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Hello Allison, Lise,<br>
<br>
Lise, I appreciate your post. Your excellent idea sparked an idea of my
own.<br>
<br>
<span class="666534508-22112005"><span class="666534508-22112005"><font
face="Arial" color="#0000ff" size="2">You can put up the different
asssumptions at to different slides - presenting one way of seing the
world - and another way.. - and then it is up to the participants to
decide their attitude...</font></span></span><br>
<br>
Allison, if you first write the paper about pros/cons looking at an OST
conference compared with a traditional conference, using Lise's
methodology. Then as your invitation in the 10 minute sessions: What
works and what doesn't work at conferences OST and otherwise? What
would you change, what would you keep? And your participants can
document their conclusions and provide that as a post-event-paper.<br>
<br>
A couple of other things come to mind - <br>
<br>
Wow, what a challenge shrinking OST into a 10 minute experience - how
open is that invitation? How does the type of invitation limit, filter,
color what is received by the person accepting the invitation? When we
assume how others best experience gathering information, coming
together at a conference, what do we lose and what do we gain?<br>
<br>
Even if the conference organizer says that everyone has already
experienced OST it doesn't mean he's right, or that the statement is
true. I can't count the number of people who I've talked to about Open
Space or who've attended an Open Space that I'm hosting who said: "I
thought I knew what Open Space was and had experienced it, but I was
wrong. What you're doing/describing is so much different (and better)
than what I did, that I had been called Open Space." - For me the
conference organizer seems to be making another big assumption about
other people's experiences - and is limiting what is possible. (Maybe
the organizer has given a survey and has more information than you or I
- I can't know until I've asked.)<br>
<br>
Leading to another comment - if you don't believe something is
possible, you will most likely realize your own prophecy.<br>
<br>
Is there a possibility to open space outside of the scheduled
conference times, perhaps in the evening? That way people could get a
bigger taste of OST.<br>
<br>
The last thing I'll add here (very long - for email) story that my wife
Maureen McCarthy (a lovely woman with whom I do all my work with) wrote
called "No More Conferences". Allison, I'll send you a separate email
with a Word attachment.<br>
<br>
<b>No More Conferences<br>
</b>by Maureen McCarthy<br>
<br>
I flipped by an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation the other
night. In the opening, a group of officers are returning to the ship
after spending a week at a space conference. They were complaining that
Dr. Florck (not his real name) bored them to tears with his monotonous
lecture on the theory transpectoral anomolies. And I thought, "This
show is supposed to take place, what, 3000 years from now? Life will
not be worth living if we’re still holding conferences in the same old
style that far into the future!"<br>
<br>
There is an assumption about meetings and gatherings that’s so old it’s
almost genetic. Conferences ask people to come as passive information
gatherers. We're drawn by big name speakers and then sit and wait for
information to flow downwards. Yet when you ask people where they
learned and contributed the most, they’ll inevitably say it was dinner
with Tom or a passionate discussion over drinks with Katie and Jack. We
need to re-evaluate how we create large group events to take advantage
of the way we’re beginning to see, create and connect the world today.
