What is the Question?

[Mayke Wagner, essence]

Hi Larry,
along the same lines... In the context of bringing up children, I heard the
phrase: "Boundaries open space." In German: Grenzen schaffen Räume.

Mayke
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essence - Beratung, Training, Coaching
Mayke Wagner
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mayke.wagner at t-e-a-m.org
Tel (+49) 07520 / 9232 02
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> Von: Larry Peterson <larry at spiritedorg.com>
> Antworten an: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Datum: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 15:08:55 -0400
> An: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Betreff: Re: [OSLIST] What is the Question?
>
> Kerry said:
> "What happens to passion, commitment and ownership if there are limits
> and no-go areas?"
>
> Chris said:
> "So I like to focus on the question too: a positive, strategic, open
> question (if positive, strategic and open is where the group wants to
> go...).  I have found that these qualities define the Spirit of the
> gathering far more than the givens do."
>
> I agree that finding a theme that is compelling and engaging, some words
> that give focus to an OST conversation helps to engage the Spirit --
> more than any other preparation this is critical.  This is why it
> usually takes a couple of conversations and some soak/dream time to
> discover that phrase.  It is also true, that when the phrase was "off"
> the emergent processes of the meeting usually went beyond it --
> sometimes to show the truth that the "theme" did not connect to the
> participants, no matter how well phrased and others to transcend it.
>
> I find that smaller, community based or learning initiatives have very
> few things that need to be taken as given.  It also depends on the
> nature of the OST theme.  If the theme is broad or largely educational
> then there are few.
>
> I disagree with Kerry in my work with larger organizations.  I have
> found that articulating givens, in the way I go about it, does not
> reduce "passion, commitment and ownership" but in fact increases the
> focus of all three.  To me, the invitation is critical and best includes
> some of the "context" that has lead to the decision to Open Space using
> OST.  Choosing to Open Space to put a light on, to accelerate, to
> strengthen the self-organization in that place with regard to the theme
> at hand is done in a context -- a flow of organizational activity.  Some
> aspects of the context, of decisions previously made, cannot be changed
> at the OST event although their "implementation in the now" can be.  For
> example, the Labour-Management contract may have some restrictions
> specific to the topic at hand.
>
> In larger organizations I work to reduce those things to be "taken as
> given" by a sponsor in the planning process.  Usually, they will realize
> that fewer givens lead to more possibilities.  However, if there are
> some financial or planning parameters that the current sponsor cannot
> change they are part of the context of the space that is to be opened.
> I find it is better to state them up front so that participants know
> where they can immediately take action and where they will need to
> develop longer term change strategies.  I find that people feel
> empowered to know where they can take action.
>
> Larry
>
> Larry Peterson
> Associates in Transformation
> Toronto, ON, Canada
> 416.653.4829
>
> larry at spiritedorg.com
> www.spiritedorg.com
>
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