1-day OS with action planning

[Chris Corrigan]

On 4/10/07, Communications Esther Matte <ematte at excellence.ca> wrote:
>
>
> I would like your input on something if you have time and wish to
> share your experience. This particular client was very specific not
> to insist very much on the responsability side of OS, because people
> are disseminated in a large territory with low access to technology,
> so it's not practical to work in groups, and all have an already very
> heavy workload. The client still wanted action planning in order to
> have a basic game plan for each priority and act as a "global
> coordinator", calling on people for their help when needed. ...




That being said, I still wonder if maybe I should have put a little
> more emphasis on personal responsibility anyway, as it is really what
> makes things happen. Even though people are geographically apart with
> low access to technology, there's still that need for the first phone
> call or action that will bring others. Any thoughts?



So a couple of things come to mind.  It could just be that the client could
have used a poll to find out where the energy lay for follow up, and that
would have been fine if she was prepared to act on what the group wanted.
I'm not a fan of that alone though and, like you, am always looking for
where the responsibility might help things along.  So, if I were doing
action planning following a polling exercise, I'd simply invite people to
not only vote with their hearts but with their hands as well and ask
themselves, "what next first step am I willing to take to help move this
along?"  There is nothing that can completely stop responsibility from
showing up, not lack of technology or distance or money.

But perhaps even better would be to open space again at the end of the day
for "what wants to be born now?" or some variation of that theme.  I find
that in cases like this, a convergence in the heart (as opposed to on the
wall) finds deeper patterns that simply grouping and voting cannot uncover
and more importantly it invites people to show up one more time and apply
themselves to the "first next step" which is all it takes to get something
out of the room and into the world.  It is a more effective way, in my
experience of discerning emergent themes and patterns for action which are
supported by an appetite to actually get the work done.  In most meetings I
do, clients report this as the magic formula.  It's important to prepare the
process with this eventuality up front so that you are not generating action
and movement that the system cannot support of course, but if prepared well,
there is ALWAYS action of some kind at the end of OST meetings, and a higher
level of engagement than if people were simply to make recommendations and
go home.

Congrats on this one...a well practiced learning and a generously shared
story!

Chris



I'm looking forward to facilitating more OS events in the future, and
> thank you all for your support!
>
> Esther
>
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-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com

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