Christy wrote: "What, if anything, do you say/do/think when someone says to you, "oh, I've been to an Open Space Technology meeting before, and I didn't like it, and wouldn't want to do it again,"
and upon gentle inquiry you discover that what they were told was "Open Space" was not really so very open? And/or that something was missing (for example, session summaries weren't posted or shared or compiled in a timely way, or at all)? And especially when the spaces in question were held by really wonderful people (definitely possessing "good heads and good hearts") whom you like very much?" Hmmmmmm. I imagine that I would respond with a statement such as "sorry to hear that your experience was x, especially since I am such a fan of OS and have had mostly positive experiences attending and convening OS events..." followed by more inquiry and conversation, depending on my interest and the other person's interest in engaging the topic. As I read your email, I found myself asking a lot of questions like: What specifically did this participant observe-what specifically did (s)he actually see others say/not say or do/not do (e.g. the convener wrinkled his or her brows, interrupted people two or three times, and left the room for two hours.)-that led him or her to his or her interpretations of the event (e.g. the convener is grumpy, controlling, and shockingly remiss in attending to the event [grin])? What are five other interpretations of the same behaviors (e.g. wrinkling the brows could be interpreted as the convener is grumpy or having trouble seeing or has a headache or about to sneeze or concentrating really hard, etc.; interrupting could be interpreted as the convener is controlling or attempted to open more space for others by interrupting a few folks who liked the sound of their own voices a little too much, or didn't realize that the other person was still talking, or has a different communication style, etc.; leaving the room.well, we all know at least one other way that this could be interpreted [grin].)? How did this participant contribute to his or her experience of the event? What did this participant learn about her/himself? How did others experience the event? How did the convener experience the event? What was the rationale for various decisions to do or not do x (e.g. omit summaries) and how were the decisions to do or not do x made? This perhaps followed by more inquiry and more conversation as inspired.and hopefully, more understanding. Warm regards, Karen ------------------------------------------ Karen Sella Managing Partner www.luminacoaching.com 206.780.2998 lumina fr. L., light, air, opening -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Christy Lee-Engel Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 8:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: How do you respond to unsatisfying experiences of "open" space? Hello dear open space friends, What, if anything, do you say/do/think when someone says to you, "oh, I've been to an Open Space Technology meeting before, and I didn't like it, and wouldn't want to do it again," and upon gentle inquiry you discover that what they were told was "Open Space" was not really so very open? And/or that something was missing (for example, session summaries weren't posted or shared or compiled in a timely way, or at all)? And especially when the spaces in question were held by really wonderful people (definitely possessing "good heads and good hearts") whom you like very much? thank you, Christy Lee-Engel Seattle -- weblog: http://lifecultivatinglife.blogspot.com * * ========================================================== [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
