Hi LIsa...this is such wise counsel and observation. Thank you for it.<br>
<br>
Chris<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 11/7/05, <b class="gmail_sendername">Lisa Heft</b> <<a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net">lisaheft@openingspace.net</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Hi, all </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Harrison wrote:</span></font></p>
<p><font color="red" face="Arial" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Keep the space open for action
again and again. But never force it, for that is to close the space.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="red" face="Arial" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I have found that
when action planning is not appropriate or when it was designed into an
OS and participants didn't engage to a high level it is for
various reasons.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<ul type="square">
<li style="color: black;"><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes it is because people didn't
get enough time for emergent/divergent thinking in Open Space (too short
they are asked to think of every possibility and then suddenly to
think in a linear way about what to move forward next).</span></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<ul type="square">
<li style="color: black;"><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes because the design for action is not
reflective of the energy of the group (I am one who prefers reopening the
space for action to support just the actions that have energy and
'champions'/stewards behind them, engaging passion and
personal responsibility instead of some group agreement on some
actions that are necessary that someone should work on)</span></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<ul type="square">
<li style="color: black;"><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes only the hosts/sponsors/clients want
action planning but if you were to ask what percentage of the
total group of participants are coming / would say they need action at
this event, the hosts might reflect that actually only 10% would want that
the rest come together to network, learn from one another and
share resources.<span> </span>Again,
inappropriate design to build in action planning if only the hosts or a
small percentage feel the need for it, for example, but the participants
are happy with the other deliverables of meeting in Open Space.</span></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<ul type="square">
<li style="color: black;"><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes I find that when I'm talking
to clients/sponsors/hosts they say they want action planning as part of
the design and with further discussion it turns out they want
tangible achievements at the end of the event.<span> </span>And they are *<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">used to</span></b>* seeing that as action
items.<span> </span>To measuring results in
action items.<span> </span>The Breaking
News posted all over the walls and the Book of Proceedings (given out
during or post-event) are indeed impressive achievements and with this,
the client feels that this is perfect for their / the group's needs.</span></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">And I think
it's also the way we sometimes measure things.<span> </span>So many people feel that nothing has
been achieved if action hasn't been a result of a 2 day (or whatever)
OS.<span> </span>Well: how do we *<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">know</span></b>* that action hasn't happened or
won't happen?<span> </span>And why does it
have to happen in a way (or timeframe) that we see it?<span> </span>It could be happening all over the place,
as a result of / kindled by / given nutrition from that Open Space and that
coming together of fabulous people.<span>
</span>And how do we know that action is just 'people getting together in
action planning groups or forming committees or announcing they are starting
projects'?<span> </span>It could be so
many things such as rich conversations that shift priorities or perceptions,
new collaborations that co-create mutual benefits, <span>new</span>
partnerships where resources will now be shared and budgets are enhanced
through sharing
</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Sometimes
people don't need to do action or aren't ready for it
because they have to tell their story (of pain, grief, loss, what once was)
and be fully witnessed / listened to in this story before they can move
to action.<span> </span>And that can't
always happen in just a few days.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Having said all
of the above, I also enjoy designing in action planning in Open Space if that
is what the situation calls for, and I see great things emerge in the reopening
of space towards the end of an OS meeting.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">From autumnal
action planning of trees turning fiery red, dropping their leaves and saving
their energy for <span>Spring's</span> new growth,</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Lisa</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black;">___________________________</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color: black;"></span></font></p>
<p><b><font color="blue" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue; font-weight: bold;">L i s
a<span> </span>H e f t</span></font></b></p>
<p><font color="blue" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue;">Consultant, Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>
<p><font color="blue" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue;">O p e n i n g<span> </span>S p a c e</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">2325 Oregon</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Berkeley, California</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">94705-1106<span> </span>USA</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">+01 510 548-8449</span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><font color="black">
<span style="color: black;">lisaheft@openingspace.net</span></font></a></span></font><font color="black"><span style="color: black;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><a href="http://www.openingspace.net" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><font color="black">
<span style="color: black;">www.openingspace.net</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><font color="red" face="Arial" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p style="margin-left: 1in;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>Consultation - Facilitation<br>Open Space Technology<br><br>Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
</a><br>Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a>