OST Training
Chris Corrigan
corcom at interchange.ubc.ca
Wed Sep 6 23:23:31 PDT 2000
Laurel:
Have I told you recently (like in the last two days?) how charged up and
excited I am for all the work you are doing?
The training program sounds dynamite. I continue to watch you from this
side of the water with admiration for your enthusiasm for the process.
I have two big open space meetings coming up this week, and your energy
is giving me the lift I need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
By the way, both of these upcoming OS meetings are mentoring
opportunities for two associates of mine. I think I spooked them when I
told them to read all the stories on my website and then go into the
woods for a couple of hours before the meeting and find a quiet place
within themselves. Because, as you know, when everything in your body
is screaming at you to STOP! you need that quiet place to help trust the
process.
So two offers: I'll call you in ten days or so to tell you how the
mentoring went, and what kinds of things you should be aware of, based
on my own experirience. Also, I would offer my stories to you for use
in your training program. They are on my website at
http://www.geocities.com/chris_corrigan/osstories.html
THe stories were all written to be shared with OSLIST and document my
own experiences with the process from the facilitator's point of view.
They were also written with an eye to giving new OS facilitators a
glimpse of what it is like to run an OS meeting. Feel free to direct
your folks to the site to read up on the stories, if you think that
would be a valuable thing to do. One advantage with these stories over
others on thw Web is that they all happened in BC, so there's a lot of
local content.
Best of luck with everything, and call anytime if you want to kick
anything around, bounce idea off me, or if you need a shoulder to cry
on...based on my upcoming week the later may have me blubering on the
phone to you!!
I'm kidding.....I have lots of confidence in both of us......now where
did I put that quiet space at the core of my soul?? It's around here
somewhere....
Chris
--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology
108-1035 Pacific Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 4G7
Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683.3036
corcom at interchange.ubc.ca
http://www.geocities.com/chris_corrigan
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>From Thu Sep 7 08:10:19 2000
Message-Id: <THU.7.SEP.2000.081019.0400.>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 08:10:19 -0400
Reply-To: birgitt at mindspring.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Birgitt Williams <birgitt at mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: when a client hires Open Space Technology,
is this what she gets?
In-Reply-To: <NEBBJPEKILOPMCCAELBCEEIICAAA.marco at mail.nsk.ru>
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boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0005_01C018A3.105C6380"
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Harrison wrote:
Goodness --- you certainly ask the hard ones!!!! I guess for me, real open
space is safe enough so that people can really talk about what they care
about, and start on the process of taking useful action. Safe Space requires
that they have the time too -- for a complex, conflicted issue, there has to
be time to work. But it can't be too safe -- there is a risk, life is a
risk. And here is where passion is important. I guess a useful criteria is
that the space is safe enough for passion to show up. How''s that?
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************
Harrison,
on that notion of safe space. I wonder if you could say a few more words
about that. I very much appreciated your contribution with the conversation
on grief cycle. And I wonder if you might just have more of a go at this one
on "what is open space" and in relation to the notion of "safe space".
I'll get this going the next step with my offering that I don't think we
are not about "safe space" when we facilitate Open Space Technology nor even
space that is safe enough for passion to make an appearance. Or maybe we do,
just for the time of the event, and not beyond. And it is the "before" the
event and the "after" the event that may in fact not be safe, and in fact
there might be a reduction in "safety" as a result of the event. Within an
organization where there is lots of conflict (passion too) going on, on a
daily basis, when we go in to to facilitate an Open Space Technology
meeting, I have witnessed situations where, despite the happy and warm
hearted closing circle, in the months following the Open Space Technology
event, there are firings, people quit, and the level of disatisfaction and
upheaval is huge. People look back on the Open Space Technology event as the
catalyst. In each and every case, when I follow up with people to find out
if they would rather that we had not done the Open Space Technology meeting,
the answer is always, always that it was good that we did it. The conclusion
is that the truth that was really there anyway has come to the surface. It
is one of the gifts of Open Space Technology that given enough time and
space, the stuff that no one likes to talk about, the "dead moose under the
table" comes to the surface to be talked about. And despite the pain and
lack of feeling of safety and confronting demons and bedevilments, my
experience with people over time is that they are glad to finally have
things "on the table" so that they can actually make life decisions from
that point. Life decisions, in my personal experience, are never easy.
