[OSList] Highly Controversial Group

Fri Jul 26 19:56:45 PDT 2013

Querida Ceci:

Nada más que agregar a lo que ya te han dicho tan ilustres personajes.

El jueves yo estaré enviándote todas las buenas vibras y antes si quieres
también te ofrezco que hablemos por Skype.

Vamos que se puede!

Juan Luis

De: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] En nombre de Cecilia Soriano
Enviado el: viernes, 26 de julio de 2013 22:23
Para: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Asunto: Re: [OSList] Highly Controversial Group

THANK YOU!  Christine, James, Harrison, Lisa! 

That great honor to receive your words, your thoughts, your time, your
support, your wisdom!

That's really what I was looking for

Thanks for re-connect me with the valuable...

All value to be heard...

I wish to create conditions on Thursday to make everyone feel heard... 

I take a deep breath and have faith

GRACIAS con profunda emoción! 

Cecilia 

From: Lisa Heft <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net>  

Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 6:39 PM

To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
<mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>  

Subject: Re: [OSList] Highly Controversial Group

I would add to everyone's wise words - 

It is not just the slice of time you have them in a meeting.

It is also how invitation, relationship-building, messaging, design of
time... all of the pre-work - supports the success of a dialogue-based
meeting.

The higher the conflict, the more time for relationship building before the
event, the more useful timing, placement and type of / inclusion of food is,
the more time (ideally) you want for people to be able to name their story,
feel fully witnessed, and feel heard. Not changed, just heard.

Plus it is good to really look at documentation design - what is the
capacity and reality of what will be done with the information and ideas and
relationships generated at the event, after the event.

As we all know, a single moment does not necessarily change behavior.

Ideally, this event is designed in to sort of a chain of gatherings,
actions, events and relationships that are designed over time.

I know you may not be able to change some of those 'must-have's', Ceci.

Like delivery of information (rather than engagement).

Can that happen before people arrive, in any other way.

Can it happen in a creative way, showing diverse voices.

What will it do that either confirms peoples' existing positions or makes
them mad or agitated. Does that help. Does that fit the objective for
bringing them together.

Is there anything that can be shifted, moved, adjusted - so there is more
time to unfold into conversation and discovery, so the reflective thinkers
have voice, not just the quickest responders.

What is the messaging - how is it being described.

Recommendation: leave any word about anxiety or discomfort out of your
theme. If you name it, people will hold that.

What is the nature of invitation. Is invitation / invitation strategy about
individual outreach, one-on-one communication, so that everyone coming in
the room has a welcoming person they have already met, even if online.

Pre-registration - can also give you a chance to share information and tone
- and to gather information to support every individual.

Design of name tags. Can they be just first and last name (large so people
can see across a small conversation) without any title or organization.

I know you are asking about 'what if x happens in the moment'. 

But there is more than that to support the best possible situations.

And then you prepare yourself. You eat. You sleep. You stay hydrated. You
use all your tools. You breathe. You welcome.

You look ahead at some 'what-ifs' such as what if something runs a little
longer than expected - can you design in a bit more time, are there bowls of
fruit to pass around if things run a bit late (both for nutrition and for a
moment of people sharing with each other) to bring in the room if running
late makes people tired, things like that. 

You open the circle mentioning perhaps not the anxiety - but perhaps at the
'whatever happens' description you can say that people are welcome to name
what was, what should be, what isn't - but they also have a chance to share
thinking about the new story, that begins now, if they wish. Up to them.

And then you remember that we are all with you.

Like a flock of butterflies standing lightly on your shoulders, witnessing,
believing in you.

And believing in each of those people, and their passions. 

Perhaps one of us butterflies landing lightly on the shoulder of someone in
the room who has anger or anxiety. Witnessing for them, as well. 

And then you remember you have a peaceful center. Because you do. 

And then you take it where it goes. Because you did everything you could do
to prepare, and now it is time to dance the dance.

So wear comfortable shoes ;o)

We believe in you,

Lisa

From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Cecilia Soriano
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 3:40 PM
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: [OSList] Highly Controversial Group

Hello everybody!

I have a big challenge and I need your wisdom!

The next next Thursday, I will be facilitating an OS, with a group of 190
Secondary School Principals. Is a highly controversial group in a very
politicised and complicated context... (ideal for open space isn't it?)

But in my practice, I haven´t had the opportunity to meet with groups like
this...where there is much aggressiveness and the bonds of trust are very
damaged...

I would like to learn from your experience. and know what warning should I
take?

Some Context:

My client told me that there are very opposing groups. And in their regular
meetings (not in open space) there are people who start to scream and insult
boycotting all the meeting and not allowing the dialogue... If happen a
situation like that, at the beginning of the circle, which do you recommend
to do?

In addition to breathe, breathe and hold space... "confidence in people and
in the process"

In imagie that facing that hypothetical situation... It would be correct to
give them the space of listening, and then tell them that they can leave if
they are not comfortable there... Although it would be very important to
stay to make their contribution...

And then continue with those who want to follow...

What do you think about that? Which is your experience in similar cases? 

Grateful for your comments!

Warm greetings from the Argentine winter.

Cecilia

Mobile: 00 54 9 341 6657790

skype: cecisoriano

www.conversacionesparatodos.com 

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