Dear friends and colleagues, I am of the opinion that people within an Open Space Technology meeting are responsible for protecting space for themselves. This opinion goes along with my belief that no one can create and guarantee safe space for another. I make a daily practice of protecting space for myself for being present to myself, noticing, connecting with others. I refer to this practice as Genuine Contact, acknowledging the importance of genuine contact with self, with one other, with the collective and with Creator/Creation. I enjoy watching people within a well planned and facilitated Open Space Technology meeting experiencing genuine contact with themselves, with another, with the collective...and protecting space for themselves to have these rich experiences. in genuine contact, Birgitt [image: Picture] *Birgitt Williams* *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* www.dalarinternational.com *Upcoming Workshops* *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands* https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 Phone: 01-919-522-7750 Like us on Facebook <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> Connect on LinkedIn <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG>

Dear Birgitt, thank you for writing about this matter of the safe space. I was recently in a meeting that people experienced as a safe space and expressed that. And there we had a conversation about this concept. I have heard you speak to your beliefs that we cannot create a safe space for others, but we can do everything we're aware of and able to - to create a life-nourishing environment. I couldn't agree more. The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how people experience the space. When it comes to Open Space Technology meetings I think that preparation is key. I am just preparing a first annual gathering - and it will include an Open Space Technology meeting in a well-established organization. They had a leadership change last year and for the first time, in the 35 years history of the organization they are having a company-wide meeting over 2 days. In the first prep meeting so much anger, frustration, and resistance came up at the beginning. But knowing a bit about the culture of the past and the changes of the present I did my best to be open to outcome, listen, and facilitate a prep meeting that allowed everyone to speak and share what was on their heart and minds. By the end of the meeting, the people most opposed to the meeting had become strong supporters and had contributed to finding a theme for the Open Space. Something about my facilitation was helpful. I did not try to make a safe space - I focused on creating enough space for the grief to be expressed and allowed the group to work with it. If you are wondering how to best support the pre and follow-up work for Open Space Technology meetings, as well as what it takes to facilitate the whole process I'd love to invite you to our upcoming training "Working with Open Space Technology" a module (without prerequisites) of the Genuine Contact Program. You'll learn about Open Space Technology as Harrison Ownen has written about in his book and additional Genuine Contact tools that support your clients in making the most out of the meeting - more than a one-time event, but potentially a catalyst for a culture where everyone leads, collaborates and contributes to a life-nourishing culture, rooted in the OST principles. Please reach out to me if you like to learn more about the training - Doris, Thomas, and I are happy to talk with you or people you know who are curious about the <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024>Working with Open Space Technology, <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024> Training in the Netherlands, on September 3-5. Many greetings Anna Caroline *Anna Caroline Türk* Mentor to Visionary Leaders +49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com <http://TruthCircles.com> *Upcoming Facilitation Trainings* The Netherlands: Working with Open Space Technology <https://truthcircles.com/open-space-technology/>, September 3-5 On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 5:21 PM Birgitt Williams via OSList < everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > Dear friends and colleagues, > I am of the opinion that people within an Open Space Technology meeting > are responsible for protecting space for themselves. This opinion goes > along with my belief that no one can create and guarantee safe space for > another. > > I make a daily practice of protecting space for myself for being present > to myself, noticing, connecting with others. I refer to this practice as > Genuine Contact, acknowledging the importance of genuine contact with self, > with one other, with the collective and with Creator/Creation. > > I enjoy watching people within a well planned and facilitated Open Space > Technology meeting experiencing genuine contact with themselves, with > another, with the collective...and protecting space for themselves to have > these rich experiences. > > in genuine contact, > Birgitt > [image: Picture] > > > *Birgitt Williams* > *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * > *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership > development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* > www.dalarinternational.com > > *Upcoming Workshops* > > *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy > June 24-28 in the Netherlands* > https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ > > > > > > 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 > Phone: 01-919-522-7750 > Like us on Facebook > <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> > > Connect on LinkedIn > <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Dear Anna Caroline, I loved your "The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how people experience the space". For