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

Chris Corrigan chris.corrigan at gmail.com
Mon Aug 25 19:34:19 PDT 2014


I once had a client tell me that Open Space was the best part of the best corporate retreat ever. And then then they never did it again. So I don't know. I believe them when they call back. 

;)

Chris

-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Harvest Moon Consultants
Facilitation, Open Space Technology and process design 

Check www.chriscorrigan.com for upcoming workshops, blog posts and free resources. 



> On Aug 25, 2014, at 2:57 PM, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> Martin ... I can't speak for anybody else, but my experience has been that
> when OS is "always," The Conference of the Year, sort of thing... it gets a
> little drab. Not to say old hat. I have zero problem with folks convening an
> OST any time them see the need. I have even less problem with them
> understanding that everything happens in open space (in the context of a
> self organizing world). And both of those together are just dynamite. BUT...
> Nothing of consequence ever happened on an annual/quarterly basis, I think.
> Serious stuff (other than taxes and Quarterly Reports) happened when it
> happened. And at that precise moment space needed to be open. In lots of
> cases, the space was automatically open simply because the usual under
> pinning's life were blown out of the way (new product, fiscal disaster, the
> competition). Under these circumstances, choice of theme is a no-brainer.
> Everybody knows! At other times, people intuit that the ground is
> shifting... and so in advance, to achieve advantage, or whatever... Open
> Space is a marvelous way to go. But the precise "question/issue" may be a
> little opaque. But so what? Emergence is always opaque -- until it happens.
> 
> Harrison  
> 
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
> Martin Boroson
> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2014 1:08 PM
> To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
> Subject: Re: [OSList] org'n works too good to use OST.?
> 
> 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
>> 
>> Winter Address
>> 7808 River Falls Drive
>> Potomac, MD 20854
>> 301-365-2093
>> 
>> Summer Address
>> 189 Beaucaire Ave.
>> Camden, ME 04843
>> 207-763-3261
>> 
>> Websites
>> www.openspaceworld.com
>> www.ho-image.com
>> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the 
>> archives of OSLIST Go 
>> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.or
>> g
>> 
>> -----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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