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<TITLE>Re: [OSLIST] PLAYBACK OST- To converge or not to converge</TITLE>
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Diane,<BR>
<BR>
Your posting is so clear and comprehensive. Thank you!! You inspire me to add sticky-dots, even for this group of 13. <BR>
<BR>
At the moment I am thinking:<BR>
<UL><LI>3:15 "afternoon news"
<LI>3:45ish - Sticky-dot the original agenda topics
<LI>silent reflection
<LI>write individual commitments
<LI>Once-around to read these aloud
<LI>4:30 - meet with whomever you wish to meet with to discuss action steps
<LI>5:10 - closing circle<BR>
</UL><BR>
I'm still open to feedback, and I look forward to sharing the story of this convervence on the list next week.<BR>
<BR>
Chris<BR>
<BR>
ps - Diane, would you be willing to post your convergence message on the Meta Network? I bet many people would benefit later from easy access to your thoughts.<BR>
<BR>
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>From: Diane Gibeault <dgp@cyberus.ca><BR>
>To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR>
>Subject: [OSLIST] PLAYBACK OST- To converge or not to converge<BR>
>Date: Tue, Jan 30, 2001, 6:14 PM<BR>
><BR>
<BR>
> Hi Chris,<BR>
> <BR>
> This is always a good topic to revisit. Convergence seems to me to be a<BR>
> very important part of any transformational process. OS and other group<BR>
> interventions for that matter are generally done with the intent or hope<BR>
> that some form of change to the present state will occur.<BR>
> <BR>
> The closing circle and convergence are two complementary but different<BR>
> levels of closure to the exploration created by OS. Convergence provides<BR>
> a focus, a concrete stepping stone for the future. Some groups who had<BR>
> experienced OS without convergence told me that they felt they ended<BR>
> with a long shopping list and no way to answer collectively their<BR>
> question "What now?"<BR>
> <BR>
> The group may really just want for that given meeting to explore but I<BR>
> always try to incorporate a way of doing some minimal convergence, even<BR>
> at an individual basis (people writing an interest / commitment down for<BR>
> themselves).<BR>
> <BR>
> I agree with being flexible to people's energy at the end. I also think<BR>
> it is important to announce to participants at the outset that some form<BR>
> of convergence is planned as this can affect their discussions.<BR>
> <BR>
> I find that the two examples of convergence you described ("twice around<BR>
> the circle" and "writing then grouping individual commitments for<BR>
> planning") are very interesting and give you that flexibility of<BR>
> choosing what fits best at the moment. It would work well with<BR>
> relatively small groups, maybe less with large groups -time and numbers<BR>
> at the wall if all post a commitment, then regrouping by topic.<BR>
> <BR>
> In addition to these individual commitments, I feel it is also important<BR>
> to have a picture of the collective reading of what the top hot issues<BR>
> to act on are for the group or organization. Clients have been very<BR>
> interested also. This is information that comes at a level which is<BR>
> different from the personal commitment about a given issue. A people<BR>
> may not have the possibility to commit themselves to more than one issue<BR>
> but may want to share with the group their perception of what else they<BR>
> feel is important. That collective view is a very different and useful<BR>
> piece of information for the group or organization.<BR>
> <BR>
> That is why I like to invite people as they read the discussion reports<BR>
> or reflect on the day to identify what they feel "with passion" are the<BR>
> top 3 or 5 top issues for themselves and the organization. A quick way<BR>
> of getting that picture is the old sticky dot or check mark on the topic<BR>
> issues on the wall. If new issues or different formulation of issues<BR>
> need to be added, participants post theme to the wall at that time.<BR>
> There is rarely a bottleneck of people voting at the wall since everyone<BR>
> does it at their own rhythm during the reading period. Then a quick<BR>
> glance usually tells you what the top ones are and if desired, a quick<BR>
> count of dots on those gives you more precisely their hierarchy of<BR>
> importance.<BR>
> <BR>
> Then, to action plan on collective issues and on people's personal<BR>
> passion you could use one of the two approaches you described or<BR>
> Harrison's approach which goes roughly like this: people can regroup<BR>
> under the top 5 - or more- issues or any other if they care to, so they<BR>
> can note related issues, share their thoughts on next steps, and<BR>
> communicate their individual commitments. Consistent with OS principles,<BR>
> people can go to more than one issue group if they so wish.<BR>
> <BR>
> I always enjoy exchanges on convergence because I always discover new<BR>
> options on how to converge while being flexible with the group's energy<BR>
> and needs.<BR>
> <BR>
> Thanks for bringing it up.<BR>
> <BR>
> Diane Gibeault<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
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