Dear Harrison,
“Brief Essays” on “What is Open Space?” reminds me of the elevator
speeches that we did a few years ago... seems they turned up every now
and then again, which is great.
Searching for Elevator Speeches in our OSLIST Archives (thanks Harold)
turned up a bunch of strings (or tunnels as Douglas also calls them), it
was Jeff Aitken in 2000 who suggested:
"Twenty five words or so, to be uttered into the ear of a person who
would just love Open Space if they only knew about it. They say to you:
"What is Open Space?"
You say to them:"
Here is my take:
"Open Space is the only process that focuses on expanding time and space
for the force of selforganisation to do its thing. Although one can't
predict specific outcomes, its always highly productive for whatever
issue people want to attend to. Some of the inspiring side effects that
are regularly noted are laughter, hard work which feels like play,
surprising results and fascinating new questions."
Obviously, this is more than 25 words. Therefore I chose that slow
elevator Florian Fischer suggested, adding that you find more slow
elevators in small buildings than in high buildings... or better yet,
enter a "Paternoster", see here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paternoster
which is a neat "endless" elevator, a place where you can do your
"elevator speech" in the pater noster style.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
On 02.06.2015 23:24, Harrison via OSList wrote:
Well done! I did notice, however a certain “culture specific slant”
-- When it came to talking about the impact of the Law of Two Feet,
you mentioned that some people might just be off for a “cup of tea.”
JOf course you did redeem yourself when describing the genesis of OS
in the Coffee Break! However, I might fault you for no mention of
“Two Martinis.” One might think that the only thing essential for a
grand Open Space is multiple libations!
Seriously – I loved what you have done. And it occasioned a thought –
a notable experience in my increasingly senile condition. We have
always had a poetry contest (recently concluded). Perhaps now we
should add a “Brief Essay Contest” on the subject of... “What is Open
Space?”
It is certainly true that Open Space (OST) is the “same” wherever it
happens on Planet Earth (Sit in a Circle, Create Bulletin Board,
Open a Market Place, Go to Work). That has been true since the 4^th
of July, 1985 when it all “began” in Monterey, California. Since then
300,000+ groups in 146 Countries have enjoyed the experience (just a
rough estimate). But each one of the millions of people who sat in
all those Circles, had a unique, individual experience – informed by
their place in the world, their culture, traditions, occupations...
etc.
I have some friends who introduced OS to a group of Buddhist Monks in
Tibet. There are some wonderful pictures which are just like
“always” – but the “signs on the wall” (4 Principles and The Law) are
all in Tibetan. I have similar “pictures” (in my mind) of IBM
executives, Microsoft Engineers, Boeing folks, South Africans
(immediately post apartheid)... It is all the same. It is all
marvelously different.
Would it not be wonderful to draw all that experience together in a
series of “Brief Essays” on “What is Open Space?” Bringing it “all”
together would boggle the mind. But just a sampling would be
delicious...
Just a thought. And Thank you for your contribution!
Harrison
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Websites
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*From:*OSList [mailto:[email protected]] *On
Behalf Of *Martin Grimshaw via OSList *Sent:* Tuesday, June 02, 2015
9:24 AM *To:* OSLIST *Subject:* [OSList] What is Open Space?
Hi folks
There's plenty of great material out there, and a few people have
tried to write articles answering the question: What Is Open Space?
When trawling the internet though, it can be hard to find a nice neat
answer, or one that fits the seeker's needs. So I decided to write a
piece in the hope of helping to answer that question for those in
need, while adding my own flavour to the mix and generally adding to
the resources out there. It is also really important when
communicating with clients to have something to refer to that tries
to sum it up, and points towards further resources.
I might try to write another more succinct version sometime, but for
now I hope you find this useful. Feedback very welcome, as well as
suggestions for extra links in the 'further reading' bit at the end.
If you like it, please share or use it to your heart's content.
*http://caterfly.co.uk/what-is-open-space-post/*
Warm regards
Martin Grimshaw 07591 552420
There's Better Ways Of Working <http://2bwow.org.uk> a Thriving
Planet <http://ThrivingPlanet.org.uk> project. Twitter
@ThrivingPlanet <http://twitter.com/ThrivingPlanet>@CaterflyOST
<http://twitter.com/CaterflyOST> LinkedIn
<http://www.linkedin.com/in/martingrimshawbrighton> Caterfly
<http://www.caterfly.co.uk>: For smart, responsive and collaborative
workplaces Follow our Art Of Work <http://2bwow.org.uk/artofwork/>
and Smarter Working <http://caterfly.co.uk/the-buzz/> blogs
/Tools For A Smarter Planet:/ Facilitation, organisational
consultancy, training, support for start-ups
Thriving Planet Community Interest Company is a 'Fair Shares' social
enterprise for personal, organisational and planetary wellbeing.
*Early Bird Tickets open: *Shift: Why Isn't Organisational Change
Happening? 21/7, Learn how to use Open Space to host participant-led
unConferences 12/6 & 21-22/8, Mindfulness for Smarter Living &
Sociocracy for Dummies each 1 week, September, Greece ....
http://2bwow.org.uk/workshops/
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