First Open Space facilitation

[Spark]

Thanks for your sharing Lesley,

The full account of your OS experience has been taking me to revisit my
practice of Open Space.

 
Best Wishes for your OS journey, :-)

S

Spark (Stanley Park)
Open Space Institute of Korea, 
Open Quest Squad
3rd Fl., Samkyung Bldg., 372-10, Seokyo-dong, 
Mapo-gu, 121-210, Seoul, Korea
spark at openspace.kr
Phone: 82-2-353-6356
Mobile: 82-10-7247-0636
www.OPENSPACE.kr
LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Harrison- http://www.openspaceworld.com/index.htm
OS World in USA- http://www.openspaceworld.org/
High Play, High Learning, High Performance'

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lesley
Symons
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 1:18 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: [OSLIST] First Open Space facilitation

I have sat struggling with why I have been resistant to posting the
experience of my first facilitation of an OS event. Still not sure.... I
worked with a colleague, who's client this is, Anyway....the story I am
based in Sydney Australia and facilitated this workshop in Amsterdam,
Holland. The client was a corporate company with offices in Holland,
Australia, USA and UK. The meeting was a strategic meeting with
representatives from all offices. Approx. 40 people in total.
I suggested to my colleague that an Open Space event would be just right for
the organisation as there were:- top down control management,(based in
Holland),there were talented people throughout the organisation who were not
being heard, there was a powerful question to be resolved, the company could
not keep operating from the current management style and remain successful,
there was growing 'dissent among the ranks'.
The event was extremely successful. Both this organisation and my colleague
were enormously brave to be able to 'let go' and go with this type of event.
It has shifted their style and enabled the company to be much more
'self-organising' and less top down in operation. 

I held the space over two days. I had training just before with Brendan
McKeague here in Australia. He also was of immense help to me.

I found the event Scary, frightening, exhilarating-and very powerful. I was
nervous as I had suggested to do this type of event yet had never done one!!

Also I was a female in a room with 38 corporate males with most wondering
nervously what was going on......... 

So my musings on doing this event are-or rather-Notes to self for next time

wear comfortable, flat shoes for walking the circle(helps with grounding)
Walk very slowly-slower than you think possible Own the space before
entering (practise or walk the circle before) Modulate voice tone if you can
News/Opening/Closing-impress that these are important times to meet Action
Planning: - Be Prepared...and then let go Spend much time before and after
with client-Before- to get the question
right- After- to help assist with the fall-out (grief work) when the system
changes Do not under-estimate who can embrace this Remain true to self and
the PROCESS (this is your rock) When you really feel pulled-in to
engage-DON'T- this is the magic moment A lot happens over night You need two
facilitators-one to hold the space and the other to organise and liaise with
hotel Hotels don't get it- needs to be really briefed well, can be quite
frustrating
 
Be present............ Keep Meditating and go inward .......... 
 
So that is all from me...at last. The client has been very happy with the
event. It has changed operating styles of individuals, groups and the
organisation as a whole, it has inspired them to 'slow down' and consider
more.
I have given the CEO Harrisons book on Open Space and handed him the
responsibility going forward for 'keeping the space open'.

I wish to thank my colleague who had the 'faith to trust??and run with this
type of meeting.

Over and out

Lesley Symons

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