Process in Breakout Groups

[Zelle Nelson]

Wow!

Lots said. So many wonderful ideas and thoughts! Hooray for the OSLIST!!!

I've many things to write all in the spirit of a smile and an arm around 
the group's shoulders:

1) I second Harrison's thoughts:

it has been my experience that
even in intensely conflicted situations the groups themselves will find
their best way. This can be very nervous making for the facilitator, but in
all the years that I have been working in Open Space I have never seen a
situation in which the group did not find an effective way to deal with its
conflict -- and perhaps more to the point did not learn mountains for having
dealt with their issues. The whole thing can seem extraordinarily messy, and
the urge to clean it up and calm it down can be almost overwhelming. BUT --
the people will make it. They always have if not in one session then in a
following one, or as a congregation of bumble bees or a flight of
butterflies.



In my practice I've stepped fully out of the room and out of the topic 
when anyone asks me to facilitate, or mediate an issue and have found 
the group is much better for having learned how to work out their issues 
together. That's what I witnessed and that's what I've been told after 
stepping out and letting the open space be filled with energy other than 
mine.

2) I second Lisa's thoughts:

To clarify - I mean "invited" and "designed-into-the-program" speeches 
or traditional workshops should not be placed into the OS day (and if 
the conference hosts really feel they must include these things, they 
should place them the day before OS even opens).

and wish to add:

We have an ability as facilitators of an event to plan for non-OST 
portions of a conference or whatever. And I have seen key note speakers, 
process/skill learning days prior to 1, 2, or 3 days of Open Space work 
incredibly when, given that the larger invitation, the "scheduled" bit, 
and the spoken invitation are all in alignment with each other and form 
a consistent purpose for gathering. I always refer to and 
encourage/invite people to post topics about what they've been doing, 
what they experienced the day before and to use the Open Space as a way 
to expand and cross polinate ideas that were sparked by the "scheduled" 
bits. I also encourage/invite participants to post topics on anything 
else that fits under the umbrella topic of the whole event.

3) Sometimes when I'm opening the space I refer to the act of posting 
topics as creating a mini invitation within the larger invitation, and 
if it is appropriate, for the person posting the topic (invitation) to 
state how they intend to meet if it is different from the group norm (in 
this case, conversation in circle), just as we do when we write an Open 
Space invitation and talk about what the event/gathering is and how 
people will be invited to interact. Just as with Open Space events, a 
well crafted invitation brings the right people.

Sometimes I'll get the question, what happens if no one comes to my 
topic. And I tell them that they have several options - 1 is to wait, 
noting the principles whoever comes, when it starts..., when it's 
over..., whatever happens... 2 is to take notes about what ideas are in 
your head, so that others can learn later if in that moment their two 
feet had taken them somewhere other than to the convener's topic and 3 
is to explore how they created their invitation. Are there other words 
or a different way to state their topic and it's purpose. The idea may 
be great but if the invitation is fuzzy or ill worded it may not inspire 
excitement.

4) I've also hosted events where we've created space for one-way, 
speaker type interactions to take place, which we titled storytelling 
sessions within the Open Space framework. There happened to be a strong 
demand for many people to share their ideas contributions to an emerging 
field. Creating, providing a specific break-out area for one-way 
communication (storytelling) created a place where participants who 
wanted to gain knowledge from an "expert" could know where to go. 
(Another way to display/indicate a storytelling topic was with a post-it 
note shaped like a flower, to designate the topic as a storytelling 
session). And as Lisa says, let the presenter know how Open Space works 
and what to expect:

Lisa wrote:

it's just when some presenter-types approach the conference organizer 
with (or the organizer or co-hosts hear someone is interested in doing) 
a didactic (expert-to-audience) presentation (powerpoint, speech, 
whatever) that it's a great thing (when talking with that person before 
the conference) to inform them that this is a little different than 
another kind of conference - that people may be coming in and out of 
their presentation as they sample the marketplace of ideas, that you do 
(or do not) have technical capability or a room to show their 
powerpoint, whatever.  To me, it's just a thoughtful part of invitation 
- letting folks who need to know about what tools are available and that 
it's all rather a flowy day of folks sampling allsorts of juicy 
conversations and teaching and learning together in this way throughout 
the day.


In my experience the presenters modified their style to include a 
greater degree of conversation and through the spirit of Open Space 
there was room for one-way learning (expert to audience) to take place 
deeply interwoven with rich conversations. Including butterflys and 
bumblebees contributing to the mix.

5) Jimmy wrote:

"I guess I am imagining myself as a participant that wants to use a 
slower, more reflective process to consider a particular topic, rather 
than a fast and loose conversation.  I fear that if I merely say, I want 
to talk about x, that I will end up with a group that wants to use a 
fast and loose conversation and my only option if I don't like it is to 
use the law of two feet.  So, I want to invite others to talk with me 
about x in a particular way.  And the manner of conversation is as 
important as the topic. "

I've found the law of two feet to be very powerful for finding a way to 
create the type of space the participant is looking to be in.

And as Lisa wrote:

"Trust the people, trust the process."

And it will be perfect. Whatever happens is the only thing that could.

with grace and love,

Zelle

************
Zelle Nelson
Engaging the Soul at Work/Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document

www.stateofgracedocument.com

zelle at maureenandzelle.com

office - 001.828.693.0802
mobile - 001.847.951.7030

Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
USA





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