[OSList] My first OS as a facilitator

Fri Apr 18 05:42:11 PDT 2014

Thank you Harrison.

I'll surely do it again!

Stefano

On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 9:13 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Congratulations! Just knew it would all turn out perfect. Now just do it
> again.
>
>
>
> 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
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>
> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Stefano Lucantoni
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 17, 2014 11:52 AM
>
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] My first OS as a facilitator
>
>
>
> Hi all,
> I'm finally back to tell you that my company enjoyed our first Open Space
> (my first as facilitator :) ) and it was really a great success.
>
> I experienced on my skin what Harrison wrote on the "User Guide" about OS
> facilitation... it has more in common with Zen than with a straight, linear
> application of a cookbook technology.
> As facilitator you are totally in play and the more you are in tune with
> the energy flow around you, the more you are able to give help, even only
> with your passive presence.
>
> There were several tries (expecially near after the opening of the
> marketplace) by people who asked me a help to take things under control and
> it was really simple to help them let the things go the way they were going.
>
> A satisfaction aura pervaded the most of them and during the evening
> closing session the feedback was a pleasant confirmation of that.
>
> Every moment was a good surprise for the participants but I can say that
> the most shocking one was when they had in their hands the proceedings.
> They were shocked... some reactions were like: "Really?" - "It's not
> possible!" - "So soon?"
> but the one I liked more was "WOW!".
>
> Now the Space is Open and we have lots of work to do to continue our
> cultural change until the next Open Space (maybe in September).
>
> Please let me say thank you to you all again for your suggestions and
> encouragement, expecially to Gerardo De Luzenberger who I called the day
> before the OS having with him a very interesting exchange.
>
> Ciao
> Stefano
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 10:46 PM, Stefano Lucantoni <
> stefano.lucantoni at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Diana,
>
> My intention is to be there and I'll be happy to meet you and all the
> agilists OS practitioners who will be in Rome during those days.
>
>
>
> Tks a lot for your kind availability.
>
> Let's stay in touch.
>
> Stefano
>
>
> Il giorno 25/mar/2014, alle ore 19:18, Diana Larsen <
> diana at futureworksconsulting.com> ha scritto:
>
> Hi Stefano,
>
>
>
> One more thought, I know there will be people attending the XP2014
> conference from a couple of companies I know about in Europe that use Open
> Space as a regular part of their internal communication and decision making
> processes. If you're in the area then, I could connect you with them.
>
>
>
> Diana
>
>
>
> **************
> Diana Larsen
>
> http://futureworksconsulting.com
>
>
>
> Envisioning a world where everyone at every level of the organization can
> say, "I love my work; this is the best job EVER!"
>
>
>
> ********************
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mar 24, 2014, at 7:16 PM, Diana Larsen <diana at futureworksconsulting.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> Yes Stefano,
>
>
>
> As Harold suggests, the Agile Open program might be something to look
> into.
>
>
>
> Also the XP2014 conference is in Rome this year May 26-30. The main
> conference days May 27-29 will feature a parallel open space. I will be in
> Rome for it and would enjoy meeting with you too. I could tell you about
> the other resources and supports I'm familiar with.
>
>
>
> I'm sure there are other wonderful OS facilitators based in Italy who
> could also help.
>
>
>
> Diana
>
> Diana Larsen
>
> http://futureworksconsulting.com
>
> Sent from my iPad. Please excuse typos & other fumble fingered effects.
>
>
> On Mar 24, 2014, at 15:43, Stefano Lucantoni <stefano.lucantoni at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Harold, thanks for your suggestions.
>
> I didn't know the Open Agile Program, it seems really interesting and
> starting one of these conferences in Italy is an exciting option. Next
> summer I know that there will be a two Open Space days for the Italian
> Agile Coach Camp... Maybe they adhere to the program.
>
>
>
> About Daniel Mezick I know his work very well and our first Open Space
> should be our first step adopting his OAA framework. Unfortunately I can't
> attend his first training at the end of April.
>
> Waiting for future training in Europe, in the mean time we'll try to do
> the best with the help of his book (The Culture Game) and all the useful
> stuff he published on his site.
>
>
>
> Thanks again for your suggestions.
>
> Cheers
>
> Stefano
>
>
> Il giorno 23/mar/2014, alle ore 14:51, Harold Shinsato <
> harold at shinsato.com> ha scritto:
>
> A fellow agilist! Welcome Stefano. Glad to be reading your questions and
> remembering the tension and the joys of the first time opening the circle.
>
> Many from within a company have facilitated an open space for that
> company. I've done it myself at SAP back in 2008. But this is a lot like
> the recommended division of roles between the scrum master and the product
> owner. They don't mix well, because in many ways the Scrum Master is
> supposed to be a facilitator, whereas the Product Owner is more like a boss.
>
> Also, the traditional team manager is definitely *not* a good candidate as
> the scrum master. If you are the manager of the team or group, being the
> facilitator is extremely challenging. If someone owns the decision making -
> it is very hard to give up that decision making to the team. And even worse
> if you are determining their salaries and whether or not they get fired or
> promoted. But if you are seen as being on the same level as the rest of the
> team or group, it's much easier for you to be considered neutral and
> capable of keeping the space safe and open for new ideas and challenging
> opinions. I don't see a problem with a good agile coach being a facilitator
> for an open space. Though I think Daniel Mezick has an interesting view on
> that. More about Daniel later.
>
> As an agile coach - you might be interested in two pieces of history.
> Diana Larsen is on this list, and has been at the core of the Agile Open
> program, http://www.agilealliance.org/programs/agile-open-program/ ,
> which has used open space on the agile theme starting in Portland but now
> is happening in several places in the country. My annual Montana Open Space
> conference just joined that program this year - our MACH One @Missoula.