anyone interested, this is one of the Five Beliefs <https://genuinecontact.net/five-beliefs/> foundational to work the Genuine Contact way, a way of working rooted in open space. I assume that the planning meeting was held using Whole Person Process Facilitation, another module of the Genuine Contact way that was developed by me as a complementary process to Open Space Technology when OST wasn't the appropriate method...WPPF assumes maximum freedom and maximum choice, giving a lot of space yet is more guided than OST. I hope that people who are interested will join you, Thomas Herrmann, and Doris Gottlieb for your Working with Open Space Technology workshop. You are a terrific training team, and the content of this module improves the outcomes of people working with OST, significantly. Those of us working in the Genuine Contact way, including our diligence in preparation for an OST meeting, have experienced the impact of working this way since 1997. Warmly, Birgitt ps...if anyone wants to learn Whole Person Process Facilitation online, I have a four segment workshop beginning within days so send me a private message and I'll get back to you. *Birgitt Williams* *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* www.dalarinternational.com *Upcoming Workshops* *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands* https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 Phone: 01-919-522-7750 Like us on Facebook <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> Connect on LinkedIn <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 8:50 AM Anna Caroline Türk < annacaroline@truthcircles.com> wrote: > Dear Birgitt, > > thank you for writing about this matter of the safe space. I was recently > in a meeting that people experienced as a safe space and expressed that. > And there we had a conversation about this concept. I have heard you speak > to your beliefs that we cannot create a safe space for others, but we can > do everything we're aware of and able to - to create a life-nourishing > environment. I couldn't agree more. > > The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our > hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all > people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how > people experience the space. > > When it comes to Open Space Technology meetings I think that preparation > is key. I am just preparing a first annual gathering - and it will include > an Open Space Technology meeting in a well-established organization. They > had a leadership change last year and for the first time, in the 35 years > history of the organization they are having a company-wide meeting over 2 > days. > > In the first prep meeting so much anger, frustration, and resistance came > up at the beginning. But knowing a bit about the culture of the past and > the changes of the present I did my best to be open to outcome, listen, and > facilitate a prep meeting that allowed everyone to speak and share what was > on their heart and minds. > By the end of the meeting, the people most opposed to the meeting had > become strong supporters and had contributed to finding a theme for the > Open Space. Something about my facilitation was helpful. I did not try to > make a safe space - I focused on creating enough space for the grief to be > expressed and allowed the group to work with it. > > If you are wondering how to best support the pre and follow-up work for > Open Space Technology meetings, as well as what it takes to facilitate the > whole process I'd love to invite you to our upcoming training "Working with > Open Space Technology" a module (without prerequisites) of the Genuine > Contact Program. > > You'll learn about Open Space Technology as Harrison Ownen has written > about in his book and additional Genuine Contact tools that support your > clients in making the most out of the meeting - more than a one-time event, > but potentially a catalyst for a culture where everyone leads, collaborates > and contributes to a life-nourishing culture, rooted in the OST principles. > > Please reach out to me if you like to learn more about the training - > Doris, Thomas, and I are happy to talk with you or people you know who are > curious about the <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024>Working > with Open Space Technology, <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024> > Training in the Netherlands, on September 3-5. > > Many greetings > Anna Caroline > > > *Anna Caroline Türk* > Mentor to Visionary Leaders > +49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com <http://TruthCircles.com> > > *Upcoming Facilitation Trainings* > The Netherlands: Working with Open Space Technology > <https://truthcircles.com/open-space-technology/>, September 3-5 > > > On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 5:21 PM Birgitt Williams via OSList < > everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > >> Dear friends and colleagues, >> I am of the opinion that people within an Open Space Technology meeting >> are responsible for protecting space for themselves. This opinion goes >> along with my belief that no one can create and guarantee safe space for >> another. >> >> I make a daily practice of protecting space for myself for being present >> to myself, noticing, connecting with others. I refer to this practice as >> Genuine Contact, acknowledging the importance of genuine contact with self, >> with one other, with the collective and with Creator/Creation. >> >> I enjoy watching people within a well planned and facilitated Open Space >> Technology meeting experiencing genuine contact with themselves, with >> another, with the collective...and protecting space for themselves to have >> these rich experiences. >> >> in genuine contact, >> Birgitt >> [image: Picture] >> >> >> *Birgitt Williams* >> *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * >> *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership >> development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* >> www.dalarinternational.com >> >> *Upcoming Workshops* >> >> *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer >> Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands* >> https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 >> Phone: 01-919-522-7750 >> Like us on Facebook >> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> >> >> Connect on LinkedIn >> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> >> >> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >> See the archives here: >> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > >

