Leslie, your questions make me think of so many things, and you will know best upon your own reflection.
First, Harrison’s thought, and showing you back your own thoughts here in your quote. Where I will ask you… as a facilitator, it’s not *about* you, right? It’s about them. The participants. Their interests, their passions, their stepping into what is important for them to work on. So I invite you to look at your words below and also Harrison’s as I say this. Other things that come to mind throughout this conversation, as I read everyone’s wonderful exploration, questions, input and offerings… and some of these have been mentioned. I am just thinking ‘out loud’ about all the things that invite and impact topic generation, documentation, participants staying or leaving, and so on. - in an annual event, what is the reason people come to it? has that changed? is there still interest? still a reason? - what do the *participants* need to do, feel it is about, come for, etc. - and how might that be different or aligned with what the hosts / facilitator understand-need-know it is about? - what is invitation strategy, to go with the reason for this event? who is outreached to? how? - does the text of the invitation name the reason for the gathering - does the invitation invite people to come for a prompt start and stay for the duration? - is it called a conference? So many people are used to / expect a traditional conference, therefore they plan *not* to be there at the end because they “know” it will be a boring speechmaker, and they want to go shopping or walking around this city they’ve perhaps traveled to, knowing that’s more fun usually than a traditional conference close. - is the schedule (how long it lasts the final day) realistic for travelers, the day of the week, peoples’ costs and resources, the kind of people, their lives? - is the closing happening at a time when people are really going to be hungry? (if so, can I pass a basket of fruit or bread or something during closing circle, or design a different schedule (in advance)? - is the schedule - amount of time for opening and agenda co-creation, sessions, and closing circle - rushed or squished, or does it allow for both quick responders and reflective thinkers to participate in each part? - is there registration, which can both ask for information as well as deliver information and values? - can there be a reminder about a few details about a week before the event, noting the prompt start, the duration, expressing the energy and values of the event? - is registration individualized / do people interact with someone personally before the event, forming a relationship? - how is it framed by the host / by the facilitator at the start, how is the facilitator closing and opening each day? does it give participants a sense of the task of today and tomorrow? - how are the principles and such explained? do they welcome divergent thinkers? how is the invitation then to name and post topics said? - how is documentation explained? how is it designed? what makes documentation a shared value and shared responsibility in this event? what makes it visible throughout? - what does the agenda wall (signage) look like and how is the facilitator indicating how the day will go, so people know what is happening throughout the entire day? - how does the facilitator invite closing circle comments and reflections - how is that said? …okay I admit, a million more questions go through my head as well. This is just a brief look ‘inside Lisa’s brain’ ;o) I am not saying that you or any of us have to have the knowledge, ability, capacity or resources to do and know everything. I am just saying that these are some of the things that come to my mind when talking with the clients in the pre-work phase. And these things plus other details (physical space, use of documentation post-event, context and culture, a lot of stuff) invite thought about other elements as well. All good and useful things to explore, if possible. I feel that everything in a face-to-face dialogue event touches and informs everything. For processes other than Open Space as well, but in my observation, especially important to imagine and think about when using Open Space. No right or wrong, just an interesting exploration before, or reflection after an event, as I continue my life-long learning about this really interesting process, Open Space. Lisa On Feb 1, 2015, at 8:54 AM, Harrison via OSList <[email protected]> wrote: > Leslie – Open Space for me is the invitation to all (who care) to be who they > are, and to show up in the ways they are – all of them. A little opaque I > guess, but you would agree, I am sure, that when humans meet humans, > communication is infinitely more than a matter of words. There is motion, > smell, music, dance... to name a few. And all are powerful in their own way, > and have a place in our daily commerce. Furthermore, eliminating any of these > modalities from the interchange of one person to another leads to a most > impoverished situation. Which, I suppose, is why most meetings are deadly > dull. Just think of the scandal were one to sing a song or do a dance at a > Board Meeting! All that said, I do have a caution when it comes to your > passion: > > “It just occurred to me that I can use infuse the closing circle with the > power of intentional, collective movement, improv and self-organization! > That is, after all, what I’m passionately pursuing in my career, so why not > apply it to Open Space, too?” > > The caution relates to the idea of “infusing” – My experience has been that > Closing Circles seem to naturally evoke song, poetry, dance – not always and > not everywhere, but with a little nudge at the start – it just flows. No > program or design needed. So when I start the Talking stick I simply say, > “Now is to time to reflect on our experience. The time and the space is yours > when you hold the stick. You may pass it in silence, sing a song, do a > dance...whatever.” And I pass the stick. Seems to work every time in a way > that is appropriate to that group. It can get pretty wild, or be quite > sedate. People’s choice. > > Harrison > >
_______________________________________________ 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
