Dear Harrison Thanks for your reply (came directly to me, so I post my answer + your reply here). My experience is that sometimes people come to an event, having read the invitation without understanding that it is something completely different than the traditional type of gatherings especially noticeable when its to an OS-meeting or to another open participative process and when people are not used to this at all. I think some people already have their mind set, and dont see that its something different although there are no speakers listed and only a starting and ending time.
In the pre-work I always design specific time to facilitate a process with the planning group to find a compelling theme. I often quote Chris statement from the list, and ask them does this really turn you on? Still this happens every now and then In the future I will have this conversation even more clearly with my sponsors we have to shake people, turn them upside down, or make them upset to really to give them a chance to understand that this is something different. Any ideas to make this more clear for participants are appreciated. Warm regards Thomas Från: Harrison Owen [mailto:[email protected]] Skickat: den 15 november 2010 20:27 Till: [email protected] Ämne: RE: Giving context, clarifying the theme was: OST following a creative enhacing training Thomas I have found that if participants are unclear about the core purpose of the gathering at the start, it is probably to late to do much about it. Doubtless they will be unclear about outcomes, and should be. Two things are critical, I think. First is the invitation should briefly and clearly state why we are here. The second thing is that the invitation be a REAL invitation which is to say that it can be refused. Or stated more positively the invitation must invite Those who Care to come. If they dont care, they shouldnt come. And if they are unclear about the details, gaining clarity (calling the sponsor) makes a good deal of sense! When the people are clear and care to be there saying a lot more is not to the point. Just get to work. Harrison Harrison Owen 189 Beaucaire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207-763-3261 (Summer) 301-365-2093 (Winter) Website www.openspaceworld.com Personal Website www.ho-image.com OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html _____ From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thomas Herrmann Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 9:47 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Giving context, clarifying the theme was: OST following a creative enhacing training Dear friends This conversation sparked a question I have. How much responsibility do you take to give participants context and clarify the theme in the opening of an Open Space meeting? I hand this to the sponsor and some do a great job some dont. I think they are the ones actually opening the space so they should express what they mean instead of me interpreting it. The other day, there was a clarifying question after my opening which made me realize that this person and probably some more were not fully aware of the purpose which is no good thing in an Open Space meeting! (-: Warm regards Thomas Från: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] För Artur Silva Skickat: den 15 november 2010 15:18 Till: [email protected] Ämne: Re: OST following a creative enhacing training Thanks, Chris. I also often use "it depends"... And agree with your opinion about the "two part opening". As well as with the difficulty in "shutting up" :-(( Artur _____ From: Chris Corrigan <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, November 15, 2010 1:22:37 PM Subject: Re: [OSLIST] OST following a creative enhacing training For me the answer is always "it depends". I have run OST events with stuff at the beginning and afterwards (and even sometimes in the dreaded middle of things) but it is always dependent on the context. Having said that, so much about the opening of space is about cultivating the energy of the group, tapping the deepest purpose and swiftly and clearly explaining the process and principles. A two part opening tends to stall or kill that energy especially after the agenda has been set. For me mastery of this form of meeting is summed up by one practice: the art of shutting up. Once I have explained things I shut up and let people get to work. The more I talk the less space there is for others. The quicker I can get out of the way the better. It is amazing to me how many experienced facilitators have trouble shutting up (me among them) but I invite you all to cultivate the practice. It is about a clear and crisp ending of your role so the group can get to work. Chris Ps the best piece of advice I ever saw on this list about the energy of opening came from Lisa who once said "model enthusiasm". Excellent. ----- CHRIS CORRIGAN http://www.chriscorrigan.com Sent from an iPhone, typed with thumbs... On 2010-11-14, at 11:26 PM, Lisa Heft <[email protected]> wrote: Hi, Artur - Regarding the outdoor experiences the day before an Open Space: many things can happen the day before an Open Space. But as Open Space delivers intimate passionate discussion, relationship-building, a sense of community or team, energetic interchange and even laughter - I not only see no reason to design in preliminary activities *but* have actually seen an Open Space suffer after these. And I have seen the same as Harrison noted - participants have often said 'why didn't you give us more time for our work / play / discussion in Open Space - we could have used it'. This includes introduction / warm-up / 'icebreaker' activities. Even going around in a circle hearing what everyone's name and title is seems to be taking up valuable time for participants - they always say how they came to know and remember each other much more deeply because of their shared interests and spirited discussions in the Open Space and that a traditional introduction both is hard to remember plus can often set up assumptions about who is supposedly who. Regarding the introduction / explanation of Open Space - I feel strongly that one should explain the principles and law BEFORE opening up the floor for topics / agenda co-creation. Because you are explaining / inviting a different way of being. You are explaining when you explain principles and law that everything is possible, including visiting multiple discussions during a single session. You are letting people know to follow the energy of the conversations rather than their pre-conceived agendas. And you are also letting people know that even if one person comes that is exactly the amazing perfect thing - they can write in silence and contribute even if they have a completely different way of thinking. The explanation of principles and laws (not just the reading of the text on the posters) is one of the essential invitations in Open Space, I believe. Also: your client said that they do that certain way (explaining only each thing as needed) for ***trainings****. That is a very good way to do a training. Open Space meetings are not trainings. A very important difference for design, explanation, dynamics, information the participants need for their self-organized work, objectives, outcomes and more. Right? Lisa Lisa Heft Consultant, Facilitator, Educator Opening Space [email protected] On Nov 13, 2010, at 1:19 PM, Artur Silva wrote: Thanks for your answer(s), Harrison. And have you (ou others) any comments on my point 2 (the possible two-step opening)? Rgds Artur * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
