[OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?

[Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC)]

Harrison, Jeff and Suzanne,
Thanks so much for your encouragement and words of wisdom.  Suzanne, you must know me... I am a bit nervous and will practice at home to get more comfortable with opening the space.
With it being a brand new job, lots of high expectations on me and my first time doing this, I am very thankful to have this community's support!
Leslie, the appreciative newbie.


From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Daigle
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:34 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?

Leslie, with your wonderful post, I felt myself transported to my first Open Space feeling the emotions and nervous butterflies hoping then that I would remember all the instructions (which I rehearsed out loud by myself) and then also find that spiritual space inside of me to open, hold and close the space in a way that was not connected to outcome.  I remember being nervous in those first instants, not quite as present as I hoped I would be but what I remember more, as if it was yesterday, is that none of that matter. In what seemed like just a few minutes, the agenda wall was full and 50 people or more had self-organized and were quickly engrossed in their conversations.  It was the national IONS conference in Tucson.  At that time, angels stood on my shoulder... Christine Whitney Sanchez, Julie Gieseke, Sharon Joy Kleitsch and others.

As you open space in your new organization, know that many of us in this community will be by your side supporting you in spirit on December 2nd. As you quietly walk the room before everyone arrives, take a deep breath and smile. We will be there! And remember to make room to have fun from now until then cause Open Space truly is awesome especially when you involve others.

Suzanne
On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 11:35 AM, Jeff Aitken <magic.teams at hotmail.com<mailto:magic.teams at hotmail.com>> wrote:
Hi Leslie,

I like the shape of your 'Needs and Seeds' theme, which invites folks to find their topics of passionate interest wherever they exist on the spectrum: from what's urgent now to what's important longer term. It's probably also easy to say it out loud when opening the space.

I like your use of creative metaphor if it speaks their language, as Harrison says. Otherwise, plain and simple is my preference. Sounds like 'Creative Associates' would love it tho.

I don't know if there's another spectrum (or axis?) that would be useful to draw in that picture - for example, from small scale to large scale? From practical to... dream/vision? Maybe these would emerge without needing to say them.

One more thing: if you don't mind I'll fuss with the draft schedule a little bit ; )

Here are 3 sessions of 45 minutes, plus an hour for the closing. I suggest this possibility based on a question: how would you like/need to see these conversations move "out of the room" and into action? Maybe you are collecting the ideas that have been talked thru during this day, and there's a later decision making process about what to implement and when/how. Or, is there space/interest in some self-organizing around implementing these ideas, that can get started during the closing. That will inform how long the closing circle might usefully be, and whether there might be something in addition to a 'talking circle' to meet those needs...

Breathe... relax... have fun with it!


Draft Schedule

9:00- 9:45: Opening Circle, Create agenda and open the marketplace (it's pretty seamless)

9:45- 10:30: Session 1

10:30- 11:15: Session 2

Lunch available from 11:15 on

11:15-12:00: Session 3

12:00 - 1:00: Closing Circle





Jeff
San Francisco


________________________________
From: hhowen at verizon.net<mailto:hhowen at verizon.net>
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:42:24 -0500

Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?

If it speaks to the folks in a language they understand - it has got to be good. Carry on!



ho



Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA



189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)

Camden, Maine 20854



Phone 301-365-2093<tel:301-365-2093>

(summer)  207-763-3261<tel:207-763-3261>



www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com>

www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> (Personal Website)

To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org



From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC)
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 6:02 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?



Thanks, Harrison.  I agree with you. Creating titles is such a challenge for me.

Here are a couple other ideas for the theme.... I'd like it to be catchy but not corny.



Option 1: "Ride the Training Train!  Needs, Opportunities, Passengers and Drivers wanted."  (maybe include a picture of a train with the invitation?)

Option 2: "Training Needs and Seeds: What is urgent now?  What can we plant now, for the next harvest?"

Option 3:  "Training not just for training's sake!  What's urgent, important and practical?"



Other pithy ideas? Thanks so much!

Leslie





From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 5:18 PM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?



Only comment is to sharpen up the theme. You got good stuff. Make it shorter with more punch, phrased as a question. My version (not to be used - needs to be in "your-speak") "Internal Training that Empowers: Issues and Opportunities." Short, sweet, and to the point. Presuming of course that people care about Internal Training and empowerment. Others need not apply.



