[OSList] Reflections and an Invitation

Fri Sep 2 04:56:57 PDT 2011

Chris thank you for sharing these insights,

So much of what you said resonates especially what Eleder also
mentioned that "None of us are innocent bystanders anymore...".

For days since you wrote what you did I haven't been able to get something
out of my mind. I fear that I risk confusing myself and others as I think it
out loud struggling for clarity on the matter. Perhaps that is Harrison's
invitation.

My pondering refers to the 2 thoughts in bold:

   1.  "Big meetings aren't going to change things." and "In working with
   clients these days *I make sure that they aren't in love with the idea
   that their big Open Space is going to change the world.  It's not."*
   and.....
   2. *"Instead billions of small and connected conversations,
   self-organizing their own insights and futures, hanging together and
   learning how to deal with the new reality and then sharing their stories
   with others"*

  I am often conflicted by this "big" and "small"!

> Like so many people these days, I feel overwhelmed by the magnitude and
> complexity of issues that are out there at a national and global level. As
> hard as I try, I cannot ignore these. Whether it is sadness, fear and the
> feeling that my (our) efforts are like a small drop in a very big
> bucket or the feeling  I have of hope and and bliss mixed with purpose and
> gratitude as we connect in small group conversations finding each other in
> the vulnerability of who we are and giving each other courage to create
> possibilities for a better future...
>
 I think a lot about this "big" and "small".
> It often seems that we cannot be satisfied making small changes in our
> small piece of the world be it our neighborhood, a department in a company,
> one hospital or one school, etc.
>

> When small groups achieve amazing things, it is often with an eye on the
> whole. It is where we find the greatest inspiration (or is that ego?). Where
> we bump into problems is when others in the whole, who are not involved,
> perceive we are fixing, imposing or intimating that something should be
> done for which they feel no ownership or connection.  That we are better
> than they are. It seems we all want to invent and create for ourselves and
> yet we need each other so we are not forever re-inventing the wheel or worse
> being exclusive rather than inclusive towards each other.  Bottom line,
> we're all connected.
>

 Which takes me to the *"big meetings".* For right or for wrong, I cannot
give up on those big Open Space meetings.  I have attended/facilitated some
(300+) where it seemed there were pockets of magic in the room. Granted some
sessions seemed better than others. Big groups less effective than smaller
groups. Whether is was the exhiliration of watching people write their
topics or the intimacy felt in the big whole at closing circle, I know there
is something courageous and special happening when people let themselves be
seen and heard where many are present. Where things unravel is afterwards at
least from the perspective of being able to replicate this feeling of the
whole connected as it was.  What I can't always know  however is how many
hubs connected, how many individuals were moved, touched and inspired
leading them to initiate things they would not have had the courage to do
before. What I do know is that I have been affected much in small and in
large groups.

These days, on the basis of what I learned working with the Creative New
Jersey Open Space team, I am initiating and planning an event that has the
potential to be big (150 - 200 or more people) working with a large planning
group. Until New Jersey, I had never worked with such a large planning group
(12 - 15 people) over many months to prepare an OS event before. It was not
always easy but there were elements of greatness that stayed with me

Now I see that by having many people involved in the planning, it's as if we
are all hosts creating the invitation, knowing more deeply the intent of
what we want to create with others, imagining those who will attend,
speaking of them with the anticipation of friends meeting friends,
colleagues meeting colleagues, struggling together about what will happen
afterwards trying hard not to predict and control, being playful, working
through conflicts and frustrations, etc.

I smile thinking that as we do this planning work now, few on the committee
have experienced Open Space which was also the case in New Jersey. It is
truly a giant leap of faith for them to invite people they know to a 2-day
meeting where there are no speakers, power point presentations or even an
agenda. Lots of bonding and trust happens because of this.

In summary then, on the big and the small, I hope there are ways that we can
have it all. I'm still learning and experimenting. Maybe in the end, I will
come to the conclusion that small is beautiful and where I most want to be.

In the meantime, permit me to wish that WOSonOS in Chile be as big as it can
be!
.

Suzanne

> .
>

>
>

.

**

**

On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Chris Corrigan
<chris.corrigan at gmail.com>wrote:

> Thanks Harrison for these reflections from the Maine coast.  I have given
> up on the power of the convened conference to make the changes that are
> needed in the world.  Copenhagen was the final straw in that line of
> thought.  Big meetings aren't going to change things.  Instead billions of
> small and connected conversations, self-organizing their own insights and
> futures, hanging together and learning how to deal with the new reality and
> then sharing their stories with others.  This is the power of the web and
> the social architectures that surround us now: we are all potential authors
> of our future and present states.  None of us are innocent bystanders
> anymore, and thus we all have a stake in creating the solutions that are
> needed for the myriad acute problems thrown at us from the present moment.
>
> OST is a gift in this sense, but beyond that, it gives us a sense of how it
> feels to work in that unfamiliar, strange and ultimately empowering way.
>  OST points the way to a skillful and hair-raising way to address the
> emerging future.
>
> In working with clients these days I make sure that they aren't in love
> with the idea that their big Open Space is going to change the world.  It's
> not.  But it might activate enough leadership that a community or
> organization ends up finding a way out of whatever pickle they are in.  Come
> to this gathering...you are invited to start something, and who knows where
> it will go...
>
> Much love to you my friend, and my friends.
>
> Chris
>
> ---
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> +1 604 947 9236
>
> On 2011-08-28, at 8:09 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> While waiting for Irene – she has now come and largely gone – but the
> waiting went on for a week or so. And in that time I started to write a note
> to myself. That note took on a life of its own and led me to some places I
> have been pondering, but never quite reached. I shared it with a few friends
> and they seemed to enjoy. So I make bold to offer it to you my friends on
> OSLIST. I guess that is appropriate, for the note has a lot to do with Open
> Space, our collective learning, and where we might go from here. Actually it
> is an invitation… and if curious go to:****
>
> ** **
>
> <http://openspaceworld.com/August%20Morning.pdf>
> http://openspaceworld.com/August%20Morning.pdf****
>
> ** **
>
> Enjoy!****
>
> ** **
>
> 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)****
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
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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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