Doug-- Sorry for the blank mesage! I've done a number of Open Spaces where there were "too many" sessions. The participants have never needed help in finding solutions--they move into other informal spaces. combine sessions, decide to hold half-length sessions, etc etc etc.
As others have pointed out, allowing participants to solve such problems for themselves is an important introduction to taking responsibility. I have also utilized that anxious energy by getting clients (especially director-persons) to do some of the set-up tasks, make decisions about where to put the various elements of the meeting (posters, refreshments). Some that are especially needing to be in charge get to stick flip chart notes on the wall all day. Your non-anxious presence is the most important thing you bring to the meeting. I spent two days last week at a very nice resort with a client group. The two weeks before the meeting were heavy with things which, in my opinion, did not need to be done. Their anxiety was understandable--they are facing significant restructuring. And at the end of Day 1, the management team was very upset that they were not getting the level of participation they had hoped for. They had decided NOT to focus on the possibility of layoffs, so of course no one could focus on anything else--the Dead Moose under the table. After a 3-hour dinner with the management team, at which most people thought we should do something different, but no one knew what, I announced that Morning News would be a place for people to talk about their feelings, as well as announce new sessions. And went to bed knowing that no one else in the room really thought it would work. After Morning News, with considerable dissatisfaction and distrust expressed, a young man posted a session, saying he wanted to ask the questions that were on his mind, and he hoped at least one of the managers would be there to answer them. With all the managers and about 3/4 of the group in the room, he facilitated a wonderful session in which he nonblamefully asked all his questions and the director nondefensively answered all of them that had answers. Someone listened for "What we know about this situation" (the givens) and recorded them on the flip chart. And the rest of the day was sessions which had a much higher level of energy, participation and creativity. I heard laughter break out for the first time, and there were a few tears in the Closing Circle. You know how to do this work. Your client does not--that is why he has hired you. Open Space Technology takes all these possibilities into account. And it will work. Enjoy! Joelle * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
