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<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=3>Hi
Joe,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=3></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial size=3>In doing OS I always start from a point that is the ideal
situation and then realize that much of what I need to work out is not in that
ideal. Now for your example. OS in small groups can work well. The synergy is
not the same.People do not feel so free to bumblebee and butterfly, although
this still surfaces---mentioning the difficulty for this in the opening and
using humour about it usually helps. In a small company people will feel that
they have to be there. Nothing you can do about that. And in every small group I
have worked with, when they get up to the wall to choose, they don't want to.
They want to stay together. Rule of thumb---don't interfere. Sometimes, they
find a way of repositioning everything on the wall so that they can stay
together. One group of 7 that I had moved all 21 of their topics and reallocated
time slots to them so that they could all stay together for all of them---and
just spend a few minutes in each. I thought it was impossible. they did a great
and productive job. Another group worked things so they stayed together for the
first session and then realized that if they were going to get everything
covered, they would have to split up. and they did in a number of
configurations, including a few times of 1 person only. that person didn't mind
and lots got done.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=3>From
my point of view as a facilitator, I like to avoid situations when possible of
less than 12. Mostly because I like my own energy to dance (very selfish) and
being of that extroverted nature that gets energized by a group, less than 12
doesn't do that for me. I find it flat. They don't. I do. Talk about
selfish!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=3>All
the best,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=3></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=190552003-11021999><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial size=3>Birgitt</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P><FONT size=2>Warmest regards,<BR>Birgitt<BR><BR>Birgitt Bolton of Dalar
Associates<BR>www.openspacetechnology.com<BR>55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario,
Canada<BR> L9G 2E8<BR>phone: 905-648-5775 fax: 905-648-2262</FONT>
</P>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@listserv.boisestate.edu]<B>On Behalf Of</B> Joe
Szostak<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 10, 1999 12:20 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> Small Group
OS<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Are there any special considerations when
using Open Space with a small group within a small company--say 7-12
people? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I have colleague who runs a small sporting
goods store. She is a remarkable person who won a national
Entrepreneur of the Year Award awhile back. She has taken pains to
grow her business through growing her people, and is quite interested in
trying OS for an all day planning session on how to further develop the
business, respond to new conditions, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I have used OS several times with medium
size groups of very diverse people from different organizations. And, to
repeat the question, am wondering if the situation I've described is any
different. For example, the first c</FONT><FONT size=2>oncerns that
come to my mind is how to set up meeting so that people are there
because they want to be rather because they feel they have to be....
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I'd appreciate your thoughts and
experiences.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Joe
Szostak</FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>