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Wow!<br>
<br>
Lots said. So many wonderful ideas and thoughts! Hooray for the
OSLIST!!!<br>
<br>
I've many things to write all in the spirit of a smile and an arm
around the group's shoulders:<br>
<br>
1) I second Harrison's thoughts:<br>
<br>
<pre wrap="">it has been my experience that
even in intensely conflicted situations the groups themselves will find
their best way. This can be very nervous making for the facilitator, but in
all the years that I have been working in Open Space I have never seen a
situation in which the group did not find an effective way to deal with its
conflict -- and perhaps more to the point did not learn mountains for having
dealt with their issues. The whole thing can seem extraordinarily messy, and
the urge to clean it up and calm it down can be almost overwhelming. BUT --
the people will make it. They always have if not in one session then in a
following one, or as a congregation of bumble bees or a flight of
butterflies.
</pre>
In my practice I've stepped fully out of the room and out of the topic
when anyone
asks me to facilitate, or mediate an issue and have found the group is
much better for having learned how to work out their issues together.
That's what I witnessed and that's what I've been told after stepping
out and letting the open space be filled with energy other than mine.<br>
<br>
2) I second Lisa's thoughts: <br>
<br>
<font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">To
clarify - I mean "invited" and
"designed-into-the-program" speeches or traditional workshops should
not be placed into the OS day (and if the conference hosts really feel
they
must include these things, they should place them the day before OS
even
opens).</span></font><br>
<br>
and wish to add:<br>
<br>
We have an ability as facilitators of an event to plan for non-OST
portions of a conference or whatever. And I have seen key note
speakers, process/skill learning days prior to 1, 2, or 3 days of Open
Space work incredibly when, given that the larger invitation, the
"scheduled" bit, and the spoken invitation are all in alignment with
each other and form a consistent purpose for gathering. I always refer
to and encourage/invite people to post topics about what they've been
doing, what they experienced the day before and to use the Open Space
as a way to expand and cross polinate ideas that were sparked by the
"scheduled" bits. I also encourage/invite participants to post topics
on anything else that fits under the umbrella topic of the whole event.<br>
<br>
3) Sometimes when I'm opening the space I refer to the act of posting
topics as creating a mini invitation within the larger invitation, and
if it is appropriate, for the person posting the topic (invitation) to
state how they intend to meet if it is different from the group norm
(in this case, conversation in circle), just as we do when we write an
Open Space invitation and talk about what the event/gathering is and
how people will be invited to interact. Just as with Open Space events,
a well crafted invitation brings the right people.<br>
<br>
Sometimes I'll get the question, what happens if no one comes to my
topic. And I tell them that they have several options - 1 is to wait,
noting the principles whoever comes, when it starts..., when it's
over..., whatever happens... 2 is to take notes about what ideas are in
your head, so that others can learn later if in that moment their two
feet had taken them somewhere other than to the convener's topic and 3
is to explore how they created their invitation. Are there other words
or a different way to state their topic and it's purpose. The idea may
be great but if the invitation is fuzzy or ill worded it may not
inspire excitement.<br>
<br>
4) I've also hosted events where we've created space for one-way,
speaker type interactions to take place, which we titled storytelling
sessions within the Open Space framework. There happened to be a strong
demand for many people to share their ideas contributions to an
emerging field. Creating, providing a specific break-out area for
one-way communication (storytelling) created a place where participants
who wanted to gain knowledge from an "expert" could know where to go.
(Another way to display/indicate a storytelling topic was with a
post-it note shaped like a flower, to designate the topic as a
storytelling session). And as Lisa says, let the presenter know how
Open Space works and what to expect:<br>
<br>
Lisa wrote:<br>
<br>
<font size="2" color="black" face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: black;">it’s
just when some
presenter-types approach the conference organizer with (or the
organizer or
co-hosts hear someone is interested in doing) a didactic
(expert-to-audience)
presentation (<span class="SpellE">powerpoint</span>, speech, whatever)
that it’s
a great thing (when talking with that person before the conference) to
inform
them that this is a little different than another kind of conference –
that people may be coming in and out of their presentation as they
sample the
marketplace of ideas, that you do (or do not) have technical capability
or a
room to show their <span class="SpellE">powerpoint</span>, whatever. <span
style=""> </span>To me, it’s just a thoughtful part
of invitation – letting folks who need to know about what tools are
available and that it’s all rather a <span class="SpellE">flowy</span>
day
of folks sampling allsorts of juicy conversations and teaching and
learning
together in this way throughout the day.</span></font><br>
<br>
<br>
In my experience the presenters modified their style to include a
greater degree of conversation and through the spirit of Open Space
there was room for one-way learning (expert to audience) to take place
deeply interwoven with rich conversations. Including butterflys and
bumblebees contributing to the mix.<br>
<br>
5) Jimmy wrote:<br>
<br>
"I guess I am imagining myself as a participant that wants to use a
slower, more reflective process to consider a particular topic, rather
than a fast and loose conversation. I fear that if I merely say, I
want to talk about x, that I will end up with a group that wants to use
a
fast and loose conversation and my only option if I don't like it is to
use the law of two feet. So, I want to invite others to talk with
me about x in a particular way. And <b><i>the manner of
conversation is as important as the topic</i></b>. "<br>
<br>
I've found the law of two feet to be very powerful for finding a way to
create the type of space the participant is looking to be in.<br>
<br>
And as Lisa wrote:<br>
<br>
"Trust the people, trust the process." <br>
<br>
And it will be perfect. Whatever happens is the only thing that could.<br>
<br>
with grace and love,
<br>
<br>
Zelle
<br>
<br>
************
<br>
Zelle Nelson
<br>
Engaging the Soul at Work/Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.stateofgracedocument.com">www.stateofgracedocument.com</a>
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:zelle@maureenandzelle.com">zelle@maureenandzelle.com</a>
<br>
<br>
office - 001.828.693.0802
<br>
mobile - 001.847.951.7030
<br>
<br>
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<br>
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<br>
USA
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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