Keeping a space dynamic

Image of Sweeping Rhythms originally an acrylic painting by Bernard Hoyes. Taken from a SlideShare by Bernard Richardson about movement and rhythm.

Continuation from- Reflections on a sprint funding process: The Facilitator. The Group. The People. & Me.

I have seen layers of understanding, relationship and shared purpose accumulate. Layers of emergence and retreat, of speaking and listening, of tension and release.

With facilitation the layers remained dynamic. 

When the facilitator wasn’t there, and the group was leading the group, things became more fixed. Roles appeared from nowhere and the need to move quickly and achieve took over. 

With facilitation the layers remained dynamic...

Sometimes things are quiet, sometimes they're bursting with energy.

It might be time to move with measured steps and think carefully before speaking. There might be a strategy behind choosing when to introduce an idea. 

Sometimes an idea or thought has to come out - they can't help themselves - they arrive quickly and full of excitement. 

I’ve seen the careful thought and the sudden burst of passion be equally valuable. This group holds space for both - creating a rhythm that respects individual expression.

The clear deadline actually helped us to go deeper...

We had a clear goal and a short time to reach it. You might think this would make everything rushed, but I think something interesting happened… 

The clear deadline actually helped us to go deeper. 

I've observed moments of intense productivity punctuated by deliberate slowness - spaces of contemplation that feel almost sacred. Pure joy, freedom and let go. Wrangles and tensions exist alongside breakthrough moments, with connection and trust allowing for these diverse experiences to coexist. 

As layers have accumulated - of understanding, of relationship, of shared purpose - I've watched the change happen. Focus sharpens, clarity deepens, and productivity doesn't just increase; it becomes more meaningful, more intentional. 

When you get together with a group to achieve something, how do you keep the space dynamic?

Follow this link to go back to the first blog in this series - Reflections on a sprint funding process: The Facilitator. The Group. The People. & Me.