[OSList] No silence in opening

[Harold Shinsato via OSList]

Hi Harrison! I was hoping you would answer. I actually listened to your
awesome CD set, "Understanding Open Space Technology" where you did those 2
things. And that's also what I generally do. I think more meditation and
sleep would have also helped, but with those 2 pieces I've never gotten
complaints before.

I'm sensing a need for something more... or probably more likely...
something less.

And I did leave and take a nap. I didn't get this complaint direct, but
second hand by email the morning after.

Harold
On Jun 15, 2015 3:07 PM, "Harrison" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Harold ... Two suggestions. First at the very beginning, I always stand at
> the edge of the circle in silence. Then, and only then, when the group has
> become quiet I say “Good morning. Welcome to Open Space.” I pause another
> moment (how long is a moment?) and I invite everybody to take a deep breath
> before the excitement of the day... and let their eyes slowly wander around
> the circle of those assembled, noticing the people they know, the ones they
> don’t know, and maybe even those they never want to know. I remind people
> that this is a unique moment in history, for never before has this group
> been assembled, and never again will it meet. Further, that this is a
> totally remarkable group, for it contains precisely the resources needed
> for the work of the day... which segue ways quite naturally into “our”
> theme.
>
>
>
> Second suggestion. When it seems that most of the issues have been
> announced... wait some more time in silence. Wait until it almost seems
> embarrassing...inviting any late comers. And just before your wait is “too
> long,” invite everybody to go to the wall and make their selections. Time
> for your nap!
>
>
>
> I guarantee you will get no complaints, and if there were any, you would
> not be around to hear them.
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
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> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Harold Shinsato via OSList
> *Sent:* Monday, June 15, 2015 1:15 PM
> *To:* OSLIST
> *Subject:* [OSList] No silence in opening
>
>
>
> The Open Space for the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center (
> http://civicrm.jrpc.org/rising-from-the-ashes) I facilitated this
> Saturday went extremely well. We had a full day of sessions and high levels
> of engagement, and the center's Executive Director said it way exceeded her
> expectations.
>
> After sitting in the glow of so many thank you's, gratitude, and "good
> job" the day of the event and afterwards - I was surprised and quite
> annoyed by a bit of feed back second hand through email...
>
>     "there should have been a 5-minute or so thinking time."
>
>     "Some people needed more quiet time to gather there thoughts."
>
> As people become more familiar with Open Space, my personal experience is
> that rather than a long awkward and anxiety filled pause as facilitators
> worry if anyone will post a session - instead, especially in public OST
> events, people launch and line up to populate the agenda. This has bothered
> me, but this is the first time I've heard the complaint of a *lack* of
> silence in the opening.
>
> After my initial annoyance, and speaking with an Open Space colleague, my
> wife, and another space holding professional, I wondered if this weren't
> actually something that can help there be authentic open space, and not
> just a cargo cult going through the motions.
>
> I'm pondering a way to help there be space before people come to the
> center to announce their sessions - but without doing some heavy
> facilitated silence or meditation process.
>
> Any thoughts, suggestions?
>
>     Thank you!
>     Harold
>
> --
> Harold Shinsato
> harold at shinsato.com
> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
>
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