Dear all, Jumping in the middle and read only parts of the conversation yet feel moved to add few ideas:
I believe space opens long before the event and I always do pre-work with a the caller, sponsor and steering/preparatory committee that is composed of a microcosm of the while system. I do it for many reasons including these you mentioned. In the book "Dialogic Organization Development" I wrote a chapter about "entering contracting and readiness" (chap 10 pp 219) https://www.amazon.com/Dialogic-Organization-Development-Practice-Transformational/dp/1626564043 that speaks to this pre phase elaborately. Oddly enough this is the process I was most fascinated by and wrote about also in a case description in "the hand book of large group methodologies" PP 219. If you or anyone are interested please tell me. Nick, I am not sure but it could be "language" more than essence. The language you are using is of control and that is out of nature to OST . this is important to use OST language because language defines our thinking. The pre process I use always, for "a scared sponsor" , cynical people , disappointed employees…or just anyone is a pre work one that will give them the opportunity to really be choice full. It is a process to get to know this way of work, to explore and build trust or to decide it is not for me/us, I would like a more structured methodology. This is a process of exploring what is our burning question now and co designing the process that could help us in meaningful conversation and labor the next stage of wisdom and action. With or without OST, with or without me (in case a methodology I am not using is needed) Hope this makes sense Tova טובה אורבוך Tova Averbuch Holon Israel Phone 972-52-8305343 <mailto:tova.averb...@gmail.com> tova.averb...@gmail.com <http://tovaaverbuch.com/> http://tovaaverbuch.com From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Nick Martin via OSList Sent: Monday, April 09, 2018 9:41 AM To: Marai Kiele via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> Cc: Nick Martin <n...@workshopbank.com> Subject: Re: [OSList] Fwd: Hope Never Dies! Dear Marai Thank you so much for your comments and your follow-up email. I love your analogy about Kalimotxo! To answer your question: "Would you elaborate about the benefit of the sponsor / organiser having control over the agenda?" First I'd like to say the twist has no impact on the process of the day so it should never happen that the organizers are accused of not running an Open Space. I now appreciate after my Skype with Bhav and your feedback on the Google Doc <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufIsy0BQvIqlRUbW0FAyXHGV0IKw3VdDT8L91RIJJU8/edit?usp=sharing> that my version of the process-on-the-day needs some tidying but all the discussion has been about the twist and its potential of closing the space so let me address that. The twist is an extra process in the days / weeks before the event and provides two benefits: (1) It calms sponsors who are scared to the point of being unwilling to try OST in its traditional form, and (2) It becomes a marketing tool for the event. Re (1) I've never actually seen the sponsor exert any control over the event even though they've theoretically been able to. It's just put their mind and nerves at rest because they've been able to see what topics are coming ahead of time. Some people, who feel like their necks are on the line, don't like surprises and this removes some of the surprise. (2) is its main function because often an audience coming to an event is feeling disengaged before they arrive. If I pick up during the design phase that the general feeling from the attendees is, "is this event going to be another waste of my time?" I look to do something because negativity like that at the water cooler spreads fast and I'd rather they walk in the room at the start pumped and excited. The twist works by showing them days/weeks in advance that this event is going to be different because they're in control. It becomes a PR tool for the design team that generates pre-event enthusiasm. I've learned the earlier you can get your targets engaged in the event the higher your chance of success and this is a way to do that. I like your suggestion and am starting to think these two versions would be better separated with my twist version getting it's own brand like Kalimotxo. I'm happy to do that if the general feeling is it muddies the waters/red wine too much. P.S. I joined this list back in Feb 2017 when I first had a conversation with Bhav about OST. Nick Martin WorkshopBank <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> m: <tel:+45%2042%2047%2000%2074> +45 42 47 00 74 | e: <mailto:n...@workshopbank.com> n...@workshopbank.com | w: <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> workshopbank.com <https://www.facebook.com/workshopbank> <https://twitter.com/workshopbank> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmartn> Nick Martin WorkshopBank <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> m: <tel:+45%2042%2047%2000%2074> +45 42 47 00 74 | e: <mailto:n...@workshopbank.com> n...@workshopbank.com | w: <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> workshopbank.com <https://www.facebook.com/workshopbank> <https://twitter.com/workshopbank> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmartn> On 07/04/2018 10:15, Marai Kiele via OSList wrote: Dear Nick, I am very appreciative of you writing openly on this list, after the conversations that happened beforehand! I went over to your document and made some comments on the process. Found a sense of „this process needs to be controlled to have a good outcome“ at several places. Since a while I am mostly contemplating on your introduction to the twist. You write: "I’ve added a twist with the inclusion of a pre-event process that gives the sponsors / organizers a little more control over the agenda." Would you elaborate about the benefit of the sponsor / organiser having control over the agenda? And how, „having control over the agenda“ and the basic intentions of OST (i.e. trusting the people and their innate wisdom) go together for you? They don’t go well together for me. Let me make this clearer with an analogy: There is red wine. There is coke. There are many people who like one or the other. There are people who like both, at different times. There are also people who like mixing those two. (I tried it once when I was a teenager.) Many of those who like red wine will probably shutter imagining such a mix. Especially when imagining a really good red wine plus coke, in equal proportion. And still, it’s an official drink, it even has a Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalimotxo If you offered someone such a mix, would you call it „red whine with a twist“? I suggest you create a name that is showing more openly what you are doing with the twist. "Open Space and Control" or a completely new name. With curiosity for your perspective, Marai PS: As a side note, to understand this conversation better (and because I only re-joined this list a short while ago): Have you been on this list before or did you just join after the topic came up? Am 06.04.2018 um 14:30 schrieb Nick Martin via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> >: Hi everybody! Thank you all so much for your excellent feedback. I've been watching with enormous interest. I've just had a great Skype with Bhav where he was kind enough to take me through in more detail where my rendition of Open Space is veering from the traditional. It was incredibly enlightening (thanks again Bhav). For me, it's critical I get this right for readers of my website who are far less experienced than your good selves so I'm committed to changing it. Bhav suggested that I might create an editable Google Doc of a new draft and share it with you for comments and edits. I thought that a wonderful idea! Here it is and I promise to publish whatever we end up with ... assuming it's clean :) <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufIsy0BQvIqlRUbW0FAyXHGV0IKw3VdDT8L91RIJJU8/edit?usp=sharing> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufIsy0BQvIqlRUbW0FAyXHGV0IKw3VdDT8L91RIJJU8/edit?usp=sharing Naturally the Law of Two Feet very much applies so please don't feel obligated. All input and feedback is very much appreciated. Nick Martin <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> WorkshopBank m: <tel:+45%2042%2047%2000%2074> +45 42 47 00 74 | e: <mailto:n...@workshopbank.com> n...@workshopbank.com | w: <http://workshopbank.com/?utm_source=wisestamp&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=emailsig> workshopbank.com <https://www.facebook.com/workshopbank> <https://twitter.com/workshopbank> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmartn> On 04/04/2018 16:37, Dan Mezick via OSList wrote: “CFCF” (control for control freaks) might be a more appropriate name. Either that or “Project Management”. with a twist, of course. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 4, 2018, at 10:11 AM, Peggy Holman via OSList < <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: I see the site has a contact page: <https://workshopbank.com/contact> https://workshopbank.com/contact Anyone care to give them some feedback and request they stop calling this thing Open Space with a twist? Peggy Holman 425-746-6274 Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: From: Harrison Owen via OSList < <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> Date: April 4, 2018 at 6:40:52 AM PDT To: "'World wide Open Space Technology email list'" < <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> Cc: Harrison Owen < <mailto:hho...@verizon.net> hho...@verizon.net> Subject: Re: [OSList] Hope Never Dies! Reply-To: World wide Open Space Technology email list < <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> This is not the first time for this conversation… The simple truth: Old habits die very hard. The habit of thinking/hoping/wishing/knowing that somebody is in charge doesn’t play very well in Open Space. And so the predictable arrives as prognosticated. Or something. Some find this ongoing situation an occasion to defend the process. I can understand the feeling, but I am quite sure it is not worth the energy. Open Space/self organization will do quite well all by itself, as it has for millennia. But there is a sadness, which on occasion expresses itself (at least in me) as anger. I find the ignorance and arrogance of those “meeting planners” to be totally appalling. The massive disrespect of the participants manifest in the presumption that they (the “planning Committee”) alone possess the keys to knowledge and action… that they alone could ask the pertinent questions for which they will supply the only answers, personally or through imported “experts.” -- is soul numbing. Sad. Harrison Winter Address 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093 Summer Address 189 Beaucauire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207 763-3261 Websites <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com From: OSList [ <mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org> mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Eva P Svensson via OSList Sent: Tuesday, April 3, 2018 7:46 AM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Cc: Eva P Svensson Subject: Re: [OSList] Hope Never Dies! Don’t call it Open Space if it’s not Open space!! Another thing.. I visited my first ”Bar camp” a week ago. Oh my how frustrated I was with the control! Imagine that we had to stand up and tell our name and two topic that we would like to talk about (without any obligation to bring them up). After that the ones who wanted to raise a topic - stod up and read what s/he wanted to talk about in the 45 min breakout sessions. Then we were asked to raise our hands if we thought that topic was a good idea - and not if it’ wasn’t… Just imagine standing up front of all participants with a topic and no one raised their hand…! Nothing was said about how to collect the recordings so there was a big confusion about that. Every breakout session was 45 min and when the time was out - the ”facilitator” came in the different rooms and announced that the time was over… And of course no circles , just tables. Can you imagine me as being an Open Space ”fundamentalist” being oh so much frustrated… Oh my - what an interesting experience … Hugs :o) Eva Bästa hälsningar Eva P Svensson EPS Human Invest AB Co owner Genuine Contact Group Inc "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag och organisationer" Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50 <http://www.epshumaninvest.se/> www.epshumaninvest.se Skype: eva.p.svensson Facebook sida: EPS Human Invest AB <twitter:@EvaPSvensson> twitter:@EvaPSvensson "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates 3 apr. 2018 kl. 13:20 skrev Bhavesh Patel via OSList < <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>: Classic - "There’s a twist in this version with the inclusion of a process that gives the organizers a little more control over the agenda." <https://workshopbank.com/open-space-technology> https://workshopbank.com/open-space-technology _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
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