Reflections
By Alan Stewart, PhD
11 December 2009
I have had the pleasure and privilege of being a presenter at HKICC functions three times this year. The first was when Anita Cheung and I co-facilitated the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium. Then I offered a PD session to do with ‘On Becoming a Professional Conversationalist’. Lastly I was invited to be the ambience director of the Christmas party at the Helena May.
Rather than comment on my experiencing of the delivery of these events I wish to bring to your attention some background to my performing the role in the last named. On the premise that you may find this useful in preparing for your public presentations. You may see this as my post Christmas gift to you!
This is what I received from a friend not long prior to the event:
“I appreciate a lecture or paper in which the speaker has taken the fullness of time to understand, to compose, and then to bring it forth to the listeners, in his or her full presence. This kind of performance is a gift. It is the way we can enrich each other's lives by gifting whole worlds to the other. And I contemplate ...what kinds of worlds do we wish to gift? To accept as gifts?”
~ Pille Bunnell
This was for me a ‘trigger’ to take these thoughts into the role of ‘ambience director’, which has led me to:
. Understand – more that ‘ambience direction’ is a form of facilitation in which all present are invited to participate, to enter into the spirit of the gathering by being curious, interested, playful, joyful and risk taking. With the purpose of co-creating a context in which all present engage with each other richly.
. Compose – a particular form of welcome and choose activities which could evoke feelings of wishing to participate and to offer oneself as a gift to the gathering.
Make explicit displays in the form of posters of principles of Open Space Technology (OST) and the World Café (TWC): 'Whoever comes are the right people', 'Whatever happens is the only thing that could have' and its corollary 'Whenever we treat each other well good things happen.' Plus 'Create a hospitable space', 'Clarify the purpose of the gathering' and 'Share collective observations.'
Settle on a range of activities, among which are conversing with strangers - people who have not previously met – together with singing several Christmas carols, and circle dancing.
I also had ideas for storytelling and ‘chuckle cafe' (in which people in small groups are invited to come up with a funny perspective of particular local issues). As it turned out there was not time for these.
Nor did I say this but sense is worth noting here as it underpins the element of ‘risk taking!’
"People who watch are fools, people who dance are fools; so if I'm going to be a fool anyway, I choose to dance".
~ From Birgitt Willliams, facilitator of Open Space Technology
Perform - which is a mixture of being totally present with the knowledge, the composition and the audience. These latter I appreciated were people who would likely ‘dive into’ the spirit of the celebratory event.
Recognising that one of the key roles of an ambience director is to remind everyone of their magnificence and their brilliance!
As you would appreciate, to do this well the facilitator must be present emotionally as well as intellectually; indeed that particular distinction disappears into the unity of being there.
I conclude with this comment of Pete Seeger who as you may know performed at President Obama's inauguration this year along with Bruce Springsteen.
"Participation is the key to the future of the human race. Participation in families, in politics [at parties!] ... Participation will save the human race - if we are saved."
~ Pete Seeger aged 89
For as I said in a closing remark, I believe that coaches have a vital role to play in bringing about a more participatory, relational, spiritual way of being on our little planet.
