[OSList] Closing circle in French Speaking Africa

[Christine via OSList]

They were national heads and OD people from a worldwide organization.
 Indeed Harrison, I was expecting this kind of reaction, but it didn't come, I don't know why, although they came from all parts of Africa except South and East Africa.
But they loved it immediately. One of them told me he will start  using it nexr week for his board meeting.
People from Maghreb were worried in the beginning and saw limits (one guy was upset people had not read the document they were supposed to have read beforehand).

I was although  surprised by the quiteness of women. They were fewer than men and also fewer to occupy high positions (which is the same in some groups I work with in France) , and did not speak much during morning and evening news.  Of course they participated fully in the breakout sessions. On the 3rd day I think things were changing. Yet no woman told me she was going to use it.

I was expecting remarks about having to kneel down to write topics (i have had this here) but no, although it didn't go unoticed : i got a question about why it was so by a person with a very high position (who did not post topics, but admitted the meeting had been more interesting than what he expected)

I can't imagine they didn't find it familiar but I don't know why they did not menton it

Christine 


> Le 12 juin 2015 à 19:53, Harrison <hhowen at verizon.net> a écrit :
> 
> Christine – Job well done! Congratulations, and thanks so much for sharing.  I am curious who the participants were. Often when I am in Africa, people will say, “This (OS) is just like we used to do – where did you learn it?” I always smile and tell the truth. My inspiration for Open Space came from Africa.
>  
> Harrison
>  
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> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of christine koehler via OSList
> Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 11:31 AM
> To: OSLIST
> Subject: [OSList] Closing circle in French Speaking Africa
>  
> Hi 
>  
> Coming back today from a 3 days OST in Africa, with 35 participants from more than 18 French speaking countries, I would like to share with you a few words from the closing circle.My hope is that this will help spread OST in Africa.
> christine
>  
> "It was a very important meeting , thank you . What we heard was different than usual. "  `
>  
> "It was a very rich meeting , even for the very old leader that I am . " 
>  
>  "I am more than satisfied because for me usually three days in one place is a waste of time . But there I learned a lot. We will bring the recommendations of that meeting to the General Assembly ." 
>  
>  " Usually when we come to a workshop, we put our computer on the table,  open them and spend  50% of our time working on our daily problems . There I regret having brought my computer because I did not use it. "
>  
> "It was time to find this way of working: it is important to get help from ones peers when you have gone through many failure. Big or small we face the same  challenges. "
>  
> "At first I did not know why my organization had been invited. Because I did not know what my role was, so I listened. And it got me thinking. I'll take up the results of this meeting at the highest level "
>  
> "At first I asked myself many questions. Now I am very happy. First for discovering the method. We are leaders and we know that we are very isolated. Here it was like a 3 days collective intervision . Then because it strengthened my conviction: we have many responsibilities and we must take what interests us and what concerns us. It is for us to take move forward. Finally I would like to share the emotion I felt when I  felt the real motivation of wanting to change the world through what we do. "
>  
> en français 
>  
>  
> « C’était une réunion très importante, merci. On a vu des discours différents par rapports à d’habitude. « 
>  
> « C’était une réunion très riche, même pour le très vieux responsable  que je suis. »
>  
> "Je suis plus que satisfait car pour moi d'habitude 3 jours au même endroit c’est une perte de temps. Mais là j’ai beaucoup appris. Nous allons porter les recommandations de cette réunion à l’assemblée générale ».
>  
> "D’habitude quand on arrive à un atelier, on ouvre nos ordinateurs et on travaille à 50% à nos problèmes  quotidiens. Là je regrette d’avoir apporté mon ordinateur car je ne l’ai pas utilisé. « 
>  
> "Il était temps qu’on trouve ce genre de fonctionnement : c’est important de se faire aider de ses pairs quand on a vécu beaucoup d’échec. 
> Grands ou petits on a les mêmes défis. « 
>  
> "Au début je ne savais pas pourquoi mon organisation avait été  invitée. Comme je ne savais pas quel était mon rôle, alors j’ai écouté. Et ça m'a fait réfléchir. Je vais remonter les résultats de cette réunion au plus haut niveau »
> « Au début  je me posais beaucoup de questions. Maintenant je suis très content. D’abord pour avoir découvert la méthode. Nous sommes dirigeants et  nous savons que nous sommes très  isolés. Ici c’était comme une grande intervision collective de 3 jours. Ensuite car cela a renforcé ma  conviction : nous avons beaucoup de responsabilités et nous devons prendre ce qui nous intéresse et qui nous concerne. C’est à nous de nous bouger avant tout.  Enfin je voudrais partager une émotion que j’ai ressenti à sentir la vraie motivation de vouloir changer le monde à travers ce que nous faisons. »
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