Dear Birgitt, dear all. Yes, I always use Whole Person Process Facilitation in all meetings that cannot be an Open Sprache Technology Meeting - because it give as much freedom and choice as possible - and I love that! And it helped in this OST prep meeting for the conflicted team that I mentioned in my last mail. I just had this massive anniversary - 21 years ago I facilitated my first OST and now I’m 42 - this means that I’m doing it half my life and from now on it’s going to be even more than half my life. 🎉 I first learned it from Michael M Pannwitz and he supported my to facilitate an OST in the mountains of Romania with a group of young people with different backgrounds- but this is another story. How men jumped the table trying to forbit the meeting - it was a catalyst for my curiosity and engagement in facilitating this OST methodology that looks so easy and is so powerful - all at the same time. In 2010 I went for the first time to the WOSonOS in Berlin and Michael recommended to check out Birgitt and her work. That’s what I did and the same year I became a Genuine Contact Trainer. Especially the Whole Person Process Facilitation (WPPF) Training was outstanding. Somebody (Birgitt) had already invented all I was looking for - in alignment with the OST principles. And so simple and power tools - amazing! If you ever have the opportunity to take the WPPF workshop, check it out!!!! Lots of Love Anna Caroline *Anna Caroline Türk* Mentor to Visionary Leaders +49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com <http://TruthCircles.com> *Upcoming Facilitation Trainings* Berlin: Whole Person Process Facilitation <https://truthcircles.com/whole-person-facilitation-training/>, July 8-10 The Netherlands: Working with Open Space Technology <https://truthcircles.com/open-space-technology/>, September 3-5 Birgitt Williams via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> schrieb am Fr. 19. Juli 2024 um 16:48: > > > Dear Anna Caroline, > I loved your "The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others > are not in our hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the > belief that all people are whole and precious and that belief has a > positive impact on how people experience the space". For anyone interested, > this is one of the Five Beliefs <https://genuinecontact.net/five-beliefs/> > foundational to work the Genuine Contact way, a way of working rooted in > open space. > > I assume that the planning meeting was held using Whole Person Process > Facilitation, another module of the Genuine Contact way that was developed > by me as a complementary process to Open Space Technology when OST wasn't > the appropriate method...WPPF assumes maximum freedom and maximum choice, > giving a lot of space yet is more guided than OST. > > I hope that people who are interested will join you, Thomas Herrmann, and > Doris Gottlieb for your Working with Open Space Technology workshop. You > are a terrific training team, and the content of this module improves the > outcomes of people working with OST, significantly. Those of us working in > the Genuine Contact way, including our diligence in preparation for an OST > meeting, have experienced the impact of working this way since 1997. > > Warmly, > Birgitt > ps...if anyone wants to learn Whole Person Process Facilitation online, I > have a four segment workshop beginning within days so send me a private > message and I'll get back to you. > > > > *Birgitt Williams* > *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * > *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership > development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* > www.dalarinternational.com > > *Upcoming Workshops* > > *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy > June 24-28 in the Netherlands* > https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ > > > > > > 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 > Phone: 01-919-522-7750 > Like us on Facebook > <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> > > Connect on LinkedIn > <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> > > > > On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 8:50 AM Anna Caroline Türk < > annacaroline@truthcircles.com> wrote: > >> Dear Birgitt, >> >> thank you for writing about this matter of the safe space. I was recently >> in a meeting that people experienced as a safe space and expressed that. >> And there we had a conversation about this concept. I have heard you speak >> to your beliefs that we cannot create a safe space for others, but we can >> do everything we're aware of and able to - to create a life-nourishing >> environment. I couldn't agree more. >> >> The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our >> hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all >> people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how >> people experience the space. >> >> When it comes to Open Space Technology meetings I think that preparation >> is key. I am just preparing a first annual gathering - and it will include >> an Open Space Technology meeting in a well-established organization. They >> had a leadership change last year and for the first time, in the 35 years >> history of the organization they are having a company-wide