[OSList] Fwd: Any experience with short OST

[Mary O'Connor]

What Harrison says really, to encourage you, I asked a similar question of
this list as I was asked to use open space in a brief (90 mins) session in
March. It was a leap of faith. the person who asked me (one of a group of
music educationalists for which I ran open space ) was concerned that
no-one would call a session, or that it would be awkward.
I have faith in opening space,  I assured him they would. I let go and let
happen. and even in the brief time we had  space was opened, and the energy
in the room as the 30 or so people self-organised  discussed these things
that really mattered was visceral, and valuable and I know that as a result
there was a shift within the organisation and a call for a 2 1/2 day event.
all the best, Mary.

On 15 June 2012 06:43, Peggy Holman <peggy at peggyholman.com> wrote:

> Catherine,
>
> This rich discussion brought back memories of doing a 90 minute Open Space
> years ago.  I found the story in the OSlist archive.  In fact, I found a
> thread from 2010 when someone else asked a similar question.  The thread is
> below.
>
> I didn't mention in my response below that I got into the predicament of a
> 90 minute Open Space because Harrison was double booked -- a trip to
> Australia and a keynote at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
>  Needless to say, he chose Australia and referred Bowling Green State
> University to me.  I didn't even ask what they wanted, figuring since
> Harrison had said yes, it was a reasonable request.  What I talked to them,
> I discovered that I was the conference opener and that I had 90 minutes to
> DO an Open Space.  The story follows.  BTW, my timing: 20 minutes to open,
> 3 15 minute sessions, 15 minutes to close, leaving 10 minutes for Q&A on
> the process.
>
> A coda to the story: about a year ago, I learned that the idea to do the
> Open Space as a keynote came from Steve Cady, one of my co-authors on The
> Change Handbook.  He had never seen an Open Space meeting and was curious.
>  He had no idea that OS in 90 minutes was an "impossible" request.
>
> To the stories....
>
> Peggy
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *Peggy Holman <peggy at OPENCIRCLECOMPANY.COM>
> *Subject: **Re: [OSLIST] Demo OS in 90 minutes?*
> *Date: *April 15, 2010 9:08:42 AM PDT
> *To: *OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Reply-To: *OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
>
> Hi Annamarie,
>
> To add to the examples you've already heard, I did a 90 minute conference
> keynote years ago that was in Open Space.  I found the story is in the
> archives from 2004.  I giggled because I told my story in response to
> someone asking the question you just asked!  So I've copied the whole
> thread, which includes responses to Christine Whitney Sanchez's question by
> Birgitt Williams, Michael Herman, and Jack Ricchiuto as well as my response.
>
> You can tell that times have changed by the different responses you're
> getting today!
>
> Peggy
>
> ______________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA  98006
> 425-746-6274
> www.opencirclecompany.com
> www.journalismthatmatters.org
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> burnt, is to become
> the fire".
>   -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
> On Feb 27, 2004, at 10:19 AM, Peggy Holman wrote:
>
> Christine,
>
> I have a different take on the idea of one session.  I say do three.
>  Here's
> why: in 90 minutes, it is impossible to do any subject justice.  Given
> that,
> rather than set the expectation of even one quality conversation, use the
> time for another purpose: to invite people to notice who else has passion
> for the same topics as you.  20 minutes to open, three 15 minute sessions,
> 20 minutes to close about does it.  In that time, people will find out the
> range of subjects of interest and who else cares about them.  They'll be
> able to touch in with the folks they meet after the OS.  And another benefi
> is that it leaves participants with a very different embodied experience of
> what OST is.
>
> This suggestion is based on a real experience.  A few years back, I did a
> keynote in Open Space for the Bowling Green MSOD Alumni conference.  They
> wanted the 150 or so participants to experience Open Space.  After my first
> thought of "impossible", I thought, "why not?"
>
> It worked incredibly well!  I was amazed at the energy of the group and
> that
> they really did move from topic to topic.  It was like watching a speeded
> up
> video of an OS.  For the closing circle, I invited people to reflect using
> a
> word or phrase.  This actually left time in the closing for Q&A on OST.
