2009 17th WOSonOS
OPEN SPACE REPORT FORM
Topic Name: Cultural Assumptions East / West and OST
(parallel notes as a compliment to Bhav’s notes - taken by Lisa)
Participants: Lisa, Isac, Tim, Bhav, Brian, Mark, Alan, Jorie, Larry, Tim, Spark, Gail, Jackie, Shawn, Wong, Sharon, Suzanne, Jackie, Joy,
Brian spoke of his experiences with the World Bank and other clients. What people said, even though European or American funders of governmental representatives were part of the group - they said that this process was different. If we go on the basis that this is a cultural control kind of thing... I think it’s more of a world kind of thing. It is how the *facilitator* thinks that may control or affect things, I think. I don’t see any signs of that control within the Open Space process. But I do see the results. Open Space originated from, among other things, an African experience of people gathering in circles. That is not American. And it is not a Western attitude of time, either - it is more of an Eastern attitude of time. I see a lot of extraordinary international qualities of Open Space. I’ve had Hindu participants come up to me to say ‘this fits with our traditional values and cultural traditions.’
I remember a participant who shared her excitement in Closing Circle - and she squealed for about 40 seconds !
But it depends a bit on the facilitator knowing those things - knowing how to stay out of the way. It depends on us.
I did Open Space in China, in Kenya... I think of myself as an Open Space practitioner, not as a Chinese or Taiwanese person facilitating.
I had a client say, ‘Would this work in a non-western culture?’ But after a day of Open Space, he said ‘This is very much like Buddhism. This is very much like Taoism.’
I was in Papua, New Guinea doing Open Space... I think it is very important to spend a day in advance with one’s translators - to explain what Open Space is, what it means - it greatly changes things.
(We discussed a bit more about the subtlety of translation - rather than literal translation - and about working with translators)
Working with people in second languages does slow things down a bit.
I am interested in our cultural assumptions when participating with a group.
I agree with Brian that in lots of ways... as a facilitator you are holding the space as a human being. And... When I ran a recent Open Space with a mixed bag of people, in Closing Circle they said ‘I never felt so included.’ I saw it, too. However, if I step *outside* the picture - their expectations are *so low*... I know it could be better.
When I did an Open Space in Mozambique - to help all the American and Mozambican staff working with their partners running programs for HIV/AIDS in Mozambique with the help of US funding - there were groups talking in English, groups talking in Portuguese - and once when I checked in with the Mozambicans (one of the objectives was to raise the Mozambican voice - I asked them if they felt they had a voice) - they said they certainly did, and were getting a lot of work done. They also noticed that the US government/funder staff spent many sessions talking about the challenge of collaborating, the work load, what to do with the programs...and the Mozambicans said ‘...and that is great - but we are convening working groups on condom use, health for miners and other immigrants, protecting the girl child...’ So in other words, while the US folks did indeed sit in on those HIV prevention and education topics of hands-on work in the field, they also had a lot of sessions on infrastructure or getting along in the office or collaborating - which the Mozambicans felt... they felt that was really good that the US folks could do that. And, it did not ‘derail’ them from what they also felt was the important work. So it is another example of a power dynamic (this was a 2.5 day OS so that really helps with a strong power dynamic) not erasing what other folks of seemingly lesser power wish to do in the OS, as well.
I agree. I did an Open Space in Japan with two groups of people with completely different political beliefs - the one topic was big enough that they could both fit into it.
I am wondering - for the Open Space you mentioned earlier where you felt there was not enough voice - how can you say that co-leadership was not happening? Maybe you were looking at it with your cultural eyes. Often people of lesser (perceived or actual) power are doing the work. They may not be posting topics, but they are talking over at the food table, sitting in a 2-person butterfly conversation... getting the work done.
For me the cultural issue is not just East-West - it is mind set, cultural experience, class, gender, age, and more.
I agree. And yet, for example, right here in our conversation - I notice someone who has not yet said anything in the whole process. And I do not feel well. I want to try to invite them. You say it is up to the individual to speak - but to me, I feel - no, it is up to all of us to help them speak.
But how can you say that person who is not speaking is not fully participating?
I think the way we measure participation is not a true measure, because we like to measure what we can see, and many things happen which we cannot see.
Perhaps it is possible that coming from your background and training as a therapist, you feel that if someone does not speak it is not as helpful to them and to the group?
Perhaps.
I would like to continue this thought about everyone having to speak. I had one sponsor... when he was a convenor, he made sure that they went around and everyone spoke. It was an over-correction of participation.