Sometimes I make my life decisions because I feel safe enough to do so. And
sometimes I make my life decisions because I fear the losing of my life if I
do not--and in these cases I do not feel safe in my starting point. I have
seen the parallel in Open Space Technology, when there is a lot of conflict.
It surfaces but I am not sure this is because we have established a space
that is SAFE. I agree that it is OPEN, whatever that may mean. And passion
rises if it is powerful, whether space is safe or not, or safe enough for
passion or not. Or something like that.
Note: below my signature, I've included a posting that I did long ago about
"the Dead Moose Society" just for anyone who is not aware of this and might
be interested in the notion. Folks from other countries have used animals
other than "moose" which is very Canadian.
Kindest regards,
Birgitt
Birgitt Williams
Make Genuine Contact!
Dalar Associates: organizational
effectiveness consultants
Striving for Success? Ready to exceed
your expectations?
Contact us for consulting services, training,
conference and meeting facilitation,
and keynote speaking.
www.openspacetechnology.com
OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY
Dead Moose Society
You are invited to join The Dead Moose Society
Beware all of you in the world of Open Space. Another entity has formed
and we are extending an invitation to all of you to participate. At an
Opening the Space event in February 1997 in Ontario, Canada, we discussed
the importance of living our truth, with good heads, good hearts, and
extending care and compassion out into the world. We then talked about the
hazards associated with living this way. What happens when collusion
(co-illusion) is named? What happens when a truth that everyone knows about
but no one ever talks about (except for parking lot gossip) is named? What
happens when Space is Opened and truth surfaces?
At first glance, the answer would seem that the air gets cleared and life
goes on better that before. Our collective experience has told us that this
is not so. It is more common that the truth teller comes to harm, is
targeted for harm somehow. Or Open Space itself is called into question,
with people being so angry about the truth having come out, that they end up
being angry at the Open Space process that they say "it didn’t work, look at
what resulted."
So . . . we identified that all of this was like having a dead moose under
the table. Everyone knows it’s there, it smells, maybe has gathered flies,
is sickening, but no one wants to say the obvious. And we decided that Open
Space is to be honored for putting "the dead moose on the table" so that it
can be identified and appropriately dealt with.
And thus we formed the Dead Moose Society as an adjunct to the Open Space
Institutes and all good Open Space work everywhere. The purpose of the Dead
Moose Society is to get the Dead Moose on the table wherever we can, and to
support each other in efforts to do so. The principles that will govern our
Society are:
Harrison Owen’s four principles for Open Space:
1. Whoever comes is the right people
2. Whenever it starts is the right time
3. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
4. When it’s over, it’s over
As well as Angeles Arrien’s four laws of Spirit:
1. Show up and be present
2. Tell the truth
3. Follow what has heart and meaning
4. Let it go
The Invitation
Please form your own Dead Moose Society when needed (NOW isn’t such a bad
time) with whomever you can interest in this very important work. They must
be people who are willing to take risks, have courage, have vision, and
enjoy community. And be committed to living by the principles as above that
encourage us to be about our own truth also.
Location
The first meeting of this first group took place in a pub in Unionville,
Ontario on April 16th, 1997. That sets a possible tone for where other
Society meetings should be located - a good pub.
Fees
We would like to say there are none, but for those of you who try to live
your truth, and who have tried to name truth in an organization, you know
the price can be very high - nothing less than your soul sometimes.
Agenda
Whatever happens, playfulness is certainly essential. We all need to come
forward with the abundance mentality of giving and sharing. For us, some of
the agenda items of our first meeting included:
a.. Where did the dead moose come from anyway?
a.. The loudest burp
a.. When moose(s) extend their mating call, do we try to mate with them?
a.. What is the plural of moose?
a.. How do you spell carcass?
