Kay I loved your message and observations...Spirit filled my heart with the wonder of the Universe - that we are able to share such moments of grace. Thank you. You made my evening. Virginia
---------- > From: CaveOat <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Exec Coaching and 3rd Day` > Date: Thursday, March 26, 1998 10:31 AM > > Kay Vogt here. > > I finished my 3 day Open Space yesterday and wanted to thank everyone who > repsonded to my pleas for help. The suggestions I got from many of you were > very very helpful and I wanted to give back to the list by sharing what I did. > > Before taking the job: Made sure I had the support of the top person and that > he understood that he would not have control of the meeting but that his > attendance was crucial. And that I wanted a meeting with his managers to > explain the OS process, to surface resistance, and improve the probability of > support for the outcomes of the OS. > > Four days before the event: (Next time I'd want more time, like 2 to 3 weeks > before the event) > > 3 1/2 hour meeting with the 60 managers. Showed US WEST video, took questions > about the process, and then did mini OS around the theme: What are the issues > and opportunities around the use of OS. It was very interesting. A lot of fear > and resistance came up as well as tremendous support and enthusiasm. Then a > closing circle with one word from each participant. Though a little short and > rushed, we did what we needed to do in this time. Next time would want at > least 4 hours. > > 3rd Day - Instead of voting, which I have always hated, we did an Affinity > process. Put all the topic titles (29) on small pieces of paper with tape. > Gave instructions that people were to move the titles to groupings. Papers can > be moved more than once, someone may move a topic and then someone else come > along and move it again, and again, and again. Several times the topics were > organized into 3, 4, 5 or more groupings. This was done in silence. Trick is > "knowing" where to stop. We could have stopped several times, and there was > some dissenion about stopping when we did. But it turned out well, with the 29 > topics narrowed down to 5 or 6. Two big groups, one medium sized and 2 small. > > Each group was given one hour to figure out 1) Who was to carry the group on > as convenor(s); 2) What are action steps (based on you know what to do, you > need more information, you have no clue) 3) When the group would meet next. > > The closing circle was awesome, just awesome. It felt like a mystical > experience to me, with one person even saying that he could hear our hearts > beating in unison. > I am so grateful to be doing this work.