Our old style hierarchical models just aren’t as effective anymore, and
current conferences are still based on them.<br>
<br>
When we sit in classroom or theater-style seating, the premise says the
person at the front of the room has the most knowledge and power, he’s
the leader. And once we’re there, we’re stuck listening to the boring
lecture of Dr. Florck …no escape.<br>
<br>
Take a look at our definitions of leadership over time. Two thousand
years before Christ, leadership was characterized by physical
domination. "If I conquer you, you follow me." Then we moved into the
last 2000 years up till today, which has largely been leadership
through intellectual domination. "I have the information and I'll let
you know when it's time for you to know." It’s what our corporations,
religious institutions and governments are based on. The hierarchical
business models all stem from this thought process and hence our
conferences.<br>
<br>
But, like it or not, we’re moving into a new model of leadership and
interaction. It is one based on what I call a Wisdom Web. We’re
currently living in an age of information overload. If I want to
continue to be a hierarchical leader, I’m fooling myself to believe I
can contain and control all the information and decision-making that is
required to run a business today. I need to know when to lead and when
to step back and encourage others to lead. And the only way for me to
do this is to better know myself and where my strengths and passions
lie, and then to ask the pertinent questions to better know and
understand others. My knowledge is no longer contained in my head, but
in the web of people I connect with as well. That’s true power.<br>
<br>
It's the difference between giving a classroom of 10-year-olds three
weeks to do a paper on Martin Luther King in 1975 versus today. In 1975
we went to the library, combed through the encyclopedias, Reader’s
Guide to Periodical Literature and the card file and used the last few
days to write the paper. Today a kid goes home the first night, logs
onto the internet and suddenly has 575,000 entries on Martin Luther
King. She now has three weeks to sift through the information, which is
a different skill altogether than the gathering of information we grew
up with. Classroom style learning is hierarchical and says the teacher
knows the most. Imagine if the teacher of today discounted the email
that a student received from Martin Luther King’s great grandson
because it was a piece of information she didn’t possess? Business is
no different. Leaving someone out of the mix because they don’t sit
high enough on the hierarchical org chart will only hurt you and the
organization. There’s way too much information out there to sift
through all of it yourself.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Four areas to consider to better harness the Wisdom Web in large group
settings<br>
<br>
INVITE Start with the invitation. Rather than invite and entice by
publicizing the names of "important" speakers or workshop facilitators,
we need to show every person the entire participant list. Similar to
the way <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.evite.com">www.evite.com</a> works, share the invite list electronically so
people can know who’s coming. Like a high school reunion, the catalyst
to come is often someone you want to see. People can be asked to answer
questions in the RSVP about issues that are top of mind, areas of
discussion that would be beneficial, and stories to tell in relation to
the purpose of the gathering. That way if I’m trying to decide whether
or not to come, the entire knowledge base available can be considered.
I may see that Mary, whom I’ve never met before, is passionate about or
frustrated by the same thing and it’s important for me to meet her. Or
maybe Daniel is someone I know and trust and if I see that he’s coming
I might be more apt to join in.<br>
<br>
The traditional "big name" speakers become "one of the guys" in the
invite list. Promote everyone as the expert, because we are. That's
certainly been the power of the internet. Let’s now use that power to
create face-to-face conversations that throw status out the window and
create a level playing field according to knowledge and passions. There
is a wealth of knowledge within all of us and we miss out when we
believe only a chosen few have something significant to say. Now I
might be enticed to attend because an industry thought leader or
favorite author will be there, but it’s not the sole reason. It also
helps me to come prepared to give rather than just receive.<br>
<br>
INVOLVE Storytelling v. Keynote Speaking. A lecture or keynote
speech is interesting when someone is sharing knowledge you don’t
already possess or your mind is opened to something new. Rather than an
individual or committee choosing speakers for the gathering, create a
Storytelling Arena. Designate a particular area of the gathering for
people to sit in theater style seating. It becomes the stage that
anyone can take by signing up to an allotted time. People come and go
as their interest is piqued, so the audience ebbs and flows, but it
offers an opportunity for anyone to share in a one-way form of
communication. We need storytellers, researchers, cutting edge thinkers
to inspire our conversations. Set aside time to hear the latest
research or innovative idea, but use it as a way to spark conversation
and action among the rest of the participants. The room may be
overflowing when the industry leader speaks, certain people do draw a
crowd, but everyone has the opportunity to be the "keynote speaker" if
they choose. Tell us about what you're currently working on; what works
for you; your latest book, workshop, or paper; sing a song, share a
poem, tell a tale . . . whatever will get the juices flowing. Then we
