[OSList] Smallest group OS

Mon Jun 24 16:17:59 PDT 2013

Harrison: In this case the guy was very exited and happy to do it so  thnk
that that part of being sincere was good. It was his first time doing it
but it was only for a couple of hours (This topic) was all ready discused
here.

But what ahppend is that  in the Agile coach camp in Toronto the person who
opened the space was also doing it for the first time and did it the same
way, so people see an other person an just copies the same way of doing it
...and I have that feeling that the part of not being  totally present ...

On the other hand I like better to see people opening spaces, the way they
can do it, even if something is kind of missing...  than not doing it at
all.

The time was also short: 30 minutes for the small groups..but the
conversations were good !
May be the next time they invite me as a facilitator ! This is a joke!
Any ways it is nice to see that more people are opening spaces in many
places!!!
Adriana

2013/6/24 Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>

> All good points Adriana! To me it is all about the sincerity/integrity of
> the Invitation. The actual time taken, even the words spoken don’t make
> that much difference. But sincerity/integrity does. If the facilitator is
> just “doing a job” – (running a process) everything comes out pretty flat.
> No Spirit, as it were. But when the words/actions of the invitation come
> from a deep sense of conviction and respect for the group – that this
> really IS a unique moment in time with unique and marvelous people – the
> effect is markedly different. I suppose the critical thing is that the
> facilitator really does care for the people and their efforts – even if the
> language they speak and the task they confront is totally foreign. For me
> this is being “Totally Present.” And also being “Absolutely Invisible”
> which means getting out of the way so the People can get on with their
> business.****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>
> Potomac, MD 20854****
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> USA****
>
> ** **
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>
> Camden, Maine 04843****
>
> ** **
>
> Phone 301-365-2093****
>
> (summer)  207-763-3261****
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> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
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> ** **
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Lourdes Adriana
> Diaz-Berrio Doring
> *Sent:* Monday, June 24, 2013 10:16 AM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Smallest group OS****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison:
> Yes you are right, (this case, when to long) will be boring but I saying
> the opposite case the opening was to short and they did not take time to
> look in the circle at the people. I was fast, and I felt that the
> connection was not established so well, in the group.
>
> But this group had a lot to share so at the end it was really Ok buy I
> fell like the open space was more like a protocol for them, not something
> that was really deepening the level of consciousness about "we as a unique
> once in time group being together in this moment here and now" and the
> quality of the presence. It was superficial ...to me...
> Adriana****
>
> 2013/6/24 Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>****
>
> Adriana – There may be a secret in what you observe. OS is not a “process”
> we do or explain, and so at some level what we “do and explain” really
> doesn’t make any difference. Self Organization is what we are and OS is
> simply an invitation to be what we are. However, when the invitation is
> fussy, elaborate, endless, boring – it is really annoying. But if the
> conditions are right (“hot issue,” people who care, lots of diversity, etc)
> it all works out. Of course when the invitation is offered in a sloppy,
> endless way that is annoying, but thankfully it passes quickly and The
> Facilitator can retire to the shadows where he/she belonged in the first
> place. J****
>
>  ****
>
> Harrison****
>
>  ****
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>
> Potomac, MD 20854****
>
> USA****
>
>  ****
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>
> Camden, Maine 04843****
>
>  ****
>
> Phone 301-365-2093****
>
> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>
>  ****
>
> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com%20> ****
>
> www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com%20> (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] *On Behalf Of *Lourdes Adriana
> Diaz-Berrio Doring
> *Sent:* Sunday, June 23, 2013 8:37 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Smallest group OS****
