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> There are 19 messages totalling 6336 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Thoughts on a Town Crier (9)
> 2. Bells, town criers, climate
> 3. Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers (6)
> 4. SV: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> 5. SV: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
> 6. open space-time
>
> *
> *
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:53:46 +0600
> From: TYASTO
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
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>
> Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
>
> I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the
> world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different
> categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian
> Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as
> Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3
> and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item:
> Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the circle), 2
> sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time for
> reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it
> Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our
> participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very
> short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have
> conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work.
> In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are
> sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they
> can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this
> case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be
> butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, some
> people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the
> Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them
> all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But then
> I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if they do
> it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit later
> than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have
> such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second sessions
> are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the lead
> and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all. I do
> the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but
> it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree
> with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to
> take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into one
> big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they have
> great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports.
> I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2
> or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in our
> 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time
> somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short written
> instructions.
> What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time -
> have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes
> sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask
> questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle "When
> it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion.
> Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course
> this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the results
> of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they
> learnt more from each other than from all their other classes.
> You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and
> give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom",
> because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers.
> So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it in a
> different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more
> powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I try
> to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The
> shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we all
> worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing. If
> i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say one
> word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have
> homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these short
> OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a workshop
> which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more
> self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to
> do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells
> work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move it.
> With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
>
> Marina Tyasto
> tyasto at sapa.nsk.su
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:marco at mail.nsk.ru]
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
> Dear Peggy,
> I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they care,
> but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed
> the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just
> seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them a
> 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to 'spread'
> time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid, may
> be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just no
> time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that it
> is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you
> say...
>
> thank you for the question
> warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :)
>
> elena marchuk
> novosibirsk
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Peggy Holman
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
> Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling
> them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he
> was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets
> people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who
> have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell.
>
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's
> 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do
> -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective.
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part
> of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what
> they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> description of what he does.
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
> Peggy
>
> ________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>
> www.opencirclecompany.com
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt,
> is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
> * * ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> * * ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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>
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------_=_NextPart_001_01C856B4.E206AF10
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Dear
> Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
>
> size=2>
>
> size=2>I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of
> the world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different
> categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian
> Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as
> Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3 and
> often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each
> item: Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the
> circle), 2 sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some
> time for reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call
> it Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our
> participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very
> short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have conversations
> about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work.
>
In
> first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are sitting in
> the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they can do and
> everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this case it is
> voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be butterflies
> today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, some people begin to
> write the topics and all works well. When people at the Market place are trying
> to realize what to do and where to go I wish them all well and say when we will
> meet again in the circle and go out. But then I usually come back at the time of
> change between sessions to see if they do it or not. Sometimes they can do
> it themselves, sometimes little bit later than on the schedule. But their
> shock of freedom is so big and they have such a fun talking in their first
> groups and leaders of the second sessions are too weak to break it, that mostly
> they expect someone to take the lead and say - now it is time for the second
> session or they miss it at all. I do the same as "Town crier", saying - it's
> time for the second session, but it's up to you what you are doing now. Then
> they can move or not. I agree with Elena that when we have such short time we
> have to encourage them to take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes
> they come all into one big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy
> is high, they have great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the
> reports.
>
I
> learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this
> 2 or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in our 2
> weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time somebody
> says "I will do it at my working place". I give them
> short written instructions.
>
What
> else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time -
> have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes
> sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask
> questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle "When
> it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion.
> Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course this
> sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the results of their
> work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they learnt more
> from each other than from all their other classes.
>
You
> will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and give them
> back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", because it's no
> other way yet - they don't have access to computers.
>
> face=Arial color=#0000ff> So, you see, we really do some more things than
> you and probably do it in a different way. But I realized that even 2 hours
> in open space is more powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers.
> That is why I try to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible
> group. The shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers,
> where we all worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions
> and closing. If i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask
> people to say one word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe
> that we have homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through
> these short OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a
> workshop which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier,
> more self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps
> us to do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells
> work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move
> it.
>
> class=453460412-14012008>With warm greetings from cold
> Siberia,
>
> class=453460412-14012008>
>
> class=453460412-14012008>Marina Tyasto
>
> class=453460412-14012008>> href="mailto:tyasto at sapa.nsk.su">tyasto at sapa.nsk.su> V>
>
> class=453460412-14012008>
>
> class=453460412-14012008> -----Original Message-----
From:
> Elena Marchuk [mailto:marco at mail.nsk.ru]
Sent: Monday, January 14,
> 2008 8:25 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re:
> Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
Dear Peggy,
>
I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let
> participants to work as they care, but most OSs I provide are very limited in
> time, and several time I missed the time by chance (though not much...) I
> could see, that people are just seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I
> had the time to give them a 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and
> will have time to 'spread' time for another quant of session, I would probably
> do, but I'm affraid, may be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that
> we would have just no time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say
> in opening, that it is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town
> Crier, as you say...
>
>
thank you for the question
>
warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow,
> though sun shining :)
>
>
elena marchuk
>
novosibirsk
>
> style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT:
> #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
>
----- Original Message -----
>
> style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color:
> black">From:
> > href="mailto:peggy at opencirclecompany.com">Peggy Holman
>
To: > title=OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> href="mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22
> PM
>
Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions
> over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way
> that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone
> telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms
> and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually
> forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
>
I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS
> a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this
> one. He told me that he was a little surprised when
> the first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people
> it was time to get started. He came to me when the
> first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going
> to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him that I never
> did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out for
> themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always
> lets people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and
> more people who have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many
> practitioners doing what Jon does - telling people when it is time to start
> the next session. I realized that since most of these folks came at
> Jon's invitation, they were probably enculturated to responding to a
> bell.
>
>
So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying,
> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist
> thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how
> people used it.
>
>
I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the
> session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the
> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So,
> it strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does.
>
>
Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one
> doing something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on
> providing information that marks the passage of time.
>
>
from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
Peggy
>
>
________________________________
Peggy Holman
The Open Circle
> Company
15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 746-6274
>
>
>
> href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com
>
>
For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
>
> href="http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHan
> dbook
>
>
>
"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger
* *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
* * ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------_=_NextPart_001_01C856B4.E206AF10--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:12:07 -0500
> From: Diane Gibeault
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> This is a multipart message in MIME format.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="us-ascii"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> Interesting example of how we show up, even in small things, communicates
> big time values and believes.
>
>
>
> Even a Town crier to me is the continuation of the "culture of dependency "
> Open Space is wanting us and helping us get away from. It's nourishing the
> old mental model that the participants can't do it by themselves but the
> people that know (authorities including the facilitator) can do it best. It
> sustains the thinking that participants need a mom to remind them. So they
> will not only be dependant on time but will continue in this frame of mind
> on many other aspects of the meeting.
>
>
>
> I let people self manage around time - other than having a schedule posted
> on a flip chart like Harrison had in his first edition of his Users' Guide.
> Participants tell me later on that they like having no one - no form of boss
> even a nice facilitator - telling them what to do. It really sends a clear
> message we are encouraging self-organization and more importantly, that we
> value them we value trust and show it by actually trusting them.
>
>
>
> It also makes room for the leadership to emerge from the group: the small
> and big task of reminding colleagues it's time to start is an opportunity
> for someone to take a special step in the group they belong to. It's also an
> occasion to add to the quality of their relationships. Doing it for
> participants, takes away from them, those opportunities for learning and
> being.
>
>
>
> It's been working for over 10 years for me. Harrison said about OST: it's
> not the techniques of OST that are hard to learn, it's letting go.
>
>
>
> Diane
>
>
>
>
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy
> Holman
> Sent: 13 janvier 2008 12:23
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling
> them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
>
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he
> was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets
> people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who
> have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell.
>
>
>
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's
> 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do
> -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
>
>
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective.
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part
> of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what
> they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> description of what he does.
>
>
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
>
>
> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
> Peggy
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>
>
>
> www.opencirclecompany.com
>
>
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
>
>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt,
> is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
> * * ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="us-ascii"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
> xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
> xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" =
> xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
>
>
> > charset=3Dus-ascii">
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>Interesting example of how we show up, even in small =
> things, communicates
> big time values and believes.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>Even a Town crier to me is the continuation of the =
> “culture
> of dependency “ Open Space is wanting us and helping us get away =
> from. It’s
> nourishing the old mental model that the participants can’t do it =
> by themselves
> but the people that know (authorities including the facilitator) can do =
> it best.
> It sustains the thinking that participants need a mom to remind them. =
> So
> they will not only be dependant on time but will continue in this frame =
> of mind
> on many other aspects of the meeting.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>I let people self manage around time – other than =
> having a
> schedule posted on a flip chart like Harrison had in his first edition =
> of his Users’
> Guide. Participants tell me later on that they like having no one - no =
> form of
> boss even a nice facilitator - telling them what to do. It really sends =
> a clear
> message we are encouraging self-organization and more importantly, that =
> we value
> them we value trust and show it by actually trusting them. =
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>It also makes room for the leadership to emerge from the =
> group: the
> small and big task of reminding colleagues it’s time to start is =
> an
> opportunity for someone to take a special step in the group they belong =
> to. It’s
> also an occasion to add to the quality of their relationships. =
> Doing it
> for participants, takes away from them, those opportunities for learning =
> and
> being.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>It’s been working for over 10 years for me. =
> Harrison said
> about OST: it’s not the techniques of OST that are hard to learn, =
> it’s
> letting go.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>Diane
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
> color:#1F497D'>
>
>
>
>
> 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:=
> > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST
> [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy =
> Holman
> Sent: 13 janvier 2008 12:23
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Has anyone noticed more milling about before people =
> move
> into sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of =
> a
> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there =
> won't
> be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow =
> their own
> rhythms and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I
> usually forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is =
> going on.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about =
> 50.
> He uses OS a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this
> one. He told me that he was a little surprised =
> when the
> first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people =
> it was
> time to get started. He came to me when the first =
> round
> after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring =
> a bell
> and let people know? I basically told him that I never did =
> that.
> The participants were adults and could figure it out for =
> themselves. He
> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people =
> know.
> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have
> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what =
> Jon does
> - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I =
> realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were =
> probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and =
> rang a bell,
> saying, "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town =
> crier was
> a minimalist thing to do -- providing information without =
> attachment
> to how people used it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to =
> understand
> his perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the
> session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding =
> the
> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. =
> So, it
> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he =
> does.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon =
> isn't the
> only one doing something like this. I'd love to hear other =
> thoughts on
> providing information that marks the passage of time.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
>
>
>
>
>
Peggy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> :p>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/=
> ChangeHandbook
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
"An angel told me that the only way to step =
> into the
> fire and not get burnt, is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
>
>
* *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your =
> options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: =
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
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>
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> *
> *
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> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:29:29 +1100
> From: Brian S Bainbridge
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="us-ascii"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> Dear Peggy
>
> I guess I am lazy.
