Moving to action

[Harrison Owen]

Diana -- any move to action has got to be a good thing which most groups
appreciate. And it is obvious that you did something very useful. But I do
have to ask -- would it have been possible to accomplish the same objectives
with yourself remaining "totally present and absolutely invisible?" This is
not a matter of "doctrinal purity" (the "right OS approach") but more about
group empowerment. I have found that any time we take the lead and do
something that the group might do for itself -- to that extent we
dis-empower that group. This is not about being mean, nasty, egotistical --
it is rather a fact of life.

In similar situations I have found that the group can be enabled to focus on
needed actions through some very simple stratagems. The simplest, and also
the most "clunky," is priority voting -- done with sticky-dots or (in larger
groups) with some weighted voting software. Net result is that areas of high
interest are quickly identified, and from there it is quite easy to generate
useful action plans. Another approach, which Chris Corrigan and others have
originated involves re-opening the space in the final time periods -- but
this time for really hot issues the group would like to act upon. Having
done this several times myself, I find that it is most effective, and has
the added benefits of carrying on the spirit and form of Open Space and also
keeping me out of the limelight. 

Just some thoughts.

ho 

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 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Diana
Larsen
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:39 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Moving to action

Recently I opened space for a group of about 100 people that is used  
to Open Space sessions concurrent with conferences, but this time  
wanted to move into action. After a day and a half of sessions, just  
before the lunch break, I posted a bunch of flip chart pages on the  
wall (because I didn't have any butcher paper rolls) to make a big  
blank area. I put the OS theme in the middle of the paper. I asked  
who in the group was familiar with creating mind maps and many people  
raised their hands. I asked them to explain the process to anyone  
around them for whom mind mapping was new. Then I invited the group  
to create a mind map of what they had discussed over their time  
together.

When we got back together in circle after lunch, I reviewed what was  
on the mind map (for those who couldn't see it across the room) and  
asked for any additions. A few things were added. I solicited  
suggestions of how to group the items on the mind map, and circled  
the affinity areas the group identified. Then I wanted to find who  
had energy to take on some section of the mind map to plan for future  
action. I asked for a host for each section, then who would join that  
person to work on the area. We allowed 90-120 minutes for the groups  
to work, then they reported their progress and intentions to the  
whole group before our closing circle.

Afterwards everyone said it was the best OS they had ever had. I  
think it was because they finally walked away with something more  
than unresolved discussions. ;-) It was one of those ideas that came  
to me unbidden as I sat holding the space and wondering what would  
work best. (I had another plan but it didn't feel like a good fit.)

I'll try the mind map again.

Diana

Diana Larsen
503-288-3550 www.futureworksconsulting.com
co-author, "Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great!"
Amazon Best Books of 2006
Top Ten Editors' Picks:  computer & internet
http://tinyurl.com/ynacvb

Attend "Agile Open Northwest 2007: Agile for Real" January 30-31  
2007, Portland OR
http://www.agileopennorthwest.org

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