OST following a creative enhacing training

Mon Nov 15 04:33:03 PST 2010

Thanks for your wise comments, Michael.

________________________________

From: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpanne at boscop.org>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Sent: Mon, November 15, 2010 9:55:58 AM
Subject: Re: [OSLIST] OST following a creative enhacing training

Dear Lisa, dear Artur...
basically, Lisas notes reflect my experience with about 200 os events over the 
last 14 years.
In the early days of my practice I spoke quite a bit about "Open Space" (how it 
came about, the originator, etc.).
For some time now, I might  mention "Open Space" once (if you look at the 
introduction which is part of the book "Meine open space Praxis" I pick up on 
"Open Space" in response to something the sponsor/my client said in his 
remarks...in this case he mentioned that Open Space is also fun).
There always are a few sentences in the invitation to the event about OST, 
however.
Also, I say practically nothing about the "Theme" but encourage the sponsor/my 
client to do a bit of that in his "Welcome" (where he actually opens the space 
with traditional welcoming words, saying something about the Theme and, most 
importantly, talks a bit about his own passion...no more than 5 minutes for all 
of that).
And I also "explain" or rather illustrate each principle, the law, the bumble 
bees, the butterfly in my words...
All this is done to reduce the time before the participants start to act 
themselves...and I discovered over the years that the simpler, shorter, more 
matter-of-fact... the introduction became, the easier it seemed for the 
participants to get "into the spirit" , forget about the facilitator, do their 
thing...and in my observation expanded the possibilities for the forces of 
selforganisation to do its thing (which, I find, is not the same as the apparent 
self-organizing mode the participants get into).

I agree with everything and thank you for sharing your vast experience.

On first reading, I was comfortable about what you said about "training" and 
that Open Space meetings are not trainings. And then I remember how I used to do 
"trainings" twenty years ago and how I facilitate trainings for Open Space 
Technology these days... and that is certainly vastly different from the 
"traditional" trainigs I used to do. Perhaps this is a different topic but 
briefly, in OST trainings I am involved in there is absolutely no "explaining" 
on my part (participants explain it to themselves and to each other, I 
suppose)... I tell participants before the training that there is no way to 
learn or teach OST but, at best, it can be "remembered"... and that takes about 
5 days.

I must confess that I am a bit uncomfortable with training on OST. On one hand I 
agree with you that the best way is to do it in the OST way. But that takes time 
(5 days in your case) and quite often people don't have that time to spend. So I 
now do a two parts training of one and an (almost) half day each (Friday evening 
and Saturday all day), separated by two to four weeks, and I recommend 
participants to open some space in the meantime.

Warn regards from a sunny day in Lisbon

Artur

--------------

Greetings from Berlin
mmp

Lisa Heft wrote:
> Hi, Artur -
> 
> Regarding the outdoor experiences the day before an Open Space: many things can 
>happen the day before an Open Space. But as Open Space delivers intimate 
>passionate discussion, relationship-building, a sense of community or team, 
>energetic interchange and even laughter - I not only see no reason to design in 
>preliminary activities *but* have actually seen an Open Space suffer after 
>these.  And I have seen the same as Harrison noted - participants have often 
>said 'why didn't you give us more time for our work / play / discussion in Open 
>Space - we could have used it'.
> This includes introduction / warm-up / 'icebreaker' activities. Even going 
>around in a circle hearing what everyone's name and title is seems to be taking 
>up valuable time for participants - they always say how they came to know and 
>remember each other much more deeply because of their shared interests and 
>spirited discussions in the Open Space and that a traditional introduction both 
>is hard to remember plus can often set up assumptions about who is supposedly 
>who.
> 
> Regarding the introduction / explanation of Open Space - I feel strongly that 
>one should explain the principles and law BEFORE opening up the floor for topics 
>/ agenda co-creation.
> Because you are explaining / inviting a different way of being. You are 
>explaining when you explain principles and law that everything is possible, 
>including visiting multiple discussions during a single session.
> You are letting people know to follow the energy of the conversations rather 
>than their pre-conceived agendas.
> And you are also letting people know that even if one person comes that is 
>exactly the amazing perfect thing - they can write in silence and contribute 
>even if they have a completely different way of thinking.
> The explanation of principles and laws (not just the reading of the text on the 
>posters) is one of the essential invitations in Open Space, I believe.
> 
> Also: your client said that they do that certain way (explaining only each 
>thing as needed) for ***trainings****.
> That is a very good way to do a training.
> Open Space meetings are not trainings. 
> A very important difference for design, explanation, dynamics, information the 
>participants need for their self-organized work, objectives, outcomes and more. 
>Right?
> 
> Lisa
> 
> 
> *
> /
> Lisa Heft
> /
> *
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
> *Opening Space*
> lisaheft at openingspace.net <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net>
>  On Nov 13, 2010, at 1:19 PM, Artur Silva wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for your answer(s), Harrison.
>>  And have you (ou others) any comments on my point 2 (the possible two-step 
>>opening)?
>>  Rgds
>>  Artur 
> 
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-- Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org
www.boscop.org

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