Dear m,
the opportunities for participants to post issues in my practice are:
--during the regular posting issues session at the beginning of the os
--just after the regular posting session and all the time
thereafter--the black markers are replaced by red markers while people
are in the market phase so that issues posted after the regular posting
session stick out
--during Evening News of Day 1 (here the "red" issues can be pointed to
and "explained" by the conveners and furthr issues can be posted)
--during Morning Announcements of Day 2
In this way, a 2-day (or 3 day event with Action Planning on Day 3)
event has three "official" times for posting issues compared to one time
in one-day events.
As far as "speed" os posting is concerned (I think its mostly a worry of
facilitators and sponsors) I observe that it is directly related to two
factors: it feels and looks faster and more "natural" the more
completely the 5 preconditions are in place (you mention diversity as
one of them) and the more work for all aspects of the Open Space Event
were done by the sponsor and his planning group in the preparation for
the event.
In closing circles I now actually expect and will always hear some
participants express their wonder on how it was possible for them to
speak in the Open Space setting, something they had never been able to
do (speak up in groups)...this is so for gradeschool kids (I wish we
could have this in our school) and every other category including people
in my age bracket...this happens under the experimental conditions
described and my hunch is that it is just another one of the side
effects of selforganisation expressing itself.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
Michael Herman schrieb:
you remind me, peggy, that perhaps the slowest opening i can remember was in
asia (singapore) and then there was a region montessori educators conference
where i actually have video of the first several people literally running
for the markers, from the edge of a circle of 250. also, that the breadth
of the question makes a difference, as it sets up that situation you
describe, not knowing what/how to post. the other thing that helps create
that condition is significant diversity where people don't (yet) share much
history... so they don't necessarily know each other's language, so to
speak. that's when even more than butterflies, it helps to have a second
day, so that morning news can invite new topics. by then, people have been
able to connect enough to know how to express their issue in words that
other will understand.
m
--
Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
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On Sun, Jul 25, 2010 at 12:05 PM, Peggy Holman
<pe...@opencirclecompany.com>wrote:
Jon,
Thanks for the marvelous summary of the many aspects of shyness or other
qualities posing as shyness. So much wisdom! I've got a few small items to
add to all that's been said.
I've noticed that the more hierarchical the organization, the longer it
seems to takes before someone steps in to post a session. Have others
noticed that? I suspect to Michael Herman's point, it has much to do with
how real people sense the invitation is.
As several have already said, the quality of the space -- knowing who and
what is welcome - matters.
I did an Open Space with Buddhist monks years ago. It's the longest I've
ever seen it take before someone stepped in. Once I'd opened the space, we
all sat breathing for several minutes. At least it seemed like several
minutes. Ultimately the youngest monk in the room posted a session. Once
the ice was broken, there was a rush to the center.
A few years later, with a group of journalists, they entered the circle one
at a time, trickling in ever so slooowly. One "shy" journalist waited until
people had headed to their sessions. He then went to the wall and added his
session, never announcing it. Since most people go back to check the
agenda, his session was there for all to see.
On a completely different note, sometimes I think shyness is a result of
not quite knowing how to express a notion. If someone doesn't know how to
say what they want, how can they possibly post a session? I find that's one
of the great values of butterflies. Often those nagging ideas that we can't
quite put into words get worked through in an intimate side conversation.
With a bit more clarity, someone finds their voice and posts a session
later in the day or the following day. That's part of why I prefer multiple
day OS gatherings. So many seeds get planted on the first day that get a
chance to show themselves on day two.
Thanks for sparking a great exchange,
Peggy
_________________________________
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On Jul 22, 2010, at 10:09 AM, Jon Harvey wrote:
Thank you all for your wisdom and experience. I had a feeling my inquiry
would tap into a rich seam of insights and practice... But where to begin to
respond...! I will take the points in the order they appear in my email
intray:
*Mamading*: we meet again! (Were you there on Tuesday at NESTA btw – you
may not have spotted me hiding behind a couple croissants with Emmental
cheese in them?!) Do tell us more about these Labs. And, I think implicit,
in your comment is an idea that people and organisations / partnerships /
systems / communities can make more of OS on a second, third, fourth visit
etc. I know that to be true.
