Opening Space in Bilbao_CONSP!RING EUTOKIA

Mon Nov 15 20:20:08 PST 2010

Hello, dear Eleder -

By now you have facilitated your event - yes? However I still wish to  
share some thoughts about your questions - at least what I have  
noticed during my own OS work.

Regarding people coming at various times during the day:
To me, if there are a few people who come in during the day, it is  
easy for someone to greet them at the door and help orient them to  
what is happening in the room ("We are delighted that you can join us  
- welcome. Look at the Agenda Wall that will tell you what  
conversations are happening during this hour, feel free to wander in  
and out of any of the discussions, someone in each group is  
volunteering to take notes so you will be able to read about the  
sessions that have happened earlier today, we will gather at 4:00 for  
closing circle so enjoy and we will see you then".  Simple, quick, and  
they get to go into the groups without needing too much more time for  
orientation. It is like saying "welcome to my house party - there is  
the food, people are playing a game out in the garden, let me know if  
you need anything". Simple.

However if there are large numbers of people coming in at different  
times this is a little harder. But doable. I find it is useful to  
designate someone to great newcomers to do this. It is also possible  
to let participants simply absorb them or to let the newcomers figure  
some things out for themselves - but I have found that the newcomers  
are at the disadvantage without learning that you can move about and a  
few more tips on how this is different than usual meetings. It just  
gives them more freedom. But someone else might say that is one less  
thing to do.

I also have found it is best to do this personally and verbally rather  
than make a sign or a handout because I have found that nobody absorbs  
the information on a sign or a handout but they do like being welcomed  
personally.

Others may have had other experiences.

Regarding doing your introduction and instructions in two languages: I  
do hope you did. The dual language is essential in your culture,  
history, re-emergence of a historically silenced culture and language,  
and more. It is a welcoming - an honoring - an inclusion.  By the way  
- all my posters are always in two languages, no matter where in the  
world I facilitate. To me, it is about diversity and honoring where  
you are and how everything is not majority culture. I just pick the  
top two languages of the region I am facilitating in (in the U.S. my  
posters are usually in English and Spanish - unless i am working with  
specific-language or specific-culture communities in the US, then the  
posters are whatever are the two top languages).

Regarding taking notes in text as participants often do / doing a mind  
map of notes:
I am a big supporter of documentation in Open Space and other dialogue  
work because participants can then have more than the moment of  
talking - they can have reflection, data, the ability to 'listen in'  
on discussions they could not attend, ability to re-connect post- 
conference to continue key conversations, and more.

I have found that designing documentation based on several elements is  
useful: how will participants use it, how do participants absorb  
information (graphically, via text, by re-reading conversations they  
have had, whatever), what is most useful to them (does text describing  
a running conversation show all the directions and unanswered  
questions the discussion explored, is this more useful to the  
participants or client than a few key points), which is useable and  
appropriate for the organization or group after the event (do they  
have to turn the information generated into worksheets or a report or  
a piece of art for what they need post-event) - it all takes  
considerable thought.  In my experience.
I look forward to seeing the mind map. I have observed that mind maps  
are helpful for some people who can see them as clustered information  
- difficult for other people who have trouble seeing things in a non- 
linear way.
Like the choice of dialogue tool (open space, world cafe, whatever),  
to me, the objectives, desired outcomes, context, culture, capacity,  
what follows and so on: to me, all of these inform the design of  
documentation.

Regarding "Selling OS":
I have found that - like one does not sell a hammer because a hammer  
is the most fabulous tool and should be used for everything -  
plumbing, sewing, cooking, carpentry... one does not sell Open Space  
for things. One simply analyzes context, task, time, deliverables,  
use, site, numbers of participants, and so many more things, then  
chooses the right dialogue tool. Right?
I do believe / have found that no brochure or marketing materials  
explain facilitation in ways that clients seem to absorb. I find that  
- as I think you are saying - people feel my enthusiasm for  
facilitation, see me at work, hear me tell stories - and get a 'feel'  
for me, experience something that works for them, feel it is a fit,  
remember me or that experience when a situation arises, and so on.

Regarding how much time you spend on it:
I do a lot of pre-work for an Open Space (or any other facilitation) -  
more than some of my colleagues.
For Open Space or any other facilitation - I used to keep a record of  
all my hours on every facilitation job I had in the early years so I  
could learn what was usual.  I found that for any facilitation - for  
every day of 'stand-up' there are an additional 3 to 5 days of pre- 
work, communication, desk time, materials creation, and so on.  That  
is if it is an uncomplicated event. For something complicated (like  
very large or requiring lots of in-person meetings with committees or  
other things that take more hours) it is more.  I host a regional  
facilitation network and when I have said this lots of people in the  
conversations we have have nodded their heads as it seems the same for  
them.
I know that some facilitators charge a flat fee (x for a 1-day  
facilitation for a corporation, y for an ngo) and some charge a day- 
rate for x number of days estimated.

I simply tell each prospective client how many days I think this will  
take, tell them that some people pay me a day rate of x and others  
have only a certain amount total - and let every client pay me  
whatever is the most they can afford given their budget. We have a  
very honest conversation about their resources.  Everybody pays me  
what they can, and it always works out. Just like when I give my  
workshops (each individual pays what they can for registration).
I know many colleagues who prefer to have set prices because that  
works better for their needs and their personal style.

What are other peoples' experiences and observations? I look forward  
to hearing everyone's different or similar ways of doing things.

I miss you, Eleder. I wish we could have this conversation over a  
glass of some fabulous local wine and watch the waves in your lovely  
part of the world...

Lisa

Lisa Heft
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
Opening Space
lisaheft at openingspace.net

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