[OSList] Intro and inquiry: Open Space with some off-limits topics

Thu Jul 14 07:16:48 PDT 2011

Dan, Harrison, Chris, and Artur,

Thank you for this discussion. Yes..."givens" close space and do bring the
elephant in the room bigger than it would have been without givens. What I
realized this morning however is that the "givens" conversation is about a
lot more than having or not having "givens".

When a Host or Sponsor puts limits on participants at the beginning of an
Open Space, it unconsciously conveys:  "I'm in charge and I/we have
decided...." or  "We or someone here knows better than you what you should
talk about".

It's the complete opposite of what we are inviting. As leaders and
participants we are so programmed this way.  We expect "boundaries" from our
leaders and leaders expect it is their responsibility to "set those
boundaries".

As a facilitator, I'll admit that I had bought into the possibility that
there might be rare instances  where having " a few givens" would make
sense. In corporate situations for example, givens like: "no we can't spend
millions that we don't have so big budget items should be off the table" or
"we won't be reorganizing the organization".  I cringe now think that this
was another way of saying "Let's not waste our time having THOSE
discussions".

 As I imagine myself a participant listening to these admonitions, I really
don't like how it makes me feel....*less!*  As if I don't  have the
intellect, maturity and smarts to know that myself and then who knows maybe
a big bucks project will come up as a topic, money will be found and the
company will be saved.

I'm not chastising the leaders; we're all guilty in expecting and accepting
givens, boundaries that limit passion and accountability.

So suddenly because of this discussion on the OS list, this topic for me is
not about "givens" anymore, it's about my intention as a facilitator  and
with others to be "holding the space for everyone (leaders and
participants)" starting from that first discussion with the client through
the planning to the actual Open Space event and beyond.

While I may not want "givens", I do want the *conversation *on "givens".
It's an opportunity to share with the client and host team what it means to
be opening space in the organization. It's about self organization and
shared leadership leading to higher performance! Something dormant that's
been there for quite awhile that we've forgotten how to tap into.

I am so grateful to you all for this breakthrough insight in me on "givens".

Thank you.

Suzanne

*NuFocus Strategic Group *
7159 Victoria Circle

University Park, FL 34201

www.nufocusgroup.com

<http://www.nufocusgroup.com>

On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 6:21 AM, Artur Silva <arturfsilva at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi Dan:
>
> Thanks for your question.
>
> I agree with Harrison and Chris.
>
> Many, many moons ago, we had 2 discussions about a related question. Shall
> we (or not) define with the client what are the "Givens". The reason I have
> been (and I still am) strongly against that practice, is that when we define
> some givens in the beginning we are "closing the space", and those "givens"
> will be discussed during the coffee breaks, at night, etc.
>
> Best regards from a sunny Lisbon
>
> Artur
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* "Chris Altmikus @ iDeA-Link" <chris.altmikus at idea-link.eu>
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *Sent:* Wed, July 13, 2011 2:16:51 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Intro and inquiry: Open Space with some off-limits
> topics
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> My experience is that off-limit subjects are "in" as soon as you put them
> explicitly "off-limits". And that's in Open Space as well as in numerous
> other contexts.
>
> What does your mind dwell on, if I ask you to *NOT* think of a pink
> elephant... It would appear that our sub-consciousness simply does not
> recognize negatives.
>
> Best regards   +   Chris
>
> *iDeA Coaching @ iDeA-Link*
>
> *La Bovarde 37*
>
> *1091 Grandvaux*
>
> *Suisse*
>
>  **
>
> *+41 33 533 31 34*
>
> *+41 78 935 31 34*
>
> *Chris.Altmikus at iDeA-Link.eu*
>
>
>
> Le 13 juil. 2011 à 15:08, Harrison Owen a écrit :
>
> Welcome Dan!
>
> Restricting conversation is something that some people have tried. And I
> guess they think it works. But that has never been my experience. Of
> course,
> every Open Space needs a theme to define the general area of discourse.
> That, after all, is why people come -- or don't. Your Agile community would
> scarcely show up for a gathering focused on "The Future of American
> Dentistry." And I doubt that the dentists would be too intrigued with the
> "Agile Passions."
>
> But once the general theme has been determined, everything else is "fair
> game" in my book. The reasons are several. First, when you limit the areas
> of exploration you also limit the possibility of innovation and renewal,
> which in my book is the major objective. And if it isn't -- why get
> together
> anyhow?
>
> A second reason, which is the clincher for me... is that even if you tell
> everybody that "certain areas" are off limits -- there is not much chance
> that they will actually pay attention. Especially if the areas are
> interesting. As a matter of fact, I suspect that by proscribing certain
> discussion, you actually insure that it will come up. I guess you could
> call
> that the "forbidden fruit" syndrome. Or maybe "beans in the nose" (Never
> tell a child not to put beans in their nose, because they will surely do
> it.)
>
> So the "forbidden fruit" will be discussed, but perhaps not publically. And
> that just creates more problems. I think that is the way you grow
> elephants,
> and other nasty creatures that lurk in the shadows.
>
> So I have never found any reason or profit in limiting the conversation.
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
> Camden, Maine 20854
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
> (summer)  207-763-3261
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Dan Mezick
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:30 AM
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: [OSList] Intro and inquiry: Open Space with some off-limits topics
>
> Hi,
>
> I am a respectful lurker who now has an inquiry, so it is time to
> introduce myself.
>
> Hi! I am Dan Mezick, coach to Agile teams, their sponsors, and executive
> management. I live in CT. I am friendly, curious and playful. I enjoy
> conducting frequent experiments. I like to be surprised and learn.  I
> have a history of software development. I receive a software patent in
> 1999.  In 2003, I run an elaborate search engine optimization experiment
> that results in over 120,000 unsolicited, incoming web links from all
> around the world, in 20 days. Those 120,00++ links-in result in a #1
> Google rank for over 7 years.
>
> Now I am curious about Open Space. I play with it. I read all the books
> from Harrison. I experience many surprises as I read these books.  I
> convene five OST events in Boston since 2009. The largest is the Agile
> Boston Open Space in Sept 2010 where 275 people participate. I have
> experience directly facilitating some smaller OST meetings for clients
> recently.
>
> I am currently quite fascinated with Open Space and OST dynamics.
>
> This list is very awesome and awe-inspiring. I am very happy to be here.
>
> If you like to be surprised, you may enjoy this:
> http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/esp.html
>
>
> Here is my inquiry:
>
>
> My Inquiry
> =========
>
> "Let' s not go there."
>
> This is a common utterance used in conversation, one that clearly
> signals that the space is closed to that topic.
>
> Open Space, limited by only a broad Theme, is not very limiting.
> Authority often is concerned with this wide-ranging freedom to explore
> "just about anything" when considering OST, and what might result from
> that afterward.
>
> I wonder if any of us have experience with doing OST with some sections
> in the discussion-space explicitly closed.
>
> I wonder how these limits are expressed-in-fact; for example inside the
> Invite or in the composition of the Theme.
>
> I wonder how the "explicitly stated as closed" space is then
> successfully maintained in an OST setting. I then wonder how much fun
> the event is, when some space is closed.
>
> I wonder also, if this is an oxymoron, that just does not work very
> well, ever.
>
> I think have read here somewhere here, in a passing comment, that
> sometimes, certain topics are closed in OS meeting.
>
> I wonder if anyone has experience trying this, and if any specific
> knowledge about this is documented explicitly anywhere.
>
> Thank you for your help ! I am preparing to be surprised.
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-- 
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
twitter @suzannedaigle
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