Dear Catherine, Leslie and All These are the most insightful and practical ideas on how all participants in a short duration OST gathering can obtain the most value from the experience.
I congratulate and salute you. Go well Alan *Alan Stewart, PhD Social Artist Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun Based in Adelaide and operating throughout Austral-Asia Em: **[email protected]* <[email protected]> * Web: **www.multimindsolutions.com* <http://www.multimindsolutions.com> * Mob: **+61413848680* <0413848680> * Blog: **Conversare* <http://conversare.net> *Tw: @alpalstewart* <http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/site/comedians/> "If there's dancing count me in" On 30 January 2015 at 09:43, Leslie Zucker via OSList < [email protected]> wrote: > Catherine, > Thanks so very much for your thoughtful response, I really appreciate your > time. I still find it amazing, after all these years how caring and helpful > people on this list are. > > Your wording for the book of proceedings is great. Go right ahead. > > I did end up including a lot of context about the event in the Book of > Proceedings which I just sent out last night to both the people who came > and who registered but did not show up. I am also scheduling “debrief” > meetings with people who said they are vested in the outcomes (funders) but > didn’t show up to the event itself. Any words of wisdom about talking about > the value of the event to funders who didn’t come? My guess is that they > will want to know what are the top three action items from the event? The > truth is there aren’t any action items, per se, but there was value - > community building as the strongest one, for sure. > > I provide a form for note-taking (see annex), in which I include „the most > important outcomes in three sentences“ for the closing circle, especially > for Open Space Events that are as short as yours or no longer than a day. > > I agree with you that it’s helpful to use a template for the note taking. > I did provide one at my event but it didn’t ask for the most important > outcomes in three sentences for the closing circle. Nonetheless, only > half the groups turned in any notes. I will try it the way you suggest > next time! > > However, it is of utmost importance to ask for „the 3 sentences only“ when > you open the closing circle, as coming back to listening mode after all > those vivid discussions is difficult and often creates a sudden drop of > energy. > > > I couldn’t agree with you more about this! I definitely felt the sudden > drop of energy in the closing circle and found it (frankly) quite difficult > to sit through. Although I had suggested concise comments or 1-2 minutes > maximum/ per person and focused on any one of the three questions that I > prepped them for (meaning in the opening circle, I told them we’d discuss > those three questions in the closing circle). The questions were these: 1) > What did you learn or contribute? 2) What surprised you? and 3) What did > you like about this process? That suggestion was clearly not what people > wanted to do. Instead, they introduced themselves, what their organization > does and offers, performances that are coming up, etc. Even as the > facilitator, I felt trapped and unable to exercise the Law of Two Feet. On > two occasions, I tried to guide the comments back to the three questions, > but that only worked with a few people, not the majority. Finally, I just > let it be what it was going to be. Unfortunately, however, it did mean that > the ending was anti-climactic, when I really believe that a strong feeling > of unity, connection and gratitude is a more powerful way to end an Open > Space. > > I wonder what I could have done differently? Suggestions, questions, > ideas are welcome! > > Touching on another question - how do you or others successfully fill the > closing circle with just as many people as the opening circle? Suggestions > are also welcome for this. > > Many, many, many thanks in advance! > > > Leslie Zucker > Trainer, Facilitator and Life Coach for Life's Dancers > +1 (202) 425 7637 > [email protected] > www.lesliezucker.com > > > > On Jan 28, 2015, at 3:56 PM, Catherine Pfaehler <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Dear Leslie > > Your wording for the book of proceedings is great. Go right ahead. > > I provide a form for note-taking (see annex), in which I include „the most > important outcomes in three sentences“ for the closing circle, especially > for Open Space Events that are as short as yours or no longer than a day. > In such short events, the sponsor often decides not to copy the book of > proceedings for everybody, so I merely produce a small documentation, i.e. > a list with all the topics, the conveners, and these three sentences, plus > the OS principles and the list with all the participants for everyone to > take home. > When I finish my introduction, I say „We meet again for the closing circle > at … o’clock – this will be harvest time and for many the most beautiful > and richest moments of the day. Every group will report back their most > important outcomes and we will share our most important experiences - don’t > miss it! And now, the day (or evening) is yours, enjoy it!“ > The first part of this closing circle then are the reports, and this is > the time when they find the small documentation on their seats. The above > announcement often helps for people to stay longer. However, it is of > utmost importance to ask for „the 3 sentences only“ when you open the > closing circle, as coming back to listening mode after all those vivid > discussions is difficult and often creates a sudden drop of energy. This > report back to the plenary contributes to the feeling of ownership of the > results with the participants, especially without a book of proceedings. > > Usually in the second part of the closing circle, when the talking stick > goes around and people reflect on their experience in Open Space, very > profound insights and most touching experiences are shared. For me, the > Open Space event is never over before the closing circle has finished. Be > prepared to be surprised… > > Have fun! Best, Catherine > > Catherine Pfaehler > Open Space Begleitung > Burckhardtstrasse 2 > CH - 3008 Bern > Switzerland > +41-(0)31-536 05 31 > www.open-space-begleitung.ch > > <Notes taker form.doc><Notes taker form, page 2.doc> > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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