[OSList] Another Way of Ending an Open Space Meeting

[Diane Gibeault]

About the Medecine wheel (I missed the previous exchanges): I use it at times for the debriefing meeting with the leadership team and the "follow-up coordination committee" when one is created. It helps them to better see and understand what has happened at different levels of their organization during this OST experience. That is something they can discuss in the next steps with other members of the organization, and they know where they need to focus.

As for the end of an OS event, I find generally that people have invested themselves so much in the reflective conversations and the practical action planning that the only energy left then is for taking a deep breath and saying something deeply felt about their experience together with the talking piece in the closing circle. When it's over, it's over. The medecine wheel seems to bring people back in their heads when the best gift I find, is to end on a note that connects them via their heart, to the experience they just had. They tend to remember that part more easily and it can have a lasting and positive effect for the times ahead of them.

Diane



>________________________________
> From: Artur Silva <arturfsilva at yahoo.com>
>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 4:27:41 AM
>Subject: Re: [OSList] Another Way of Ending an Open Space Meeting
> 
>
>Thanks, Brendan.
>
>
>
>Meeting you in
Berlin in 2010 is a memory so vivid and present for me has having met Brian
(and some others) in 2000, also in Berlin...
>
>
>
>A use a variant of
your approach.
>
>
>
>Before I pass the
talking stick for the closing circle, I say a summary of your questions to help
participants’ reflection: "please reflect and - if you so wish - tell us
what were the most significant learning’s you got from your time in this Open
Space event?”
>
>
>
>When the talking stick
comes back to me, I simply close the session, using sometimes the procedure you
described in your last sentence.
>
>
>
>Oh, and I dislike
and never used, the Medicine Wheel. It is too much directive for my liking…
>
>
>
>Regards and have a
nice week end
> 
>Artur
>
>
>   
>
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Brendan McKeague <mckeaguebrendan at gmail.com>
>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 2:14 PM
>Subject: [OSList] Another Way of Ending an Open Space Meeting
> 
>Hi folks
>
>I've just revisited the delightful conversation on the use of the Medicine Wheel and thought I'd share a way of ending that now sits comfortably within me...the Medicine Wheel, as some others have mentioned, never has.  I think this may be due in part to me not being from North America. I'm also not from Australia where I currently facilitate most of my Open Space meetings.
>
>So here is what I usually do at the Closing Circle, after everyone has spoken and the Sponsor, being the last one to speak in the group, hands the talking stick/mic back to me...
>I rise and slowly walk the circle with some words of description around what people came to do and what they actually did during the meeting (number of topics, action plans...) and then I invite folks to reflect on how the principles showed up for them during the meeting experience - usually beginning with a question, followed by a pause, like: 
>
>"Did you notice the right
 people came here here today?" - pausing while I walk another few steps, then 
>
>"How did whatever happened...appear for you today?"...pause...
>
>"Did you start at the right time?"...pause...
>
>"Did you recognise when it was over - or not over?"...pause..
>
>"Did you use the Law of Mobility at all...or notice others using it?"...pause..
>
>"Did you butterfly a bit?"...pause...
>
>"Did you buzz a bit?"...pause...
>
>"Did you need a billabong space for yourself at any time during the meeting?"  (billabong being an Australian word referring to a 'watering hole/oasis')...pause...
>
>"And finally, were you surprised at all about what happened here today, in yourself, observing others, topics raised, anything?"...pause...
>
>In the tradition of the OS Closing Circle, I then invite the group to stand, look around the circle and acknowledge what has been given and received to/from each other, and the work that has been
 done here today, and when you're ready, take a 180deg turn and step out of the circle...and we're done.
>
>That's it...until the next one!
>
>Cheers
>Brendan
>
>
>
>
>
>
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