I did it - My First OS

[Cliodhna Mulhern]

Great news Bui...it's a very good feeling, isn't it...makes you want  
to do more...and more...enjoy the adventure, Cliodhna

On 28 Apr 2009, at 14:25, Bui Petersen wrote:

> I did it.
>
> I facilitated my first Open Space on Saturday. As expected, it was  
> small (only 7 people including myself). We only had 3 hours for  
> discussions and action planning. Thanks to the great suggestions on  
> this forum, I created the following schedule:
>
> 9-9:30 Opening (agenda creation)
> 9:30-10:10 Session I
> 10:10-10:50 Session II
> 10:50-11:30 Session III
> 11:30-12:00 Opening for Action
>
> I did as brief an introduction as I could while still covering all  
> the points. 11 topics were posted. Several were combined. It was  
> interesting that the most central topic happened to be posted first  
> and that everyone joined that discussion. I think that probably  
> everyone needed to part of that discussion. This session also went  
> way over time compromising the time left for other topics. However,  
> I don't think this was a problem because the other topics didn't  
> need as much discussion once the first one had been thoroughly dealt  
> with. I kept reminding myself of, "Whatever happens is the only  
> thing that could have."
>
> As I am an integral member of the group, it was interesting staying  
> out of the discussion. I had told the group that I for the most part  
> would play a butterfly role. Someone suggested that I participate  
> more actively but I don't think there was any need since everything  
> I thought of saying, was said by someone else.
>
> When it came to the Action Planning, things did not work quite that  
> well. I think there was to little time for reopening the space and  
> people generally got confused about what to do. It would have been  
> better if there had been a substantial break before that. When I  
> noticed the confusion setting in, I decided to facilitate more  
> actively by helping to identifying action items and people  
> responsible for them (actually all I did was write on a flip chart  
> what people were saying). If there had been more time, someone else  
> might had figured out to do this.
>
> Overall it was a great experience. Not all the topics were  
> "officially" discussed but they were touched on enough for everyone  
> to be happy.
>
> Being my first time facilitating OST, I was surprised by the the  
> amount of preparation needed with signs, schedule etc. For such a  
> small group and only 3 hours, it seemed to be overkill. I think I  
> will simplify it next time. Ideally we should be able to open space  
> every time we meet, without having to be so regimented about it.
>
> Thanks you all for your wonderful suggestions and support.
>
> Bui
>
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Cliodhna Mulhern
flowstone
Mobile : 07929328513
Phone : 01244.312758
Email : cliodhna at flowstone.org.uk
Skype : cliodhnamulhern

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