Interviews with Open Space Technology practitioners
The Power of Allowing the Conversation to Happen even in very rigid environments
Susanna George, a consultant, facilitator and coach based in Malaysia, shares about her love for Open Space Technology.
Susanna worked primarily with feminist and other social movement organisations and international development organisations such as the UNDP - having worked in those sectors herself for 15 years before moving into independent consulting work. Her passion was working with feminist and other leaders on areas of internal integrity such as leadership, workplace culture, trust building and values congruence.
Unfortunately, Susanna passed away in 2023.
Her wisdom will continue to inspire us.
Showing up in the world, Holding Space
The Tao of Holding Space - Chris Corrigan, author of this beautiful book, shares about how we can show up in the world, holding space as leaders, as parents and as community members. The principles of Open Space Technology are applicable everywhere.
Chris Corrigan is principal at Harvest Moon Consultants in British Columbia, Canada. To order his book, visit his website: https://www.chriscorrigan.com
Children in Open Space
Matilda Leyser shares on how to make children feel welcome
and free to call sessions and facilitate conversations
with groups of adults.
The principles of OST are helping people to connect to their sense of urgency and move from there, which is something true
to all the creative work she does.
Matilda Leyser works as a writer, mother and an Associate Director with Improbable in London. Improbable is one of UK's most experienced facilitators of Open Space Technology events. She is also one of the co-founders
and co-directors of Mothers Who Make.
To discover Improbable's work in Open Space Technology: https://www.improbable.co.uk/open-space
What does opening space mean?
How do we open space in our daily life? This series explores different facets of opening spaces with special guests ready to share their wisdom. Our first guest, Mrs Anne M. Stadler, is a pioneer and fluent practioner of Open Space. She is based in the United States.
The Circle
Anne is sharing wisdom as a mentor in the Open Space Technology (OST) community. The 4 principles of OST are: 1) Whoever comes are the right people. 2) Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. 3) When it starts is the right time. 4) When it's over, it's over! And there's a 5th one: Wherever it happens is the right place. There is only 1 law in Open Space Technology: The Law of 2 feet (the mobility law). The online event mentioned in this conversation is Devoted & Disgruntled: https://www.devotedanddisgruntled.com/
The Law of Mobility (Law of two feet)
Anne casts Open Space's Law of 2 Feet as walking in alignment to the call of love. "What do I love that I want to take responsibility for?" She captures the essence of what it means to hold space: "Love provides a frame for being held." She goes on with stories that model how she uses love to inform her work - how to listen so that you get to the heart of the matter. (Abstract written by Peggy Holman)
Open Space as a way of life
A lovely reflection on living by the principles of Open Space. Stepping in with your heart, trusting that is natural, calls upon your true nature. Yes! ... A settled knowing that you belong as an outcome of living by open space principles. And a sweet close on embracing loving the endings when things are over. (Abstract written by Peggy Holman)
How can nature inspire us new ways of working together?
Steve Holyer in based in Switzerland. He is a workplace transformation consultant, coach, trainer and Open Space Technology facilitator. In this video, he shares about his experience with the penguins in South Africa. He also shares on how opening spaces can change de world.
To learn more about Steve's work, visit his website: https://coachingcocktails.com/
How can we use moments of chaos to increase our own creativity and productivity?
The initiator of Open Space Technology, Harrison Owen, offers in this TEDx presentation an exploration of the idea that all systems are inherently self-organizing, and that maybe we're working too hard.
To learn more about Harrison's work, visit this website:
