What Harrison says really, to encourage you, I asked a similar question of this list as I was asked to use open space in a brief (90 mins) session in March. It was a leap of faith. the person who asked me (one of a group of music educationalists for which I ran open space ) was concerned that no-one would call a session, or that it would be awkward. I have faith in opening space, I assured him they would. I let go and let happen. and even in the brief time we had space was opened, and the energy in the room as the 30 or so people self-organised discussed these things that really mattered was visceral, and valuable and I know that as a result there was a shift within the organisation and a call for a 2 1/2 day event. all the best, Mary.
On 15 June 2012 06:43, Peggy Holman <[email protected]> wrote: > Catherine, > > This rich discussion brought back memories of doing a 90 minute Open Space > years ago. I found the story in the OSlist archive. In fact, I found a > thread from 2010 when someone else asked a similar question. The thread is > below. > > I didn't mention in my response below that I got into the predicament of a > 90 minute Open Space because Harrison was double booked -- a trip to > Australia and a keynote at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. > Needless to say, he chose Australia and referred Bowling Green State > University to me. I didn't even ask what they wanted, figuring since > Harrison had said yes, it was a reasonable request. What I talked to them, > I discovered that I was the conference opener and that I had 90 minutes to > DO an Open Space. The story follows. BTW, my timing: 20 minutes to open, > 3 15 minute sessions, 15 minutes to close, leaving 10 minutes for Q&A on > the process. > > A coda to the story: about a year ago, I learned that the idea to do the > Open Space as a keynote came from Steve Cady, one of my co-authors on The > Change Handbook. He had never seen an Open Space meeting and was curious. > He had no idea that OS in 90 minutes was an "impossible" request. > > To the stories.... > > Peggy > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From: *Peggy Holman <[email protected]> > *Subject: **Re: [OSLIST] Demo OS in 90 minutes?* > *Date: *April 15, 2010 9:08:42 AM PDT > *To: *[email protected] > *Reply-To: *OSLIST <[email protected]> > > Hi Annamarie, > > To add to the examples you've already heard, I did a 90 minute conference > keynote years ago that was in Open Space. I found the story is in the > archives from 2004. I giggled because I told my story in response to > someone asking the question you just asked! So I've copied the whole > thread, which includes responses to Christine Whitney Sanchez's question by > Birgitt Williams, Michael Herman, and Jack Ricchiuto as well as my response. > > You can tell that times have changed by the different responses you're > getting today! > > Peggy > > ______________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > 425-746-6274 > www.opencirclecompany.com > www.journalismthatmatters.org > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > burnt, is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > On Feb 27, 2004, at 10:19 AM, Peggy Holman wrote: > > Christine, > > I have a different take on the idea of one session. I say do three. > Here's > why: in 90 minutes, it is impossible to do any subject justice. Given > that, > rather than set the expectation of even one quality conversation, use the > time for another purpose: to invite people to notice who else has passion > for the same topics as you. 20 minutes to open, three 15 minute sessions, > 20 minutes to close about does it. In that time, people will find out the > range of subjects of interest and who else cares about them. They'll be > able to touch in with the folks they meet after the OS. And another benefi > is that it leaves participants with a very different embodied experience of > what OST is. > > This suggestion is based on a real experience. A few years back, I did a > keynote in Open Space for the Bowling Green MSOD Alumni conference. They > wanted the 150 or so participants to experience Open Space. After my first > thought of "impossible", I thought, "why not?" > > It worked incredibly well! I was amazed at the energy of the group and > that > they really did move from topic to topic. It was like watching a speeded > up > video of an OS. For the closing circle, I invited people to reflect using > a > word or phrase. This actually left time in the closing for Q&A on OST. > > Mind you, I did this for graduates of an OD program who were as interested > in the form as they were the content of the gathering. However, I think it > would work for your purpose as well. > > foggy in Seattle, > Peggy > > _______________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > 425.746.6274 > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Christine Whitney Sanchez" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 9:41 PM > Subject: Re: [OSLIST] What would you do? > > > Michael, Birgitt and Jack, > > > Thanks so much. You have done a wonderful job of expressing most of the > > concerns I've had and then offering concrete suggestions about how to work > > with them. It's a very good idea and not too late to narrow the topic > > (Birgitt - thanks for that) so that this very important larger topic can > > be > > given much more time and space in future events. Fortunately, it's never > > been billed as Open Space Technology but rather Open Space Dialogue (this > > was in the program description before I was even hired) so it will quite > > possible to set this up as intentional self-organization (thanks Michael) > > and only later mention what might be accomplished in 2 or 3 days of OST > > (the > > sponsor and I are having that conversation already). And Jack, thanks for > > the suggestion of using this time to open the conversation about how to > > frame the much larger conversation. > > > I will stick with the one longer session, be clear about outcomes and yes, > > Birgitt, the closing circle will close the whole forum. > > > I will let you know how it goes. > > > Namaste, > > > Christine > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Jack > > Ricchiuto > > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 6:31 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: What would you do? > > > > Yes to Michael's points about normalizing the expectation to days not > > hours > > for this scope, and weeks if the process needs to include the minds and > > heart of multiple diverse stakeholders and stewards of current geographic > > capabilities. 90 minutes may be a good first step just to open the > > conversation on the givens, knowns, and unknowns of the focus. > > > Jack > > ____________________________ > > JACK RICCHIUTO / 216.373.7475 > > www.DesigningLife.com - you can now check my calendar availability online > > (updated daily) > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Michael Herman [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 7:53 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: What would you do? > > > whoops. i missed the numbers part on the first pass. yep. this is > > trickier. > > > i'd try to not even say OST until the end when you could say "this has > > been a tiny, 1.5-hour slice of what normally would be 2 or 3 days." in > > situations like this, i've played the opening really quick and dirty and > > called it "intentional self-organization" and only called it ost later > > on, after they have an experiential context and can really appreciate > > how it could go on for a couple of days. > > > also seems important to be really clear about what to expect as > > outcomes. as in, it might take another 20 minutes or so to get any real > > miracles. <grin> > > > michaelh > > > > > Birgitt Williams wrote: > > > Christine, > > If it was me, I wouldn't do a 1.5 hour meeting for 120-180 > > participants (non profit leadership and management) with a topic as > > broad as "what can we DO in the next year to build the capacity of > > our sector in Arizona?" . > > > I believe that 3 1/2 hours is the shortest meeting in which one really > > experiences the open space of an Open Space Technology meeting. > > Anything shorter than that, in my experience, is a demonstration of > > people self managing within a set of instructions. Having said that, > > the topic is a very broad one and a very important one for this > > sector--not to be handled lightly. It is truly too bad that they > > didn't give you at least one whole day, preferably 2 1/2 days to > > really do justice to these people and the topic. > > > Having said that, I think one of the challenges that you will face is > > the unlikelihood that all of your participants will be ready for you > > at the start of your appointed time, so you are unlikely to have your > > full 1 1/2 hours. So...I suggest you do your planning as though you > > have 1 1/4 hours. You need time for opening including making > > statements about the fact that OST has the capacity to include action > > planning but there won't be a special opportunity for this at this > > meeting. I think you will need to make the most of your words to > > explain what OST is when the right time is given or else you might > > have 180 people going off and leading exactly this kind of OST meeting > > throughout Arizona (often there are lots of people who imitate what > > they experience). Now, you can't prevent that--I realize it but maybe > > your words might help. Okay, you will have about ten minutes of your > > words, another ten minutes for topics to be posted, and then about 20 > > minutes for your closing. I think you would be best to have only one > > session time. If you attempt to go with two and then even more time > > gets cut away by unexpected events, you might end up with big problems. > > > Have they given you the right to use a closing circle to close their > > whole conference or is your closing only going to be the closing for > > your OST portion. > > > I hope this helps. I can see why you would want to take advantage of > > the opportunity to showcase OST. However, having spent a long time in > > the social service sector, I know my own reaction to such a short time > > to discuss something so important would be very distressing. > > > I wish you joy, peace, God's grace and blessings, and that you prosper > > in all things, > > > Birgitt > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of > > Christine Whitney Sanchez > > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 2:57 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: What would you do? > > > Dear Friends, > > > In a little more than a week, Arizona State University Center for > > Nonprofit Leadership and Management is sponsoring the 6th Annual > > Forum on Nonprofit Effectiveness: Building the Capacity of > > Arizona's Nonprofit Sector. There will be between 120 - 180 NP > > leaders from around the state who are well accustomed to the > > format they will experience most of the day...expert panels and Q&A. > > > As a bold move on ASU's part, I've been asked to facilitate a very > > short open space to finish the day focused on the convening > > question, "What can we DO in the next year to build the capacity > > of our sector in Arizona?" No action planning, obviously but the > > sponsors hope to stimulate a different level of dialogue. Since > > there is only 1.5 hours available for the open space session I am > > leaning toward having only one 45minute breakout session with the > > remainder of the time devoted to opening and closing. But I've > > also been considering 2 half hour breakout sessions with less time > > for brief reports and the closing. Given that this is going to be > > the first OST experience for nearly everyone in this group, I am > > looking for a balance between longer, richer discussions in the > > breakouts with the fuller self-organizing experience that 2 > > shorter breakouts might offer. > > > I would especially appreciate any examples of times where you've > > opened space for this number of people in this short time frame > > and what you found most effective. > > > Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and suggestions. > > > > Christine > > > Christine Whitney Sanchez > > Triune Milagro, LTD > > 2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue > > Phoenix, AZ 85048-8990 > > [email protected] > > 480.759.0262 phone > > 480.759.0403 fax > > VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.triunemilagro.com > > <http://www.triunemilagro.com/> > > > > Invoking the wisdom and capacity of the human spirit! > > > > > > > > > > On Apr 15, 2010, at 7:41 AM, Annamarie Pluhar wrote: > > Hoping this gets through... I tried to send a few days ago... > > > Hi all, > > I'm wondering if anyone has opened space for a 90-minute session? And if > so, how'd it go? I'm thinking it would take 20-30 minutes before groups > started talking, so there may be time for one session? Closing circle of 15 > minutes? It seems too short to me. I'm asking because I'm considering > proposing OS for a group that meets once a month of between 20-40 people. > > Harrison will say go for it. I'm wondering whether anyone has. > > Thanks! > > > Annamarie Pluhar > > Pluhar Consulting > Results through effective group process > http://www.pluharconsulting.com > 802.451.1941 > *802.579.5975 (cell)* > > > > _________________________________ > Peggy Holman > [email protected] > > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > 425-746-6274 > www.peggyholman.com > www.journalismthatmatters.org > > *Enjoy the award winning *Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into > Opportunity <http://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/> > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > burnt, is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >
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