>
> I really have never used any form of time-keeping or time-crying.
>
> Even in short events, I reckon if people are so wrapped up in the topic they
> have started and are pursuing, then "whatever happens..." in a
> self-organizing fashion is how I have always seen things. Which reinforces
> my "laziness".
>
> Sometimes, they just keep going but transmogrify into the other topic or
> topics on the wall anyway. They often seem interrelated -0 understandable
> that the group has some commonality of purpose and origin if it is a company
> group, obviously.
>
> So far, I have never heard - in the closing circle of such groups - anyone
> jumping up and down about "we should have been told the time". I think they
> get that the responsibility rests with them, especially if they are a repeat
> Open Space group.
>
> My 2-cent's worth of observation-experience, I guess.
>
> Cheers and blessings, BRIAN
>
>
>
> Fr Brian S. Bainbridge
> 0412 111 525
>
> Skype: briansbain
>
>
>
> * * ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
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> *
> *
> ==========================================================
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> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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>
> ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="us-ascii"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
> xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
> xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
>
>
> > charset=3Dus-ascii">
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear =
> Peggy
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I guess I am =
> lazy.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I really have never used any form =
> of
> time-keeping or time-crying.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Even in short events, I reckon if =
> people
> are so wrapped up in the topic they have started and are pursuing, then =
> “whatever
> happens…..” in a self-organizing fashion is how I have =
> always seen
> things. Which reinforces my =
> “laziness”.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sometimes, they just keep going but
> transmogrify into the other topic or topics on the wall anyway. They =
> often seem
> interrelated -0 understandable that the group has some commonality of =
> purpose
> and origin if it is a company group, =
> obviously.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So far, I have never heard – =
> in the
> closing circle of such groups – anyone jumping up and down about =
> “we
> should have been told the time”. I think they get that the =
> responsibility
> rests with them, especially if they are a repeat Open Space =
> group.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>My 2-cent’s worth of =
> observation-experience,
> I guess.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cheers and blessings, =
> BRIAN
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Fr Brian S. Bainbridge
> 0412 111 525> style=3D'color:navy'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Skype: =
> briansbain
>
>
>
>
>
>
> lang=3DEN-US
> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:51:13 +0100
> From: Michael M Pannwitz
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> Dear Elena,
> oh, this arrow is very hightech, of course.
> It is made of 160g red heavy paper, cut with a scissor.
> It is attached to the schedule either with a pin in case the surface
> permits that or with a short piece of adhesive tape rolled together and
> stuck to the backside (a chewing gum might do the trick, too)...the
> point is, it needs to be movable.
> Constructing this time arrow is one of the tasks in setting up an open
> space as described in the set of task cards...usually team members get
> into a fight over who gets to do that task. The word "now" (in German
> "jetzt", which by the way is a wonderful old word containing both the
> roots for "now" and "eternity", a real open space word)is written on
> both sides of the arrow so that the arrow can point either to the right
> or to the left. As I said, hi tech.
> In the following link you see the time arrow being used in a
> German/Russian open space with both languages shown on the time arrow
> > http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100
>
> Have fun
> mmp
>
> Elena Marchuk wrote:
> > Hi Michael, thank you for the idea,
> > I love it and will think, how to do it on my time/place schedule
> > and wonder, what do you mean by cardboard arrow?
> > is it magnetic?
> > as usually I have just space near the blackboard, which I use to be free
> > for posters, and it is just for one flip-chart paper and no space for a
> > sort of one-arrow watch, which I thought first of... so it could be an
> > arrow just over the words : session1, session 2 - which would need a big
> > arrow....sorry, and happy, I have fun with thinking about this
> > take care
> > and best wishes in a Happy New Year, today in Russia is an OLD (ortodox)
> > Happy New Year, so we have 2 of them and very happy to celibrate
> > everything twice (our Christas was on January, 7:)
> > elena marchuk
> > novosibirsk
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael M Pannwitz"
> >
> > To:
> > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:14 AM
> > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> >
> >
> >> Dear Peggy,
> >> I have never seen anybody in these parts do what Jon does.
> >> That might have different reasons such as the many training events and
> >> local OSonOS people have participated in...
> >> What is done here a lot and I always do it, is to have a detailed
> >> schedule posted on a large flipchart complete with a time arrow (a
> >> little red cardboard arrow with the word "now" written on it). When
> >> introducing the schedule to the group I also point out the function of
> >> the arrow...me or another team member and often participants
> >> themselves move the arrow as the event progresses. My line is: In case
> >> you lose track of time or wonder what is next just walk up to the
> >> schedule and have a look at the arrow.
> >> Of course, sometimes people come up to me and ask about beginning
> >> times, my response is to just point to the schedule...I would hate to
> >> add a town crier to my repertoire seems it would be one more thing to
> >> do and one chance for selforganisation and selfmanagement taken away.
> >> Here is a few links to show examples of schedules with the time arrow
> >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/102
> >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/99
> >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100
> >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/101
> >>
> >>
> >> Have a great day in Seattle!
> >> Greetings from Berlin
> >> mmp
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Peggy Holman wrote:
> >>> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into
> >>> sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a
> >>> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that
> >>> there won't be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to
> >>> them to follow their own rhythms and interests. I haven't quite
> >>> internalized this yet, so I usually forget. Anyway, I think I may
> >>> have figured out what is going on.
> >>>
> >>> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a
> >>> lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He
> >>> told me that he was a little surprised when the first round of
> >>> breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people it was time
> >>> to get started. He came to me when the first round after lunch were
> >>> scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring a bell and let
> >>> people know? I basically told him that I never did that. The
> >>> participants were adults and could figure it out for themselves. He
> >>> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people know.
> >>> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have
> >>> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> >>> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I
> >>> realized that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation,
> >>> they were probably enculturated to responding to a bell.
> >>>
> >>> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying,
> >>> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist
> >>> thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how people
> >>> used it.
> >>>
> >>> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> >>> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the session
> >>> start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the
> >>> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> >>> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So, it
> >>> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does.
> >>>
> >>> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> >>> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> >>> information that marks the passage of time.
> >>>
> >>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle, Peggy
> >>>
> >>> ________________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle Company
> >>> 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 (425) 746-6274
> >>>
> >>> www.opencirclecompany.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> >>> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> >>>
> >>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> >>> burnt, is to become the fire". -- Drew Dellinger
> >>>
> >>> * * ==========================================================
> >>> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> >>> subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> >>> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >>> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >>>
> >>> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >>> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist--
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
> >> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
> >> ++49-30-772 8000
> >> www.boscop.org www.michaelmpannwitz.de
> >>
> >>
> >> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 472 resident Open
> >> Space Workers in 76 countries (working in a total of 132 countries
> >> worldwide)
> >> www.openspaceworldmap.org
> >>
> >> *
> >> *
> >> ==========================================================
> >> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >> ------------------------------
> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> >> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >>
> >> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> >
> > *
> > *
> > ==========================================================
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> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
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> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:30:19 -0500
> From: Harrison Owen
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="US-ASCII"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> Ringing Bells for sessions.
>
> =20
>
> I guess I can understand why you might be tempted in a short Open Space =
> with
> short sessions, but even then my feeling is that is a temptation to be
> resisted. Part of this is the whole question of participants really =
> taking
> responsibility for what they care about - including the consequences of
> either not caring or caring in a different way. But the real reason is a
> deep feeling on my part that the essential task of the facilitator is to
> create the optimal conditions under which the self-organizing system =
> (the
> group of participants) can function most effectively. It is NOT about
> keeping things "on time," except for the start, and maybe the ending. =
> For
> whatever it is worth, I always make best effort to start "on time" - not
> that it always works out that way.:-) And when it comes to the ending, I
> feel the obligation to at least point out to folks that the official =
> closing
> time has arrived so that those who have some necessity to leave (planes =
> to
> catch etc) can do so. But in between beginning and ending it is all open
> space, or should I say open time?
>
> =20
>
> My learnings have been that self-organizing systems quickly generate =
> their
> own sense of time, which has little to do with the passage of hands over =
> a
> clock face, and everything to do with the flow or activity. Every group =
> will
> perceive this somewhat differently, and who am I to say what is a long =
> time
> or short time. Point is -- it is "their time," determined by their own =
> sense
> of need, accomplishment and ultimately the flow of their engagement. I =
> can
> never know how long people will require for a particular conversation, =
> and I
> think we have all been surprised how much can actually be accomplished =
> in a
> few moments when things are really flowing. Inserting "arbitrary" time
> breaks interrupts that flow. "Arbitrary" in the sense that they are
> determined by an external timetable (our schedule) as opposed to the
> emergent and internal sense of time which the group creates for itself. =
> To
> me this is "organizing a self-organizing system," which in addition to =
> being
> an oxymoron, usually turns out badly or at least awkwardly.
>
> =20
>
> Harrison
>
> =20
>
> =20
>
> =20
>
> 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=20
>
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the =
> archives
> Visit:
> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> =20
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy
> Holman
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:23 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> =20
>
> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions =
> over
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone =
> telling
> them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
> =20
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot =
> but
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that =
> he
> was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came =
> to
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it =
> out
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always =
> lets
> people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people =
> who
> have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what =
> Jon
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I =
> realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were =
> probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell. =20
>
> =20
>
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, =
> "It's
> 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to =
> do
> -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
>
> =20
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his =
> perspective.
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are =
> part
> of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care =
> what
> they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> description of what he does.
>
> =20
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
> =20
>
> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
> Peggy
>
> =20
>
> ________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274=20
>
> =20
>
> www.opencirclecompany.com
>
> =20
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:=20
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook=20
>
> =20
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get =
> burnt,
> is to become=20
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
> * * =
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To =
> subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: =
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="US-ASCII"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
>
>
>
>
> > charset=3Dus-ascii">
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Ringing Bells for =
> sessions…
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I guess I can understand why you =
> might be
> tempted in a short Open Space with short sessions, but even then my =
> feeling is
> that is a temptation to be resisted. Part of this is the whole question =
> of
> participants really taking responsibility for what they care about =
> –
> including the consequences of either not caring or caring in a different =
> way.
