The story of Open Space in Unicef Yugoslavia,

[Vliex, Carla (cvl)]

I had the honor of facilitating the annual retreat of Unicef in Fr
Yugoslavia.
Here is my story:

The sponsor had a program for three days with lots and lots of stuff. She
wanted the Open Space for the topic "Unicef's future role in Yugoslavia. And
she wanted it just for the afternoon on day 2!!! They wanted to work with
the Belbin team roles on day 1, do some presentations about the result from
last year on the morning on day 2 and on day three they wanted to make the
programs, project and all the objectives for the next year.

It took quit a few emails and telephone calls for changing the program. As a
result of all the discussion they really wanted to do the Open space on Day
1 (future role) and do the works what needed to be done (and it was a lot)
on day 2, the start of Belbin on day 2 and the action planning on in Open
Space on day three in the morning and more Belbin to close the annual
retreat. I must admit that I was very very worried about this program. But
... we all where.... !!!!
There was also a tension in the group between the international staff and
some of the local staff members.

So I had some night sleep about it and we decided on : (all after lots of
beautiful and rich discussion with the sponsors (3 people of Unicef and me,
it felt like a as if we where constant in Open space the four of us in
planning the whole).

On day 1 we started with Discovery. We asked them to stand in a row, the one
with the longest period of service in front and the one with the shortest
period of service in the back of the row. Than we made a row with the one
with the longest period of service in front, the one with the shortest in
the back. We divided them according to their period of service in groups of
five persons and asked for their most lovely, funny, best, greatest story.
After some time we had a plenary and we asked each group to share one story.
It was fun and great.

We went on with Dream; the future role of Unicef in Yugoslavia in Open
Space. As some of the people read about Open Space, the where very serious
and very quick in posting items. The chaos on the bulletin board was
enormous, the biggest chaos I ever saw on a bulletin board. It was very hard
for me not to interfere as people asked me over and over again to do some
clustering. I invited them to do their one clustering and after a while
things had their one way, as in Open Space things go. There where two
sessions before lunch time. During lunchtime some people where still
confused about the chaos, no pre-determined objectives and so on.
After lunch I told the story about how Open Space developed (just mentioned
the joy of coffee breaks and the spirit of being in a circle). Just two
minutes, but it was good.

During the afternoon, when I came back from a stroll, everybody was gone!!!!
I went to the bulletin board and the schedules changed. Some people went out
for skiing, some where playing cards in the pub next doors, some where in
the swimming pool etc. The really liked the butterfly role. Though I was
kind of upset, I had to let it go. As I came back; everybody was working and
they worked very hard until nearly eight o clock that evening!!!


And...nobody wanted to follow the program for the next day, the wanted to
stay in Open Space.... We had a discussion about this, but the sponsor said
that the work needed to be done in two groups with everybody present. So we
called next day Design. I told them that Open Space is not just a
methodology but also a way of being, acting or living if you want. And they
did it. They worked all day very hard, without butterflies and bumblebees.
So the spirit of Open Space was still there. It was amazing.
There where some complaint during the day that people felt ignored/isolated.
We figured out that this was mostly during the social events (lunch. diner,
drinks after, skiing at night etc.) So we made a bulletin board of the
social events.  With just a few rules; sing up means show up and bumblebees
and butterflies are welcome.

Next day we called: Doing/desiring. They started with reading all the
reports (the report of day 2 included) I re-opened Space (thank Michael
Pannewitz for this notions about re-opening some time ago on the list) and
they where very quick again. I had only two time slots for ¾ hour for the
action planning. Some beautiful things emerged (e.g. making offices more
child friendly and: how to work on democratizing leadership within Unicef
and within Yugoslavia)

The closing circle was odd, a couple of people where very emotional and
quite a few (local men) where very uncomfortable. As I said it was over,
nobody moved!!! It was just not over and I didn't know what to do. ...
The sponsor helped by announcing that lunch would be served in ten
minutes...

In the afternoon we worked on Belbin for one hour and then... really self
organized, there where local musicians and local wine/spirits and then..
just.. after singing and drinking it was over.......

with Love and Sunshine
Carla Vliex



> Met vriendelijke groet,
>
> drs. Carla J.P. Vliex
> _______________________________________
> Organisatieadviseur
>
> Twynstra Gudde Management Consultants
> Stationsplein 1, 3818 LE Amersfoort
> Postbus 907, 3800 AX Amersfoort
> Telefoon 033 4677760, Fax 033 4677479
> Mobiel 06 53927407
> E-mail cvl at tg.nl, Internet www.tg.nl
>

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