Hi Larry, along the same lines... In the context of bringing up children, I heard the phrase: "Boundaries open space." In German: Grenzen schaffen Räume.
Mayke ___________________________________________ essence - Beratung, Training, Coaching Mayke Wagner Hanser 3 88279 Amtzell GERMANY mayke.wag...@t-e-a-m.org Tel (+49) 07520 / 9232 02 visit us: <http://www.t-e-a-m.org> > Von: Larry Peterson <la...@spiritedorg.com> > Antworten an: OSLIST <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> > Datum: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 15:08:55 -0400 > An: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Betreff: Re: [OSLIST] What is the Question? > > Kerry said: > "What happens to passion, commitment and ownership if there are limits > and no-go areas?" > > Chris said: > "So I like to focus on the question too: a positive, strategic, open > question (if positive, strategic and open is where the group wants to > go...). I have found that these qualities define the Spirit of the > gathering far more than the givens do." > > I agree that finding a theme that is compelling and engaging, some words > that give focus to an OST conversation helps to engage the Spirit -- > more than any other preparation this is critical. This is why it > usually takes a couple of conversations and some soak/dream time to > discover that phrase. It is also true, that when the phrase was "off" > the emergent processes of the meeting usually went beyond it -- > sometimes to show the truth that the "theme" did not connect to the > participants, no matter how well phrased and others to transcend it. > > I find that smaller, community based or learning initiatives have very > few things that need to be taken as given. It also depends on the > nature of the OST theme. If the theme is broad or largely educational > then there are few. > > I disagree with Kerry in my work with larger organizations. I have > found that articulating givens, in the way I go about it, does not > reduce "passion, commitment and ownership" but in fact increases the > focus of all three. To me, the invitation is critical and best includes > some of the "context" that has lead to the decision to Open Space using > OST. Choosing to Open Space to put a light on, to accelerate, to > strengthen the self-organization in that place with regard to the theme > at hand is done in a context -- a flow of organizational activity. Some > aspects of the context, of decisions previously made, cannot be changed > at the OST event although their "implementation in the now" can be. For > example, the Labour-Management contract may have some restrictions > specific to the topic at hand. > > In larger organizations I work to reduce those things to be "taken as > given" by a sponsor in the planning process. Usually, they will realize > that fewer givens lead to more possibilities. However, if there are > some financial or planning parameters that the current sponsor cannot > change they are part of the context of the space that is to be opened. > I find it is better to state them up front so that participants know > where they can immediately take action and where they will need to > develop longer term change strategies. I find that people feel > empowered to know where they can take action. > > Larry > > Larry Peterson > Associates in Transformation > Toronto, ON, Canada > 416.653.4829 > > la...@spiritedorg.com > www.spiritedorg.com > > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