can weave it back into the rest of the gathering and use it as a
conversation starter for even more momentum.<br>
<br>
COMMUNICATE Creating multiple , organic discussion. Have you ever
heard an author or speaker talking about something you're really
interested in? Chances are there’s a lot of other people in the
audience who share the same passion. Yet we walk out of the speech
without sharing what's going on in our heads or connecting with one or
many people present to build off the initial ideas. The friend who came
with us might hear how inspired we are, but it's not the same as 10, 25
or 500 of those people in the room beginning a passionate discussion
while it's top of mind. When these conversations start, the dividing
line between who's leading and who's following is quite blurred and the
speaker can take part to whatever level he or she is interested as
well. The speaker becomes the catalyst for the rest to do the dance of
leader and follower.<br>
<br>
Open Space Technology and The World Café are two examples of large
group conversation approaches that address this. Open Space Technology
( <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.openspaceworld.org">www.openspaceworld.org</a> ) begins with an invitation drawing people to
talk about an over arching topic; like what is the future of our
industry or innovation in technology. In other words, whatever you want
the conference theme to be. After that, no agenda is set till the
people arrive and create it themselves. Five to a thousand people are
seated in concentric circles because no one is at the head or foot of
this gathering. Participants are asked to take flipchart paper and
marker to post discussion topics regarding their thoughts, ideas,
conversations, solutions, frustrations etc. they have related to the
theme of the invitation. In a matter of 20 minutes, an entire 5-day
conference agenda is on the wall and has become the Marketplace of
Ideas. Meeting place and time are arranged via Post-it Note on the
flipchart page, so anyone can join the discussion at any time. When you
post a topic you don’t have to be an expert or give a speech, you just
open the conversation and make sure notes are taken. Notes from all
conversations are shared with all participants at the end of each day.
The power of Open Space comes from the Law of Two Feet. It states that
if you’re not learning and/or contributing in a conversation, use your
two feet and go elsewhere. Sit in on another conversation, have coffee
with Sue or make a phone call. Never stay where you don’t want to be
because it drains the energy of people wanting to be present. Open
Space is passion bounded by responsibility. You’re responsible for your
own experience, so if something you want to talk about never gets
talked about, you only have yourself to blame.<br>
<br>
The World Café ( <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.theworldcafe.com">www.theworldcafe.com</a> ) is similar to Open Space
Technology, but is a little more structured. People are invited to the
large group conversation based on a theme or invitation. This time the
room is set up like a café. Tables seating no more than 4 or 5 are
covered with tablecloths and flowers. Music is playing, people come in,
grab a drink or a snack, sit down wherever they like and conversation
naturally begins. There’s a familiarity about the café setting that
makes facilitation virtually unnecessary. You begin by asking an
overarching question related to the invitation, allow people talk for
45 minutes or an hour and then ask them to switch tables. One person
remains at each table, and as new people sit down, they take a few
minutes to relay what each of the other tables talked about. Now you
ask a deeper level question and let people chat again and so on and so
on depending on the amount of time you have. There are also large
sheets of paper and markers on the tables for people to draw and write
colorful notes as they go along. I often place a stack of 5x7 index
cards on each table and ask people to capture one thought per card as
the conversation is taking place. These cards are then tacked to a
large white poster paper mural on the wall so everyone can see the
threads of the conversations. Sometimes we group<br>
<br>
CONNECT Electronically connecting follow-up and on-going
conversation. Have you noticed that the energy of a conference dies
down when we get home? But when you encourage people to take
responsibility for their learning and contribution, they inevitably
take responsibility for their follow-up and action. When you use Open
Space Technology or World Café there is an element of conversation
capturing that rarely goes on at traditional conferences. The
conversation topics, bullet-pointed notes and list of participants are
shared online or via email. This gives us an open line for further
communication and a way to take part in something we missed, even at a
later date. It’s also important to share the contact information of
everyone who attended. We often exchange business cards with a few
people at a conference, but what about the people we didn’t get a
chance to connect with, or the contact info we misplace? Gone are the
days when people hide behind a secretary as a sign of power. The Wisdom
Web insists that we are accessible and open to sharing. As an example,
I like the way Fast Company Magazine has the contact information of the
writer and the subject matter and the end of every article. It takes
the reading experience to a new level because you can contact someone
for further conversation.<br>
<br>
We can keep the momentum of large group gatherings going after we’ve
boarded the plane when we invite, involve, communicate and connect
without the ties of hierarchical structure. I’m ready to reinvent the
conference, so much so that it’s not even called a conference anymore.
