My experience in Open Space is that, after convening in this method, people do not say, "Look what that great facilitator helped us do" but instead, "Look what we did!" It is a humbling process for one who usually (in other methods and circumstances) uses her power of words to help weave people together and help them focus on the task at hand.

No matter what their style, approach or field of specialty, all facilitators share a common value: they believe in the group's ability to find clarity and to collaborate for the group's mutual benefit and enhanced results. And ideally, all facilitators believe in building and enhancing the organization or community's own capabilities to do the work, rather than to build in an ongoing need for that facilitator to always be present as the glue that holds the work together.

I am drawn to Open Space because it actualizes this belief -- that each of us is capable of doing amazing things and that great wisdom resides in any group of people - we must only find the key to unlocking that wisdom and cross-cultural experience to tap the greater potential of the group and its individuals for better work and greater successes together. Thinking only in one's own sphere without 'cross-pollinating' between other disciplines and contexts is not how new ideas are born or how breakthrough thinking is achieved. Open Space is a way that can tap this potential and turn it into concrete action incredibly quickly, no matter if the group is diverse or conflicted or the time is running out for the solution of an issue.

If the top person(s) in power is (are) able to let go for the duration of the meeting the feeling that they need to control the outcome -- if that person is willing to trust that a better outcome may result from releasing the full potential of the gathered group -- and if that same person in power is comfortable with people gathering together across hierarchal, historical or organizational roles and taking personal responsibility for the ideas they generate, Open Space may be the perfect method for this group, organization or community.

However, if the top person(s) in power invites an Open Space -- bringing to the work at hand passion, personal responsibility and innovative thinking outside peoples' historical roles -- and then shuts down the process by saying "Thank you, I will make a decision on all this", Open Space is NOT the appropriate method. You cannot let people feel ownership of an issue and its solution and then squish them back into their previous shape, if you will. You are asking for a huge morale problem at the least, and at the most, mutiny.