Demo OS in 90 minutes?

Thu Apr 15 12:51:13 PDT 2010

Thank you for this reply Lisa--and for asking this question Annamarie.

I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your response Lisa.  It is easy for  
me, when i am passionate about something (and i'm pretty passionate  
about OST), to get very focused on the benefits and good reasons for  
using a particular approach--and to sometimes forget to take that  
extra step back (open the space) and look at who the client is, where  
they are at, and what will serve them best as they are right now.   
There is a covert reminder in what you say: that OST is not the only  
way to open space.  That has a lot more to do with my presence and  
example.

There is so much innate respect in your approach, Lisa.  I find that  
there can be a kind of process-arrogance that can creep in for me  
(especially when i am a participant in other less open forms).  And  
even though it's based on solid experience, it can still be  
disrespectful at some level to others who have not had the benefit of  
that experience. Or the privilege and opportunity to learn.  You also  
point to a disrespect of the process itself--to ask a form to stretch  
and deliver in all circumstances is unwise.  Better to remember the  
essence and do my best to uphold that.  Your sharing has stirred me to  
revisit my commitment to absolute respect: for my clients and those  
present, for the processes i love, and for myself as a convenor.

big hugs,
Wendy

On 15-Apr-10, at 11:27 AM, Lisa Heft wrote:

> (okay, here also is my test to see if I am back on the OSLIST, able  
> to post and to receive - thanks Michael for your thoughtful  
> attention and thanks to the Boise person as well...here...goes...  
> with my signature in its colored font intact - if this does not work  
> I will try with a plain text signature...)
>
> Thanks for inviting this, Annamarie -
>
> It helps me explore where my own points of 'going for it' are - and  
> where I tell a client it is not the right tool when there is so  
> short a time:
>
> I have also done very short Open Spaces - I bow to Jeff Aitken who  
> inspired me in this area when I was holding so tightly to 'no  
> shorter than three or four hours'.
>
> However, I am a big believer of analyzing overarching objectives,  
> desired outcomes, context of the task and what comes before and  
> after this particular meeting connected to that task, designing in  
> appropriate and useful participant-driven documentation and more.
>
> I then ask myself: with this short a time availability, and for  
> these objectives and desired outcomes, what is the right tool for  
> the deliverables? (including Open Space, World Cafe and other great  
> dialogic tools - and knowing that Open Space has different  
> deliverables depending on the amount of meeting time).
>
> I am also passionate about access and inclusion. So another question  
> I ask myself is - is making very short discussion rounds or only a  
> few minutes to post topics favoring only the quick responders in the  
> room - and does that give a sense of the overall group's interests  
> or issues.
>
> I consider how one of the useful elements of Open Space is  
> *multiple* sessions so people can see their thoughts link and change  
> across the sessions, and as the conversations progress, notice  
> things they didn't see before.
>
> I am also very big on documentation - a way to provide data for the  
> ongoing work of the group - more than the feeling of the moment of  
> conversation.
>
> I ask the host if more time is available (including that lunch,  
> including that networking time - whatever I can get to expand the  
> meeting length) and I explain why more is better.
>
> I explore what other designs would deliver what the host is asking  
> for in a way that allows for reflection or emergence or breathing  
> room.
>
> And if I end up using OS (which I have done on occasion for such a  
> short time) it is because there is no other alternative which will  
> provide the desired outcomes and deliverables in this short of a  
> timeframe.
>
> I do not use a part of Open Space and call it Open Space. If I use  
> one element or adjust it (for example just the part about inviting  
> people to think of topics they are passionate about, making a sign,  
> posting it on the wall and being amazed at the diversity of thought)  
> I do not call it Open Space.
>
> And I look out for opportunities to invite the group or host to a  
> full-on Open Space sometime soon, so they will come to know the  
> difference in what is possible and how the mind (and relationships,  
> and networking, and discovery) work over longer times in Open Space  
> together.
>
> Thank you for inviting the question - I had fun opening up my brain  
> to see how I do things when asked to do short Open Spaces.
>
>
> Lisa
>
> Lisa Heft
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
> Opening Space
> lisaheft at openingspace.net
> www.openingspace.net
>
> Ask me about the Open Space Learning Workshops - April 21-23 and  
> December 15-17, 2010 - San Francisco
> October 15-17, 2010 - Medellin, Colombia
>
> OSLIST - the World Open Space community in conversation (English) http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> The Open Space World Community space (all languages) http://openspaceworld.ning.com
>
>
>
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Wendy Farmer-O'Neil
CEO Prospera Consulting
wendy at xe.net
1-800-713-2351

The moment of change is the only poem. -- Adrienne Rich

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