[OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.?

Sun Aug 24 10:08:12 PDT 2014

Thomas

Your interesting situation and questions have provoked some deep reactions
in me. Thank you!

First, I wonder why there is need for an Open Space to be exciting and
dramatic. Yes, as a paid facilitator, who wants his client to feel that the
event was worthwhile, I would want the event to be dramatic, powerful,
transformative.  Personally, some of the most wonderful moments of my life,
as facilitator, are when I have opened the space for a group that is
troubled or stuck or anxious, and then see them break through into their
passions and their truth, or experience an OS kind of freedom for the first
time. But I wonder if we, as facilitators, can get addicted to that
experience? I mean, how many Big Bangs can one have? :)  And I would be
concerned about any attempt to artificially raise the energy for the group
in advance.

Second, it seems to me that cycles are part of life, and there are times for
dormancy, slowing down, percolation, and other times for bursting forth.  So
maybe it is okay to have an Open Space in which nothing dramatic
happens--presumably that is just a reflection of where the group is at, and
that's okay. So I am wondering if it is okay to sit with boredom?  As a
creativity junkie, I have had to learn that not all times are
creative--sometimes I just have to clean the house. 

(On a deeper level, these issues are really about "enlightenment"--and the
issue of whether it happens just once or many times, and also, what you do
after enlightenment. Some people do indeed have trouble coming back to an
ordinary life after an experience of enlightenment. And some people become
breakthrough junkies, always in search of a bigger bang.)

Finally, I was a bit confused by Harrison's statement that an Open Space
only be held when needed, and not be done just because "the calendar has hit
a certain date." I certainly understand that the "ideal" conditions for an
OS are when there is a sense of urgency--high passion, tight deadline, big
problem, etc.  But I have always thought it would be nice for an
organization to have an Open Space on a regular basis just to "take the
pulse." The idea of this would be that employees would know that there is a
regularly available space in which to bring up issues and work on them, and
that the managers will be present and listening in that space.  Yes,
sometimes it will be boring. Other times, unexpectedly exciting. At
sometimes, it will be just a chance to take a nap. And at other times,
something so hot will emerge that an OS needs to be scheduled just on that
topic.  So, I'm curious to know if anyone has experience with organizations
who have regularly-calendared Open Space events.

Warmly,

Marty
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
Thomas Herrmann
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 4:33 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.?

THanks for your responses Eric, Elisabeth and HO I have never used any
warm-ups in an OST but it sure would be interesting to see how that would
work! A "real" theme has always worked for my groups and I like that. Your
suggestion Harrison is pretty close to the theme already chosen (From good
to best (but in Swedish)) - but I think it was not communicated clearly,
with passion. It will be interesting how things work out on Friday. And what
they/we come up with.

One idea that struck me is to use a fish-bowl start where the leaders - and
if others care to join - clarify way ahead.

Another thing. As I shared earlier we had a brief report out in the morning,
before starting. I had preferred to have it in a separate room but due to
difficulties with microphones we had it besides the circle. 9 groups that
started last year shared - one minute each - their achievements. And there
were some quite major achievements. Hmm maybe this set a tone that
interfered.

It is always difficult to know what affects what and how. I very seldom have
any activities such as presentations before starting. Hmm

Hmmm.
More comments very welcome
Hugs
Thomas

23 aug 2014 kl. 16:30 skrev Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>:

> One of the problems of doing an Open Space as an "annual affair" is 
> simply that it is done because it has "always" been done -- and not 
> because there is some specific, high passion issue and opportunity. In 
> my experience, the predictable result is (unfortunately) what you 
> experienced. And as is true with any sort of meeting... if there is no 
> compelling reason to have it -- Why bother? My practice is Open Space 
> when you need space opened -- and never because the calendar has hit a 
> certain date. All that said... For your second event how about 
> something like this..."Things are great! How do we make them greater?
Issues and Opportunities."
> 
> Harrison
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf 
> Of Thomas Herrmann
> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 8:27 AM
> To: OSLIST
> Subject: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.?
> 
> Had a "funny" experience yesterday when I facilitated an OST with an 
> organization that I mentioned about earlier, they have dived into OST 
> and use the approach more and more in everyday life. Every August they 
> have 1-2 days with all employees. Last year we had 2 full days (twice 
> with half the staff each time) in OST resulting in a total of 23 
> action plans implemented by self managed workgroups. We have had 
> follow up meetings reporting the progress from teams that now have 
> dissolved or are still working. Their business (a hospital) now runs 
> really smoothly, producing well over targets with energy and high spirit.
> Out of different reasons the message for the first of this years 
> conferences (one full day, next Friday is the next - for the other 
> half of the staff) was a bit blurry (in my opinion/how I experience 
> it) so the energy was not so high (setting agenda was really slooooow, 
> didn't experience anything like that in the hundreds of events I have 
> facilitated!) and some thought the day was a bit boring/slow. At the 
> end most who were still there were happy(some left early - long day on 
> Friday is not a good choice either)  - 9 action plans with concrete 
> improvements! I used re-opening space, so it was all by invitation (-:
> 
> Anyhow, a challenge may be to find a really hot theme when business 
> runs so good. I am now in communication with the leadership about how 
> we can get the steam going better next Friday.
> Any experiences to share, ideas and/or suggestions?
> Warm regards
> Thomas Herrmann
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