Re: [OSList] Where Angel's Fear to Tread

[Jeff Aitken via OSList]

   Bateson's late father Gregory.)
>> >>>
>> >>>Nora Bateson just shared a video and
>> >>>long essay, coming out prior to her
>> >>>essay being published soon in a
>> >>>journal. She is introducing a new term
>> >>>"aphanipoiesis" to the conversation of
>> >>>systemic transformation.
>> >>>
>> >>>The essay is here:
>> >>>
>> >>> https://norabateson.medium.com/aphanipoiesis-96d8aed927bc
>> >>><
>> >>> https://norabateson.medium.com/aphanipoiesis-96d8aed927bc>
>> >>>
>> >>>Some teaser paragraphs for us. Can
>> >>>this also be said about OST, but we
>> >>>just don't??
>> >>>
>> >>>    "Rewilding the Interior
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>In the words of the Warm Data hosting
>> >>>theory, we tend the ?about? so that
>> >>>what is re-configured is in the
>> >>>?within.? It does not really matter
>> >>>what people talk ?about? in a Warm
>> >>>Data Lab. There is nothing to capture
>> >>>at that level. What matters is the way
>> >>>the participants are internally sewing
>> >>>together the different conversations
>> >>>and contexts. On a transcript this
>> >>>information is inaccessible.
>> >>>
>> >>>"In the Warm Data processes,
>> >>>communication in explicit form is not
>> >>>held to be the communication of
>> >>>interest. That level of conversation
>> >>>is there as a skeleton, onto which the
>> >>>stories not told reshape the person
>> >>>who did not tell them, the alterations
>> >>>in tone, the re-tilted perception is
>> >>>given free rein to rub memories and
>> >>>stories against each other. One
>> >>>comment that comes up repeatedly is,
>> >>>?Your story changed my story.? Through
>> >>>this ?side-by-side-ing,? stories told
>> >>>change stories almost told, and their
>> >>>bearers are able to reshape their
>> >>>impressions in ways that are untamed.
>> >>>By careful tending of the ?about? and
>> >>>?within,? the rich world of memory and
>> >>>story re-wilds.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>"The gaps are where the hope of
>> >>>systemic transformation is waiting. In
>> >>>the Warm Data processes, participants
>> >>>are given a structure to re-stitch, to
>> >>>re-wild, to begin a new abductive
>> >>>process into these gaps. Again, by
>> >>>placing the contexts of life
>> >>>side-by-side in new configurations,
>> >>>the aphanipoietic processes are given
>> >>>room, without conscious purpose or
>> >>>goals or defined outcomes, without
>> >>>scripts or roles or trends ? to allow
>> >>>the tender new beginnings of another
>> >>>abductive description to form mutually.
>> >>>
>> >>>"Through this work, I have found I
>> >>>needed this term to embark on a deeper
>> >>>study of the importance of
>> >>>aphanipoiesis. The changes I witness
>> >>>occurring in the Warm Data processes
>> >>>are completely unpredictable and
>> >>>profound. They suggest ever more
>> >>>vividly that there is a real, if
>> >>>unseen, mingling of the body, culture,
>> >>>education, family ? and a whole batch
>> >>>of transcontextual experience that is
>> >>>guiding all other actions. It is to
>> >>>this change that I have devoted my
>> >>>efforts toward systemic
>> transformation."
>> >>>
>> >>>Warmly,
>> >>>Jeff
>> >>>Yelamu / San Francisco
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>___
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>> >>> --
>> >>> Michael M Pannwitz
>> >>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin
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>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> ---
>> >> CHRIS CORRIGAN
>> >> Facilitation - Training - Process Design - Strategy
>> >> Complexity - Art of Hosting
>> >> http://www.chriscorrigan.com
>> >>
>> >> Grateful to live on Nex?wle?lex?wm (Bowen Island), Sk?wx?wu?7mesh
>> >> territory,
>> >>
>> >>
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[OSList] Where Angel's Fear to Tread

[Mark Carmel via OSList]

 Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 7:22 PM Jeff Aitken
> >>> >>><mailto:r.jeff.ait...@gmail.com
> >>> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>Where does systemic change take place?
> >>>I am reflecting on earlier posts about
> >>>the Warm Data Lab and comparing -
> >>>contrasting this work with other
> >>>hosted conversation processes like OST.
> >>>
> >>>What seems different - please correct
> >>>this if it's wrong - is the level of
> >>>attention paid to the complex ways in
> >>>which WDL might help bring about
> >>>change. Looking well beyond action
> >>>plans and carefully harvested
> >>>proceedings etc.
> >>>
> >>>This may be a fruitful area of inquiry
> >>>for OST folks. (The subject line here
> >>>is from a reference in a book by Nora
> >>>Bateson's late father Gregory.)
> >>>
> >>>Nora Bateson just shared a video and
> >>>long essay, coming out prior to her
> >>>essay being published soon in a
> >>>journal. She is introducing a new term
> >>>"aphanipoiesis" to the conversation of
> >>>systemic transformation.
> >>>
> >>>The essay is here:
> >>>
> >>> https://norabateson.medium.com/aphanipoiesis-96d8aed927bc
> >>><
> >>> https://norabateson.medium.com/aphanipoiesis-96d8aed927bc>
> >>>
> >>>Some teaser paragraphs for us. Can
> >>>this also be said about OST, but we
> >>>just don't??
> >>>
> >>>"Rewilding the Interior
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>In the words of the Warm Data hosting
> >>>theory, we tend the ?about? so that
> >>>what is re-configured is in the
> >>>?within.? It does not really matter
> >>>what people talk ?about? in a Warm
> >>>Data Lab. There is nothing to capture
> >>>at that level. What matters is the way
> >>>the participants are internally sewing
> >>>together the different conversations
> >>>and contexts. On a transcript this
> >>>information is inaccessible.
> >>>
> >>>"In the Warm Data processes,
> >>>communication in explicit form is not
> >>>held to be the communication of
> >>>interest. That level of conversation
> >>>is there as a skeleton, onto which the
> >>>stories not told reshape the person
> >>>who did not tell them, the alterations
> >>>in tone, the re-tilted perception is
> >>>given free rein to rub memories and
> >>>stories against each other. One
> >>>comment that comes up repeatedly is,
> >>>?Your story changed my story.? Through
> >>>this ?side-by-side-ing,? stories told
> >>>change stories almost told, and their
> >>>bearers

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Birgitt Williams via OSList]

Peggy, Chris, Jeff, Michael, Thomas and those others of you interested in
this thread,
I agree that getting the potential guest list right is of greatest
importance, as is the wording of the invitation. The spirit of intent
behind the invitation has great import. In the language I prefer, I say it
must be genuine. People always feel when the spirit of intent and the words
don't match.

I agree with Jeff in that it is also my experience that there are topics
posted on subsequent days that didn't get posted on the first day, that are
topics people are passionate about yet for whatever reason didn't get them
up onto the agenda wall the first day. I have had more than one occasion in
which the people didn't post the topics that really mattered to them at the
first OST in their organization...instead they watched and felt into the
experience of whether the space that was open for them to post topics was
genuinely open without retribution afterwards about what was said. Then
saying after the first OST that they realized it was genuine and wished
they had posted their topics. I liked it when it was possible for me to say
"not to worry, we are having another OST in a month and you will have the
opportunity to post your topics then"...and they did.

I am not fond of short OST meetings. I understand the magic of long OST
meetings of multiple days, and of multiple OST meetings in the same
organizationthose meetings where everything that wants to be spoken
gets its opportunity, where everything that wants to be listened to gets
heard.

in genuine contact,
Birgitt
[image: Picture]


*Birgitt Williams*
*Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants  *
*Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership
development, and the power of nourishing  a culture of leadership.*
www.dalarinternational.com


