My first OST conference for a commercial client

[Elena A. Marchuk]

Hi Koos,
I'm very happy for you. It is really not easy to start working with the
'commercial' clients after working only with NPOs (non-profit organizations)
as they are more business oriented then open NPOs, but you did it!
Congratulations!
So it is just a start!
best wishes to you
and good luck
elena

----- Original Message -----
From: "Koos de Heer" <koosdhr at auryn.nl>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 9:33 PM
Subject: My first OST conference for a commercial client


> Dear All,
>
> So far, I have only Opened Space in a not-for-profit environment and at no
> charge. It took some time for me to become sure enough of myself to offer
> it to "real hard business clients" (can't help thinking about it that way
> ;-) and ask money for it.
>
> Last Friday, one of my greatest wishes came true. I facilitated a one day
> Open Space Technology meeting for a commercial training agency. My first
> one in a business environment. The theme was "creating more business in
> difficult circumstances" (free translation) and side objective was for the
> agency to get to know OST as a process. They had decided that if they
liked
> the process, they would consider proposing it to their clients (and hiring
> me as the facilitator).
>
> It goes without saying that I was a bit nervous. It took some meditation
> and a constant reminding myself to let go. Lord knows how much I wanted
> them to love OST and hire me for all their clients!
>
> Ten of their trainers showed up (about half of the total number) so with
> the two owners of the agency there were twelve participants. There was a
> little disappointment about the fact that among the ten who did not show
up
> were most of the more senior trainers. But they also saw right away that
> there was a message there and accepted it.
>
> The meeting went very well. I experienced the difficulty of being present
> and invisible at the same time in a small setting - but I think I managed
> pretty well. And my opening went very smoothly. I remember my nervousness
> in Birgitt's training last year. Still, even at that time, space did get
> opened. Birgitt's comments at the time about authenticity were very
helpful.
>
> In the days approaching last Friday, I kept reminding myself that even if
I
> would be nervous, Space still would get opened. And was I nervouw? To some
> extent, yes. And I guess I will always be - or I should hope so. May
> Opening Space never become routine! But I knew that I was as prepared as I
> could be. I had read what I needed to read, done my morning meditations,
> taken plenty of time to set up the room (making the two directors get up
> quite early to let me in!), and even found time to take a long walk around
> the surrounding park before the meeting would start. Especially that last
> walk was very good. I came in only 5 or 10 minutes before it would start -
> perfectly on time.
>
> Comments from participants were about the power of simplicity, openness,
> great exchanges, new ideas. One person even observed that some of the
> things they were doing as trainers might be unnecessary. I did not comment
> on it, but I was very happy inside.
>
> The experience was definitely a positive one and I expect that this will
> give me more opportunities to Open the Space. I thank you all for your
> support and all your sharing. It is a great gift to be a part of this
> community.
>
>
> Koos de Heer
> Auryn management advies BV
> Utrecht, the Netherlands
> mailto:koosdhr at auryn.nl
> http://www.auryn.nl/
>
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