How do I get 8 groups to start cooperate?

Wed May 19 09:50:41 PDT 2010

a couple of noticings to add here, michael...

first, what you have said here as "description" is just exactly the sorts of
things you can say in your opening.  simple facts.  the stuff nobody argues
with.  "...from 8 different groups, some don't yet know each other, the
project cannot succeed to the benefit of a few and detriment to the
others..."  when writing invitations and coaching facilitators through
openings, i almost always am able to point out that the things you normally
say to outsiders (like me when they call me on the phone, or you here to us
just now) are exactly the objective sorts of things we can say in the
opening to set the stage, articulate the issue and intention, etc.  so, with
what you've said so far, i would say you're already half-way there!  toss in
a few standards like "nobody in the circle knows what we can accomplish
together, or how fast we can do that..." and "be prepared to be
surprised..."  and all that's left is to explain the post-its and markers
and paper and get started.

i also tend to err on the side of doing less.  this is not anything that'll
be finished in two days.  what matters most is not what point they get to in
those days, i think, but what they learn about and remember and understand
about how to practice going forward.  the more we as facilitators do up
front, the more they think it's happening because of us, instead of them.
invitation (clear statement of purpose, which you seem to have in hand),
invitation list, a few basic logistics, and a way to capture whatever
matters in a document or website or work plan or whatever.  that's it.  and
if they see that that's all there is that's needed, they can return to this
again and again, without even considering that they might need you to come
back and save them.

what seems most important is that they see very clearly at the beginning and
the ending, that it's all up to them -- and it's simple enough that they
already have all they need to succeed at some high level.

good luck!  m

--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates

http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.ronanparktrail.com
http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
http://www.openspaceworld.org

312-280-7838 (mobile)

On Wed, May 19, 2010 at 11:26 AM, Chris Corrigan <chris at chriscorrigan.com>wrote:

> Hi Michael...
>
> Two things come to mind...echoing Harrison, that if there are pressing
> issues, then you are ready to open space, perhaps around a theme of "how
> will we learn together as we move forward in this project?"  Something that
> invites any and all with ideas and experience to post them, host the
> conversations and record the results.  Some of those results can later be
> adopted by the whole group, not as agreements per se (with all the attendant
> structure for accountability) but as PRACTICES.  In other words, use the
> Open Space to initiate some "things we'd like to try" to see how they work
> in aid of supporting collaboration and cooperation.
>
> The second thing I'd offer is, if you have some time with them and they are
> up for it, play some improvisational theatre games with them.  You can find
> a huge collection of games to play together by googling "improv games"
> (there is even an iPhone app called iProv which is great).  I've been
> playing these kinds of games with folks for the past year fairly intensively
> and it creates a lovely, fun and energetic learning container for
> experiencing the core competencies of collaboration.  If they begin to
> become fluent in the skills of improvisation they will have some grounded
> experience to take to their co-learning about working together in the
> business context as well.
>
> Depends on how much you are willing to try with them, but it's all good.
>
> Chris
>
> ----
> Chris Corrigan
> chris at chriscorrigan.com
> http://www.chriscorrigan.com
>
>
> On 2010-05-19, at 2:17 AM, Michael Jensen wrote:
>
> Hi everybody,
>
> I have really enjoyed reading the conversations in this list and all wisdom
> there is out there.  now I have a problem and maybe someone can help....
>
> I'm going to work with a group of 20 leaders from 8 differnt units for 2
> days. They are in the beginning of a big project and one of the key success
> factor is that this units,cooperate and they have to use all the different
> competens to get ahead. There must be a flow between them, no hidden agenda,
> no defense behavoir.
>
> This is a new situation for them. They have not cooperate on that level
> before. They don't even know each other. 2 of the units  have been set the
> frame for the project and some others feel that they are excluded. A nice
> start : )
>
> The purpose of these 2 days is that they feel that everyone is a part of
> the project and that everyone is important. That everyone know how everyone
> can contribute. That the roles are clear and that they have found a way how
> to cooperate in a realistic way.
>
> Do someone out there have some good idées of process, methods, exercises to
> work with the HOW to cooperate, and clarify the borders between the groups.
> They have also problem with the communication - if they don't get
> information, they feel excluded...
>
> I think we also have work with:
> Get a common vision and purpose of the project.
> Values in the group, what they are and what they should be.
> Dont' we? But in this area I feel more safe. : )
>
>
> //best regards Mich J, Berlin
>
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