>
>  ****
>
> Lisa thank you for sharing this!
> I went to 2 OS recently with a lot of people from Agile community, coaches
> and srcum masters and what I noticed is that they did not take time to
> focus the group and neither to really explain the principles. They just
> read those and I feld that the energy was not the same. They are using OS
> without event reading the book so they dont get that part. On the other
> hand they have a lot of energy and topics they want to talk about together
> so the event was OK but I had an impression of something related to the
> quality of the presence was missing there.
> This happend 2 times.
> I have the impression that people just take the "external format" of OS
> but they are not getteing the essence but as, I said in the other hand, the
> space was opened and the guys enjoyed a lot.
>
> Adriana****
>
> 2013/6/23 Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>****
>
> Hello, dear colleagues -****
>
>  ****
>
> I know of some of you who have done Open Space with... yourself. ****
>
> That is a very small group indeed.****
>
>  ****
>
> Erich and Arturo, I smile. (your message is copied below).****
>
> And I give you a hug from across the world.****
>
>  ****
>
> My smallest group was...****
>
> I was asked to give a post-conference workshop for an international
> facilitation conference. A day-long workshop - which I was simply going to
> do as an Open Space session for whatever the facilitators might like to
> talk about. ****
>
> The mistake in conference design (which I have remembered since, to inform
> future such experiences) - was to have that post-conference day (instead of
> pre-conference) and to have it on a holiday weekend (when participants
> would rather either go home early to be with family or spend the day in the
> lovely location enjoying and touristing around). Oh. And also to have zero
> pre-registration. Which is something I now require - in the interest of
> planning, materials and resourcing as well as the relationship formed when
> someone says 'I choose to come'.****
>
>  ****
>
> I set the room up - agenda wall with (the way I do it) brightly colored
> session times posted across the wall, big Open Space guidelines posters
> (principles, law, insects) posted around the room, markers and paper like a
> lovely little mandala in the center of the big circle of chairs. And
> because the room was large enough - 5 pre-set little circles of chairs
> around the sides of the room.****
>
>  ****
>
> I had a great conference volunteer - who had chosen to be the volunteer
> helper for my session because he wanted to learn more about Open Space.***
> *
>
>  ****
>
> Okay so eventually we decided to begin because... he was the only person
> who came.****
>
>  ****
>
> I asked him if he wanted to join me in an experiment - how small can an
> Open Space be. Can it be with one participant.****
>
> He was excited, and off we went!****
>
>  ****
>
> At that time, my part of the experiment was - I was wondering in my head -
> one reason Open Space can work so well is because of the diversity of
> participants and the diversity of ideas. So in this experiment, I decided
> to do the unusual. I never post topics when I am facilitating. Because it
> is the participants' work, not mine. But for the sake of experimentation, I
> decided to post some topics - to throw in some diversity. I decided he was
> the expert on all things Texas - because it was in Texas and I was a
> visitor to that region.****
>
>  ****
>
> So we both sat on the floor and make topic signs and topic signs and topic
> signs. And then posted them on the Agenda Wall.****
>
>  ****
>
> (I decided after this experiment that it was not necessary for me to
> 'help' in this way - in future if I had a group of 1 I would let them
> simply make their own topic signs, without adding any of my own. However in
> this experiment, I did indeed join the discussions with him - which is also
> something I do not do when I facilitate.)****
>
>  ****
>
> This Open Space event went from 8:30 in the morning until 3:30 in the
> afternoon, and it included 16 discussion topics.****
>
>  ****
>
> We started in one discussion area, and because I knew that Open Space
> engages the body as well as the mind and heart, I recommended that we have
> conversations in different locations rather than stay in one location.****
>
> Remember we had 5 little breakout areas - circles of chairs, around the
> room.****
>
>  ****
>
> My one participant decided to take clusters of discussion topics to each
> small discussion circle - so we would see them and discuss them. Whenever
> he felt our discussion about a topic was over, it was over. And we went on
> to the next.****
>
>  ****
>