>> Learn More & Register
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On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 5:07 PM Peggy Holman via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind
> the scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything
> on their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out
> to matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the
> passion, interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is
> in an Open Space meeting for the first time.
>
> Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open Space,
> I see that as a matter of being mindful about invitation. The biggest
> investment of preparation time for the Open Spaces I’m involved with are
> inviting, as Harrison would say, “the people who care.” Whomever I’m
> working with, I encourage them to do the work of thinking through, given
> their purpose, who makes up the system — who are the people who care? In
> many cases, that may include involving a microcosm in shaping the
> organizing question and invitation so that it resonates with the people of
> the system.
>
> I take my cue on how to think about who makes up the system from Marv
> Weisbord and Sandra Janoff’s rubric of inviting the people who “ARE IN” —
> with *A*uthority, *R*esources, *E*xpertise, *I*nformation, and *N*eed. I
> also suggest an overlay for considering demographic diversity. For thinking
> about that, I draw from the Maynard Institute’s “Fault lines” - race,
> class, gender, geography, and generation and two “fissures” - politics and
> religion. Not all dimensions apply to every situation but bringing them up
> enables the people planning the Open Space to make a conscious choice about
> whom they invite and how.
>
> This is a long-winded way of saying that my experience is that by doing
> the work to invite a requisite variety of people, a requisite variety of
> topics will show up. And then, to the principle of whoever comes is the
> right people, I let go of worrying about it.
>
> Birgitt — to words and embodied experience, yes you are saying what I
> meant: *it is not the words used that are most likely to help, rather the
> embodied experience*. For example, describing the experience of Open
> Space and what it produces can be enough for some. For most of us, hearing
> a description or even seeing a video doesn’t come close to being there. It
> is a multi-dimensional experience that involves, head, heart, body, spirit.
> Rarely does this come across in a description. A story might communicate
> more of it. But I’m guessing most people discover some aspect they hadn’t
> expected from just reading, hearing, or watching a video 

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Jeff Aitken via OSList]

The reason I ask, about Nora getting at something new and different, is
that I know seasoned veterans of Open Space who are very excited about Warm
Data Labs.

Something seems new to them. (I will ask.)

Jeff

On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 11:33 AM Jeff Aitken  wrote:

> PS Chris - love what you shared. Already thinking of design ideas for that
> badge...
>
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:52 AM Jeff Aitken 
> wrote:
>
>> To come back around to Nora for a moment: She is exploring how a fresh
>> new hypothesis gets created, one which can be a better fit to a complex
>> situation in a time of crisis.
>>
>> Foundational to a new hypothesis is "the realm of unseen contributors
>> coalescing to produce the foundations of hypothesis."
>>
>> She finds that by intentionally placing different contexts of life side
>> by side in new configurations - literally doing so in the design of warm
>> data labs - the tender shoots of new hypothesis formation are nurtured.
>>
>> My question: Is this a restatement of the notion that "U shaped"
>> processes like Bohm dialogue or Open Space can foster conversation that
>> deepens us beneath our long held assumptions, to explore fresh assumptions?
>> (What some have called transformative learning, and what HHO originally
>> called "crossing the open space"?)
>>
>> Or is Nora getting at something new and different?
>>
>> Nora and colleagues might or might not be versed in the theory and
>> practice of what Peggy documented in The Change Handbook, with 18 and then
>> 60+ different processes.
>>
>> We have kinda danced around this question, and I want to ask it more
>> directly.
>>
>> Warmly
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 9:36 AM Chris Corrigan via OSList <
>> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I think I have come to learn that all the work of an Open Space meeting
>>> happens in the invitation, and the more personal and intentional the
>>> better.  Recently I had a client work for two months to get 20 very
>>> powerful people in a room to talk about a major issue in the education
>>> system, and the Open Space was only six hours, and my work was really only
>>> 20 minutes of active facilitation.  That to me is a mark of great
>>> participation and a high chance for sustainability of the results.  Hoping
>>> one day I can coach a client in invitation so well that they don;t even
>>> need a big face to face meeting, or at the very least, they don't need me
>>> there.  At that point I will call it "Achieving a Harrison" and award
>>> myself a badge.  And then go and take a nap.
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 12:15 AM Thomas Herrmann via OSList <
>>> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>>
 I love this way of clarifying how you can look for inviting the whole
 system, Peggy! Thanks for sharing! I will make sure I incorporate it in my
 practice as I think it helps the thinking about how to spread “the
 irresistible invitation”. And I also agree its great to involve as many of
 these stakeholders early in the process, especially as there is often a low
 level of trust between them.