We brought fun items along - a moose caller, a moose puppet, a moose
statue - the list goes on and on. We formally signed a register and
pretended like "Roberts Rules of Order." To sign the register, we each took
on a moose name. So much hilarity happened that poor Robert’s Rules fell to
the wayside, and we actually got a lot done.
As you might guess, with the help of humor, the real Dead Moose stories
came out - very painful, very serious. We support one another to carry on
with bringing truth into the workplace. And because we are able to laugh,
amidst the tears, we are able to hold on to the space that Open Space and
truth need to bring healing into the organization.
Stay in touch
If you have a Dead Moose story to share or if you start your own "chapter"
of the Dead Moose Society, please let us know. Just for the record.
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D030320815-06092000>Harrison=20
wrote:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D030320815-06092000>Goodness --- you=20
certainly ask the hard ones!!!! I guess for me, real open space is safe =
enough=20
so that people can really talk about what they care about, and start on =
the=20
process of taking useful action. Safe Space requires that they have the =
time too=20
-- for a complex, conflicted issue, there has to be time to work. But it =
can't=20
be too safe -- there is a risk, life is a risk. And here is where =
passion is=20
important. I guess a useful criteria is that the space is safe enough =
for=20
passion to show up. How''s=20
that?<BR>****************************************************************=
*************************************************************************=
***<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite" cite><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=3D#0000ff =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D030320815-06092000></SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000>Harrison, </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D030320815-06092000>on=20
that notion of safe space. I wonder if you could say a few more =
words about=20
that. I very much appreciated your contribution with the =
conversation on=20
grief cycle. And I wonder if you might just have more of a go =
at this=20
one on "what is open space" and in relation to the notion of "safe=20
space". </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000></SPAN></FONT> <FONT color=3D#0000ff =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><SPAN class=3D030320815-06092000>I'll get this going the next =
step with my=20
offering that I don't think we are not about "safe space" when we=20
facilitate Open Space Technology nor even space that is safe enough for =
passion=20
to make an appearance. Or maybe we do, just for the time of the event, =
and not=20
beyond. And it is the "before" the event and the "after" the event that =
may in=20
fact not be safe, and in fact there might be a reduction in "safety" as =
a result=20
of the event. Within an organization where there is lots of =
conflict=20
(passion too) going on, on a daily basis, when we go in to to facilitate =
an Open=20
Space Technology meeting, I have witnessed situations where, despite the =
happy=20
and warm hearted closing circle, in the months following the Open Space=20
Technology event, there are firings, people quit, and the level of=20
disatisfaction and upheaval is huge. People look back on the Open Space=20
Technology event as the catalyst. In each and every case, when I follow =
up with=20
people to find out if they would rather that we had not done the Open =
Space=20
Technology meeting, the answer is always, always that it was good that =
we did=20
it. The conclusion is that the truth that was really there anyway has =
come to=20
the surface. It is one of the gifts of Open Space Technology that given =
enough=20
time and space, the stuff that no one likes to talk about, the "dead =
moose under=20
the table" comes to the surface to be talked about. And despite the pain =
and=20
lack of feeling of safety and confronting demons and bedevilments, my =
experience=20
with people over time is that they are glad to finally have things "on =
the=20
table" so that they can actually make life decisions from that point. =
Life=20
decisions, in my personal experience, are never easy. Sometimes I make =
my life=20
decisions because I feel safe enough to do so. And sometimes I make my =
life=20
decisions because I fear the losing of my life if I do not--and in these =
cases I=20
do not feel safe in my starting point. I have seen the parallel in Open =
Space=20
Technology, when there is a lot of conflict. It surfaces but I am not =
sure this=20
is because we have established a space that is SAFE. I agree that it is =
OPEN,=20
whatever that may mean. And passion rises if it is powerful, whether =
space is=20
safe or not, or safe enough for passion or not. Or something like=20
that.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D030320815-06092000>Note:=20
below my signature, I've included a posting that I did long ago about =
"the Dead=20