*Barry*: the ‘shy’ (and more of that later) people may well hang back and
butterfly, but sometimes butterflies don’t tap into their own passion and
can drift off – actually or mentally or both. I know, que sera, sera
(whatever happens etc.) – but your comment has prompted me to spend more
next time working with the sponsor. (Yes these reflections do all come from
a recent experience.) The sponsor needs to be as relaxed as I am with the
magic of the process.
*Jack*: things are good thanks – *bleating* (blogging & tweeting combined
– term coined by my wife to refer to my activity in my study / garret) like
mad to get OS & whole system stuff woven into the fabric of the #bigsociety.
I like the idea of a living agenda wall that can ebb and flow – and indeed
try to practice this. Perhaps this Agenda Wall 2.0....? (sort of! – although
it always has been) But I also hear what Lisa says in her later mail.
*Harrison*: Not for the first time, I do wish I could have you as an app
on my smart phone so that I could tap ‘you’ and get an immediate response of
‘this is what Harrison would do / say!’ Thank you for your story – you are
so good at those – I will endeavour to imbibe fully and remember at a
suitable later date. And you are right of course, it *is* about passion. I
guess I remain interested in what there can be in the system (see below) or
zeitgeist present whereby people with passion do *not* come forward... and
as a facilitator what role I have (if any) in ‘tweaking’ the system in
advance of the OS process...
*Michael*: you are correct of course – it is rarely about ‘shyness’ or the
individuals themselves. Indeed it was my reflection on the recent series of
OS that I did – that, in part, there was some ‘leaden’ systemic cultures
present. And quiet is not shy – absolutely true! And there has to be a first
meeting so that there can be a second – when people might ‘dare’ a little
more. As always every OS is a success – but (and back to my earlier point) –
just what that success looks like may not be quite what the sponsor had in
mind – which touches on my role as preparation guide. Their role as
‘inviter’ and ‘open space pilot’ is of course critical.
*Phelim*: I agree, there are some very practical things we can say – I
like your phrases. Again I will seek to imbibe those. Certainly I always aim
to ‘be’ and ‘hold the space’ with a gentle and almost wispy presence –
quietly content with the silence. (My father had a piece of gristle on one
ear which made it look a little pointed and he would claim he was half
pixie. So, as a quarter pixie, I try to have a wispy presence...! ) For me
making it easy is a stepping back not a stepping forward. And as for the
number of sessions – in one OS of the recent series, a total of two sessions
were proposed... so near perfect success! It was surprising! The chocolate
was good as well.
*Sharon*: You are right – exploring the passion beforehand is critical. In
hindsight, the sponsor was surprised by where the passion was after the
first OS – he (and therefore I as he had briefed me) expected a different
quality of passion to one that we in fact experienced. On reflection, I now
know it would have been wiser to hear a few more of the ‘ordinary’ voices
beforehand. And working through to what is the ‘right’ issue / theme /
question is really, really important.
*Lisa*: Given all of the above, I value your assertion that there can be
some, a small amount perhaps, shyness amongst some people. I think I can
sometimes overlook how ‘heavy’ a microphone is for some people. Maybe I am
not alone in this – although maybe I am. Can you post your ‘face’ on
youtube?! But I think I can imagine it from your description. I do have my
‘face’ too. (Although there is another debate to be had about where we go
after the intro stuff. I usually step outside the circle – whereas from what
you say, I am imagining you sitting in the circle...???) I need to keep
reminding myself that there is solid presence in silence. Being an extravert
– I may not always see this. And thank you for highlighting the issue of
power which others have touched on too.
So again – thank you all for this online tutorial. I feel enriched and
empowered – and not a little renewed too!
A sprinkling of pixie dust to you all!
Jon
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