> But the real reason is a deep feeling on my part that the essential task =
> of the
> facilitator is to create the optimal conditions under which the =
> self-organizing
> system (the group of participants) can function most effectively. It is =
> NOT
> about keeping things “on time,” except for the start, and =
> maybe the
> ending. For whatever it is worth, I always make best effort to start =
> “on
> time” – not that it always works out that =
> way.> color=3Dred face=3DWingdings>> style=3D'font-family:Wingdings;color:red'>J> color=3Dred face=3DArial> =
> And when it
> comes to the ending, I feel the obligation to at least point out to =
> folks that
> the official closing time has arrived so that those who have some =
> necessity to
> leave (planes to catch etc) can do so. But in between beginning and =
> ending it
> is all open space, or should I say open time?
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>My learnings have been that =
> self-organizing
> systems quickly generate their own sense of time, which has little to do =
> with
> the passage of hands over a clock face, and everything to do with the =
> flow or
> activity. Every group will perceive this somewhat differently, and who =
> am I to
> say what is a long time or short time. Point is -- it is “their =
> time,”
> determined by their own sense of need, accomplishment and ultimately the =
> flow
> of their engagement. I can never know how long people will require for a
> particular conversation, and I think we have all been surprised how much =
> can
> actually be accomplished in a few moments when things are really =
> flowing.
> Inserting “arbitrary” time breaks interrupts that flow. =
> “Arbitrary”
> in the sense that they are determined by an external timetable (our =
> schedule)
> as opposed to the emergent and internal sense of time which the group =
> creates
> for itself. To me this is “organizing a self-organizing =
> system,”
> which in addition to being an oxymoron, usually turns out badly or at =
> least awkwardly.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison =
> Owen
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 River Falls =
> Drive
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac,
> Maryland 20854
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone =
> > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
> color:red'>301-365-2093
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype =
> hhowen
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space =
> Training> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.openspaceworld.com/">> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com
>
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space =
> Institute> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.openspaceworld.org/">> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org> n>
>
>
> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal =
> website> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.ho-image.com/">> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com =
>
>
>
> face=3DArial>> =
> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST> t>> color=3Dred face=3DArial>: =
> To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: =
> > color=3Dred>> href=3D"http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">> face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.h=
> tml
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>
>
>
> face=3DTahoma>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original =
> Message-----
> From: OSLIST
> [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] > style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On
> Behalf Of Peggy Holman
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, =
> 2008
> 12:23 PM
> To: =
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Thoughts on a =
> Town Crier
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Has anyone noticed more milling about before =
> people
> move into sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing =
> enough of a
> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there =
> won't
> be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow =
> their own
> rhythms and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I
> usually forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is =
> going on.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I just did an OS for a friend for a group of =
> about
> 50. He uses OS a lot but wanted to be able to really participate =
> in this
> one. He told me that he was a little surprised =
> when the
> first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people =
> it was
> time to get started. He came to me when the first =
> round
> after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring =
> a bell
> and let people know? I basically told him that I never did =
> that.
> The participants were adults and could figure it out for =
> themselves. He
> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people =
> know.
> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have
> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what =
> Jon does
> - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I =
> realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were =
> probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>So I took what seemed a middle ground to me =
> and rang a
> bell, saying, "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a =
> town
> crier was a minimalist thing to do -- providing information =
> without
> attachment to how people used it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted =
> to
> understand his perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, =
> like the
> session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding =
> the
> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. =
> So, it
> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he =
> does.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect =
> Jon isn't
> the only one doing something like this. I'd love to hear other =
> thoughts
> on providing information that marks the passage of =
> time.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>from sunny (for a change) =
> Seattle,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Peggy
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>> href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> span>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/=
> ChangeHandbook
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>"An angel told me that the only way to =
> step into
> the fire and not get burnt, is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:43:14 -0500
> From: Ralph Copleman
> Subject: Bells, town criers, climate
>
> Peg, Jeff, and all,
>
> My response to a participant who wants me to ring the bell after lunch
> might have been to suggest to him that he was perfectly free to remind
> people about the time, if he chose to. I agree that it's not a role I
> personally want to take on.
>
> Gabriella, old friend,
>
> Congratulations on the climate change event. We're clearly in danger
> and quickly running out of time. We need to open lots of space for
> Earth right now.
>
> Ralph Copleman
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:26:23 -0700
> From: Harold Shinsato
> Subject: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Open Spacetronauts,
>
> This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San
> Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up=
>
> that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the proces=
> s
> of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of ho=
> w
> to manage things during the event.
>
> Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of=
>
> about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several
> locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally
> organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share
> information about the industry and our own work. We would submit
> suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the
> sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads.
>
> Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company,
> which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been
> "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization.=20=
>
> I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering
> Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations=
>
> about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger
> company.
>
> My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an
> invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are of=
> ten
> fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to
> suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can =
> I
> get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possibl=
> e
> I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk
> about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and drivi=
> ng
> the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the age=
> nda
> building session itself, even if I'm not in management.
>
> Thanks so much for any help.
>
> Happy 2008!
> Harold
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:23:28 +0200
> From: Mickey Averbuch
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it
> right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very
> glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my
> daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring
> the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a
> lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a
> puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a
> constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that
> as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf
> fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from
> coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of
> styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer
> than the actual personal wording
> these are my two cents of the day
> a happy new year to all, though with some delay
> Tova Averbuch
> Holon, Israel
>
> Quoting TYASTO :
>
> > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
> >
> > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the
> > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different
> > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian
> > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as
> > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3
> > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item:
> > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the circle), 2
> > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time for
> > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it
> > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our
> > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very
> > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have
> > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work.
> > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are
> > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they
> > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this
> > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be
> > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, some
> > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the
> > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them
> > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But then
> > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if they do
> > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit later
> > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have
> > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second sessions
> > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the lead
> > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all. I do
> > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but
> > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree
> > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to
> > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into one
> > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they have
> > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports.
> > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2
> > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in our
> > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time
> > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short written
> > instructions.
> > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time -
> > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes
> > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask
> > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle "When
> > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion.
> > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course
> > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the results
> > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they
> > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes.
> > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and
> > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom",
> > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers.
> > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it in a
> > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more
> > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I try
> > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The
> > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we all
> > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing. If
> > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say one
> > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have
> > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these short
> > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a workshop
> > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more
> > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to
> > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells
> > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move it.
> > With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
> >
> > Marina Tyasto
> > tyasto at sapa.nsk.su
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:marco at mail.nsk.ru]
> > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
> > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Peggy,
> > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they care,
> > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed
> > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just
> > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them a
> > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to 'spread'
> > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid, may
> > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just no
> > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that it
> > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you
> > say...
> >
> > thank you for the question
> > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :)
> >
> > elena marchuk
> > novosibirsk
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Peggy Holman
> > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
> > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> >
> > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over
> > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling
> > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
> >
> > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but
> > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he
> > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to
> > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out
> > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets
> > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who
> > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized
> > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably
> > enculturated to responding to a bell.
> >
> > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's
> > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do
> > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
> >
> > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective.
> > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part
> > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what
> > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> > description of what he does.
> >
> > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> > information that marks the passage of time.
> >
> > from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
> > Peggy
> >
> > ________________________________
> > Peggy Holman
> > The Open Circle Company
> > 15347 SE 49th Place
> > Bellevue, WA 98006
> > (425) 746-6274
> >
> > www.opencirclecompany.com
> >
> >
> > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> >
> >
> > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt,
> > is to become
> > the fire".
> > -- Drew Dellinger
> > * * ==========================================================
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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> >
> > *
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> > ==========================================================
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:52:59 -0500
> From: Harrison Owen
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Harold -- Welcome!
>
> Invitation: Short, sweet, and open. For a theme -- maybe something like
> "Issues and Opportunities for Building Our Business." Presuming they (your
> engineers) care about the business, that should get them started.
>
> Don't try and explain Open Space. Folks wouldn't believe you anyhow. But you
> can make some definite promises. 1)Every issue they care about will be on
> the agenda. 2)Every issue will be discussed. 3) All will be reported. Those
> are "keepable" promises.
>
> No need to prepare anybody -- and in fact it will be counterproductive.
> Suggesting issues in advance may make people think that they SHOULD talk
> about those issues, when what they need to do is to talk about issues they
> care about.
>
> If this is your first Open Space I suggest that you do nothing but
> facilitate. Admittedly there is not much to do, but there is a lot to learn,
> and if you are busy posting/hosting issues you could miss a big bunch.
>
> And by the way -- Everything I have said (and a whole lot more) is "in the
> book." (Open Space Technology: A User's Guide -- Berrett-Koehler). You will
> probably find it helpful to get a copy (Amazon will do it)
>
> Have fun!
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> 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
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harold
> Shinsato
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 11:26 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Open Spacetronauts,
>
> This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San
> Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up
> that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the process
> of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of how
> to manage things during the event.
>
> Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of
> about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several
> locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally
> organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share
> information about the industry and our own work. We would submit
> suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the
> sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads.
>
> Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company,
> which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been
> "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization.
> I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering
> Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations
> about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger
> company.
>
> My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an
> invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are often
> fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to
> suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can I
> get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possible
> I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk
> about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and driving
> the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the agenda
> building session itself, even if I'm not in management.
>
> Thanks so much for any help.
>
> Happy 2008!
> Harold
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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> *
> ==========================================================
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:20:25 -0700
> From: Harold Shinsato
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Owen,
>
> Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think =
> my
> issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some
> chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again i=
> n a
> different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. I've=
>
> seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that peo=
> ple
> will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have t=
> o
> "do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or top=
> ics
> like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some engineeri=
> ng
> topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on their=
>
> prior experience, which is the "box".
>
> It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me qui=
> et
> it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no on=
> e
> filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the firs=
> t
> tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50
> engineers in a single department but working on different projects?
>
> Harold
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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>
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:54:52 -0800
> From: Tree Fitzpatrick
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Content-Disposition: inline
>
> Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I pause to
> remind all who might be reading that when I share my opinion, I am not
> putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I have commented on this list
> (and others) people seem to hear me putting down others' ideas when I am
> simply saying "I think this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this morning
> so I offer this caution.
>
> It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today. Last week,
> I was thinking about open space time and how it works best when we trust
> ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to others timing. As
> you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on Friday and we did not discuss
> open space time but it was alive in my etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me
> because it was alive in you because of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps
> open space time was alive last week and we both tuned in.
>
> The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the very
> heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfold exactly
> as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do.
>
> Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought of
> you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS events
> and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind the design
> team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollection that you have said
> this when the design team was feeling a time crunch, fretting that we
> couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you would say 'we are in
> open space time' and an ease would settle upon us.