Moose Society" just for anyone who is not aware of this and might be =
interested=20
in the notion. Folks from other countries have used animals other than =
"moose"=20
which is very Canadian.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000>Kindest regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D030320815-06092000>Birgitt</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>Birgitt Williams</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>Make Genuine =
Contact!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>Dalar Associates: =
organizational=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>effectiveness =
consultants</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>Striving for Success? Ready to =
exceed=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>your expectations?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>Contact us for consulting =
services,=20
</FONT><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>training, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>conference and meeting =
facilitation,=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2>and keynote =
speaking.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Arial Black" size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.openspacetechnology.com/">www.openspacetechnology.com<=
/A></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=3Dleft class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Garamond ITC T,Arial Narrow" size=3D5>
<P>OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY</P></FONT><FONT face=3D"Garamond ITC T,Arial =
Narrow"=20
size=3D5>
<P>Dead Moose Society</P></FONT><FONT face=3D"Garamond ITC T,Arial =
Narrow"><B>
<P>You are invited to join The Dead Moose Society</P></B></FONT><FONT=20
face=3D"Garamond ITC T,Arial Narrow" size=3D3>
<P>Beware all of you in the world of Open Space. Another entity has =
formed and=20
we are extending an invitation to all of you to participate. At an =
Opening the=20
Space event in February 1997 in Ontario, Canada, we discussed the =
importance=20
of living our <B>truth</B>, with good heads, good hearts, and =
extending care=20
and compassion out into the world. We then talked about the hazards =
associated=20
with living this way. What happens when collusion (co-illusion) is =
named? What=20
happens when a truth that everyone knows about but no one ever talks =
about=20
(except for parking lot gossip) is named? What happens when Space is =
Opened=20
and truth surfaces?</P>
<P>At first glance, the answer would seem that the air gets cleared =
and life=20
goes on better that before. Our collective experience has told us that =
this is=20
not so. It is more common that the truth teller comes to harm, is =
targeted for=20
harm somehow. Or Open Space itself is called into question, with =
people being=20
so angry about the <B>truth</B> having come out, that they end up =
being angry=20
at the Open Space process that they say "it didn’t work, look at =
what=20
resulted."</P>
<P>So . . . we identified that all of this was like having a dead =
moose under=20
the table. Everyone knows it’s there, it smells, maybe has =
gathered flies, is=20
sickening, but no one wants to say the obvious. And we decided that =
Open Space=20
is to be honored for putting "<B>the dead moose on the table</B>" so =
that it=20
can be identified and appropriately dealt with.</P>
<P>And thus we formed the Dead Moose Society as an adjunct to the Open =
Space=20
Institutes and all good Open Space work everywhere. The purpose of the =
Dead=20
Moose Society is to get the Dead Moose on the table wherever we can, =
and to=20
support each other in efforts to do so. The principles that will =
govern our=20
Society are:</P>
<P>Harrison Owen’s four principles for Open Space:</P>
<P>1. Whoever comes is the right people</P>
<P>2. Whenever it starts is the right time</P>
<P>3. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have</P>
<P>4. When it’s over, it’s over</P>
<P>As well as Angeles Arrien’s four laws of Spirit:</P>
<P>1. Show up and be present</P>
<P>2. Tell the truth</P>
<P>3. Follow what has heart and meaning</P>
<P>4. Let it go</P><B>
<P>The Invitation</P></B>
<P>Please form your own Dead Moose Society when needed (NOW =
isn’t such a bad=20
time) with whomever you can interest in this very important work. They =
must be=20
people who are willing to take risks, have courage, have vision, and =
enjoy=20
community. And be committed to living by the principles as above that=20
encourage us to be about our own truth also.</P><B>
<P>Location</P></B>
<P>The first meeting of this first group took place in a pub in =
Unionville,=20
Ontario on April 16<SUP>th</SUP>, 1997. That sets a possible tone for =
where=20
other Society meetings should be located - a good pub.</P><B>
<P>Fees</P></B>
<P>We would like to say there are none, but for those of you who try =
to live=20
your truth, and who have tried to name truth in an organization, you =
know the=20
price can be very high - nothing less than your soul sometimes.</P><B>
<P>Agenda</P></B>
<P>Whatever happens, playfulness is certainly essential. We all need =
