Closings

Fri Feb 10 14:38:20 PST 2006

I find that the closing is an opportunity to reflect not only what has been
accomplished but also the manner in which it took place - thereby opening up
some space for deeper learning about Open Space, and more importantly the
force which lies behind it, Self-organization. There are situations where
such reflection can be particularly useful such as in a corporate or
business environment (including NGO sorts of business). The assumptions of
how business should be conducted are so deeply rooted that many people miss
what actually takes place in Open Space. They presume that concerted action
can only take place with prior organization. They presume that tasks will
only be performed when somebody is ordered to do so. And they also seem to
presume that Leadership is located in the one, powerful individual with the
title. With such presumptions acting as blinders and filters it is very
difficult to really see what happens in Open Space - because quite frankly
it should not take place. Everybody knows that. The difficulty in "seeing"
is increased by virtue of the fact that, generally speaking, the experience
in Open Space seemed very natural and felt pretty good. There are exceptions
of course, but most folks in my experience take to Open Space like fish to
water and seeing the water is pretty hard.

What I might call "the organizational reflection" need not be lengthy and
involved, and certainly not a speech. I find that the simple question, "What
did you notice that was odd or strange about our time together . . .?" will
usually get the ball rolling. You can also put that question in a simple
frame. My favorite is the Medicine Wheel (see the last part of The User's
Guide for the details) Another possibility is a little bit radical, but it
goes like this - first ask if the participants found the time useful and
productive. Presuming a positive response, the follow up question goes like,
"Well how about doing this 24X7 - 365 day of the year." The "radical" part
of this comes from the fact that folks will find themselves in the awkward
position of comparing their OS experience with the everyday work
environment. This is usually pretty shattering, and can make a lot of folks
quite uncomfortable. But it is all in a good cause. Heck - they might even
find a life. Or something.

Harrison 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com

Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lisa Heft
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 10:21 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Closings

Hello dear colleagues -

I was wondering what you folks do for closings.

Usually the amazing reflections shared in a Closing Circle are completely
enough, and powerful, and amazing. And nothing more is needed.

In addition to that, sometimes, in some instances, in some cultures, and
where appropriate to the event and the people, we do one more thing.

Some of you experienced a group poem at OSonOS Halifax or saw my post about
that.  And if I'm not mistaken I posted how to do that (if not do remind me
and I shall - I haven't visited the archives to double-check that).

Sometimes as participants have returned to their Closing Circle seats I have
placed a brightly-colored paper (or shape cut out of paper) on their seats,
along with a marker. I have asked them to reflect in silence and to think of
one word that describes.whatever is pertinent to the event but often
something like: After having shared this experience together, what do you
bring back out with you into the world / your community?  After silent
reflective writing, I invite participants to, in turn, stand, say their word
and tape their shape to the wall, creating a mosaic of gifts, emotions,
whatever I am inviting.

Other times - for example for a faith community - we have set up candles in
the center and the group has stood for a final prayer (ideally through
song).

You can see photos of some of these closings at

http://www.openingspace.net/gallery/agora.cgi?cart_id=6584162.28703*qu7_p6
<http://www.openingspace.net/gallery/agora.cgi?cart_id=6584162.28703*qu7_p6&
next=126&exact_match=on&product=Anatomy_of_an_Open_Space_Event>
&next=126&exact_match=on&product=Anatomy_of_an_Open_Space_Event

(see Marei sitting in the circle at OSonOS 2003? See Mikk singing a song he
learned from a tree, at that same event?  See the cross on the floor made of
candles from a strategic planning session I did with a Catholic diocese? (we
hoped the hotel sprinklers would not turn on!).  See the balloons tied to
the chairs?  At OSonOS 2003 (thank you Thomas and Gerard for facilitating)
at the very end we all untied our balloons and walked outside the
magnificent barn we were meeting in and released our balloons into the air.

And see the circle of people doing something physical together - that is our
group at OSonOS 2003 making the sound of rain.  Ms. Gabriela, would you
please describe that for us?  Gabriela was the one who invited us to do
that.

And: what else have you done, dear colleagues, for closing?

I will collect your answers here and make a paper for us all to share in the
future.

Thank you,

Lisa

___________________________

L i s a   H e f t

Consultant, Facilitator, Educator

O p e n i n g  S p a c e

2325 Oregon

Berkeley, California

94705-1106   USA

+01 510 548-8449

 <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net

 <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net 

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