 Usually I invite my sponsors quite clearly to not jump up and raise
 their topics but wait and see what happens, I assure them that I will be
 very clear to give space for everyone and not closing the agenda creation
 without very clear last opportunities – so they can rest assured that all
 of their important topics can be posted. So if they miss anything at the
 end, they can add. I agree with others, they are mostly surprised by the
 richness of the agenda created by participants.



 One piece I have included in my designs the last years is to have a
 “sync-meeting” some time the last week before the OST, to give them an
 opportunity to share their hopes and fears for the upcoming OST and clarify
 any practicalities they may be wondering about. This is much appreciated
 and givs them more of a feeling of safety and it increases their curiosity,
 openness and peace .



 With appreciation for all of the wisdom in this circle

 Thomas Herrmann



 *Från:* OSList  *För *Peggy
 Holman via OSList
 *Skickat:* den 18 november 2021 23:08
 *Till:* Open Space Listserv 
 *Kopia:* Peggy Holman 
 *Ämne:* Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread



 Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind
 the scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything
 on their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out
 to matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the
 passion, interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is
 in an Open Space meeting for the first time.



 Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open
 Space, I see that as a matter of being 

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Jeff Aitken via OSList]

PS Chris - love what you shared. Already thinking of design ideas for that
badge...

On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:52 AM Jeff Aitken  wrote:

> To come back around to Nora for a moment: She is exploring how a fresh new
> hypothesis gets created, one which can be a better fit to a complex
> situation in a time of crisis.
>
> Foundational to a new hypothesis is "the realm of unseen contributors
> coalescing to produce the foundations of hypothesis."
>
> She finds that by intentionally placing different contexts of life side by
> side in new configurations - literally doing so in the design of warm data
> labs - the tender shoots of new hypothesis formation are nurtured.
>
> My question: Is this a restatement of the notion that "U shaped" processes
> like Bohm dialogue or Open Space can foster conversation that deepens us
> beneath our long held assumptions, to explore fresh assumptions? (What some
> have called transformative learning, and what HHO originally called
> "crossing the open space"?)
>
> Or is Nora getting at something new and different?
>
> Nora and colleagues might or might not be versed in the theory and
> practice of what Peggy documented in The Change Handbook, with 18 and then
> 60+ different processes.
>
> We have kinda danced around this question, and I want to ask it more
> directly.
>
> Warmly
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 9:36 AM Chris Corrigan via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> I think I have come to learn that all the work of an Open Space meeting
>> happens in the invitation, and the more personal and intentional the
>> better.  Recently I had a client work for two months to get 20 very
>> powerful people in a room to talk about a major issue in the education
>> system, and the Open Space was only six hours, and my work was really only
>> 20 minutes of active facilitation.  That to me is a mark of great
>> participation and a high chance for sustainability of the results.  Hoping
>> one day I can coach a client in invitation so well that they don;t even
>> need a big face to face meeting, or at the very least, they don't need me
>> there.  At that point I will call it "Achieving a Harrison" and award
>> myself a badge.  And then go and take a nap.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 12:15 AM Thomas Herrmann via OSList <
>> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I love this way of clarifying how you can look for inviting the whole
>>> system, Peggy! Thanks for sharing! I will make sure I incorporate it in my
>>> practice as I think it helps the thinking about how to spread “the
>>> irresistible invitation”. And I also agree its great to involve as many of
>>> these stakeholders early in the process, especially as there is often a low
>>> level of trust between them.
>>>
>>> Usually I invite my sponsors quite clearly to not jump up and raise
>>> their topics but wait and see what happens, I assure them that I will be
>>> very clear to give space for everyone and not closing the agenda creation
>>> without very clear last opportunities – so they can rest assured that all
>>> of their important topics can be posted. So if they miss anything at the
>>> end, they can add. I agree with others, they are mostly surprised by the
>>> richness of the agenda created by participants.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> One piece I have included in my designs the last years is to have a
>>> “sync-meeting” some time the last week before the OST, to give them an
>>> opportunity to share their hopes and fears for the upcoming OST and clarify
>>> any practicalities they may be wondering about. This is much appreciated
>>> and givs them more of a feeling of safety and it increases their curiosity,
>>> openness and peace .
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> With appreciation for all of the wisdom in this circle
>>>
>>> Thomas Herrmann
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Från:* OSList  *För *Peggy
>>> Holman via OSList
>>> *Skickat:* den 18 november 2021 23:08
>>> *Till:* Open Space Listserv 
>>> *Kopia:* Peggy Holman 
>>> *Ämne:* Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind
>>> the scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything
>>> on their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out
>>> to matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the
>>> passion, interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is
>>> in an Open Space meeting for the first time.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open
>>> Space, I see that as a matter of being mindful about invitation. The
>>> biggest investment of preparation time for the Open Spaces I’m involved
>>> with are inviting, as Harrison would say, “the people who care.” Whomever
>>> I’m working with, I encourage them to do the work of thinking through,
>>> given their purpose, who makes up the system — who are the people who care?
>>> In many cases, that may include 