meeting over 2 >> days. >> >> In the first prep meeting so much anger, frustration, and resistance came >> up at the beginning. But knowing a bit about the culture of the past and >> the changes of the present I did my best to be open to outcome, listen, and >> facilitate a prep meeting that allowed everyone to speak and share what was >> on their heart and minds. >> By the end of the meeting, the people most opposed to the meeting had >> become strong supporters and had contributed to finding a theme for the >> Open Space. Something about my facilitation was helpful. I did not try to >> make a safe space - I focused on creating enough space for the grief to be >> expressed and allowed the group to work with it. >> >> If you are wondering how to best support the pre and follow-up work for >> Open Space Technology meetings, as well as what it takes to facilitate the >> whole process I'd love to invite you to our upcoming training "Working with >> Open Space Technology" a module (without prerequisites) of the Genuine >> Contact Program. >> >> You'll learn about Open Space Technology as Harrison Ownen has written >> about in his book and additional Genuine Contact tools that support your >> clients in making the most out of the meeting - more than a one-time event, >> but potentially a catalyst for a culture where everyone leads, collaborates >> and contributes to a life-nourishing culture, rooted in the OST principles. >> >> Please reach out to me if you like to learn more about the training - >> Doris, Thomas, and I are happy to talk with you or people you know who are >> curious about the <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024>Working >> with Open Space Technology, <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024> >> Training in the Netherlands, on September 3-5. >> >> Many greetings >> Anna Caroline >> >> >> *Anna Caroline Türk* >> Mentor to Visionary Leaders >> +49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com <http://TruthCircles.com> >> >> *Upcoming Facilitation Trainings* >> The Netherlands: Working with Open Space Technology >> <https://truthcircles.com/open-space-technology/>, September 3-5 >> >> >> On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 5:21 PM Birgitt Williams via OSList < >> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >> >>> Dear friends and colleagues, >>> I am of the opinion that people within an Open Space Technology meeting >>> are responsible for protecting space for themselves. This opinion goes >>> along with my belief that no one can create and guarantee safe space for >>> another. >>> >>> I make a daily practice of protecting space for myself for being present >>> to myself, noticing, connecting with others. I refer to this practice as >>> Genuine Contact, acknowledging the importance of genuine contact with self, >>> with one other, with the collective and with Creator/Creation. >>> >>> I enjoy watching people within a well planned and facilitated Open Space >>> Technology meeting experiencing genuine contact with themselves, with >>> another, with the collective...and protecting space for themselves to have >>> these rich experiences. >>> >>> in genuine contact, >>> Birgitt >>> [image: Picture] >>> >>> >>> *Birgitt Williams* >>> *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * >>> *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership >>> development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* >>> www.dalarinternational.com >>> >>> *Upcoming Workshops* >>> >>> *Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer >>> Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands* >>> https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 >>> Phone: 01-919-522-7750 >>> Like us on Facebook >>> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> >>> >>> Connect on LinkedIn >>> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> >>> >>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>> See the archives here: >>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >> >> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Thanks for your rich sharing in this thread Birgitt and Anna Caroline. I like how we invite people to take responsibility for their own safety in an OST meeting, instead of claiming we create safe space for them. This reminds me of a follow up meeting after an OST, I facilitated many years ago (using WPPF). One of the participants expressed that this was not the right place for her to be. I reminded of the principles and law which were on the wall also in this meeting. She chose to stay and was very excited about the meeting when we had the closing circle. My interpretation is the she did not feel safe being there because she felt it was not her choice to come (of different reasons), then when she actually was allowed to make that choice and also have the freedom to leave if she would choose to, she felt more safe. Thanks for opening space for me to make that connection to what happened many years ago. With appreciation Thomas Från: Birgitt Williams via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> Skickat: den 19 juli 2024 16:47 Till: OS list <everyone@oslist.org> Ämne: [OSList] Re: protecting space for oneself Dear Anna Caroline, I loved your "The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how people experience the space". For anyone interested, this is one of the Five Beliefs<https://genuinecontact.net/five-beliefs/> foundational to work the Genuine Contact way, a way of working rooted in open space. I assume that the planning meeting was held using Whole Person Process Facilitation, another module of the Genuine Contact way that was developed by me as a complementary process to Open Space Technology when OST wasn't the appropriate method...WPPF assumes maximum freedom and maximum choice, giving a lot of space yet is more guided than OST. I hope that people who are interested will join you, Thomas Herrmann, and