Some Feedback please!

[Steven "Doc" List]

Martin,

Wonderful question and challenge.

I'd begin by suggesting that you're not using Open Space to just bring  
them together to talk, but to bring them together to create a  
community.  One of aspects of that community will be mutual trust and  
mutual support.

Perhaps rather than trying to get them to trust and be completely open  
with each other right from the beginning, you can get them to come  
talk about their common challenges, share some of the solutions  
they've found, and generally talk about the challenges and efforts  
involved in starting an organization.  If you can do that - help to  
create a community - then you can look at the next steps.

Next steps would be to organize further events in which they can talk  
about the specifics, after they've established trust.

Next steps might include "working groups" who carry some of the  
characteristics of mastermind groups.

Next steps might include finding ways for them to communicate and  
support each other when they are not face to face.

Building trust takes some time and effort.  Start it with an Open Space.

You might even borrow from one of the Open Space derivatives, the  
BarCamp.  Perhaps a split day, with presentations in the morning  
(BarCamp style) and Open Space in the afternoon.

http://www.barcamp.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BarCamp

Best of luck to you in this admirable effort.

..Doc
--
Steven "Doc" List, Principal Consultant, ThoughtWorks NA
Stage Producer, New to Agile stage, Agile2009 Conference (http://agile2009.agilealliance.org 
)
Mobile: +1 (512) 924-9248 | Skype: steven.list | Yahoo: dadjester |  
Twitter: athought
Facebook: athought | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stevenlist
email: doc at thoughtworks.com | doc at anotherthought.com | web: www.thoughtworks.com

Read about communication and facilitation on my blog: http://www.stevenlist.com/blog



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