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Jeff Aitken via OSList]

To come back around to Nora for a moment: She is exploring how a fresh new
hypothesis gets created, one which can be a better fit to a complex
situation in a time of crisis.

Foundational to a new hypothesis is "the realm of unseen contributors
coalescing to produce the foundations of hypothesis."

She finds that by intentionally placing different contexts of life side by
side in new configurations - literally doing so in the design of warm data
labs - the tender shoots of new hypothesis formation are nurtured.

My question: Is this a restatement of the notion that "U shaped" processes
like Bohm dialogue or Open Space can foster conversation that deepens us
beneath our long held assumptions, to explore fresh assumptions? (What some
have called transformative learning, and what HHO originally called
"crossing the open space"?)

Or is Nora getting at something new and different?

Nora and colleagues might or might not be versed in the theory and practice
of what Peggy documented in The Change Handbook, with 18 and then 60+
different processes.

We have kinda danced around this question, and I want to ask it more
directly.

Warmly

Jeff








On Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 9:36 AM Chris Corrigan via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> I think I have come to learn that all the work of an Open Space meeting
> happens in the invitation, and the more personal and intentional the
> better.  Recently I had a client work for two months to get 20 very
> powerful people in a room to talk about a major issue in the education
> system, and the Open Space was only six hours, and my work was really only
> 20 minutes of active facilitation.  That to me is a mark of great
> participation and a high chance for sustainability of the results.  Hoping
> one day I can coach a client in invitation so well that they don;t even
> need a big face to face meeting, or at the very least, they don't need me
> there.  At that point I will call it "Achieving a Harrison" and award
> myself a badge.  And then go and take a nap.
>
> Chris
>
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 12:15 AM Thomas Herrmann via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> I love this way of clarifying how you can look for inviting the whole
>> system, Peggy! Thanks for sharing! I will make sure I incorporate it in my
>> practice as I think it helps the thinking about how to spread “the
>> irresistible invitation”. And I also agree its great to involve as many of
>> these stakeholders early in the process, especially as there is often a low
>> level of trust between them.
>>
>> Usually I invite my sponsors quite clearly to not jump up and raise their
>> topics but wait and see what happens, I assure them that I will be very
>> clear to give space for everyone and not closing the agenda creation
>> without very clear last opportunities – so they can rest assured that all
>> of their important topics can be posted. So if they miss anything at the
>> end, they can add. I agree with others, they are mostly surprised by the
>> richness of the agenda created by participants.
>>
>>
>>
>> One piece I have included in my designs the last years is to have a
>> “sync-meeting” some time the last week before the OST, to give them an
>> opportunity to share their hopes and fears for the upcoming OST and clarify
>> any practicalities they may be wondering about. This is much appreciated
>> and givs them more of a feeling of safety and it increases their curiosity,
>> openness and peace .
>>
>>
>>
>> With appreciation for all of the wisdom in this circle
>>
>> Thomas Herrmann
>>
>>
>>
>> *Från:* OSList  *För *Peggy
>> Holman via OSList
>> *Skickat:* den 18 november 2021 23:08
>> *Till:* Open Space Listserv 
>> *Kopia:* Peggy Holman 
>> *Ämne:* Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread
>>
>>
>>
>> Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind
>> the scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything
>> on their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out
>> to matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the
>> passion, interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is
>> in an Open Space meeting for the first time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open
>> Space, I see that as a matter of being mindful about invitation. The
>> biggest investment of preparation time for the Open Spaces I’m involved
>> with are inviting, as Harrison would say, “the people who care.” Whomever
>> I’m working with, I encourage them to do the work of thinking through,
>> given their purpose, who makes up the system — who are the people who care?
>> In many cases, that may include involving a microcosm in shaping the
>> organizing question and invitation so that it resonates with the people of
>> the system.
>>
>>
>>
>> I take my cue on how to think about who makes up the system from Marv
>> Weisbord and Sandra Janoff’s rubric of inviting the people who “ARE 

