Ms. Suzanne and others -
I have a question - Suzanne's post invites it but I welcome anyone
responding as this is a greater conversation than just a few of us.
You mention explaining the unexplainable (for people who have not yet
experienced the model). My question is... why do we have to explain
process to prospective clients at all?
My experience is that few clients are 'into' process - they are
focused on what can help their situation / productivity / teamwork and
so on. The 'what', not the 'how'.
In facilitation - with any method or tool - in my experience it's not
the tool or method that excites most clients and invites them to say
'yes' to what they cannot yet see - it is conversations about the
deliverables, the possibilities, the analysis of their need, situation
and desired outcomes - listening to their story of what they
perceive... all about what they *do* know. On my side, I am listening
for the context, the story-behind-the-story, and I am asking all the
many questions that inform my eventual selection of process / tool,
Open Space or otherwise. That interchange, creation of the initial
picture, and discussion of what is realistically achievable via one or
more meetings - plus their intuitive sense for the chemistry with /
style of the facilitator and the trust-building in those conversations
- seems to be how clients select a facilitator and partner with them
in planning, preparing and inviting for a dialogue-based meeting. No?
Looking forward to your thoughts, my colleagues,
Lisa
On May 18, 2011, at 9:27 AM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
<snip>
Oh Donna, thank you, thank you for this post. In the spirit of
abundance and collaboration, I always imagine that we will
individually and collectively uncoil the Dragon Lizard from off our
hearts and throats together as a community, knowing the
possibilities and joy that await clients who ultimately say “yes”
instead of “no”. It means going into this with a humble beginner’s
mind, in conversations where the clients are, in language that is
familiar to them, with an invitation to participate that is never
forced, imposed or selling. The conundrum is that we don’t even want
to talk about Open Space. Yet we must because it is so foreign from
how people currently manage, host meetings, and organize conferences
and events. How can anyone ever imagine the possibility of
transforming a highly energized coffee break into a way of doing
business, running our organizations and achieving results? It defies
logic.
<snip>
Lisa Heft
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
Opening Space
[email protected]
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