>
> We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As an open
> space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her response to
> you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the space is really the
> work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or town criers. If a
> facilitator does remind participants of session times, this will be just
> fine because in open space, there is no right or wrong but I think
> announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of open space
> facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much more
> important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the
> opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is always
> about much more than the stated goals in the event's invitation. Yes, when
> we are accountable to a client who has hired us because they wish to achieve
> goals, sometimes we will calibrate our choices to give the cilent
> satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I think of open space facilitators as
> cultural capacity shamans. The human race urgently needs to learn how to
> trust that all is well and to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best
> wya for the human race to develop these skills is to spend time in
> openly-acknowledged open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all'
> they get out of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click
> that said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is an
> amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfolding. If
> someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from knowing for their
> own self what time it is, where they should be, what they should be doing.
> What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the first moment I
> got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived within myself that
> I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that inkling until I stood in
> the place just right. That is os facilitation, if you ask me.
>
> I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workplace
> goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . . but
> for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better discern their
> own wisdom, well, it is the whole point.
>
> Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget Sound and
> the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer screen. I
> see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm, sunny home in
> California and I have another week of Northwest winter ahead of me. There
> is a reason I am very cold this week. I am sitting here waiting for that
> reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are like ice. I write to keep warm.
>
> On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch wrote:
> >
> > for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it
> > right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very
> > glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my
> > daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring
> > the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a
> > lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a
> > puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a
> > constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that
> > as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf
> > fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from
> > coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of
> > styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer
> > than the actual personal wording
> > these are my two cents of the day
> > a happy new year to all, though with some delay
> > Tova Averbuch
> > Holon, Israel
> >
> > Quoting TYASTO :
> >
> > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
> > >
> > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the
> > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different
> > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the
> > Siberian
> > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program
> > as
> > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for
> > 3
> > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item:
> > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the
> > circle), 2
> > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time
> > for
> > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call
> > it
> > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our
> > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a
> > very
> > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have
> > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their
> > work.
> > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are
> > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what
> > they
> > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in
> > this
> > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be
> > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere,
> > some
> > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the
> > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish
> > them
> > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But
> > then
> > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if
> > they do
> > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit
> > later
> > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have
> > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second
> > sessions
> > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the
> > lead
> > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all.
> > I do
> > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but
> > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I
> > agree
> > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them
> > to
> > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into
> > one
> > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they
> > have
> > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports.
> > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this
> > 2
> > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in
> > our
> > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time
> > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short
> > written
> > > instructions.
> > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every
> > time -
> > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3
> > minutes
> > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to
> > ask
> > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle
> > "When
> > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional
> > discussion.
> > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course
> > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the
> > results
> > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that
> > they
> > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes.
> > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them
> > and
> > > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom",
> > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers.
> > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it
> > in a
> > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more
> > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I
> > try
> > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The
> > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we
> > all
> > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing.
> > If
> > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say
> > one
> > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have
> > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these
> > short
> > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a
> > workshop
> > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more
> > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us
> > to
> > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells
> > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move
> > it.
> > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
> > >
> > > Marina Tyasto
> > > tyasto at sapa.nsk.su
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:marco at mail.nsk.ru]
> > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
> > > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear Peggy,
> > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they
> > care,
> > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I
> > missed
> > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are
> > just
> > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them
> > a
> > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to
> > 'spread'
> > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid,
> > may
> > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just
> > no
> > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that
> > it
> > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you
> > > say...
> > >
> > > thank you for the question
> > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :)
> > >
> > > elena marchuk
> > > novosibirsk
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Peggy Holman
> > > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU > > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
> > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> > >
> > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions
> > over
> > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone
> > telling
> > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
> > >
> > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot
> > but
> > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that
> > he
> > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came
> > to
> > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it
> > out
> > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always
> > lets
> > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people
> > who
> > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what
> > Jon
> > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I
> > realized
> > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were
> > probably
> > > enculturated to responding to a bell.
> > >
> > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying,
> > "It's
> > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to
> > do
> > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
> > >
> > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> > perspective.
> > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are
> > part
> > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care
> > what
> > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> > > description of what he does.
> > >
> > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> > > information that marks the passage of time.
> > >
> > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
> > > Peggy
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > Peggy Holman
> > > The Open Circle Company
> > > 15347 SE 49th Place
> > > Bellevue, WA 98006
> > > (425) 746-6274
> > >
> > > www.opencirclecompany.com
> > >
> > >
> > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> > >
> > >
> > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> > burnt,
> > > is to become
> > > the fire".
> > > -- Drew Dellinger
> > > * * ==========================================================
> > > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> > subscribe,
> > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> > > oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> > > * * ==========================================================
> > > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> > subscribe,
> > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> > > oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> > >
> > > *
> > > *
> > > ==========================================================
> > > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > ------------------------------
> > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> > > view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > >
> > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> >
> > *
> > *
> > ==========================================================
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > ------------------------------
> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> > view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >
> > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Love rays,
> Tree Fitzpatrick
>
> http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/
>
> . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with Augustine,
> "I want you to be," without being able to give any particular reason for
> such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation. -- Hannah Arendt
>
> 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35
> Mountain View, California 94043
> (650) 967-9260
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
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> -----------------------------
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> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
> Content-Disposition: inline
>
> Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post=
> , I pause to remind all who might be reading that when I share my opinion, =
> I am not putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I have commented=
> on this list (and others) people seem to hear me putting down others' =
> ideas when I am simply saying "I think this". I am feeling =
> unusually sensitive this morning so I offer this caution.
>
It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today.&nb=
> sp; Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it works best w=
> hen we trust ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to other=
> s timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on Friday and w=
> e did not discuss open space time but it was alive in my etheric. Perhaps i=
> t was alive in me because it was alive in you because of your recent work w=
> ith Jon. Or perhaps open space time was alive last week and we both tuned i=
> n.
>
The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the=
> very heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfo=
> ld exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do.
Last =
> week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought o=
> f you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS =
> events and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind the=
> design team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollecti=
> on that you have said this when the design team was feeling a time crunch, =
> fretting that we couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you=
> would say 'we are in open space time' and an ease would settle upo=
> n us.
>
We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. =
> ; As an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her=
> response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the space=
> is really the work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or town c=
> riers. If a facilitator does remind participants of session times, th=
> is will be just fine because in open space, there is no right or wrong but =
> I think announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of o=
> pen space facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much mo=
> re important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the op=
> portunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is always abou=
> t much more than the stated goals in the event's invitation. Yes, when =
> we are accountable to a client who has hired us because they wish to achiev=
> e goals, sometimes we will calibrate our choices to give the cilent satisfa=
> ction. But mostly, I guess I think of open space facilitators as cult=
> ural capacity shamans. The human race urgently needs to learn how to trust =
> that all is well and to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya =
> for the human race to develop these skills is to spend time in openly-ackno=
> wledged open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all'=
> they get out of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click =
> that said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, th=
> at is an amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfoldin=
> g. If someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from know=
> ing for their own self what time it is, where they should be, what they sho=
> uld be doing. What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the=
> first moment I got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived wi=
> thin myself that I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that inklin=
> g until I stood in the place just right. That is os facilitation, if you as=
> k me.
>
I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workp=
> lace goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . .=
> but for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better discern=
> their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point.
>
Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget =
> Sound and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer =
> screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm, sun=
> ny home in California and I have another week of Northwest winter ahead of =
> me. There is a reason I am very cold this week. I am sitting here wai=
> ting for that reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are like ice. I write=
> to keep warm.
>
On 1/14/08, > ername">Mickey Averbuch <=
> averbuch at post.tau.ac.il> wrote:
> te" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt=
> 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
> for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it> r>right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I=
> am very
glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in=
> my
>
daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring> >the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a
lo=
> t of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a
purit=
> an if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a
>
constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I belie=
> ve that
as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track=
> .Beinf
fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from
>
coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of
st=
> yles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer
than t=
> he actual personal wording
these are my two cents of the day
&n=
> bsp;a happy new year to all, though with some delay
>
Tova Averbuch
Holon, Israel
Quoting TYASTO <> lto:tyasto at sapa.nsk.su">tyasto at sapa.nsk.su>:
> Dear Peggy,=
> Michael, Elena and others!
>
> I will support Elena and tell w=
> hy we are doing this in our part of the
>
> world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different=
>
> categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the S=
> iberian
> Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written =
> in their program as
>
> Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to =
> us for 3
> and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes fo=
> r each item:
> Introduction (including moving tables and putting chai=
> rs into the circle), 2
>
> sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some =
> time for
> reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circl=
> e. As I call it
> Voluntarily-compulsory participation in =
> OST. Great majority of our
>
> participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we ha=
> ve a very
> short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way t=
> o have
> conversations about issues and opportunities of How to impro=
> ve their work.
>
> In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while th=
> ey are
> sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling t=
> hem what they
> can do and everything is OK even to go away if they d=
> on't like it ( in this
>
> case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all w=
> ill be
> butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always =
> everywhere, some
> people begin to write the topics and all works wel=
> l. When people at the
>
> Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wi=
> sh them
> all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and =
> go out. But then
> I usually come back at the time of change between =
> sessions to see if they do
>
> it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometim=
> es little bit later
> than on the schedule. But their shock of freedo=
> m is so big and they have
> such a fun talking in their first groups =
> and leaders of the second sessions
>
> are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take =
> the lead
> and say - now it is time for the second session or they mi=
> ss it at all. I do
> the same as "Town crier", saying - it&=
> #39;s time for the second session, but
>
> it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or n=
> ot. I agree
> with Elena that when we have such short time we have to=
> encourage them to
> take the lead and organize second groups. Someti=
> mes they come all into one
>
> big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high,=
> they have
> great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get=
> the reports.
> I learnt to take it easy and let them do w=
> hatever they want during this 2
>
> or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the b=
> est in our
> 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the co=
> urse. Each time
> somebody says "I will do it at my working plac=
> e". I give them short written
>
> instructions.
> What else you don't do normally - listen=
> the reports - I do it every time -
> have them in the circle to shar=
> e briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes
> sand-glass and show to =
> them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask
>
> questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the princ=
> iple "When
> it's not over it's not over" and say t=
> hat it needs additional discussion.
> Because my class takes place no=
> rmally at the end of their 2 weeks course
>
> this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see t=
> he results
> of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They alw=
> ays say that they
> learnt more from each other than from all their o=
> ther classes.
>
> You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type t=
> hem and
> give them back to take home with them as tangible "Col=
> lective wisdom",
> because it's no other way yet - they don&=
> #39;t have access to computers.
