What to do with 1.5 to 2 hours

[Larry Peterson]

This week, I worked with a client, as many before, who wanted an event
that began with substantial sharing of new ideas and information about
telemedicine.  Few of the close to 200 participants really knew what the
possibilities were and so telling that story was key and it took a
couple of hours in the morning.  There was not sufficient time nor was
there willingness on the part of the sponsor and his board to use OST
for the afternoon - the board members believed it was too open.  There
was willingness to have an hour or more of  "self-organizing
discussion".  I have encountered this before with Canadians frightened
of the openness of OST.  So, I do not call it open space and we are not
sitting in a circle.  However, I asked emergent leadership with regard
to the theme question to identify a topic of interest (passion) and to
ensure a report is written up.  I didn't invoke the principles and law
but encouraged people to go where they had some interest.  Flip charts
with letters were around the room. It took 20 minutes to get the
leadership and topics out (on flip chart and projection on the screen)
and then folks went to discussion for a bit less than an hour.  Good
discussions, good energy.  We closed the session with a half-hour
fishbowl conversation of initiators and reporters that did transcend
reporting back and got into good conversation (not presentation) with
new insights.   I do not call that OST, even thought I learned if from
OST practice.  For me, two rounds and more "space" are important for the
synergy and depth of OST to emerge - its much better in a day.  However,
it worked really well for this kind of discussion in a short time frame.
 
Thought I'd share the story.
 
Larry Peterson
Associates in Transformation
Toronto, ON, Canada
416.653.4829
 
 <mailto:larry at spiritedorg.com> larry at spiritedorg.com  
 <http://www.spiritedorg.com> www.spiritedorg.com 
 

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