[OSList] not quite open space

[Michael Herman via OSList]

last week i discovered a kind of Not Quite Open Space.  (with my hat off
and a forwards bow to paul levy, who posted here a Most Remarkable and
totally unrelated Winnie-the-Pooh story last week.)

i've always understood that the whole point of opening space is to get All
The Issues That Matter up on the wall, so that everyone can see, understand
and deal with them.  Last week I noticed that there's at least one other
way to go through the usual motions, but really just go through the
motions, to Not Quite Open the space.

The alternative to inviting and making space for all the issues to be
voiced and posted, is to choose what the facilitator or sponsor pre-decides
is the right number of rounds and sessions and then, merely Seek To Fill
all (or at least most) of the "spaces."  In their mind, they seem to be
thinking *"We're going to have Open SpaceS, and we need about ___ many of
them."*

in 20 years, i don't think it ever occurred to me to do it this way.  and
i'm not here recommending it.  i'm sure it limits what happens.  for me it
also falls into the category of Trying To Get People To Do Stuff.  but it
seems to actually happen in the world, sometimes.  maybe even often?

so it seems a useful distinction to look out for:  am i trying to fill all
the spaces or have a certain number of breakout conversations -- or am i
really trying to invite ALL the issues and opportunities out of the circle
and onto the wall?

the latter is almost surely more messy, more uncertain, and takes longer...
but it may well be that some of the most important work happens in the
sorting of Too Many Issues for the spaces available.

are there other subtle things have you noticed that seem to make the
difference between Open Space and Not Quite Open Space?

michael



--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
312-280-7838 (mobile)

http://MichaelHerman.com
http://OpenSpaceWorld.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20151213/a38f2373/attachment.htm>