>
> Mind you, I did this for graduates of an OD program who were as interested
> in the form as they were the content of the gathering.  However, I think it
> would work for your purpose as well.
>
> foggy in Seattle,
> Peggy
>
> _______________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA  98006
> 425.746.6274
> www.opencirclecompany.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Christine Whitney Sanchez" <milagro27 at cox.net>
> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 9:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [OSLIST] What would you do?
>
>
> Michael, Birgitt and Jack,
>
>
> Thanks so much.  You have done a wonderful job of expressing most of the
>
> concerns I've had and then offering concrete suggestions about how to work
>
> with them.  It's a very good idea and not too late to narrow the topic
>
> (Birgitt - thanks for that) so that this very important larger topic can
>
> be
>
> given much more time and space in future events.  Fortunately, it's never
>
> been billed as Open Space Technology but rather Open Space Dialogue (this
>
> was in the program description before I was even hired) so it will quite
>
> possible to set this up as intentional self-organization (thanks Michael)
>
> and only later mention what might be accomplished in 2 or 3 days of OST
>
> (the
>
> sponsor and I are having that conversation already).  And Jack, thanks for
>
> the suggestion of using this time to open the conversation about how to
>
> frame the much larger conversation.
>
>
> I will stick with the one longer session, be clear about outcomes and yes,
>
> Birgitt, the closing circle will close the whole forum.
>
>
> I will let you know how it goes.
>
>
> Namaste,
>
>
> Christine
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Jack
>
> Ricchiuto
>
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 6:31 PM
>
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> Subject: Re: What would you do?
>
>
>
> Yes to Michael's points about normalizing the expectation to days not
>
> hours
>
> for this scope, and weeks if the process needs to include the minds and
>
> heart of multiple diverse stakeholders and stewards of current geographic
>
> capabilities. 90 minutes may be a good first step just to open the
>
> conversation on the givens, knowns, and unknowns of the focus.
>
>
> Jack
>
> ____________________________
>
> JACK RICCHIUTO / 216.373.7475
>
> www.DesigningLife.com - you can now check my calendar availability online
>
> (updated daily)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Michael Herman [mailto:mherman at globalchicago.net]
>
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 7:53 PM
>
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> Subject: Re: What would you do?
>
>
> whoops.  i missed the numbers part on the first pass.  yep.  this is
>
> trickier.
>
>
> i'd try to not even say OST until the end when you could say "this has
>
> been a tiny, 1.5-hour slice of what normally would be 2 or 3 days."  in
>
> situations like this, i've played the opening really quick and dirty and
>
> called it "intentional self-organization" and only called it ost later
>
> on, after they have an experiential context and can really appreciate
>
> how it could go on for a couple of days.
>
>
> also seems important to be really clear about what to expect as
>
> outcomes.  as in, it might take another 20 minutes or so to get any real
>
> miracles. <grin>
>
>
> michaelh
>
>
>
>
> Birgitt Williams wrote:
>
>
> Christine,
>
> If it was me, I wouldn't do a 1.5 hour meeting for 120-180
>
> participants (non profit leadership and management)  with a topic as
>
> broad as "what can we DO in the next year to build the capacity of
>
> our sector in Arizona?" .
>
>
> I believe that 3 1/2 hours is the shortest meeting in which one really
>
> experiences the open space of an Open Space Technology meeting.
>
> Anything shorter than that, in my experience, is a demonstration of
>
> people self managing within a set of instructions. Having said that,
>
> the topic is a very broad one and a very important one for this
>
> sector--not to be handled lightly. It is truly too bad that they
>
> didn't give you at least one whole day, preferably 2  1/2 days to
>
> really do justice to these people and the topic.
>
>
> Having said that, I think one of the challenges that you will face is
>
> the unlikelihood that all of your participants will be ready for you
>
> at the start of your appointed time, so you are unlikely to have your
>
> full 1 1/2 hours. So...I suggest you do your planning as though you
>
> have 1 1/4 hours. You need time for opening including making
>
> statements about the fact that OST has the capacity to include action
>
> planning but there won't be a special opportunity for this at this
>
> meeting. I think you will need to make the most of your words to
>
> explain what OST is when the right time is given or else you might
>
> have 180 people going off and leading exactly this kind of OST meeting
>
> throughout Arizona (often there are lots of people who imitate what
>
> they experience). Now, you can't prevent that--I realize it but maybe
>
> your words might help. Okay, you will have about ten minutes of your
>
> words, another ten minutes for topics to be posted, and then about 20
>
> minutes for your closing. I think you would be best to have only one
>
> session time. If you attempt to go with two and then even more time
>
> gets cut away by unexpected events, you might end up with big problems.
