argued that if you're not getting it wrong, you're not taking enough risks. Thank you for an enjoyable and thought provoking article. I've refereced it in my own one (A solution to “Groundhog Day” problem solving), and linked to it. Jack Hiya Viv. Looking at this clutch of articles – yours, Dave Pollard’s, Chris Corrigan’s, Johnnie Moore’s, mine – I’m reminded of the three modes of facilitation that John Heron sets out in his book, The Facilitator’s Handbook. They are:

1) Hierarchical: the facilitator decides

2) Co-operative: the facilitator and participants decide together

3) Autonomous: the facilitator delegates to the participants (but, does not abdicate responsibility and accountability).

The three modes seem to correspond with Starhawk’s three types of power:

Hierarchical > Power over
Co-operative > Power with
Autonomous > Power from within

The facilitator’s challenge is to be able to employ all three modes of facilitation, and to know which mode to use in which specific situation. And the frustration for student facilitators is that “which to use when” cannot be taught. As you graciously admit, even experienced and highly skilled facilitators can get it wrong. In fact it could be argued that if you’re not getting it wrong, you’re not taking enough risks.

Thank you for an enjoyable and thought provoking article. I’ve refereced it in my own one (A solution to “Groundhog Day” problem solving), and linked to it.

Jack

]]> By: Facilitation - Evaluation - Beyond the Edge - Viv McWaters http://vivmcwaters.com.au/2008/09/28/buying-in-to-the-open-space-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Facilitation - Evaluation - Beyond the Edge - Viv McWaters Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:44:07 +0000 http://vivmcwaters.com.au/?p=412#comment-1149 [...] found myself referring to generosity a lot lately. Here and here. Patti Digh also talks about being generous here. Patti says:  Chapter Four in Life is a Verb is [...] [...] found myself referring to generosity a lot lately. Here and here. Patti Digh also talks about being generous here. Patti says:  Chapter Four in Life is a Verb is [...]

]]> By: A solution to “Groundhog Day” problem solving | Jack Martin Leith http://vivmcwaters.com.au/2008/09/28/buying-in-to-the-open-space-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 A solution to “Groundhog Day” problem solving | Jack Martin Leith Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:30:04 +0000 http://vivmcwaters.com.au/?p=412#comment-1146 [...] Buying in to the Open Space discussion, by Viv McWaters [...] [...] Buying in to the Open Space discussion, by Viv McWaters [...]

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