> Shameless plug. http://machmissoula.org. They are fantastic conferences
> if you get a chance. You might even consider starting one in Italy.
>
> A second newer piece, Daniel Mezick is promoting a framework that makes
> Open Space the center piece of an organizational adoption of agile and has
> some great experience and ideas on how to make that successful. The Open
> Agile Adoption framework. http://newtechusa.net/open-agile-adoption/.
> He's been active on this list as well. He has said it's better for the
> facilitator to be external so they are not considered as part of the team,
> and I think if you were doing a formal OAA process, you're supposed to find
> an external facilitator.
>
>     Cheers,
>     Harold
>
>
> On 3/22/14 12:25 PM, Stefano Lucantoni wrote:
>
> Well, I think there was a little misunderstanding and for sure it's my
> fault.
>
> I'm not the CEO but one of the three agile coaches of our company.
>
>
>
> Our work is focused on helping our company to upgrade its culture (we
> started as Scrum Masters and now we work at all the company levels) and
> Open Space is the most powerful tool to support us with this big challenge.
>
>
>
> Since the beginning I thought that as company coach and facilitator it
> could be ok to facilitate this meeting too, even tough I'm a company
> employee. Am I wrong?
>
>
>
> Anyway now I know that you Gerardo are very close to me and it would be
> great to establish a direct contact during the next days.
>
>
>
> Please, let me all know what you think.
>
>
>
> Tks everybody
>
> Stefano
>
>
> Il giorno 21/mar/2014, alle ore 21:51, Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> ha scritto:
>
> What a treat to have a CEO immersed in Open Space and an Agile Scrum guy
> to boot! I agree with Harrison; it will lead to amazing things for your
> company if you jump in the ring with everyone. So inspired. Wish we had met
> in Paris. I was there then. Keep us posted!
>
> Suzanne
>
> P.S. Gerardo translated Harrison's user guide in Italian. I have my very
> own copy which Gerardo signed dedicating it to my dad who read the book
> from cover to cover years ago in Italian. He was a medical doctor. He loved
> it!
>
> On Mar 21, 2014 4:24 PM, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Stefano – If Milano can talk to Roma, good things might happen!
>
>
>
> I was going to add in my previous note that while it is certainly possible
> for the CEO to facilitate an Open Space as you propose, that would not be
> my first choice for several reasons. First – no matter what you say you
> will STILL be the Boss (or whatever) – which makes it harder to believe
> that it really is Open Space, and that you are not setting the agenda. As
> you probably know by now, it is virtually impossible to “control” an Open
> Space. Certainly you can shut it down, but you and everybody else will be
> out of control, simply because everybody is “in control.” You know that,
> but your people don’t, at least for their first Open Space. So I would not
> put unneeded barriers in the way, even if they will be cast aside. The
> second reason that doing it yourself is problematical is that as
> facilitator, you really need to keep your hands out of things (present and
> invisible, so to speak). But then everybody loses, assuming that you have
> some value to add. Which I am sure you do.
>
>
>
> So do yourself and everybody else a favor. Invite my good friend Gerardo
> (Milano) to do the honors. And if he can’t, there are many other good
> folks, all speaking Italian. If he/they can take care of the space, you can
> have the marvelous fun of playing in it with all your comrades. At least
> that is what I would do.
>
>
>
> 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 *Stefano Lucantoni
> *Sent:* Friday, March 21, 2014 9:46 AM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] My first OS as a facilitator
>
>
>
> Hege, tks for your words.
> I'm very lucky because I'm part of a team (agile coaches team) who shared
> strong values and maybe our passion was capable to 'infect' our management.
>
> We hope OS will be a first step toward a new way to live collaboration in
> our company.
>
> We're going to do a one day Open Space.
>
> And to answer to a previous Suzanne question: we're located in Rome.
>
> Stefano
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 1:30 PM, Hege Steinsland <steinslandhege at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Stefano, I wish you all the best and congratulate you with your courage
> and the trust your company shows in you and the method! A great
> opportunity! I looke forward to listen to your experience. Are you doing a
> one ore two days Open space?
>
>
>
> All the best from
>
> Hege
>
> Norway.
>
> 21. mars 2014 kl. 13:16 skrev Stefano Lucantoni <
> stefano.lucantoni at gmail.com>:
>
>
>
> Thanks a lot Suzanne.
> I'm reading Harrison's guide again and again and I admit that the more I
> read it the more the stress drops down because it really seems to me that
> the Open Space is self sufficient or anyway needs a very small help.
>
> Thanks again for your support.
>
> Ciao
>
> Stefano
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 1:58 AM, Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Stefano...bravo! Love the theme, love that you will have 100 people and
> most especially that you have invited your organization into Open Space.
> Besides telling you to enjoy the experience, I would refer you to
> Harrison's guide. After 5 years I still go back to it to do the basic
> preparations and to also sink into my invisible role opening and holding
> the space. Where are you located?
>
> Thank you for sharing and making us part of your first experience.
> Remember you can do no wrong. It will happen with you and in spite of you.
> Keep us posted.
> Suzanne
>
> On Mar 20, 2014 6:49 PM, "Stefano Lucantoni" <stefano.lucantoni at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Dear all,
> I'm new to this OS world. After my first, and unique, OS experience in
> Paris during last September (The Global Scrum Gathering) I came back home
> with the idea to adopt this kind of meeting in my company too.
> On next March 31st my company's first Open Space meeting will take place
> and I'm going to be the facilitator. wow!
> We'll be around 100 people and the theme is "how could we make our company
> a better place to work?"
> If any of you have a suggestion to share with me, something that you would
> have been happy to receive before your first time as an OS facilitator, I
> think it would be really a gift for me.
>
> thanks all
> Stefano
>
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> --
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> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
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