Dear colleagues, I wish to add an observation to a comment made by Michael. He said Regardless of what the subject is, people will follow their passion and convene a group... sometimes this looks right on target to some and sometimes it seems completely off target...I have never seen this as unproductive or detrimental, just exactly the opposite.
I disagree that it is true that people will follow their passion and convene a group. If the OST takes place in a conference where some people from a big community get together to talk about what they feel passionate about, I would agree with the statement. However, if the OST takes place inside of a company, an intact organization with some history, some leadership styles, some previous disappointments from meetings, and some resultant fears of speaking out depending on the culture, there a number of people who stay silent and do not follow their passion and convene a group. This is why, about 18 years ago, I started researching and experimenting with how to work with OST inside of an intact organization that would give the greatest likelihood that people would come forward with their passion, lead a group, and have the resultant recommendations have the best opportunity to be enacted despite typical organizational barriers. Two tips: If the client has only one full day that they will release people to attend a meeting, I do my best to negotiate that it is the afternoon of day one and the morning of day two. This actually gives 24 hours for the processing as a lot also ends up happening over socializing in the evening. On the morning of day two during the morning news, people have the opportunity to post more topics. Countless times, people post topics that they were too afraid to post on day one. I have found that there is a richness from this configuration of a full day OST meeting that having the meeting all in one day just cannot provide. The second tip is to do careful planning with the sponsor to find out what the space is truly being opened for, and what it is not the givens get made explicit in this way, instead of being hidden. This does not affect what people talk about at the meeting itself. It does affect what they recommend for future action. It is a wonderful way to channel productive energy the recommendations land within what the space is open for, and immediate and long term evidence develops of action completion after the OST usually up to 100%. There are countless benefits to this. Warmly, Birgitt Williams President, Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. Author, The Genuine Contact Way www.dalarinternational.com From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eleder_BuM Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 5:54 AM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] Stating the subject at the Opening Thanks so much, Michael! Sage words from an experienced friend. I´ll take them much into account on next week OS. (The other 2 OS will be in some weeks. I would no way do 3 OS in a week, I think, I try to embody the noble art of doing nothing, less is more spirit,... even if some times happen to be more busy :-)! Regards, Eleder ... In my experience the "well defined subject" is of little importance. What really makes a difference is in how the "subject" was developed and how those that developed it communicate/spread it. This is always the task of the Planning Group which includes the sponsor and, in my case, is led by me without intervening in the content. In my practice, it has proved very effective when the sponsor and his people are penetrated deep by the burning business issue or the subject. The sponsor opens the event (in my book, the space is always open, so no need to open it) by saying "Welcome", "a few sentences about the subject" and, most important "what his most fervent wishes are for the event and its outcome"...for this I suggest a total of 5 minutes or less. At the end of the 5 minutes he invites me to introduce the process in which I always point to the "subject" which is posted on the wall just above the bulletin board and make it clear to myself that it is not my subject but that of the sponsor. Regardless of what the subject is, people will follow their passion and convene a group... sometimes this looks right on target to some and sometimes it seems completely off target...I have never seen this as unproductive or detrimental, just exactly the opposite. * What is you practice and experience on this? Touching all bases before the event and letting go during the event has always worked... in those instances where things worked less well, I have almost always stumbled onto the reasons...and learned. I agree fully with you, questions around our practice are most productive in developing our practice further. I am most interested to hear what will happen to your energy and spirit facilitating three os events in a week. Greetings from Berlin mmp
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