>
> So, you see, we really do some more things than you and=
> probably do it in a
> different way. But I realized that even 2 hour=
> s in open space is more
> powerful than two weeks of passive learning=
> from teachers. That is why I try
>
> to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group.=
> The
> shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, =
> where we all
> worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 ses=
> sions and closing. If
>
> i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask peo=
> ple to say one
> word or two. It's always positive and inspiring.=
> I believe that we have
> homeopathic influencing on the civil servan=
> ts in Siberia through these short
>
> OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard=
> about a workshop
> which is must to participate". We help peopl=
> e to feel happier, more
> self-confident and be leaders. I=
> f additional ring of the bell helps us to
>
> do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian=
> bells
> work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to com=
> e and move it.
> With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
>
> > Marina Tyasto
> tyasto at sap=
> a.nsk.su <mailto:tyasto at sapa.n=
> sk.su>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>=
> From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:
> marco at mail.nsk.ru]
> Sent: M=
> onday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
> To: > RV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: =
> Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
>
> Dear Peggy,
> I wish I could NOT rin=
> g the bells and let participants to work as they care,
> but most OSs=
> I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed
> the =
> time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just
>
> seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to giv=
> e them a
> 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and w=
> ill have time to 'spread'
> time for another quant of session=
> , I would probably do, but I'm affraid, may
>
> be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would =
> have just no
> time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though sa=
> y in opening, that it
> is up to them, how they will work, I would ju=
> st be a Town Crier, as you
>
> say...
>
> thank you for the question
> warm hug=
> s from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :)
>
&=
> gt; elena marchuk
> novosibirsk
>
> ----- Original Messag=
> e -----
>
> From: Peggy Holman <mailto:> mpany.com">peggy at opencirclecompany.com>
> To: > o:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU <ma=
> ilto:
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTAT=
> E.EDU>
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
> Subje=
> ct: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> Has anyone noticed more millin=
> g about before people move into sessions over
>
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a t=
> rend this way that I
> always intend to explicitly tell people that t=
> here won't be anyone telling
> them when to move, that it is up t=
> o them to follow their own rhythms and
>
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, s=
> o I usually forget.
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is =
> going on.
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of abou=
> t 50. He uses OS a lot but
>
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one. H=
> e told me that he
> was a little surprised when the first round of br=
> eakout sessions was
> starting that I didn't tell people it was t=
> ime to get started. He came to
>
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and as=
> ked me
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? =
> I basically told him
> that I never did that. The pa=
> rticipants were adults and could figure it out
>
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. =
> ; He said he always lets
> people know. And then it d=
> awned on me: there are more and more people who
> have exp=
> erienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
>
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session.&n=
> bsp; I realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon'=
> ;s invitation, they were probably
> enculturated to responding to a b=
> ell.
> >
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, s=
> aying, "It's
> 1:30 and all's well." I f=
> igured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do
> -- providing infor=
> mation without attachment to how people used it.
>
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand =
> his perspective.
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the sess=
> ion start times, are part
> of the commons and when he is holding the=
> space, that is part of his
>
> contract with the group, to give them the information. =
> He doesn't care what
> they do once they hear it. So, =
> it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> description of what he does=
> .
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the =
> only one doing
>
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thought=
> s on providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
><=
> br>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
> Peggy
>
> __=
> ______________________________
>
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th=
> Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>=
>
> www.opencirclecompany=
> .com
> <http://www.opencirclecomp=
> any.com>
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change H=
> andbook, go to:
> > ok">
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> <> kconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook<=
> /a>>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step in=
> to the fire and not get burnt,
>
> is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew D=
> ellinger
> * * =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> > IST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> unsubscribe, chan=
> ge your options, view the archives of
> > serv.boisestate.edu">oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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> BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
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> ubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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OSLIST=
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To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
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--
Love rays,
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> r>http://thecultureoflove=
> .blogspot.com/
. . . the great and incalculable grace of love, w=
> hich says, with Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able=
> to give any particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable affirmati=
> on. -- Hannah Arendt
>
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(6=
> 50) 967-9260
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:20:00 +0100
> From: Thomas Herrmann
> Subject: SV: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="iso-8859-1"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> Dear friends in Open Space
>
> I=92m in the middle of a 3 day OS training with 16 participants and =
> we=92ve
> discussed similair things at times during this first day. Such as =
> =93does the
> facilitator have to tell people that they may help themselves with =
> coffee
> and tea=94 although it is just in the face of them, or can he/she assume =
> they
> grab whatever they like?=20
>
> I think we have a lot to dis-learn to get back in shape. Small kids =
> would
> never ask before grabbing whatever they like =96 until they are taught =
> that
> it=92s probably not OK if noone said so, or that they have to ask first. =
>
>
> =20
>
> I see many situations in Open Space of my life as well as in an =
> OS-meeting
> when adults wait for permission instead of acting or at least =
> asking...and
> an important aspect of OST, to me, is to allow people to learn to be
> responsible, in the process. After a while they get it. But this can =
> make
> the learning a bit rough in short OS-meetings.
>
> =20
>
> Anyway, I follow HO=92s advice and do my best to find another thing not =
> to do.
> So I trust people do whatever is best for them =96 may it be rough =
> learning...
>
> Warm regards
>
> Thomas Herrmann
>
> PS Today I had a nap, played pool and walked in the snow =96 during our =
> Open
> Space-meeting. Great! DS
>
> =20
>
> _____ =20
>
> Fr=E5n: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] F=F6r Peggy =
> Holman
> Skickat: den 13 januari 2008 18:23
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> =C4mne: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> =20
>
> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions =
> over
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone =
> telling
> them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
> =20
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot =
> but
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that =
> he
> was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came =
> to
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it =
> out
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always =
> lets
> people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people =
> who
> have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what =
> Jon
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I =
> realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were =
> probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell. =20
>
> =20
>
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, =
> "It's
> 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to =
> do
> -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
>
> =20
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his =
> perspective.
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are =
> part
> of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care =
> what
> they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> description of what he does.
>
> =20
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
> =20
>
> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
> Peggy
>
> =20
>
> ________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA 98006
> (425) 746-6274=20
>
> =20
>
> www.opencirclecompany.com
>
> =20
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:=20
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook=20
>
> =20
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get =
> burnt,
> is to become=20
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
> * * =
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To =
> subscribe,
> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: =
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="iso-8859-1"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
> xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
> xmlns:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
> xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
>
>
> > charset=3Diso-8859-1">
>
>
>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
> name=3D"PostalCode"/>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
> name=3D"State"/>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
> name=3D"Street"/>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
> name=3D"City"/>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
> name=3D"place"/>
> > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
> name=3D"address"/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear friends in Open =
> Space
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m in the middle of a 3 day =
> OS
> training with 16 participants and we’ve discussed similair things =
> at
> times during this first day. Such as “does the facilitator have to =
> tell
> people that they may help themselves with coffee and tea” although =
> it is
> just in the face of them, or can he/she assume they grab whatever they =
> like?
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I think we have a lot to dis-learn =
> to get
> back in shape. Small kids would never ask before grabbing whatever they =
> like –
> until they are taught that it’s probably not OK if noone said so, =
> or that
> they have to ask first.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I see many situations in Open Space =
> of my
> life as well as in an OS-meeting when adults wait for permission instead =
> of
> acting or at least asking...and an important aspect of OST, to me, is to =
> allow
> people to learn to be responsible, in the process. After a while they =
> get it.
> But this can make the learning a bit rough in short =
> OS-meetings.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Anyway, I follow HO’s advice =
> and do
> my best to find another thing not to do. So I trust people do whatever =
> is best
> for them – may it be rough =
> learning...
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Warm =
> regards
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thomas =
> Herrmann
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>PS Today I had a nap, played pool =
> and
> walked in the snow – during our Open Space-meeting. Great! =
> DS
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>
>
>
>
>
> size=3D3
> face=3D"Times New Roman">
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>Fr=E5n:> t
> size=3D2 face=3DTahoma>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
> OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] > style=3D'font-weight:
> bold'>F=F6r Peggy Holman
> Skickat: den 13 januari =
> 2008 18:23
> Till:
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> =C4mne: Thoughts on a =
> Town Crier> lang=3DSV>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into =
> sessions
> over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this =
> way
> that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be =
> anyone
> telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own =
> rhythms
> and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually
> forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going =
> on.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He =
> uses OS
> a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this
> one. He told me that he was a little surprised =
> when the
> first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people =
> it was
> time to get started. He came to me when the first =
> round
> after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring =
> a bell
> and let people know? I basically told him that I never did =
> that.
> The participants were adults and could figure it out for =
> themselves. He
> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people =
> know.
> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have
> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what =
> Jon does
> - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I =
> realized
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were =
> probably
> enculturated to responding to a bell. =
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, =
> saying,
> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a
> minimalist thing to do -- providing information without =
> attachment to
> how people used it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the
> session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding =
> the
> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. =
> So, it
> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he =
> does.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only =
> one
> doing something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on =
> providing
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>from sunny (for a change) > w:st=3D"on">Seattle,
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Peggy
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th =
> Place
> Bellevue, =
> WA
> 98006
> (425) 746-6274
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>> href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> :p>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/=
> ChangeHandbook
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire =
> and not
> get burnt, is to become
> the fire".
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:06:03 -0500
> From: Harrison Owen
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="US-ASCII"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> Harold -- It is not about trusting the process for after all Open Space =
> has
> been "done" well over 100,000 times in 134 countries -- and it always =
> seems
> to work. It is really about trusting the people. And if the 150 =
> employees of
> your company are anything more than marginally competent, committed and
> brainy, there is not a question in my mind that they will come up with =
> the
> pertinent issues for the company. After all, they ARE the company. Not
> everybody will have the same issue (thank God), nor will everybody be
> interested in all the issues -- but take it from an old timer you can be
> totally certain that the right people will come up with the right issues =
> --
> the ones they care about. And of course, if there are no issues, you =
> will
> have a very short session.=20
>
> =20
>
> You may also need to think about another company :-)
>
> =20
>
> A suggestion: Do you Open Space as the last day - in which people are
> challenged to assess and synthesize what they have learned on the first =
> two
> days, and point the way forward. Doing OS on the first or second day =
> will
> create problems. As you know from your own experience, life in Open =
> Space
> will get pretty energetic, exciting and stimulating - after which =
> sitting at
> the feet of Talking Heads will not seem appealing.
>
> =20
>
> I am reminded of working with a group of Japanese engineers (software) =
> and
> the sponsor's concerns were totally similar to your own. Not only were =
> these
> engineers, but they were Japanese Engineers (whatever that was supposed =
> to
> mean). I told him that as long as the group fell generally within the
> genetic pool of Homo sapiens there should be no difficulty. There =
> wasn't.
>
> =20
>
> It's true. Even Engineers can do it!
>
> =20
>
> Have fun!!