to come=20
forward with the abundance mentality of giving and sharing. For us, =
some of=20
the agenda items of our first meeting included:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Where did the dead moose come from anyway?</LI></UL>
<UL>
<LI>The loudest burp</LI></UL>
<UL>
<LI>When moose(s) extend their mating call, do we try to mate with =
them?=20
</LI></UL>
<UL>
<LI>What is the plural of moose?</LI></UL>
<UL>
<LI>How do you spell carcass?</LI></UL>
<P>We brought fun items along - a moose caller, a moose puppet, a =
moose statue=20
- the list goes on and on. We formally signed a register and pretended =
like=20
"Roberts Rules of Order." To sign the register, we each took on a =
moose name.=20
So much hilarity happened that poor Robert’s Rules fell to the =
wayside, and we=20
actually got a lot done.</P>
<P>As you might guess, with the help of humor, the real Dead Moose =
stories=20
came out - very painful, very serious. We support one another to carry =
on with=20
bringing truth into the workplace. And because we are able to laugh, =
amidst=20
the tears, we are able to hold on to the space that Open Space and =
truth need=20
to bring healing into the organization.</P><B>
<P>Stay in touch</P></B>
<P>If you have a Dead Moose story to share or if you start your own =
"chapter"=20
of the Dead Moose Society, please let us know. Just for the =
record.</P>
<P></P>
<P> </P></FONT><FONT size=3D2>
<P> </P></FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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2. Sign up -- provide an email address,
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>From Thu Sep 7 08:10:35 2000
Message-Id: <THU.7.SEP.2000.081035.0400.>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 08:10:35 -0400
Reply-To: birgitt at mindspring.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Birgitt Williams <birgitt at mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: OST Training
In-Reply-To: <6ED92C7B9739D41192050000D110AF8E63F8C1 at EAGLE.CAPHEALTH.ORG>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Hi Laurel,
and good on you to get right in there with the training. The best way to
learn, as you say, is through getting right into it.
Giving people ample chance at the nuts and bolts, just as you are doing is
terrific.
My suggestions are as follows, not in any order of priority.
1-open space technology was created (if my understanding is right) as a
better way of doing meetings. I see in the end of your notes that your group
is keen to get on with "transforming the organization". I would be cautious
about creating expectations that the team is going to bring about the
transformation. Unless of course, this is what the team has been
commissioned to do and has the support of the CEO and senior management
team. The impact of doing many Open Space Technology meetings in one
organization will surely be felt. Will these be transformation? At whose
request?
2- when several Open Space Technology meetings are done within the same
organization, especially within a smaller organization where the impact will
be felt more quickly and more keenly, there are different dynamics that
emerge. I would suggest that you go over this with your group, explore what
the dynamics might be, and explore what supports will be in place to support
these dynamics as they emerge. My experience is that there is always
"freedom shock", huge anger, and lots of pain expressed after the experience
of a few months worth of meetings. And it looks like a real mess for a
while,and there are always forces that want to shut it down and blame Open
Space Technology and everyone involved. This is why having the informed
support of the CEO etc is useful. When the whole thing is vibrating and all
hell breaks loose, you need support and not barriers put in your way.
3-conducting an Open Space Technology meeting is the easy part--and often as
facilitators we feel wonderful because the process and experience are so
rich, sacred, and it is a privilege to facilitate. And we have all shared
stories of the amazing and wonderful things that emerge after the meeting,
sometimes with some results still being felt years after the meeting.
However, there are just as many stories of frustrations, failed expectations
and promises, people quitting their jobs in frustration, or being fired. I
would suggest that if you are launching into something that is of this
magnitude, you might want to explore with your team how you can create
conditions for making maximum use of what comes of the meetings in the
ongoing life of the organization----in other words, setting this up for
success as best as you can from the viewpoint you now have. One of the
things I do when I or the organization I am working with do several OST
meetings in the same organization is a)to always set up a time about 4-6
months after the meeting for feedback, follow up, and identification of new
issues and opportunities and b)make good use of Harrison's division of "do
it", "clarify it", and "open space it" as a way of creating an organic flow
of what comes up.