Harrison



Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA



189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)

Camden, Maine 20854



Phone 301-365-2093<tel:301-365-2093>

(summer)  207-763-3261<tel:207-763-3261>



www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com>

www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> (Personal Website)

To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org



From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org]<mailto:[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org]> On Behalf Of Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC)
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 3:40 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?



Thanks Barry!

This is on the long side, and for that I apologize. Below is my draft Open Space Invitation and other notes to get myself organized. Any and all feedback and advice would be great!  Evocative questions and ways to insert humor welcome too.

Here goes my draft:



Draft Invitation (to be sent via company email by the Communications Division to everyone)



Creative's Internal Training and You!

What are the most urgent training needs at Creative and why?

What would it take to make training opportunities the best part about your job?



Come join us for a fun and provocative gathering on Friday, December 2nd 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Morning drinks and snacks and lunch will be provided.

Large West Wing Conference Room.

No need to bring or prepare anything - just yourself and an open, creative mind!



By the end of this gathering....

1)     Every issue of concern to anybody will have been raised, if they took responsibility for doing that.

2)     All issues will have received full discussion, to the extent desired.



And just a day or two later, the issues and discussions will be documented and in the hands of all participants.



Who should come? Whoever cares.  This is all about voluntary self-selection.





And from here down is my own preparation, not to be shared publicly with the invitees....



Basic info

Estimating 20-60 people

Friday, December 2, 2011  9:00 AM - 1:00 PM



Draft Schedule

9:00- 9:20: Opening Circle

9:20- 9:45: Create agenda and open the marketplace

9:45- 10:45: Session 1

10:45- 11:45: Session 2

Lunch available from 11:15 on

11:45-12:30: Session 3

12:30 - 1:00: Closing Circle





Preparations

Signs of:

*          4 principles,

*          1 law,

*          theme,

*          two support questions,

*          be prepared to be surprised,

*          time slots,

*          key to location of groups (Green = Large West Wing Conference Room, interior side / Brown = Large West Wing Conference Room, near windows / Red = Suite 700 Front Conference Room / Yellow = 630 Conference Room / Purple = 610 Conference Room)

*          group signs (Green, Brown, Red, Yellow, Purple), Newsroom

Graphics of:

*          bumblebee,

*          butterfly,

Supplies:

*          5 rolls of Masking tape,

*          50 markers,

*          5 flip charts,

*          construction paper (for the agenda topics),

*          Blank template for notetakers: Title of session, Convener, List of participants, Discussion and recommendations (printed and in electronic format)



Introduction of me by Senior Director of HR or Chief Operating Officer - TBD!  Should I give this person any talking points? Neither of them have participated in Open Space before.





From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org]<mailto:[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org]> On Behalf Of Barry Owen
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 2:40 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?



Leslie,



Welcome back from the island!



I think this is the perfect place to put this forward for feedback - If you choose to do so off-line, I'm all ears



Best,



b

On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 1:20 PM, Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC) <LeslieZ at creativedc.com<mailto:LeslieZ at creativedc.com>> wrote:

Hello everyone,

It's been a few years since I was on this list and happy to have returned recently. I was stuck out on the dry, deserted island called "NoWillingnessToTryOpenSpace".

I've gotten off that island and am thankful to be back on the fertile land of Open Space.  With that said, I have never actually facilitated an Open Space myself, but have one on the calendar for December 2nd at my new job (of a week!)



Is it appropriate to put out a draft of my invitation, schedule, theme, questions, etc. and ask for your feedback? If not, could I ask for a couple of volunteers whom I could write off -line asking for your thoughts?  Is there a better way to solicit a sounding board?



Many thanks for steering the newbie in the right direction,



Leslie S. Zucker

Training Manager

Human Resources Division



Creative Associates International

5301 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20015

Office: 202-772-0022

Fax:    202-363-1258

Email:  LeslieZ at creativeDC.com<mailto:LeslieZ at creativeDC.com>

Website Address:  www.creativeassociatesinternational.com<http://www.creativeassociatesinternational.com/>



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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<http://www.nufocusgroup.com>
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twitter @suzannedaigle
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