>
> =20
>
> Harrison=20
>
> =20
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Drive
>
> Potomac, Maryland 20854
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> Skype hhowen
>
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com=20
>
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>
> Personal website www.ho-image.com=20
>
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the =
> archives
> Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> =20
>
> =20
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harold
> Shinsato
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:20 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software =
> developers
>
> =20
>
> Dear Owen,
>
> =20
>
> Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think =
> my
>
> issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some
>
> chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again =
> in a
>
> different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. =
> I've
>
> seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that =
> people
>
> will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have =
> to
>
> "do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or =
> topics
>
> like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some =
> engineering
>
> topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on =
> their
>
> prior experience, which is the "box".
>
> =20
>
> It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me =
> quiet
>
> it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no =
> one
>
> filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the =
> first
>
> tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50
>
> engineers in a single department but working on different projects?
>
> =20
>
> Harold
>
> =20
>
> *
>
> *
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> -----------------------------
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
>
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
>
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> =20
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
>
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0
> Content-Type: text/html;
> charset="US-ASCII"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
>
>
>
> > charset=3Dus-ascii">
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Harold -- It is not about trusting the process for after all =
> Open Space
> has been "done" well over 100,000 times in 134 countries -- =
> and it
> always seems to work. It is really about trusting the people. And if the =
> 150
> employees of your company are anything more than marginally competent,
> committed and brainy, there is not a question in my mind that they will =
> come up
> with the pertinent issues for the company. After all, they =
> ARE
> the company. Not everybody will have the same issue (thank God), nor =
> will
> everybody be interested in all the issues -- but take it from an old =
> timer you
> can be totally certain that the right people will come up with the right =
> issues
> -- the ones they care about. And of course, if there are no issues, you =
> will
> have a very short session.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>You may also need to think about another company =
> > face=3DWingdings>> style=3D'font-family:Wingdings'>J
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>A suggestion: Do you Open Space as the last day – in which =
> people
> are challenged to assess and synthesize what they have learned on the =
> first two
> days, and point the way forward. Doing OS on the first or second day =
> will create
> problems. As you know from your own experience, life in Open Space will =
> get
> pretty energetic, exciting and stimulating – after which sitting =
> at the
> feet of Talking Heads will not seem appealing.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>I am reminded of working with a group of Japanese engineers =
> (software)
> and the sponsor’s concerns were totally similar to your own. Not =
> only
> were these engineers, but they were Japanese Engineers (whatever that =
> was
> supposed to mean). I told him that as long as the group fell generally =
> within
> the genetic pool of Homo sapiens there should be no difficulty. There =
> wasn’t.
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>It’s true. Even Engineers can do it!
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Have fun!!
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Harrison
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Harrison Owen
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>7808 River Falls Drive
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Potomac, Maryland 20854
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Phone 301-365-2093
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Skype hhowen
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Personal website www.ho-image.com
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your =
> options,
> view the archives Visit: =
> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>-----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harold
> Shinsato
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:20 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software
> developers
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Dear Owen,
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from =
> you. I
> think my
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the =
> book
> (some
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to =
> hear it
> again in a
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate =
> the
> encouragement. I've
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust =
> that
> people
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep =
> thinking I
> have to
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>"do" something to make it work, to allow people to =
> bring
> questions or topics
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not =
> just
> some engineering
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based =
> on
> their
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>prior experience, which is the =
> "box".
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to =
> help me
> quiet
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space =
> and
> then no one
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in =
> the
> first
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation =
> for
> 30-50
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>engineers in a single department but working on different =
> projects?
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'> Harold
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>*
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>*
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>------------------------------
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your =
> options,
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>view the archives of =
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html=
>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST =
> FAQs:
>
>
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:08:31 +0100
> From: Koos de Heer
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> --=====================_8871446==.ALT
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> Dear Peggy, dear Tova, Tree and all the others who have shared their
> wisdom about time keeping:
>
> This time keeping thing is a frequent topic over here. In an OS
> meeting, it often happens that someone comes up to me and tells me it
> is time to tell the time. People in the Netherlands are very fond two
> things: keeping time and reminding others of their responsibilities
> ;-). So I often get this friendly reminder from a participant that it
> is time for me to tell the time. I never do. If the person looks
> really worried, I explain that this is one of the core principles of
> Open Space: people manage their own agenda. I remind them that I have
> said in my opening "when it is over it is over" and that also means
> that "when it is not over, it is not over." They always remember me
> saying that. I then ask them: "How can we know if it is over or not?"
> They have to agree that we can't. So then we usually agree not to
> tell the time. On other occasions, when they look not so worried, I
> just smile at them. Often they will then say: "Or do people have to
> see for themselves?" I nod, still smiling.They then usually laugh
> about this new discovery and happily go about their business.
>
> Just my 2 cents
>
> Love
>
> Koos
>
>
> At 19:54 14-1-2008, Tree Fitzpatrick wrote:
> >Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I
> >pause to remind all who might be reading that when I share my
> >opinion, I am not putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I
> >have commented on this list (and others) people seem to hear me
> >putting down others' ideas when I am simply saying "I think
> >this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this morning so I offer this caution.
> >
> >It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you
> >today. Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it
> >works best when we trust ever more deeply within our own selves
> >without regard to others timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met
> >in person on Friday and we did not discuss open space time but it
> >was alive in my etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me because it was
> >alive in you because of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps open
> >space time was alive last week and we both tuned in.
> >
> >The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the
> >very heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things
> >unfold exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do.
> >
> >Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I
> >thought of you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several
> >multi-day OS events and several times I have been grateful to hear
> >you softly remind the design team 'we are in open space time'. It
> >is my recollection that you have said this when the design team was
> >feeling a time crunch, fretting that we couldn't get in all that we
> >had to get in and then you would say 'we are in open space time' and
> >an ease would settle upon us.
> >
> >We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As
> >an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in
> >her response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds
> >the space is really the work of facilitation. We are not
> >timekeepers or town criers. If a facilitator does remind
> >participants of session times, this will be just fine because in
> >open space, there is no right or wrong but I think announcing times
> >is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of open space
> >facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much more
> >important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the
> >opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is
> >always about much more than the stated goals in the event's
> >invitation. Yes, when we are accountable to a client who has hired
> >us because they wish to achieve goals, sometimes we will calibrate
> >our choices to give the cilent satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I
> >think of open space facilitators as cultural capacity shamans. The
> >human race urgently needs to learn how to trust that all is well and
> >to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya for the human
> >race to develop these skills is to spend time in openly-acknowledged
> >open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all' they get out
> >of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click that
> >said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is
> >an amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution
> >unfolding. If someone calls the time, we are depriving participants
> >from knowing for their own self what time it is, where they should
> >be, what they should be doing. What an awesome gift to give someone.
> >I will never forget the first moment I got that click when I was in
> >an OS event and I perceived within myself that I was in the wrong
> >room and hey I could follow that inkling until I stood in the place
> >just right. That is os facilitation, if you ask me.
> >
> >I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with
> >workplace goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour
> >open space. . . but for me, having each participant in an os event
> >begin to better discern their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point.
> >
> >Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget
> >Sound and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the
> >computer screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss
> >my warm, sunny home in California and I have another week of
> >Northwest winter ahead of me. There is a reason I am very cold this
> >week. I am sitting here waiting for that reason to be revealed to
> >me. My fingers are like ice. I write to keep warm.
> >
> >On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch
> ><averbuch at post.tau.ac.il> wrote:
> >for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it
> >right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very
> >glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my
> >daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring
> >the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a
> >lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a
> >puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a
> >constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that
> >as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf
> >fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from
> >coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of
> >styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer
> >than the actual personal wording
> >these are my two cents of the day
> > a happy new year to all, though with some delay
> >Tova Averbuch
> >Holon, Israel
> >
> >Quoting TYASTO <tyasto at sapa.nsk.su>:
> >
> > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
> > >
> > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the
> > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different
> > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian
> > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as
> > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3
> > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item:
> > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the
> > circle), 2
> > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time for
> > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it
> > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our
> > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very
> > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have
> > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work.
> > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are
> > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they
> > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it
> > ( in this
> > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be
> > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always
> > everywhere, some
> > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the
> > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them
> > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But then
> > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see
> > if they do
> > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit later
> > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have
> > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the
> > second sessions
> > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the lead
> > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it
> > at all. I do
> > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but
> > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree
> > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to
> > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into one
> > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is
> > high, they have
> > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports.
> > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2
> > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the
> > best in our
> > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time
> > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them
> > short written
> > > instructions.
> > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time -
> > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes
> > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask
> > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the
> > principle "When
> > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion.
> > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course
> > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see
> > the results
> > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they
> > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes.
> > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and
> > > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom",
> > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers.
> > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably
> > do it in a
> > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more
> > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That
> > is why I try
> > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The
> > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we all
> > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and
> > closing. If
> > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people
> > to say one
> > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have
> > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through
> > these short
> > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a workshop
> > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more
> > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to
> > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells
> > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move it.
> > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
> > >
> > > Marina Tyasto
> > > tyasto at sapa.nsk.su
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto: marco at mail.nsk.ru]
> > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
> > > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear Peggy,
> > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as
> > they care,
> > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed
> > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just
> > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them a
> > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to 'spread'
> > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm
> > affraid, may
> > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just no
> > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that it
> > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you
> > > say...
> > >
> > > thank you for the question
> > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :)
> > >
> > > elena marchuk
> > > novosibirsk
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Peggy Holman
> > > To:
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.ED
> > U
> > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
> > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> > >
> > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into
> > sessions over
> > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I
> > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling
> > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and
> > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget.
> > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
> > >
> > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses
> > OS a lot but
> > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he
> > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was
> > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to
> > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me
> > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him
> > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could
> > figure it out
> > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets
> > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who
> > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next
> > session. I realized
> > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably
> > > enculturated to responding to a bell.
> > >
> > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's
> > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do
> > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it.
> > >
> > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective.
> > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part
> > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his
> > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He
> > doesn't care what
> > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good
> > > description of what he does.
> > >
> > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> > > information that marks the passage of time.
> > >
> > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
> > > Peggy
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > Peggy Holman
> > > The Open Circle Company
> > > 15347 SE 49th Place
> > > Bellevue, WA 98006
> > > (425) 746-6274
> > >
> > > www.opencirclecompany.com
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> > >
> >
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> > >
> > >
> > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not
> > get burnt,
> > > is to become
> > > the fire".
> > > -- Drew Dellinger
> > > * * ==========================================================
> > >
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.ED
> > U ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> > > oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> > > * * ==========================================================
> > >
> > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.ED
> > U ------------------------------ To subscribe,
> > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> > > oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
> > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> > >
> > > *
> > > *
> > > ==========================================================
> > > OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > ------------------------------
> > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> > > view the archives of
> > oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu :
> > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > >
> > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > >
> >
> >*
> >*
> >==========================================================
> >OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >------------------------------
> >To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> >view the archives of
> >oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >
> >To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Love rays,
> >Tree Fitzpatrick
> >
> >http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/
> >
> >. . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with
> >Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able to give any
> >particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable
> >affirmation. -- Hannah Arendt
> >
> >1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35
> >Mountain View, California 94043
> >(650) 967-9260 * *
> >==========================================================
> >OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> >subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> >oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
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>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
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> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
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>
> --=====================_8871446==.ALT
> Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
>
>
> Dear Peggy, dear Tova, Tree and all the others who have shared their
> wisdom about time keeping:
> This time keeping thing is a frequent topic over here. In an OS meeting,
> it often happens that someone comes up to me and tells me it is time to
> tell the time. People in the Netherlands are very fond two things:
> keeping time and reminding others of their responsibilities ;-). So I
> often get this friendly reminder from a participant that it is time for
> me to tell the time. I never do. If the person looks really worried, I
> explain that this is one of the core principles of Open Space: people
> manage their own agenda. I remind them that I have said in my opening
> "when it is over it is over" and that also means that
> "when it is not over, it is not over." They always remember me
> saying that. I then ask them: "How can we know if it is over or
> not?" They have to agree that we can't. So then we usually agree not
> to tell the time. On other occasions, when they look not so worried, I
> just smile at them. Often they will then say: "Or do people have to
> see for themselves?" I nod, still smiling.They then usually laugh
> about this new discovery and happily go about their business.
> Just my 2 cents
> Love
> Koos
>
> At 19:54 14-1-2008, Tree Fitzpatrick wrote:
>
Greetings to all. Before I
> respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I pause to remind all who might be
> reading that when I share my opinion, I am not putting down others'
> comments. Sometimes when I have commented on this list (and others)
> people seem to hear me putting down others' ideas when I am simply saying
> "I think this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this
> morning so I offer this caution.
> It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today.
> Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it works best
> when we trust ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to
> others timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on
> Friday and we did not discuss open space time but it was alive in my
> etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me because it was alive in you because
> of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps open space time was alive last
> week and we both tuned in.
>
> The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the very
> heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfold
> exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do.
> Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought of
> you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS
> events and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind
> the design team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollection
> that you have said this when the design team was feeling a time crunch,
> fretting that we couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you
> would say 'we are in open space time' and an ease would settle upon us.
>
> We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As
> an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her
> response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the
> space is really the work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or
> town criers. If a facilitator does remind participants of session
> times, this will be just fine because in open space, there is no right or
> wrong but I think announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me,
> the work of open space facilitation is much deeper than any particular
> event and much more important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving
> a group the opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared
> intention is always about much more than the stated goals in the event's
> invitation. Yes, when we are accountable to a client who has hired us
> because they wish to achieve goals, sometimes we will calibrate our
> choices to give the cilent satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I think
> of open space facilitators as cultural capacity shamans. The human
> race urgently needs to learn how to trust that all is well and to trust
> our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya for the human race to
> develop these skills is to spend time in openly-acknowledged open
> space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all' they get out of
> the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click that said to
> them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is an amazing
> thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfolding. If
> someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from knowing for
> their own self what time it is, where they should be, what they should be
> doing. What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the
> first moment I got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived
> within myself that I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that
> inkling until I stood in the place just right. That is os facilitation,
> if you ask me.
> I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workplace
> goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . .
> but for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better
> discern their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point.
> Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget Sound
> and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer
> screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm,
> sunny home in California and I have another week of Northwest winter
> ahead of me. There is a reason I am very cold this week. I am
> sitting here waiting for that reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are
> like ice. I write to keep warm.
> On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch
> <averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
> > wrote:
>
>
>
for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to
> do it
>
>
right". I started by being very puritan"by the book"
> and I am very
>
>
glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my
>
>
>
daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to
> bring
>
>
the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite
> a
>
>
lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be
> a
>
>
puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was
> also a
>
>
constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I
> believe that
>
>
as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right
> track.Beinf
>
>
fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from
>
>
>
coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number
> of
>
>
styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we
> ofer
>
>
than the actual personal wording
>
>
these are my two cents of the day
>
>
a happy new year to all, though with some delay
>
>
Tova Averbuch
>
>
Holon, Israel
>
>
Quoting TYASTO
> <tyasto at sapa.nsk.su>:
>
>
>
> Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others!
>
>
>
>
>
> I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part
> of the
>
>
> world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to
> different
>
>
> categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the
> Siberian
>
>
> Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their
> program as
>
>
> Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come
> to us for 3
>
>
> and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each
> item:
>
>
> Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into
> the circle), 2
>
>
> sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have
> some time for
>
>
> reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As
> I call it
>
>
> Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great
> majority of our
>
>
> participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we
> have a very
>
>
> short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to
> have
>
>
> conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve
> their work.
>
>
> In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while
> they are
>
>
> sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them
> what they
>
>
> can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like
> it ( in this
>
>
> case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all
> will be
>
>
> butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always
> everywhere, some
>
>
> people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people
> at the
>
>
> Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I
> wish them
>
>
> all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go
> out. But then
>
>
> I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to
> see if they do
>
>
> it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes
> little bit later
>
>
> than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and
> they have
>
>
> such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the
> second sessions
>
>
> are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to
> take the lead
>
>
> and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it
> at all. I do
>
>
> the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the
> second session, but
>
>
> it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or
> not. I agree
>
>
> with Elena that when we have such short time we have to
> encourage them to
>
>
> take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come
> all into one
>
>
> big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is
> high, they have
>
>
> great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the
> reports.
>
>
> I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they
> want during this 2
>
>
> or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the
> best in our
>
>
> 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course.
> Each time
>
>
> somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I
> give them short written
>
>
> instructions.
>
>
> What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it
> every time -
>
>
> have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a
> 3 minutes
>
>
> sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have
> chance to ask
>
>
> questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the
> principle "When
>
>
> it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs
> additional discussion.
>
>
> Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2
> weeks course
>
>
> this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see
> the results
>
>
> of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say
> that they
>
>
> learnt more from each other than from all their other classes.
>
>
>
> You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type
> them and
>
>
> give them back to take home with them as tangible
> "Collective wisdom",
>
>
> because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to
> computers.
>
>
> So, you see, we really do some more things than you and
> probably do it in a
>
>
> different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is
> more
>
>
> powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That
> is why I try
>
>
> to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible
> group. The
>
>
> shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers,
> where we all
>
>
> worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and
> closing. If
>
>
> i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask
> people to say one
>
>
> word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that
> we have
>
>
> homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through
> these short
>
>
> OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard
> about a workshop
>
>
> which is must to participate". We help people to feel
> happier, more
>
>
> self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the
> bell helps us to
>
>
> do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people
> tibetian bells
>
>
> work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come
> and move it.
>
>
> With warm greetings from cold Siberia,
>
>
>
>
>
> Marina Tyasto
>
>
> tyasto at sapa.nsk.su
> <
> mailto:tyasto at sapa.nsk.su>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
>
> From: Elena Marchuk
> [mailto:
> marco at mail.nsk.ru]
>
>
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM
>
>
> To:
>
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
>
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Peggy,
>
>
> I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work
> as they care,
>
>
> but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several
> time I missed
>
>
> the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people
> are just
>
>
> seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to
> give them a
>
>
> 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time
> to 'spread'
>
>
> time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm
> affraid, may
>
>
> be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would
> have just no
>
>
> time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in
> opening, that it
>
>
> is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier,
> as you
>
>
> say...
>
>
>
>
>
> thank you for the question
>
>
> warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun
> shining :)
>
>
>
>
>
> elena marchuk
>
>
> novosibirsk
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> From: Peggy Holman
> <
> mailto:peggy at opencirclecompany.com>
>
>
> To:
>
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> <
> mailto: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
>
>
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM
>
>
> Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
>
>
>
> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into
> sessions over
>
>
> the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend
> this way that I
>
>
> always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be
> anyone telling
>
>
> them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own
> rhythms and
>
>
> interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I
> usually forget.
>
>
> Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on.
>
>
>
>
>
> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He
> uses OS a lot but
>
>
> wanted to be able to really participate in this one.
> He told me that he
>
>
> was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions
> was
>
>
> starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get
> started. He came to
>
>
> me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and
> asked me
>
>
> wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I
> basically told him
>
>
> that I never did that. The participants were adults and
> could figure it out
>
>
> for themselves. He was floored and a little upset.
> He said he always lets
>
>
> people know. And then it dawned on me: there are
> more and more people who
>
>
> have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners
> doing what Jon
>
>
> does - telling people when it is time to start the next
> session. I realized
>
>
> that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they
> were probably
>
>
> enculturated to responding to a bell.
>
>
>
>
>
> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell,
> saying, "It's
>
>
> 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a
> minimalist thing to do
>
>
> -- providing information without attachment to how people used
> it.
>
>
>
>
>
> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> perspective.
>
>
> He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start
> times, are part
>
>
> of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of
> his
>
>
> contract with the group, to give them the information. He
> doesn't care what
>
>
> they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town
> Crier is a good
>
>
> description of what he does.
>
>
>
>
>
> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one
> doing
>
>
> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on
> providing
>
>
> information that marks the passage of time.
>
>
>
>
>
> from sunny (for a change) Seattle,
>
>
> Peggy
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> Peggy Holman
>
>
> The Open Circle Company
>
>
> 15347 SE 49th Place
>
>
> Bellevue, WA 98006
>
>
> (425) 746-6274
>
>
>
>
>
>
> www.opencirclecompany.com
> <
> http://www.opencirclecompany.com>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
>
>
>
>
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
>
>
>
> <> ">
> http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook>
>
>
>
>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire
> and not get burnt,
>
>
> is to become
>
>
> the fire".
>
>
> -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
> * *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
>
>
>
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> subscribe,
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> * * =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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> subscribe,
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> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
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> *
>
>
> *
>
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
>
>
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> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
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>
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>
>
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>
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
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>
> --
> Love rays,
> Tree Fitzpatrick
>
> http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/
> . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with
> Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able to give any
> particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation.
> -- Hannah Arendt
> 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35
> Mountain View, California 94043
> (650) 967-9260 * *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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> *
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> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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>
> --=====================_8871446==.ALT--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:13:00 +0100
> From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Lise_Damkj=E6r?=
> Subject: SV: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Hallo Harold,
>
> As an engineer and open space-freak I have to answer your beautiful
> challenge! I do understand your questions, but calm down, I'm sure the
> engineers will surprise you (and probably themselves aswell)!