Remember, the good news is that Open Space Technology works. The bad news is
that Open Space Technology works. I wish you great success with this and
look forward to hearing your stories in the future so that we can all learn
from them.
Kindest regards,
Birgitt
Birgitt Williams
Make Genuine Contact!
Dalar Associates: organizational
effectiveness consultants
Striving for Success? Ready to exceed
your expectations?
Contact us for consulting services, training,
conference and meeting facilitation,
and keynote speaking.
www.openspacetechnology.com <http://www.openspacetechnology.com>
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
Doersam, Laurel
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 2:25 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: OST Training
I've been swamped with requests to open space since my training last spring
- our organization is embracing the method as a better way to work together.
(Unfortunately, my other work has kinda slid to the back burner.) I'm so
passionate for opening space that I want to spread it around the
organization more than one person can possibly do alone. The health care
climate in Canada is in a sad state - chronically underfunded, demoralized
and in the midst of a major staffing crisis. Hence, there are huge
challenges with both trying to get groups of people together in open space
for a satisfying amount of time and with funding the process.
Long story short, our organization is desperate for more trained internal
facilitators. We've considered bringing in an external expert to train
facilitators, but the costs are prohibitive. Despite some trepidation, I
have offered to lead a training session as long as everyone clearly
understands that I've only been doing the method for a few months (albeit,
about one OS per week since that time), so am clearly not a seasoned
"expert", but rather a learner in the process. Since we are trying to grow
a learning organization in Capital Health Region, this seems to be a good
fit.
I've used my training with Harrison as a basic template, but then
synthesized the Moscow Training with it to build a training specific to the
realities of our work environment. Since I don't want to be considered the
expert, I've eliminated almost all of the "talking head" stuff and decided
the best way to learn is to experience and have the opportunity to discuss.
All the trainees have participated in at least one Open Space and all have
been provided with Open Space Technology - A User's Guide and will be
expected to have read it.
On the first evening we'll briefly visit some of the theoretical framework
around which Open Space evolved and then the rest of the sessions (3 days)
will be in held in open space. For the first two days, we'll open space on
the theme of using OST to transform our organizational culture (or some such
thing - I'll give the group the opportunity to decide on a theme). We'll
have convergence the second afternoon. That evening (we'll be going from
0900-2100), we'll open space on the role of the facilitator. I plan to
divide the large group (30) into two smaller sessions. I have recruited
some other OST aficianados to be the invisible resource for those groups.
The smaller groups will divide into really small groups (5) in order that
everyone who chooses to can walk through the process. Each small group
will critique and support the skills of those within their group. We'll
have convergence the next morning and then spend some time on nuts and bolts
as well as the practical logistics of setting up OST sessions in our
organization (where to book space, computers, flip charts, felts, etc, the
importance of offering food, etc, etc).
The intent of this training is partly to learn the method, but largely to
build an internal supportive community of OST facilitators who will continue
to learn from one another long after the training is over. We intend to
meet monthly to share stories about opening space and to learn from each
others' successes and mistakes - sort of a mutual mentoring arrangement.
We're hoping to get something set up on our intranet for ongoing
interaction. I guess the main thing I've learned since doing the training
with you spring is that opening space is truly a learning journey, that
every session is unique and that in every session I WILL screw up in some
way and learn something!!!!
I'd like to thank Harrison for his amazing generosity in allowing me to
plagiarize shamelessly from the training manual. I'd also like to invite
any suggestions from others in the group who might be able to offer me some
tips!
I have a very passionate group who are keen to get on with transforming our
organization of about 10,000 employees spread over 30 sites. The training
takes place next week - wish us luck!!
Laurel.
Laurel Doersam
Human Resource Consultant (Employee Wellness)
Capital Health Region
Victoria BC
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