The term conference, which comes from the root "to confer," means to
bestow information, as in a parent teacher conference. I believe that
if we start gathering instead of conferring, maybe, just maybe, we can
rewrite the future. And the next generation of Star Trek won’t have to
be subjected to the ho-hum of the conference.<br>
<br>
by Maureen McCarthy<br>
<br>
Zelle here - thanks so much for listening:<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>
Isle of Skye
<br>
2021 Greenville Hwy
<br>
Flat Rock, NC 28731
<br>
USA
<br>
<br>
Allison & Jim Baensch wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid53F84295-BF39-425A-BAAD-C43E3E7E267A@iinet.net.au">Hi Lise,
<div>You are right, it is a challenge for me.</div>
<div>I do enjoy variety and new opportunities.</div>
<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</div>
<div>In your email you said:</div>
<blockquote type="cite"><span class="666534508-22112005">
<div style=""><span class="666534508-22112005"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">You have only 90
minutes: - the assumption is: The speaker transfer her knowledge to the
participants by giving a paper and a speach</span></font></span></div>
<div style=""><span class="666534508-22112005"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">OST-assumption: We
all (also participants) have lot of knowledge, what we need is to sort
it out - meaning relating to our one knowledge, deciding our attitude.</span></font></span></div>
</span></blockquote>
<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</div>
In fact, I have up to 10 minutes with each new group, so I need to say
as little as possible and then get feedback from the group members.<br>
<div>That may be good experience for me - to describe OST and open a
new space all within maybe 3 or 4 minutes, to a mixed group... </div>
<div>then get feedback recorded in the remaining 5 minutes before one
group leaves and the next group meanders in.</div>
<div>Cheers to you in clouded, cold Copenhagen,</div>
<div>from </div>
<div>Allison.</div>
<div>(Crisp dark evening now - 9pm)</div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>On 22/11/2005, at 8:34 PM, Lise Damkjar wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Hello Allison and everybody on the list!</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">You really put yourself into a challenge! And
it is very interesting because everyone of us (my guess) meet these
requirements for conferences and reservations about OST. It tells us
something important about the possibilities in OST!</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">If I found myself in that position (I hope
not, but...) I would put up some assumptions/beliefs - some leading to
the traditional conference (as the one, you are attending) and some
leading to OST. I would find the beliefs from thinking about this
actual conference: why do we do stuff like this? (and here the
difficulty could be to be appreciative, but that's important!)</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">I have tried a little here...</font></span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005">
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">- Groups rotating... - the assumption: it is
more important to hear a something about everything (and then you can
always search more information afterwards) </font></span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">OST-assumption: You learn the most from being
in dialogue about what you are really passionated about</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">You have only 90 minutes: - the assumption
is: The speaker transfer her knowledge to the participants by giving a
paper and a speach</font></span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">OST-assumption: We all (also participants)
have lot of knowledge, what we need is to sort it out - meaning
relating to our one knowledge, deciding our attitude.</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Organizers assumption: Participants have
tried OST before and already know about it</font> </span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">OST-assumption: The participant's who already
tried OST would love to do it once more and the more they know about
it, the more they know that they now have the possibility of learning
even more.</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Organizers: Some people don't want to speak
in public</font></span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">OST: You don't need to - and if you are
passionated about something it's easier to talk about it</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">You can put up the different asssumptions at
to different slides - presenting one way of seing the world - and
another way.. - and then it is up to the participants to decide their
attitude...</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Have a nice conferece!</font></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Lise</font></span></div>
<div><span class="666534508-22112005"><font face="Arial"
color="#0000ff" size="2">Clouded and cold Copenhagen..</font></span></div>
</span></div>
<blockquote>
<div class="OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr" align="left"><font
class="Apple-style-span" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><br
class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</span></font></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</div>
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