Fwd: Testing with an Open Space story

Sat Mar 6 16:59:22 PST 2010

Great story. I loved this

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of doug
Sent: Sunday, 7 March 2010 10:48 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Fwd: Testing with an Open Space story

Great job, Suzanne!

I love the simplicity of the invitation theme!

			:- Doug.

On Fri, 2010-03-05 at 09:09 -0500, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
> Trying again as per Michael's instructions to use plain text only.
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 7:15 AM
> Subject: Testing with an Open Space story
> To: OSLIST <OSLIST at listserv.boisestate.edu>
> 
> 
> Testing if my posting (via gmail account) goes through this time with
> an Open Space story; thx Michael for your work on this.  Like Lisa,
> Diane Gibeault and others, my posts have not been going through these
> past few months.
> 
> A few weeks ago, I was referred a client by one of my business
> partners.  A president of a family-owned mid-size business wanted to
> have a retreat meeting with family members working for the business
> (sons, son-in-law, others) and others, not working for the company who
> he felt were interconnected with its success through their support
> (spouses, children, and others).  In total a group of 12 who were on
> vacation at Disney World, a few hours away from my home.
> 
> I suggested Open Space.  We came up with a simple theme: My Company,
> My Family, My Life and My Future.  We created an enticing invitation
> with a few thought-provoking questions.   I stopped in briefly the
> night before to introduce myself in person.  I had spoken with the
> President, his 14-year-old daughter and 13-year-old nephew discussing
> how they would be welcoming the group and how the host would describe
> the context and purpose of the gathering.  Everyone was very nice
> though it felt a little awkward as I could feel their questions and
> the touch of nervousness that happens when people wonder "what the
> heck will this meeting be about; who is this person anyway and will I
> need to talk in front of everybody?"
> 
> I drove home that night thinking WOW, will this really work?  I
> quickly went through Harrison's ideal conditions for an Open Space:
> issue of major concern, high levels of complexity, diversity, actual
> or potential conflict, and urgent decision time of yesterday.  Ouch,
> except for diversity none of these really applied.!  Then somehow,
> deep inside myself, I said, it worked with my family when we did Open
> Space at Christmas, it will work with theirs. They'll have an
> opportunity to have intimate conversations with everyone equal sitting
> in circle. We'll be opening space and time so they can hear each other
> in different ways, not according to their family roles, work roles or
> age,  but as unique individuals with their own thoughts, feelings and
> dreams.  That's how I would open the circle.
> 
> As usual, I should not have worried. From the moment I walked into
> their rented house, I had an army of people helping set up the rooms,
> the posters, the circle, everything. So much laughter and brimming
> enthusiasm. Then, what a gift it was to see the topics emerge (14 in
> all) and to hold the space as they jumped into their conversations
> huddled in small groups then gathering in large groups as they became
> bumble bees. I felt the spirit of play and the intensity of their
> sharing.  I had set up a news room and WOW, they typed no less than
> ten (10) reports generated from 3 sessions of 1 hour each. I quietly
> took photos, and then sometimes went outside wanting to leave them
> their privacy as I felt them discovering each other in new ways. The
> timid 13 year old was coming into his own, all age groups (parents,
> kids, spouses, nephews, etc) sitting on the floor or sprawled on
> chairs totally engaged - no status, no experts, no set roles just
> family sharing in new and different ways. I had introduced them to a
> talking piece that they could use during their discussions knowing
> from previous experience with my family that sometimes the adults
> (moms and dads) talk too much.  It seemed to work. The closing circle
> was touching and when I got home that night, looking at all the
> photos, I knew that magic had happened again. The next day, I pulled
> together their photo album capturing the theme, the basic principles
> of Open Space and the 4 principles of life (and Law of 2 feet) that
> they had been exposed to along with the special images of that day and
> all their printed reports. It would anchor the experience and leave
> them with a cellular memory of this gathering capturing in the moment
> expressions and emotions. They had shared dreams, talked about work,
> family and life.
> 
> Yes opening space, everywhere and anywhere is what I want to do and
> will do. And it feels so wonderful to be able to share these simple
> stories here in our Open Space community.  Hope it goes through.   :-}
> 
> Hugs to all, Suzanne
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Suzanne Daigle
> NuFocus Strategic Group
> 7159 Victoria Circle
> University Park, FL 34201
> FL 941-359-8877;
> CT 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com
> s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
> 
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