> The theme should at least engage yourself - and be a question, that you and
> your colleagues don't know how to answer, but really want to know it! Don't
> be afraid of making the question too difficult - in open space no question
> is too difficult.
> Maybe you should expand your own thinking of engineers - don't you recognize
> them as ambitious, deeply involved in their own stuff, resultoriented as
> well as "reserved" - My guess is that you can give them a theme building
> upon the believe that they are deeply concerned about something, concerned
> enough to speak and suggest sessions - and hold your own suggestions until
> at least 15 other suggestions are raised...
>
> I'm sure open space will work and you will do a good job!
>
> Lise
> Copenhagen, Denmark
>
> -----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
> Fra: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] På vegne af Harold
> Shinsato
> Sendt: 14. januar 2008 17:26
> Til: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Emne: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Open Spacetronauts,
>
> This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San
> Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up
> that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the process
> of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of how
> to manage things during the event.
>
> Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of
> about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several
> locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally
> organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share
> information about the industry and our own work. We would submit
> suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the
> sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads.
>
> Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company,
> which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been
> "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization.
> I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering
> Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations
> about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger
> company.
>
> My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an
> invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are often
> fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to
> suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can I
> get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possible
> I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk
> about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and driving
> the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the agenda
> building session itself, even if I'm not in management.
>
> Thanks so much for any help.
>
> Happy 2008!
> Harold
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> *
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:14:57 +0100
> From: Koos de Heer
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Harold,
>
> I can resonate with your agony. I have held a few Open Space
> conferences for IT people (up to 200) and I have had the same
> worries. But believe me, even the toughest nerds are able to function
> fine in Open Space. Be prepared to sit on your hands for a number of
> seconds. They may be slow to begin, but they will come. Those few
> seconds after you have opened the floor will last an eternity, but it
> is worth the wait! Please don't do anything to make it easy for them
> - you will ruin the feeling of accomplishment. Just keep breathing.
>
> Koos
>
>
> At 19:20 14-1-2008, Harold Shinsato wrote:
> >Dear Owen,
> >
> >Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think my
> >issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some
> >chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again in a
> >different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. I've
> >seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that people
> >will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have to
> >"do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or topics
> >like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some engineering
> >topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on their
> >prior experience, which is the "box".
> >
> >It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me quiet
> >it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no one
> >filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the first
> >tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50
> >engineers in a single department but working on different projects?
> >
> > Harold
> >
> >*
> >*
> >==========================================================
> >OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >------------------------------
> >To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> >view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >
> >To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:35:16 +0200
> From: Arno Baltin
> Subject: open space-time
>
> Hi everyone!
>
> This discussion of different time schedules in OS is most intriguing. It
> is so often that client wants to get everything and more in shortest
> time period. And this is probably where the need to hurry up comes from.
> Could we just introduce different types of OS - fast, normal and slow OS
> and let the client choose one of them, letting them know that they are
> quite different. It is so seducing to " give somebody the taste of OS",
> to do it fast. And may most wonderful experience as participant was OS
> with three participants for 2,5 days. This was real slow one (in the
> sense of "time is honey").
>
> with very best regards,
>
> Arno Baltin
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> -----------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:36:41 +0600
> From: Elena Marchuk
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
> Hi Michael,
> thank you for the letter and especially for the reminding me about adhesive
> tape rolled together .... which I saw, when Marina used it, but ususlly did
> not use myself. My thoughts went only to magnets as a possible way out (need
> to work more on my brains - to train them :)
>
> and thank you for the picture, I like it. and arrow ... and especially I
> like a new item in the agenda - pause, which is from 8:30 to 9:00. I will
> never dream of such an item in an agenda! Do you mean coffee-break by that?
>
> it is also interesting, how different people organize their 'seeing
> materials'
> I really enjoyed that!
>
> thank you very much
> warm hugs from cold Siberia
> Elena
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael M Pannwitz"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 12:51 PM
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
>
>
> > Dear Elena,
> > oh, this arrow is very hightech, of course.
> > It is made of 160g red heavy paper, cut with a scissor.
> > It is attached to the schedule either with a pin in case the surface
> > permits that or with a short piece of adhesive tape rolled together and
> > stuck to the backside (a chewing gum might do the trick, too)...the point
> > is, it needs to be movable.
> > Constructing this time arrow is one of the tasks in setting up an open
> > space as described in the set of task cards...usually team members get
> > into a fight over who gets to do that task. The word "now" (in German
> > "jetzt", which by the way is a wonderful old word containing both the
> > roots for "now" and "eternity", a real open space word)is written on both
> > sides of the arrow so that the arrow can point either to the right or to
> > the left. As I said, hi tech.
> > In the following link you see the time arrow being used in a
> > German/Russian open space with both languages shown on the time arrow
> >> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100
> >
> > Have fun
> > mmp
> >
> > Elena Marchuk wrote:
> >> Hi Michael, thank you for the idea,
> >> I love it and will think, how to do it on my time/place schedule
> >> and wonder, what do you mean by cardboard arrow?
> >> is it magnetic?
> >> as usually I have just space near the blackboard, which I use to be free
> >> for posters, and it is just for one flip-chart paper and no space for a
> >> sort of one-arrow watch, which I thought first of... so it could be an
> >> arrow just over the words : session1, session 2 - which would need a big
> >> arrow....sorry, and happy, I have fun with thinking about this
> >> take care
> >> and best wishes in a Happy New Year, today in Russia is an OLD (ortodox)
> >> Happy New Year, so we have 2 of them and very happy to celibrate
> >> everything twice (our Christas was on January, 7:)
> >> elena marchuk
> >> novosibirsk
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael M Pannwitz"
> >>
> >> To:
> >> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:14 AM
> >> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier
> >>
> >>
> >>> Dear Peggy,
> >>> I have never seen anybody in these parts do what Jon does.
> >>> That might have different reasons such as the many training events and
> >>> local OSonOS people have participated in...
> >>> What is done here a lot and I always do it, is to have a detailed
> >>> schedule posted on a large flipchart complete with a time arrow (a
> >>> little red cardboard arrow with the word "now" written on it). When
> >>> introducing the schedule to the group I also point out the function of
> >>> the arrow...me or another team member and often participants themselves
> >>> move the arrow as the event progresses. My line is: In case you lose
> >>> track of time or wonder what is next just walk up to the schedule and
> >>> have a look at the arrow.
> >>> Of course, sometimes people come up to me and ask about beginning times,
> >>> my response is to just point to the schedule...I would hate to add a
> >>> town crier to my repertoire seems it would be one more thing to do and
> >>> one chance for selforganisation and selfmanagement taken away.
> >>> Here is a few links to show examples of schedules with the time arrow
> >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/102
> >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/99
> >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100
> >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/101
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Have a great day in Seattle!
> >>> Greetings from Berlin
> >>> mmp
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Peggy Holman wrote:
> >>>> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into
> >>>> sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a
> >>>> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that
> >>>> there won't be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to
> >>>> them to follow their own rhythms and interests. I haven't quite
> >>>> internalized this yet, so I usually forget. Anyway, I think I may
> >>>> have figured out what is going on.
> >>>>
> >>>> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a
> >>>> lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He
> >>>> told me that he was a little surprised when the first round of
> >>>> breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people it was time
> >>>> to get started. He came to me when the first round after lunch were
> >>>> scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring a bell and let
> >>>> people know? I basically told him that I never did that. The
> >>>> participants were adults and could figure it out for themselves. He
> >>>> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people know.
> >>>> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have
> >>>> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon
> >>>> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I
> >>>> realized that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation,
> >>>> they were probably enculturated to responding to a bell.
> >>>>
> >>>> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying,
> >>>> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist
> >>>> thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how people
> >>>> used it.
> >>>>
> >>>> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his
> >>>> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the session
> >>>> start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the
> >>>> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the
> >>>> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So, it
> >>>> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does.
> >>>>
> >>>> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing
> >>>> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing
> >>>> information that marks the passage of time.
> >>>>
> >>>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle, Peggy
> >>>>
> >>>> ________________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle Company
> >>>> 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 (425) 746-6274
> >>>>
> >>>> www.opencirclecompany.com
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> >>>> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
> >>>>
> >>>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> >>>> burnt, is to become the fire". -- Drew Dellinger
> >>>>
> >>>> * * ==========================================================
> >>>> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
> >>>> subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> >>>> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >>>> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >>>>
> >>>> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >>>> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist--
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
> >>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
> >>> ++49-30-772 8000
> >>> www.boscop.org www.michaelmpannwitz.de
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 472 resident Open
> >>> Space Workers in 76 countries (working in a total of 132 countries
> >>> worldwide)
> >>> www.openspaceworldmap.org
> >>>
> >>> *
> >>> *
> >>> ==========================================================
> >>> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >>> ------------------------------
> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> >>> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> >>> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> >>>
> >>> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> >>> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> >>
> >> *
> >> *
> >> ==========================================================
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> >>
> >
> > *
> > *
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> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:38:58 -0700
> From: Harold Shinsato
> Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers
>
> Dear Owen,
>
> Thanks for making me laugh with some of your insights, especially about
> perhaps looking around for another company if the session is short. Bein=
> g
> genetically half-Japanese, I'm a little familiar with the Japanese-Engine=
> er
> effect. It has something to do with politeness and respect for authority=
> .=20
> I'm really American but the genes do have their say. A native American a=
> t
> our San Francisco Open Space facilitation training mentioned how "Respect=
>
> for Elders" can often cause the Youngers to go silent. Some extra
> facilitator work was needed but I think that was outside the context of O=
> pen
> Space. In any case, I appreciate the guidance to trust my colleagues. T=
> hey
> really are smart, and not that shy. Sometimes I do wonder if they really=
>
> trust that if they bring real issues whether it will make a difference to=
>
> the managers who make the decisions, and whether it would be safe to stan=
> d
> up. There is the famous Japanese proverb that "The nail that sticks out
> will be hammered down." But clearly Open Space has worked in Japan and
> other similar cultures, so it can work in my group.
>
> When I asked for permission to bring Open Space to our conference, I aske=
> d
> for the whole event but suggested if that other conferences put an Open
> Space at the end - so that's what we did. I really look forward to the
> after buzz. My hope is that next time they won't settle for just one day=
> of
> Open Space.
>
> And Koos, thanks for the encouragement to breathe and sit on my hands if
> necessary!
>
> Thanks,
> Harold
>
> =20=20=20=20=20
>
>
> *
> *
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3
> D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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> End of OSLIST Digest - 13 Jan 2008 to 14 Jan 2008 (#2008-10)
> ************************************************************
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