[OSList] Signing up for sessions

Rob van der Eyden robvandereyden at veranderarchitect.nl
Tue Nov 8 12:30:24 PST 2011


Wow! How good to see how 'alive' this open space community is. Thank you all
for all your valuable thoughts on signing up. I will try to find my way
based on your suggestions and I will share my experiences with you
afterwards.

 

Best regards, Rob

 

Van: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] Namens Barry Owen
Verzonden: maandag 7 november 2011 17:40
Aan: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Onderwerp: Re: [OSList] Signing up for sessions

 

Hi Birgitt,

 

I love your comments . . . You've definitely "outed me" as the control freak
I am :-)

 

But then I'm certain there aren't any other control freaks on the list.

 

While I love the simplicity, I also sometimes hold tight . . . when letting
go (more) might be best.

 

b 

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 9:43 AM, Birgitt Williams
<birgitt at dalarinternational.com> wrote:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I smile at dear friends Harrison and Barry, both of whom are advocates for
doing less, speaking so convincingly about the importance of signing up on
the topic sheets in the marketplace. 

 

Really.do you really think that it is in anyway possible that the buzz can
be prevented from happening, or that somehow in an OST meeting, there is any
chance of achieving 'less buzz' if the space is 'open'? I am smiling at the
thought. So, rest assured, with no requirement to sign up on the sheets,
people flock to the marketplace, the marketplace is open, the shopping and
horse trading begin, and the buzz is the great getting ready buzz of 'all
set, get ready, and go'. The one additional advantage of no sign ups is that
people do get on into their first group faster. Yes, there is a great buzz
and it seems of shorter duration as people charge towards the first session.
And it is great as they experience their productivity in the sessions so
quickly.

 

For some many years, I have taught Working With Open Space Technology. In
this workshop, after examining a list of all possible ingredients of an OST
meeting, the participants are asked 'what could you do away with and it
would still be an OST meeting in your perspective? The ingredients are
examined. There are some similarities in answers such as 'the circle'. There
are a lot of differences too, as different viewpoints/perspectives/cultural
and other life experiences come into play. And thus, some people would
answer that signing up at the marketplace is essential for them. Others
would say that it is not. And all is well.

 

Blessings,

Birgitt

 

 

Fout! Bestandsnaam niet opgegeven.Birgitt Williams

Author Genuine Contact Way

Co-owner of the Genuine Contact program

President and Senior Consultant, 

Dalar International Consultancy, Inc.

www.dalarinternational.com

 

Note: picture of the bells that have journeyed to numerous countries with me
for twenty-two years as an international consultant. During the closing
circle of every meeting, everyone in the meeting has held these bells. They
have now been held by thousands of people, all doing their part to create
life nurturing conditions for humanity. The bells have also been held in
blessing and in prayer by countless people, who bless all who ever hold
them, with the journey of the bells uniting all of their energies to make a
difference for humanity, one person at a time, one organization at a time,
one business at a time, one community at a time.

 

 

 

From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Barry Owen
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 6:22 AM


To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Signing up for sessions

 

To those who opt not to do the "Sign ups"

 

Is there not, then, a "Marketplace?" as I think Harrison is referencing.

 

So , , , Does the "One thing less" mean that the OST flow goes from Opening
to posting sessions then to sessions without marketplace.

 

I know it always works . . . and I know it would still work most probably
even with as "silent Opening" . . . but I'm also wondering about the "BUZZ"

 

My way is that I do the sign-ups as in during my comments after the topics
are on the wall include an invitation to sign up for the sessions for which
folks have passion . . . and I know secretly inside that many folks won't -
or they'll sign up for things they never show up for . . . That's life :-)

 

I DO believe it adds something to the overall experience - That BUZZ of the
Marketplace which "for me" always seems akin to "Horse-trading" and giving
the participants the opportunity to "make deals" by combining sessions etc.

 

This thing about "following people" is going to happen regardless . . . Of
course doing the sign-ups facilitates that, and there are 2 sides of that
coin . . . Sign ups are a handy way for a person to be in sessions with
people they really wish to be with . . . The flip side is that they might be
excluding self from meeting other interesting people (and ideas) . . . 

 

Again, each person can choose her own level of participation in the sign-up
process.

 

All of this to say that I do it and see real value in doing it . . . and
honoring the practice of others who don't with tremendous success.

 

Good thing we have our differences . . . otherwise life would be dull and
learning would be shallow.

 

:-)

 

>From a Blissfully crisp Nashville morning

 

b

On Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Birgitt Williams
<birgitt at dalarinternational.com> wrote:

Warm greetings,

This is a subject I will chime in on. I don't have anyone sign up onto the
session of their choosing. In thinking of one thing less to do, there was
very little point to do so. In the end, people end up going where they feel
inspired to go, and the signing up process didn't add value. I always keep
the space in the plenary area free of small group sessions.and simply invite
the groups, if they discover they are too big, to come back and use space in
the plenary area. I remember a meeting that Harrison and I did some years
back, and a large group of about 40 people stayed in the plenary session for
the full four session times of the day.the session was 'the conflict' and
was able facilitated all day long by three amazing women. The same 40 people
didn't stay but it was always about 40 in the room.

 

One additional reason I stopped doing sign ups for the sessions is about the
marking pens. I had a terrible incident in a community OST meeting
commissioned by a government, in which as people dropped the marking pens
onto the floor after signing up, they became a safety hazard as some seniors
slipped on them and tumbled to the floor.never again for me. The marking
pens at the start are kept in the center until the topics go up, and then
are available later on a table.but not along that congested agenda wall.

 

Good luck with your event,

Birgitt

 

From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 9:07 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Signing up for sessions

 

I always invite the participants to take a writing implement and sign their
name on the session(s) of their choosing - always making clear that this is
not a "firm contract" - but an indication of intention and interest. At the
end of the day, it remains true - that whoever comes are the right people.
But the signatures do give some useful information as to whether the "right
people" will be a lot or a few. In smaller groups with lots of free space,
that information really doesn't make a lot of difference. But when you have
a large number of participants, it can be helpful, especially when the break
out space are confined. When you see a session paper covered with signatures
that can suggest that a change of venue to a larger space may be in order.
This is not something you need to worry about as facilitator. The folks will
take care of the business. For yourself just count it as one more thing NOT
to do.

 

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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From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Rob van der
Eyden
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 3:10 AM
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: [OSList] Signing up for sessions

 

Hi all,

 

I am preparing an Open space later this week. My first one. So was going
through the book yesterday. Sounds all good and exciting.

 

On - probably stupid - question though: after the issues have been raised,
agenda made and marketplace opened, how do participants sign up for
sessions? Is that really by subscribing on paper or just by showing up at
the time and place that was planned for the session?

 

Thanks & best regards, Rob

 

De Veranderarchitect B.V.

 

Rob A.I. van der Eyden

 

"Change is disturbing when it is done to us, exhilerating when it is done by
us" (K. Moss Kanter)

 

Parkietstraat 30, 1171 HV  Badhoevedorp

M: +31 (0)6 512 72 127 <tel:%2B31%20%280%296%20512%2072%20127> 

 <mailto:robvandereyden at veranderarchitect.nl>
robvandereyden at veranderarchitect.nl

www.veranderarchitect.nl <http://www.veranderarchitect.nl/> 

 

Fout! Bestandsnaam niet opgegeven.  Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference
- Check out  <http://kiva.org/invitedby/rob5568> Kiva.org to Learn How!

 


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