Doris Gottlieb for your Working with Open Space Technology workshop. You are a terrific training team, and the content of this module improves the outcomes of people working with OST, significantly. Those of us working in the Genuine Contact way, including our diligence in preparation for an OST meeting, have experienced the impact of working this way since 1997. Warmly, Birgitt ps...if anyone wants to learn Whole Person Process Facilitation online, I have a four segment workshop beginning within days so send me a private message and I'll get back to you. Birgitt Williams Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership. www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com> Upcoming Workshops Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zP_o6wjv7zxrvoLBpofCTOPKvCyXjI6dGNAqdpnW-ssaXOaaBhwv296ODumtMpMaFbF_UlXXY] 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 Phone: 01-919-522-7750 Like us on Facebook<https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> Connect on LinkedIn<https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 8:50 AM Anna Caroline Türk <annacaroline@truthcircles.com<mailto:annacaroline@truthcircles.com>> wrote: Dear Birgitt, thank you for writing about this matter of the safe space. I was recently in a meeting that people experienced as a safe space and expressed that. And there we had a conversation about this concept. I have heard you speak to your beliefs that we cannot create a safe space for others, but we can do everything we're aware of and able to - to create a life-nourishing environment. I couldn't agree more. The traumas and the projections we might trigger in others are not in our hands - but as facilitators, we can hold steady to the belief that all people are whole and precious and that belief has a positive impact on how people experience the space. When it comes to Open Space Technology meetings I think that preparation is key. I am just preparing a first annual gathering - and it will include an Open Space Technology meeting in a well-established organization. They had a leadership change last year and for the first time, in the 35 years history of the organization they are having a company-wide meeting over 2 days. In the first prep meeting so much anger, frustration, and resistance came up at the beginning. But knowing a bit about the culture of the past and the changes of the present I did my best to be open to outcome, listen, and facilitate a prep meeting that allowed everyone to speak and share what was on their heart and minds. By the end of the meeting, the people most opposed to the meeting had become strong supporters and had contributed to finding a theme for the Open Space. Something about my facilitation was helpful. I did not try to make a safe space - I focused on creating enough space for the grief to be expressed and allowed the group to work with it. If you are wondering how to best support the pre and follow-up work for Open Space Technology meetings, as well as what it takes to facilitate the whole process I'd love to invite you to our upcoming training "Working with Open Space Technology" a module (without prerequisites) of the Genuine Contact Program. You'll learn about Open Space Technology as Harrison Ownen has written about in his book and additional Genuine Contact tools that support your clients in making the most out of the meeting - more than a one-time event, but potentially a catalyst for a culture where everyone leads, collaborates and contributes to a life-nourishing culture, rooted in the OST principles. Please reach out to me if you like to learn more about the training - Doris, Thomas, and I are happy to talk with you or people you know who are curious about the <https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024> Working with Open Space Technology,<https://www.dorisgottlieb.com/ost-sept-2024> Training in the Netherlands, on September 3-5. Many greetings Anna Caroline Anna Caroline Türk Mentor to Visionary Leaders +49(0)176 24872254 | TruthCircles.com <http://TruthCircles.com> [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zvzMaUno49GwAH7noLtobIaarFOor9_dXXc7vW4ivmABXmpzMLiesueztimmfItahz6agAo5qXgPjp] Upcoming Facilitation Trainings The Netherlands: Working with Open Space Technology<https://truthcircles.com/open-space-technology/>, September 3-5 On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 5:21 PM Birgitt Williams via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Dear friends and colleagues, I am of the opinion that people within an Open Space Technology meeting are responsible for protecting space for themselves. This opinion goes along with my belief that no one can create and guarantee safe space for another. I make a daily practice of protecting space for myself for being present to myself, noticing, connecting with others. I refer to this practice as Genuine Contact, acknowledging the importance of genuine contact with self, with one other, with the collective and with Creator/Creation. I enjoy watching people within a well planned and facilitated Open Space Technology meeting experiencing genuine contact with themselves, with another, with the collective...and protecting space for themselves to have these rich experiences. in genuine contact, Birgitt [Picture] Birgitt Williams Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership. www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com> Upcoming Workshops Holistic Organizational Development at the Genuine Contact Summer Academy June 24-28 in the Netherlands https://www.gcsummeracademy2024.com/ [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zP_o6wjv7zxrvoLBpofCTOPKvCyXjI6dGNAqdpnW-ssaXOaaBhwv296ODumtMpMaFbF_UlXXY] 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 Phone: 01-919-522-7750 Like us on Facebook<https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> Connect on LinkedIn<https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org