Some musings on facilitating open space

Some musings on facilitating open space

November 11, 2015

While open space has been part of my facilitation DNA for 25+ years, I don’t always have opportunities to facilitate open space events. That’s changed this past few weeks with two quite different events. The first was for a group of 40 humanitarian workers from the Pacific Region. They meet regularly, but this was the […]

Open Space on Open Space, Melbourne Dec 10

I’ve just completed two days facilitating open space. And I’m exhausted. Why is facilitating open space – a process where it looks like the facilitator is doing not very much at all – so exhausting? If you’re interested in this question and others about open space come along to our Open Space on Open Space […]

What is Creative facilitation?

And how does it differ from any other sorts of facilitation? It took me a long time – literally years of trial and error – to find my own style of facilitation. It was helpful to see how other people facilitated and I would learn lots from them. But I was not other people. With […]

When improvisation meets Open Space

October 29, 2014

There are few things that have influenced my way of working – and way of living – as much as Open Space and Improvisation. And it’s not so much what they represent, as the people they have enabled me to meet, befriend, and learn from. I also see Open Space as improvisation in action. So […]

Open Space Technology Facilitation Training – February 13

January 3, 2013

It’s exciting to be offering Open Space Facilitation Training again with my friend Andrew Rixon in Melbourne on Wednesday, February 13. Here’s a flyer about the training for you to download and you can book and find more information here. Have you ever been to an ‘unconference’? Or maybe just heard about them? You might have been […]

Doing even less

October 4, 2010

At this year’s Applied Improvisation Network Conference in Amsterdam, I was again invited to open space (dubbed the long-form improvisational form called ‘The Harrison’ by Chris Corrigan) on the final day, providing an opportunity for the 150 or so people there to share their gifts, ask the questions that were still bugging them and generally […]

Always something else to learn about open space

September 21, 2010

Yesterday I watched my friend and colleague, Johnnie Moore, open space. It’s always a joy to watch other facilitators at work (especially those that are as masterful as Johnnie) – something that doesn’t happen that much for those of us working alone. Here’s some of what I picked up – much of which I’ll be […]

Let’s just pretend I wrote this, OK?

August 23, 2010

Of course, I didn’t. It was written by Harrison Owen. And I am ever so grateful that he did. – A long time ago a good friend, Ralph Copleman, was to be found in the middle of a large circle of peers dressed in a flowing cape and repeating the words, “Everything is moving, Everything […]

Improvising writing

July 18, 2010

I’ve never been afraid of writing. It’s my preferred form of expression. And, mostly, I enjoy it. I do think I’m afraid of committed writing though. You know, the sort of writing that ends up being something: a book, a play, a script, a thesis. So I’m always interested in ways to trick myself into […]

The surprising power of open space

Regular readers will be aware that I’m a fan of open space. And this week I was inspired by Stella Duffy and her experience of using open space to make theatre. Made me wonder if I’ve been limiting my own use of the form, and gave me a few ideas to chew over. Stella has […]