I think also it may be cultural - maybe our cultural judgement is that if people speak, they feel. I think perhaps we should not measure participation by whatever you speak - but more... whatever you feel inside. What is going on inside you. And that - you cannot guess.
I don’t think people have to speak, to be fully completely present and participatory. Dialogue is not just about speaking - it takes two. It is also about the listening - true listening. Some people participate in dialogue by witnessing.
Often I see someone being quiet, maybe drawing - and I include that in the documentation - I put it into the Book of Proceedings, with their permission. That is also documenting the experience - that includes their voice, as well.
I have used Open Space in education with young people. Open Space does not force them, which is what most approaches to education do. It doesn’t require them, which is what most educational approaches do. It does not require them, which is what most educational approaches do. It does not parent them - tell them what to think - which is what most educational approaches do. It just invites them. The teachers say it is the students who are usually the quiet ones - in other settings - who end up speaking the most, in Open Space.
One of the issues that occurs to me is the participant’s own context. There is a difference between our own gathering here - a gathering of practitioners) and a business meeting. I feel that what I can contribute... is stories. And to bring in as many people as possible into the discussion, before bringing in the stories.
Everyone is equal in Open Space - everyone free to contribute as they feel so inspired.
I am most comfortable listening. Maybe because this is the first time for me.
So let me ask you something. We are your guests in Taiwan. We have white hair. We are not your culture. What do you notice about your own respect for us informing how you listen and let us speak, and your own free feeling to jump in and add some thoughts, for example?
For me, you are differently experienced; more experienced. I like to hear the stories.
Although there is respect and politeness, I don’t notice that as my cultural screen.
This morning we were in a conversation with Gail and Big Brother - there was a question of being polite in the context of Asians. And I understand what you are saying - but that is not what I see.
I am having something happen where I am in a bit of a dilemma. My background is first generation Hong Kong - but I was brought up in the United Kingdom. I feel that I am similar to Bhav. I’m a white personality in an Asian body, married to a Hong Kong lady. She asks me, ‘Why do you ask so many questions?? Why do you think so much? You just don’t fit in - what you want to have happen: Hong Kong cannot possibly provide that.’ People in my corporation go, ‘Tim, can you help me ask this question?’ Should I be asking more questions for other people?
What do you think the answer to that question is?
I think the answer is yes. I find the mentality of a lot of Hong Kong people - they actually have a lot of questions - but they don’t actually speak them out. Or they don’t want to own the questions.
Are you helping them by asking questions for them?
Perhaps I should empower them by letting them ask their own questions.
That’s maybe the question you should be sitting with. And about the answers: sometimes to not answer questions... just letting questions sit in the air unanswered...can be useful.
I want to hear from someone who has not yet said anything.
[Laughter]
Oh, *do* you now?
[Laughter]
My experience when I was in San Francisco - I was the only Japanese with all the Americans.
Did you feel dominated in the conversations in San Francisco? If you wanted to say something?
I had so many things to say. I couldn’t take the right moment to say things, or say them in a short way, in English. Even if I started to speak, someone would interrupt and things would go away. I only said a quarter of what I had wanted to say. It was very frustrating.
Was that about culture? Or about your trying to think and speak in a language that is not your own (English)?
Both. I wanted to listen, to understand, to intervene in the right way - to be useful.
That’s exhausting.
Yes, it’s exhausting.
Everyone else thought it was no problem. I had a lot of problem. I wish more in the group shared my problem.
I think I identify a bit - when I go to a conference in the USA or Canada, I feel less comfortable when I am silent, than when I am silent with my own people. I feel like I will be seen as a ‘silent Asian’. It is like a basketball game - the ball is tossed here, and here [she mimes a ball being tossed back and forth over her head, out of her reach]...and I can never catch it. I feel like I have to stretch my own social style. And I come away exhausted.
Brian and Lisa, is this WOSonOS different than when it happens in non-Asian countries?
No. It is happening the same as it usually does.
For me - and this was my first experience in Open Space - it opened, and then people were rushing into the center - everything was happening so fast. I was contemplating my question - and I didn’t have time to contemplate my question. It was sort of like a race.
In the West, silence is seen as a waste of time.
My learning point - I am holding certain expectations of how groups should operate. This conversation is bringing me to another level of awareness.
I think silence is a very important thing for a group.
When I work in a mixture of languages and cultures, I often slow down between each word to give people a chance to translate, to think.
David Isaacs says something like, ‘dialogue is like music - but in dialogue, it is the silence that holds the melody’.
