Introduction in an OS-meeting

Thu Mar 30 07:04:28 PST 2006

Am 29.03.2006 21:55 Uhr schrieb "Thomas Herrmann" unter
<thomas at openspaceconsulting.com>:

> 
> In almost all OS-meetings I´ve facilitated the sponsor has started off
> welcoming the participants and addressing the theme etc. Not always it has
> been perfect. Today I received the idea from one of our participants to
> start off by having an open dialogue with the sponsor by asking each other
> some questions and talking openly in front of the participants. For example:
> What do you want with this day/days? Why did you choose OST as the meeting
> format? I think the idea is brilliant and I will try this asap.
> Did you try this? What do you think?? Do you have any ideas regarding this
> conversation?
> 

thomas, I think of your idea., which first seemed fascinating.
but -- then I thought about the time which will be covered from this
discussion with the sponsor, covering the energy of the participants,
letting them stay passiv --- remembers me  on the normal schedule of an
congress with lots of pre-acting, pre-show.
I think the best is always to go as short as posible directly to let act
the participants.
opening space dont need much key-moving, because it´s already open.
so far --  how the idea touched me.

a hug
florian

---------------------------
florian fischer
facilitación de desarollo
c/sta.bárbara 18
E 04115 rodalquilar/nijar
fon/fax 0034.950.389819
www.begleitung-im-wandel.com
ff at begleitung-im-wandel.com

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>From  Thu Mar 30 06:54:10 2006
Message-Id: <THU.30.MAR.2006.065410.0800.>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 06:54:10 -0800
Reply-To: lisaheft at openingspace.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>
Subject: Re: Introduction in an OS-meeting
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Hi, dear Thomas --

=20

You wrote:

=20

Like others, I also feel that anything said in the beginning besides the
explanation of the process, the invitation to post topics and the
explanation of how the day will go is getting in the way of the work. =
(and
like others have said, I think all these questions with the client are =
great
but should be asked in the pre-work - to help inform the design of the
focusing question/theme, the invitation, and the facilitator's knowledge =
of
context, setting and cultural codes or vocabulary specific to that
organization or community).=20

=20

Who was it? One of you, dear colleagues...said that it is like all the =
kids
in the town are lined up in their swimsuits with their towels waiting =
for
the new swimming pool to open.  And before the gates are open to let
everyone in, the Mayor of the town stands up and makes a speech...and =
the
kids are waiting....and the kids are waiting...and all they want to do =
is
jump in the pool. =20

=20

So to me, our job is to get out of the way and let everyone jump into =
the
pool!

=20

So I ask the sponsor to be very short and sweet with a 'welcome, I'm so =
glad
you're here and I'm excited about what we are about to do' and then they
toss it to me and we start.  I also think that so often, having someone
speak is only serving...the speaker.  Not the participants.  And if that
speaker is sharing thoughts about the theme, and the work, s/he is =
filling
up the space with his/her interpretations and ideas.  And isn't it =
supposed
to - finally - be about the participants?

=20

There have also been times when - as a participant - I have felt anxious =
to
get to work even as the host-sponsors-convenors are taking the group =
through
layers of welcoming-centering-weaving together exercises that they've
designed to begin the process before they go into Open Space.  I know =
the
intention has been good but personally, I feel that OS delivers these =
things
and I am a kid with a towel anxious to jump into the pool.

=20

I say all of this knowing that you, Thomas, have a very wonderful way of
talking, of sensing, of sharing.  So (as I think you probably know) I am =
not
saying this about you personally - it is just my observation in general.
Even with the most charismatic or dynamic speaker.  Participants are =
still
sitting in their chairs in the passive / receiving mode.  And the longer
they sit, the less bouncing energy they have to jump into the center of =
that
circle.  And even if it is a physical, interactive opening, it is still
taking a bit of time that the participants could use to do their work, =
in my
opinion.

=20

Here's a question for you, Thomas: trust the process?

=20

(I know you do, but if you hear this question, what do you think about =
when
you use that question to reflect back on opening introduction or opening
activity?)

=20

Please give my warm regards to your class, Thomas and Eva.  Let them =
know
that we are all there to welcome and support and learn with and from =
them,

=20

Lisa

=20

___________________________

L i s a   H e f t

Consultant, Facilitator, Educator

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

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

 <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net=20

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Hi, dear Thomas --</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>You wrote:</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Like others, I also feel that anything said in the beginning =
besides
the explanation of the process, the invitation to post topics and the
explanation of how the day will go is getting in the way of the work. =
(and like
others have said, I think all these questions with the client are great =
but should
be asked in the pre-work - to help inform the design of the focusing
question/theme, the invitation, and the facilitator's knowledge of =
context,
setting and cultural codes or vocabulary specific to that organization =
or
community).

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Who was it? One of you, dear colleagues...said that it is like =
all the
kids in the town are lined up in their swimsuits with their towels =
waiting for
the new swimming pool to open.  And before the gates are open to =
let
everyone in, the Mayor of the town stands up and makes a speech...and =
the kids
are waiting....and the kids are waiting...and all they want to do is =
jump in
the pool.

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>So to me, our job is to get out of the way and let everyone jump =
into
the pool!</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>So I ask the sponsor to be very short and sweet with a =
‘welcome,
I’m so glad you’re here and I’m excited about what we =
are
about to do’ and then they toss it to me and we start.  I =
also think
that so often, having someone speak is only serving...the speaker.  =
Not
the participants.  And if that speaker is sharing thoughts about =
the
theme, and the work, s/he is filling up the space with his/her =
interpretations
and ideas.  And isn't it supposed to - finally - be about the
participants?</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

There have also been times when - as a participant - I have felt
anxious to get to work even as the host-sponsors-convenors are taking =
the group
through layers of welcoming-centering-weaving together exercises that =
they've
designed to begin the process before they go into Open Space.  I =
know the
intention has been good but personally, I feel that OS delivers these =
things
and I am a kid with a towel anxious to jump into the =
pool.

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>I say all of this knowing that you, Thomas, have a very =
wonderful way
of talking, of sensing, of sharing.  So (as I think you probably =
know) I
am not saying this about you personally - it is just my observation in
general.  Even with the most charismatic or dynamic speaker. 
Participants are still sitting in their chairs in the passive / =
receiving
mode.  And the longer they sit, the less bouncing energy they have =
to jump
into the center of that circle.  And even if it is a physical, =
interactive
opening, it is still taking a bit of time that the participants could =
use to do
their work, in my opinion.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Here's a question for you, Thomas: trust the =
process?</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>(I know you do, but if you hear this question, what do you think =
about
when you use that question to reflect back on opening introduction or =
opening
activity?)</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Please give my warm regards to your class, Thomas and Eva.  =
Let
them know that we are all there to welcome and support and learn with =
and from
them,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Lisa</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>___________________________</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold'>L
i s a   H e f t</span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:blue'>Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>O p e n =
i n
g  S p a c e</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a =
href=3D"mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net"><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'>lisaheft at openingspace.net</span></font></a></span><=
/font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a =
href=3D"http://www.openingspace.net"><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'>www.openingspace.net</span></font></a> =
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>

</div>

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