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Chris Corrigan via OSList]

I think I have come to learn that all the work of an Open Space meeting
happens in the invitation, and the more personal and intentional the
better.  Recently I had a client work for two months to get 20 very
powerful people in a room to talk about a major issue in the education
system, and the Open Space was only six hours, and my work was really only
20 minutes of active facilitation.  That to me is a mark of great
participation and a high chance for sustainability of the results.  Hoping
one day I can coach a client in invitation so well that they don;t even
need a big face to face meeting, or at the very least, they don't need me
there.  At that point I will call it "Achieving a Harrison" and award
myself a badge.  And then go and take a nap.

Chris

On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 12:15 AM Thomas Herrmann via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> I love this way of clarifying how you can look for inviting the whole
> system, Peggy! Thanks for sharing! I will make sure I incorporate it in my
> practice as I think it helps the thinking about how to spread “the
> irresistible invitation”. And I also agree its great to involve as many of
> these stakeholders early in the process, especially as there is often a low
> level of trust between them.
>
> Usually I invite my sponsors quite clearly to not jump up and raise their
> topics but wait and see what happens, I assure them that I will be very
> clear to give space for everyone and not closing the agenda creation
> without very clear last opportunities – so they can rest assured that all
> of their important topics can be posted. So if they miss anything at the
> end, they can add. I agree with others, they are mostly surprised by the
> richness of the agenda created by participants.
>
>
>
> One piece I have included in my designs the last years is to have a
> “sync-meeting” some time the last week before the OST, to give them an
> opportunity to share their hopes and fears for the upcoming OST and clarify
> any practicalities they may be wondering about. This is much appreciated
> and givs them more of a feeling of safety and it increases their curiosity,
> openness and peace .
>
>
>
> With appreciation for all of the wisdom in this circle
>
> Thomas Herrmann
>
>
>
> *Från:* OSList  *För *Peggy
> Holman via OSList
> *Skickat:* den 18 november 2021 23:08
> *Till:* Open Space Listserv 
> *Kopia:* Peggy Holman 
> *Ämne:* Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread
>
>
>
> Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind
> the scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything
> on their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out
> to matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the
> passion, interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is
> in an Open Space meeting for the first time.
>
>
>
> Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open Space,
> I see that as a matter of being mindful about invitation. The biggest
> investment of preparation time for the Open Spaces I’m involved with are
> inviting, as Harrison would say, “the people who care.” Whomever I’m
> working with, I encourage them to do the work of thinking through, given
> their purpose, who makes up the system — who are the people who care? In
> many cases, that may include involving a microcosm in shaping the
> organizing question and invitation so that it resonates with the people of
> the system.
>
>
>
> I take my cue on how to think about who makes up the system from Marv
> Weisbord and Sandra Janoff’s rubric of inviting the people who “ARE IN” —
> with *A*uthority, *R*esources, *E*xpertise, *I*nformation, and * N*eed. I
> also suggest an overlay for considering demographic diversity. For thinking
> about that, I draw from the Maynard Institute’s “Fault lines” - race,
> class, gender, geography, and generation and two “fissures” - politics and
> religion. Not all dimensions apply to every situation but bringing them up
> enables the people planning the Open Space to make a conscious choice about
> whom they invite and how.
>
>
>
> This is a long-winded way of saying that my experience is that by doing
> the work to invite a requisite variety of people, a requisite variety of
> topics will show up. And then, to the principle of whoever comes is the
> right people, I let go of worrying about it.
>
>
>
> Birgitt — to words and embodied experience, yes you are saying what I
> meant: *it is not the words used that are most likely to help, rather the
> embodied experience*. For example, describing the experience of Open
> Space and what it produces can be enough for some. For most of us, hearing
> a description or even seeing a video doesn’t come close to being there. It
> is a multi-dimensional experience that involves, head, heart, body, spirit.
> Rarely does this come across in a description. A story might communicate
> more of it. But I’m guessing most people discover 

Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

[Thomas Herrmann via OSList]

I love this way of clarifying how you can look for inviting the whole system, 
Peggy! Thanks for sharing! I will make sure I incorporate it in my practice as 
I think it helps the thinking about how to spread “the irresistible 
invitation”. And I also agree its great to involve as many of these 
stakeholders early in the process, especially as there is often a low level of 
trust between them.
Usually I invite my sponsors quite clearly to not jump up and raise their 
topics but wait and see what happens, I assure them that I will be very clear 
to give space for everyone and not closing the agenda creation without very 
clear last opportunities – so they can rest assured that all of their important 
topics can be posted. So if they miss anything at the end, they can add. I 
agree with others, they are mostly surprised by the richness of the agenda 
created by participants.

One piece I have included in my designs the last years is to have a 
“sync-meeting” some time the last week before the OST, to give them an 
opportunity to share their hopes and fears for the upcoming OST and clarify any 
practicalities they may be wondering about. This is much appreciated and givs 
them more of a feeling of safety and it increases their curiosity, openness and 
peace .

With appreciation for all of the wisdom in this circle
Thomas Herrmann

Från: OSList  För Peggy Holman via 
OSList
Skickat: den 18 november 2021 23:08
Till: Open Space Listserv 
Kopia: Peggy Holman 
Ämne: Re: [OSList] Where angels fear to tread

Like Michael, I have had the experience of leaders making a list behind the 
scenes and being surprised that participants not only posted everything on 
their list but also things that they hadn’t thought of that turned out to 
matter to them. And, of course, the experience of witnessing the passion, 
interest, and creativity of people often surprises everyone who is in an Open 
Space meeting for the first time.

Jeff, to your question about requisite variety of topics in an Open Space, I 
see that as a matter of being mindful about invitation. The biggest investment 
of preparation time for the Open Spaces I’m involved with are inviting, as 
Harrison would say, “the people who care.” Whomever I’m working with, I 
encourage them to do the work of thinking through, given their purpose, who 
makes up the system — who are the people who care? In many cases, that may 
include involving a microcosm in shaping the organizing question and invitation 
so that it resonates with the people of the system.

I take my cue on how to think about who makes up the system from Marv Weisbord 
and Sandra Janoff’s rubric of inviting the people who “ARE IN” — with 
Authority, Resources, Expertise, Information, and Need. I also suggest an 
overlay for considering demographic diversity. For thinking about that, I draw 
from the Maynard Institute’s “Fault lines” - race, class, gender, geography, 
and generation and two “fissures” - politics and religion. Not all dimensions 
apply to every situation but bringing them up enables the people planning the 
Open Space to make a conscious choice about whom they invite and how.

This is a long-winded way of saying that my experience is that by doing the 
work to invite a requisite variety of people, a requisite variety of topics 
will show up. And then, to the principle of whoever comes is the right people, 
I let go of worrying about it.

Birgitt — to words and embodied experience, yes you are saying what I meant: it 
is not the words used that are most likely to help, rather the embodied 
experience. For example, describing the experience of Open Space and what it 
produces can be enough for some. For most of us, hearing a description or even 
seeing a video doesn’t come close to being there. It is a multi-dimensional 
experience that involves, head, heart, body, spirit. Rarely does this come 
across in a description. A story might communicate more of it. But I’m guessing 
most people discover some aspect they hadn’t expected from just reading, 
hearing, or watching a video about it.

Appreciatively,
Peggy




Peggy Holman
Co-founder
Journalism That Matters
15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA  98006
206-948-0432
www.journalismthatmatters.org
www.peggyholman.com
Twitter: @peggyholman
JTM Twitter: @JTMStream

Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into 
Opportunity





On Nov 17, 2021, at 1:52 PM, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList 
mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote:

Dear Birgitt,

your two sentences:

"My perspective: following the principles of OST, spirit shows up in the 
moment, inspiring people to post exactly the topics that need to be posted at 
that moment in time. This dynamic is altered when relying on anyone to pre-post 
topics, or to set meta-topics, catering to limitation rather than abundance of 
possibilities."

had some