Less

[Diane Gibeault]

Hi Ralph,

 

It’s pretty inspiring to see you letting go of one more thing as you are
writing about doing less. I want to say more about doing less and
experimenting before sharing later another personal example of letting go
that is fresh from this week. 

 

The basics of Open Space are solid and simple and it’s those qualities that
make it so very powerful. I do believe that the less it’s tinkered with, the
better the results are. Is this being too rigid? 

 

Last week when sharing a story about my letting go of an add-on practice in
OS, I picked up the term ‘OpenSpacism’ from a previous List conversation
around evolution on the understanding of the OS basics and their
application. In my mind, at that time –too late at night for my own good –
the ‘ism’ word was not a criticism but a challenge, an invitation to allow
people to experiment a bit so they can get to a place of deeper learning
about the basic guiding principles and practices of OS.  

 

In that spirit, I pressed ‘Send’ but the next day, I realized that I would
have preferred a title like ‘Experimenting to understand OS’ rather than
‘Open spacism’ that could be taken as a criticism of those who believe in
preserving the strength of the OS basics by generally keeping them clear of
modifications.

 

We all need to experiment and that’s a good learning practice. When we
discover for ourselves (Ralph you describe that as working ourselves out of
chaos), we integrate better, we understand in a deeper way the subtleties of
the applications and we are more effective in communicating possibilities.
It’s important nevertheless to maintain critical thinking around
modifications or additions made to the OS method.

 

Add-ons activities usually come from client demands. I work very hard in
those situations at verifying whose needs are met by this, at understanding
why that need exists, at searching with the client for alternatives to meet
their needs without reducing the space, and at explaining how Open Space can
bring the organization to best meet its goal and usually surpass
expectations if given the appropriate space. 

 

Add-ons, process types, may come from facilitators wanting to have a more
active role, the way it used to be or from facilitators who like to play and
create new designs. Experiencing more than once, the basic Open Space as a
participant truly interested in a theme may help facilitators better
understand the strength of the OST process and reduce the temptation to
add-on to it. 

 

Examples where a different type of intervention surrounding OS is important
do exist but in my view, they are more in the category of exceptions. One
that comes to mind is a story told by Harrison or someone else during my OST
training. It was about holding separate interviews with natural leaders of
strongly opposing clans to help them name what they and their group needed
to feel safe for an open space with both factions. Another more recent
approach that could be offered in such a context is the pair-interviews
before opening space (the 1st step of Appreciative Inquiry – an approach
that is based on values similar to those underlying Open Space). 

 

Flexibility in linking OS to other activities and processes can allow the
opening of “some amount of space”. I do ask myself the hard question: “by
accepting to open a smaller space, am I preventing people, the client and
the organization from going deeper at another opportunity?”  On the other
hand, sometimes a little space may give a taste for more, we hope. I still
try to keep add-ons and adjustments’ as a solution of last resort or as
separate activities at different times. 

 

Why adjustments are a solution of last resort for me? My first
responsibility as an OST facilitator in my view is protecting the maximum
time-space for participants to self-organize and reflect about what matters
most to them. Time and free choice is what they generally say they liked and
benefitted the most from in OS events and when OS is tinkered with, the loss
of ‘their’ time is usually what they criticize most strongly. The greater
the space, the deeper is the experience and the stronger the learning and
consequently, the results. 

 

For over 25 years I experienced many approaches including OST which I have
used over and over again in the last 13 years. My observation throughout
those years is that by itself, with no add-ons, generally OS gives people
the highest level of satisfaction and allows them to experience a really
different and usually better way of being, of doing and of reaching their
objectives. 

 

The true empowerment and the quality of relationships that emerge with
self-organization – the basis of Open Space – seem like very potent seeds
for ongoing transformation at some level if not at all levels of an
organization as well as on the personal level. 

 

No wonder that opening space has become a way of being and doing, of choice
for me. Thank you again Harrison for that beautiful gift that keeps on
giving.

 

Diane

 

 

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph
Copleman
Sent: 8 décembre 2009 08:38
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: [OSLIST] Less

 

A long time ago, I learned from reading an article by Malcolm Knowles that
adults learn best when they have the opportunity to work themselves out of
chaos.  Then the work they do and the lesson they learn feel more "owned" to
them.  This makes sense to me, so I never use a grid.  I divide the wall by
days and also by morning and afternoon.  Perhaps in the name of doing one
less thing I shall drop the latter.

 

My instinct to think up ways to be helpful is waning.  I no longer consider
it impolite, unwelcoming, unloving, or hard-edged of me to do less for
people in OS events.

 

One of my favorite occurrences in OS is watching what happens when someone
arrives late.  They rarely come to me to ask what to do because they were
not present to see me do the opening and thus have no idea who I am.  So
they go to someone they know.  Ever see this happen?  Watch.  The
conversation is always very brief, then the newcomer nods, and everybody
goes about their business.

 

I keep imagining that some day I'll be able to do the whole opening with no
words and just a few hand signals.

 

Ralph Copleman

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