Hi Harrison Thanks for your reply.
I particularly enjoyed this line, "Nothing of consequence ever happened on an annual/quarterly basis," as my understanding of the history of calendars suggests that dates are not nearly as precise or meaningful as we think they are. That said, I do like to give myself an annual private Open Space (i.e. one participant = me) around the winter solstice. I use this time of rebirth to check in with my energy and enthusiasm and dream into the year to come. Warmly, Marty -----Original Message----- From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 8:06 AM To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' Subject: Re: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.? Martin ... I can't speak for anybody else, but my experience has been that when OS is "always," The Conference of the Year, sort of thing... it gets a little drab. Not to say old hat. I have zero problem with folks convening an OST any time them see the need. I have even less problem with them understanding that everything happens in open space (in the context of a self organizing world). And both of those together are just dynamite. BUT... Nothing of consequence ever happened on an annual/quarterly basis, I think. Serious stuff (other than taxes and Quarterly Reports) happened when it happened. And at that precise moment space needed to be open. In lots of cases, the space was automatically open simply because the usual under pinning's life were blown out of the way (new product, fiscal disaster, the competition). Under these circumstances, choice of theme is a no-brainer. Everybody knows! At other times, people intuit that the ground is shifting... and so in advance, to achieve advantage, or whatever... Open Space is a marvelous way to go. But the precise "question/issue" may be a little opaque. But so what? Emergence is always opaque -- until it happens. Winter Address 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093 Summer Address 189 Beaucaire Ave. Camden, ME 04843 207-763-3261 Websites www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org -----Original Message----- From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Martin Boroson Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2014 1:08 PM To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' Subject: Re: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.? Thomas Your interesting situation and questions have provoked some deep reactions in me. Thank you! First, I wonder why there is need for an Open Space to be exciting and dramatic. Yes, as a paid facilitator, who wants his client to feel that the event was worthwhile, I would want the event to be dramatic, powerful, transformative. Personally, some of the most wonderful moments of my life, as facilitator, are when I have opened the space for a group that is troubled or stuck or anxious, and then see them break through into their passions and their truth, or experience an OS kind of freedom for the first time. But I wonder if we, as facilitators, can get addicted to that experience? I mean, how many Big Bangs can one have? :) And I would be concerned about any attempt to artificially raise the energy for the group in advance. Second, it seems to me that cycles are part of life, and there are times for dormancy, slowing down, percolation, and other times for bursting forth. So maybe it is okay to have an Open Space in which nothing dramatic happens--presumably that is just a reflection of where the group is at, and that's okay. So I am wondering if it is okay to sit with boredom? As a creativity junkie, I have had to learn that not all times are creative--sometimes I just have to clean the house. (On a deeper level, these issues are really about "enlightenment"--and the issue of whether it happens just once or many times, and also, what you do after enlightenment. Some people do indeed have trouble coming back to an ordinary life after an experience of enlightenment. And some people become breakthrough junkies, always in search of a bigger bang.) Finally, I was a bit confused by Harrison's statement that an Open Space only be held when needed, and not be done just because "the calendar has hit a certain date." I certainly understand that the "ideal" conditions for an OS are when there is a sense of urgency--high passion, tight deadline, big problem, etc. But I have always thought it would be nice for an organization to have an Open Space on a regular basis just to "take the pulse." The idea of this would be that employees would know that there is a regularly available space in which to bring up issues and work on them, and that the managers will be present and listening in that space. Yes, sometimes it will be boring. Other times, unexpectedly exciting. At sometimes, it will be just a chance to take a nap. And at other times, something so hot will emerge that an OS needs to be scheduled just on that topic. So, I'm curious to know if anyone has experience with organizations who have regularly-calendared Open Space events. Warmly, Marty ______________________________________________________________________ Try the new One-Moment Meditation iOS App: http://goo.gl/qSgHjd www.martinboroson.com www.onemomentmeditation.com -----Original Message----- From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Herrmann Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 4:33 PM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.? THanks for your responses Eric, Elisabeth and HO I have never used any warm-ups in an OST but it sure would be interesting to see how that would work! A "real" theme has always worked for my groups and I like that. Your suggestion Harrison is pretty close to the theme already chosen (From good to best (but in Swedish)) - but I think it was not communicated clearly, with passion. It will be interesting how things work out on Friday. And what they/we come up with. One idea that struck me is to use a fish-bowl start where the leaders - and if others care to join - clarify way ahead. Another thing. As I shared earlier we had a brief report out in the morning, before starting. I had preferred to have it in a separate room but due to difficulties with microphones we had it besides the circle. 9 groups that started last year shared - one minute each - their achievements. And there were some quite major achievements. Hmm maybe this set a tone that interfered. It is always difficult to know what affects what and how. I very seldom have any activities such as presentations before starting. Hmm Hmmm. More comments very welcome Hugs Thomas 23 aug 2014 kl. 16:30 skrev Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net>: > One of the problems of doing an Open Space as an "annual affair" is > simply that it is done because it has "always" been done -- and not > because there is some specific, high passion issue and opportunity. In > my experience, the predictable result is (unfortunately) what you > experienced. And as is true with any sort of meeting... if there is no > compelling reason to have it -- Why bother? My practice is Open Space > when you need space opened -- and never because the calendar has hit a > certain date. All that said... For your second event how about > something like this..."Things are great! How do we make them greater? Issues and Opportunities." > > Harrison > > Winter Address > 7808 River Falls Drive > Potomac, MD 20854 > 301-365-2093 > > Summer Address > 189 Beaucaire Ave. > Camden, ME 04843 > 207-763-3261 > > Websites > www.openspaceworld.com > www.ho-image.com > OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the > archives of OSLIST Go > to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.or > g > > -----Original Message----- > From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf > Of Thomas Herrmann > Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 8:27 AM > To: OSLIST > Subject: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.? > > Had a "funny" experience yesterday when I facilitated an OST with an > organization that I mentioned about earlier, they have dived into OST > and use the approach more and more in everyday life. Every August they > have 1-2 days with all employees. Last year we had 2 full days (twice > with half the staff each time) in OST resulting in a total of 23 > action plans implemented by self managed workgroups. We have had > follow up meetings reporting the progress from teams that now have > dissolved or are still working. Their business (a hospital) now runs > really smoothly, producing well over targets with energy and high spirit. > Out of different reasons the message for the first of this years > conferences (one full day, next Friday is the next - for the other > half of the staff) was a bit blurry (in my opinion/how I experience > it) so the energy was not so high (setting agenda was really slooooow, > didn't experience anything like that in the hundreds of events I have > facilitated!) and some thought the day was a bit boring/slow. At the > end most who were still there were happy(some left early - long day on > Friday is not a good choice either) - 9 action plans with concrete > improvements! I used re-opening space, so it was all by invitation (-: > > Anyhow, a challenge may be to find a really hot theme when business > runs so good. I am now in communication with the leadership about how > we can get the steam going better next Friday. > Any experiences to share, ideas and/or suggestions? > Warm regards > Thomas Herrmann > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe > send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe > send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
