Starting with Open Space

Mon Nov 21 12:47:32 PST 2005

Warning: Extended thought process ramble ahead!

I wonder why such a thing as training for OS facilitators exists. 
Harrison says, "For me, The Process is internal to the people, and our 
function is only to invite “it” (the people and their process) to come 
forward. Always seems to."

Open Space Technology is "simple" Some of the software folks I work 
with talk about writing code in terms of "the simplest thing that could 
possibly work." I think of Open Space Technology as the simplest thing 
that could possibly work. Trick is, it's not always so easy to find, 
then do, the simplest thing. "Our function is only to invite 'it'" is 
missing something for me.

If by "it will all work regardless of what you do," we mean whatever 
happens is the only thing that could have, then that's always true. 
Whether we sit in circle first or not. Whether we have an idea of how 
to open the space or not. It's defining whatever happens as "what 
worked." Which on one level is true, but may not feel like a satisfying 
outcome to those involved.

Story: About 17 years ago I sat in a circle of 60+ people at the 
organization I worked for at the time. We were a carefully invited 
group, representative of all the stakeholder groups in our 
organization. A "well-known name" guru had come to help us make sense 
of a highly adversarial atmosphere that had persisted for some time in 
our institution. At the beginning, Well-Known Name assured us that this 
would work, that our investment of time was worthwhile, that there was 
only one time out of dozens where through his process a solid community 
had not emerged from conflicted, confrontational factions. (That was a 
group of shrinks from Berkeley, he said. Leaving unspoken the idea, 
"and what else would you expect from /them!/")

At the end of three days in circle and small groups, after a round of 
singing Cum Bah Yah (no kidding!), he congratulated us on having 
crafted our newly revived organizational community. I looked around. As 
far as I could tell, he was the only one in the room who saw a 
transformed community there. Most folks felt pretty much the same as 
when they had walked in. Few attitudes or relationships had changed. 
All the factionalizing persisted undiminished. Later on that day, at an 
all-organization meeting, he reiterated his congratulations.

In that case, what happened was the only thing that could, given all 
the realities attached. However, I suspect that, had we been engaged in 
Open Space, different realities might have emerged. The outcome could 
have been either a revived idea of us as a community or, at least and 
still worthwhile, an understanding of why we hadn't reached that sense 
of ourselves. We had none of that. Only an obscure sense that we had 
failed at something every other group had managed to do. We were as bad 
as a bunch of Berkeley psychiatrists! (In some ways, he had set us up 
for that sense of failure and self-blame.)

Clearly sitting in circle alone didn't do it. So, when someone new to 
Open Space asks for advice, it feels simplistic rather than simple to 
say only "trust the people." Otherwise, why do some of us (not me) 
offer Open Space facilitator training? Is there nothing to learn? Is 
there no craft or art to Opening the Space? Can someone just pick up 
the book and do it? These are thoughts that sincerely puzzle me. I am 
not being flippant about it. What is involved in "inviting it" that we 
should explain to those who are new and asking for advice? Or do we 
only learn from experiencing it? I have more questions than answers 
about this.

Thanks for reading this far into my ramble, :-)
Diana

PS In retrospect, the experience left a lasting impression on me. As a 
consultant, I wait for my clients to determine whether we reached a 
successful outcome. I resist mightily any attempts they may make at 
getting me to define it for them. And, I /never/ ask clients to sing 
Cum Bah Yah.

Diana Larsen
www.futureworksconsulting.com   503-288-3550
www.futureworksconsulting.com/blog/

Upcoming Events:
- Open Workshop with Diana Larsen & Esther Derby
   "The Secrets of  Agile Teamwork: Beyond Technical Skills"
    Next Session: June 6-8, 2006, Portland OR USA
    email Diana or Esther for more information:
    dlarsen at futureworksconsulting.com  or derby at estherderby.com

On Nov 21, 2005, at 6:18 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:

> I guess I would raise you one, Nancy. Forget the process, trust the 
> people – and it will all work almost regardless of what you do, or 
> don’t do. I guess there are limits to this, but I haven’t found them 
> yet. For me, The Process is internal to the people, and our function 
> is only to invite “it” (the people and their process) to come forward. 
> Always seems to.
>  
> Harrison
>  
> NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!
> hhowen at verizon.net
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland   20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
> Martin Truelove
> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 6:03 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Starting with Open Space
>  
> Nancy,
> Thanks – I’m glad to be reminded of some simple truths!
> Martin
>  
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
> Nancy Weatherhead
> Sent: 21 November 2005 10:43
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Starting with Open Space
>  
> Martin,
>  
> It has been said many times… trust the process… and trust those who 
> are in the room… allow the 4 principles and 1 law to work their magic 
> and the rest will take care of itself.
>  
> Nancy
>  
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
> Martin Truelove
> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 6:24 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Starting with Open Space
>  
> I’m just starting out with OS. Any advice for a rookie?
>  *

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist