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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Hi, dear Thomas --</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>You wrote:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.25in'><i><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'><In
almost all OS-meetings I’ve facilitated the sponsor has started off
welcoming the participants and addressing the theme etc. Not always it has been
perfect. Today I received the idea from one of our participants to start off by
having an open dialogue with the sponsor by asking each other some questions
and talking openly in front of the participants. For example: What do you want
with this day/days? Why did you choose OST as the meeting format? I think the
idea is brilliant and I will try this asap. Did you try this? What do you
think?? Do you have any ideas regarding this conversation?></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Like others, I also feel that anything said in the beginning besides
the explanation of the process, the invitation to post topics and the
explanation of how the day will go is getting in the way of the work. (and like
others have said, I think all these questions with the client are great but should
be asked in the pre-work - to help inform the design of the focusing
question/theme, the invitation, and the facilitator's knowledge of context,
setting and cultural codes or vocabulary specific to that organization or
community). </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Who was it? One of you, dear colleagues...said that it is like all the
kids in the town are lined up in their swimsuits with their towels waiting for
the new swimming pool to open. And before the gates are open to let
everyone in, the Mayor of the town stands up and makes a speech...and the kids
are waiting....and the kids are waiting...and all they want to do is jump in
the pool. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>So to me, our job is to get out of the way and let everyone jump into
the pool!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>So I ask the sponsor to be very short and sweet with a ‘welcome,
I’m so glad you’re here and I’m excited about what we are
about to do’ and then they toss it to me and we start. I also think
that so often, having someone speak is only serving...the speaker. Not
the participants. And if that speaker is sharing thoughts about the
theme, and the work, s/he is filling up the space with his/her interpretations
and ideas. And isn't it supposed to - finally - be about the
participants?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>There have also been times when - as a participant - I have felt
anxious to get to work even as the host-sponsors-convenors are taking the group
through layers of welcoming-centering-weaving together exercises that they've
designed to begin the process before they go into Open Space. I know the
intention has been good but personally, I feel that OS delivers these things
and I am a kid with a towel anxious to jump into the pool.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>I say all of this knowing that you, Thomas, have a very wonderful way
of talking, of sensing, of sharing. So (as I think you probably know) I
am not saying this about you personally - it is just my observation in
general. Even with the most charismatic or dynamic speaker.
Participants are still sitting in their chairs in the passive / receiving
mode. And the longer they sit, the less bouncing energy they have to jump
into the center of that circle. And even if it is a physical, interactive
opening, it is still taking a bit of time that the participants could use to do
their work, in my opinion.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Here's a question for you, Thomas: trust the process?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>(I know you do, but if you hear this question, what do you think about
when you use that question to reflect back on opening introduction or opening
activity?)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Please give my warm regards to your class, Thomas and Eva. Let
them know that we are all there to welcome and support and learn with and from
them,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Lisa</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>___________________________</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold'>L
i s a H e f t</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>O p e n i n
g S p a c e</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net"><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>lisaheft@openingspace.net</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a href="http://www.openingspace.net"><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>www.openingspace.net</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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