>
>
> Have they given you the right to use a closing circle to close their
>
> whole conference or is your closing only going to be the closing for
>
> your OST portion.
>
>
> I hope this helps. I can see why you would want to take advantage of
>
> the opportunity to showcase OST. However, having spent a long time in
>
> the social service sector, I know my own reaction to such a short time
>
> to discuss something so important would be very distressing.
>
>
> I wish you joy, peace, God's grace and blessings, and that you prosper
>
> in all things,
>
>
> Birgitt
>
>
>
>
>    -----Original Message-----
>
>    From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
>
>    Christine Whitney Sanchez
>
>    Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 2:57 PM
>
>    To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
>    Subject: What would you do?
>
>
>    Dear Friends,
>
>
>    In a little more than a week, Arizona State University Center for
>
>    Nonprofit Leadership and Management is sponsoring the 6th Annual
>
>    Forum on Nonprofit Effectiveness:  Building the Capacity of
>
>    Arizona's Nonprofit Sector.  There will be between 120 - 180 NP
>
>    leaders from around the state who are well accustomed to the
>
>    format they will experience most of the day...expert panels and Q&A.
>
>
>    As a bold move on ASU's part, I've been asked to facilitate a very
>
>    short open space to finish the day focused on the convening
>
>    question, "What can we DO in the next year to build the capacity
>
>    of our sector in Arizona?"  No action planning, obviously but the
>
>    sponsors hope to stimulate a different level of dialogue.  Since
>
>    there is only 1.5 hours available for the open space session I am
>
>    leaning toward having only one 45minute breakout session with the
>
>    remainder of the time devoted to opening and closing.  But I've
>
>    also been considering 2 half hour breakout sessions with less time
>
>    for brief reports and the closing. Given that this is going to be
>
>    the first OST experience for nearly everyone in this group, I am
>
>    looking for a balance between longer, richer discussions in the
>
>    breakouts with the fuller self-organizing experience that 2
>
>    shorter breakouts might offer.
>
>
>    I would especially appreciate any examples of times where you've
>
>    opened space for this number of people in this short time frame
>
>    and what you found most effective.
>
>
>    Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and suggestions.
>
>
>
>    Christine
>
>
>    Christine Whitney Sanchez
>
>    Triune Milagro, LTD
>
>    2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue
>
>    Phoenix, AZ  85048-8990
>
>    milagro27 at cox.net
>
>    480.759.0262  phone
>
>    480.759.0403  fax
>
>    VISIT OUR WEBSITE:  www.triunemilagro.com
>
>    <http://www.triunemilagro.com/>
>
>
>
>    Invoking the wisdom and capacity of the human spirit!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 15, 2010, at 7:41 AM, Annamarie Pluhar wrote:
>
> Hoping this gets through... I tried to send a few days ago...
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has opened space for a 90-minute session? And if
> so, how'd it go? I'm thinking it would take 20-30 minutes before groups
> started talking, so there may be time for one session? Closing circle of 15
> minutes?  It seems too short to me. I'm asking because I'm considering
> proposing OS for a group that meets once a month of between 20-40 people.
>
> Harrison will say go for it.  I'm wondering whether anyone has.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Annamarie Pluhar
>
> Pluhar Consulting
> Results through effective group process
> http://www.pluharconsulting.com
> 802.451.1941
> *802.579.5975 (cell)*
>
>
>
> _________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> peggy at peggyholman.com
>
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA  98006
> 425-746-6274
> www.peggyholman.com
> www.journalismthatmatters.org
>
> *Enjoy the award winning *Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into
> Opportunity <http://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> burnt, is to become
> the fire".
>   -- Drew Dellinger
>
>
>
>
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