> And guess what? We also had international visitors.****
>
>  ****
>
> Why? ****
>
> Because our session room was near the bathrooms. ;o)****
>
>  ****
>
> We kept the meeting room doors open. So people coming by would look into
> the room, see us engaged in conversation and the whole set-up with circles
> of chairs and posters and signs, and ask what was happening.****
>
> So of course, we would say, 'We're currently talking about this, and you
> see on the wall all the things we have and will be talking about. You are
> welcome to join us."****
>
>  ****
>
> And as you may guess... That person would reply (to whatever topic we were
> at that moment discussing) - "That is *exactly* what my dissertation is
> about!" / "I have been thinking so *much* about that!" / "That is exactly
> what my research / my organization / my interest is *about*!"****
>
>  ****
>
> And they would stay with us for that session, adding their diversity,
> insights and energies.****
>
> Then they would go to the bathroom, and be on their way.****
>
>  ****
>
> I am sorry I did not document the conversations - I have since that time
> gained more understanding of the importance - for both post-meeting
> reflection and for integration of the experience - of the power of
> documentation. So we could have done some cool mapping or notes-taking of
> any kind that worked for us.****
>
>  ****
>
> Anyway - it was a wonderful day-long session. And a wonderful experiment.*
> ***
>
>  ****
>
> I have had other experiences with (for example) 4 participants - who were
> the only ones who came. ****
>
> Yes, I recommend other processes sometimes when there are less people - as
> always, I am looking at fitting process with objective, desired outcomes,
> and so many other things.****
>
> But when Open Space fits, I have done tiny Open Spaces. ****
>
> I simply  remind people (as I do anyway in larger participants groups) -
> 'Whoever comes is the right person' also means that if nobody comes to your
> session, you could be a visionary. We need your diverse thought and
> exploration. It deepens our understanding of the issue or task. And (I add)
> 'when do you ever get an hour to write - and write and write - about a
> topic for which you have such passion?'****
>
>  ****
>
> If it is a small group also do as was mentioned earlier in this
> conversation - 'try it first without all joining together or compressing
> the agenda' and as was mentioned, people never go back to the other once
> they experience the power of reflection, law of two feet, opportunity and
> possibility.****
>
>  ****
>
> In my workshops, I share this story.****
>
> And as those of you who have recently been in my Open Space Learning
> Workshop know, when I share this story, I also share the story of when
> Brother Chris Corrigan did Open Space in ... I think it was an Inuit
> community... and nobody came. And at the end of the day, as I recall, the
> head of the community said they got a lot of work done that day and could
> they hire Chris back again please.****
>
>  ****
>
> So did I Chris do the smallest Open Space ever... or the largest - where
> an entire community was held in his spacious open arms?****
>
>  ****
>
> Cheers, from a gray California afternoon,****
>
> Lisa****
>
>  ****
>
> Lisa Heft****
>
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator****
>
> President Emerita, Open Space Institute US****
>
> Fellow, Columbia University Center for International Conflict Resolution**
> **
>
> Opening Space****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
> *The lovely Arturo wrote...*****
>
> Recently I facilitate an OST with 2 people including me. We had 12 topics,
> which became 5 conversations. Its was a very learning experience and we
> where positively surprised as always in every OST. Lisa Heft has also a
> beautiful experience of a OST with two people. ****
>
>
> *The wonderful Erich wrote...*****
>
> At this occation I would remind you of the report of fabulous Lisa Heft
> who I guess 10 years ago gave a report to the list on the smallest open
> space ever been held in the world: Only one participant!****
>
> It must be able to find the story somewhere in the archives - perhaps Lisa
> would like to tell again ;-) ?****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
>
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>
>
> --
>
> Adriana Díaz-Berrio Ph.D. CRHA
> (514) 739 2268
> www.diazberrio.com
>      ****
>
>
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> --
>
> Adriana Díaz-Berrio Ph.D. CRHA
> (514) 739 2268
> www.diazberrio.com
>      ****
>
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-- 

Adriana Díaz-Berrio Ph.D. CRHA
(514) 739 2268
www.diazberrio.com
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