Opening space fast!

[Toni Petrinovich]

Yes, Chris - I could not agree more!!!!!!  There is so little that needs to
be said when people are acquainted with the process.  Good work!

Blessings,
Toni Sar'h

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Corrigan" <chris at CHRISCORRIGAN.COM>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 10:14 AM
Subject: Opening space fast!


> Colleagues:
>
> Just back from a two day training session I gave in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
> Canada to 10 First Nations youth and four government workers.  The bunch
> of them are in the midst of planning an Aboriginal youth conference for
> the end of November in Winnipeg one day of which will be held in Open
> Space, of which I will share more later, as they have a pretty cool
> approach worked out.
>
> But I wanted to relay one story about how fast it is to actually open
> space.  During both days of this training we did a lot of work in Open
> Space.  I opened the first day and for the second day, I asked for a
> volunteer, for anyone who wanted to practice opening the space.
>
> The shyest youth of them all ended up volunteering much to everyone's
> surprise.  I sat with her and covered the basics of the opening: walking
> the circle, things to say, process, principles and law, etc. etc.  I
> referred her to a script that we had and she underlined the most
> important parts.  I mostly told her not to worry, because what ever
> happened it would work.
>
> When it came time for her to open I was confident.  I played the role of
> the sponsor, introduced the theme and introduced her as the facilitator.
>
> Immediately I saw that it was not her way to do it the way I did it.
> She simply sat in her seat and said: "Welcome to Open Space.  Our theme
> is where and when will we open space.  You will put topics on the paper
> in the middle and post them on the wall.  There are four principles, and
> one law.  (she read them).  When you're ready we can start."
>
> And then she sat in her chair, looking at the centre of the circle and
> waiting.  Her opening had been about one minute long.
>
> People were a little taken aback but nevertheless, they started posting
> topics.  In ten minutes we had eight topics.  She waited very patiently
> until everyone was finished posting and then said "okay.  Time to
> start."
>
> The work got underway and it was fine, of course.
>
> Afterwards I remarked that that may have been the shortest opening on
> record, and I thought of Harrison's constant mantra of finding one more
> thing not to do.  In the closing circle I pointed out that although her
> opening was very non-standard and wou8ld need to be more substantial for
> a group that did not know about open space, it was the perfect opening
> for a group who has worked in OST before.  There is no need to put on
> airs about the process.  Once you get it, all you need to do is get down
> to work.
>
> That was my learning.
>
> Cheers:
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> ---
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> Consultation - Facilitation
> Open Space Technology
>
> Bowen Island, BC, Canada
> http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> chris at chriscorrigan.com
>
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