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<p class=MsoNormal>Greetings folks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I’m trying to report (document) every Open Space event
I do . . . Below is the story from yesterday’s event copied and pasted
from my blog <a href="http://www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com">www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Wishing you all the best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>b<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Opening Space for Keller Williams . . . Today, we did the
Open Space retreat for our office in our new office space completely devoid of
furniture so the invitation read: "BYOC - Bring your own chair."
Unbelievably, 65 of our 99 members showed up . . . each carrying a chair. I say
this is unbelievable because these are all independent contractors - Real
estate sales people. A stark reality hit me this morning. Opening space for
these folks is a completely different animal than Opening space for the typical
organization. Typically, the organization is wound into a tight (Top down)
bundle, and Open Space is used to unwind the bundle a bit so as to define new
directions. With these folks, we begin with a diverged group and use the Open
Space in search of convergence of ideas, passion, commitment &
responsibility from a group of people who have no formal accountability for the
results. This is a vast difference. These people are each operating their own
independent businesses and have by all outward appearances little to gain from
optimizing the business of the Brokerage firm.<br>
<br>
Recognizing this, I saw the real need for good, solid, quantifiable results
from this Open Space Retreat. I did the classic Opening - offered 2 covers of a
book and said that our job was to fill the book by the end of our time
together. I had pared the time matrix down to 2 morning sessions, lunch, 2
afternoon sessions . . . then the closing followed by a party.<br>
<br>
We were packed like sardines in the main space for the opening - 2 concentric circles
. . . I had @ 10 foot diameter interior circle for my walking space. The
opening was the smoothest I've ever done. I flowed through it without any
hitches - I guess my grounding and centering this morning was enough to carry
me through. My initial trepidation about facilitating this retreat for my own
organization proved to be not such a big deal. I was true to the process -
Opened the space and got out of the way immediately . . . The group shifted
into gear and cruised along magnificently.<br>
<br>
The group looked at me with panic in their eyes when I sat down and said it was
now time to post their issues and opportunities - They asked me for examples .
. . they begged for me to enable them - I held fast and true - didn't budge . .
. and finally someone came forward. Within 10 minutes, there were 25 issues
posted - using nearly all of the 28 time/place slots available. THIS was the
true test for me. I felt that if I wavered here, it would tip the scales in a
dangerous direction for the results of the entire event. A few folks
acknowledged later that they were grateful I had left the group to their
devices to figure these things out.<br>
<br>
I immediately opened the Market place and observed the entire group swing into
action. EXACTLY 52 minutes after the beginning of the opening, all 65 of the
participants were in sessions in passionate dialogue - The main circle was
empty if not for me wandering around picking up coffee cups - most of the
chairs had gone with the human they arrived with . . . I found humor in the fact
that any time a person moved to a different space he/she was carrying a chair.
As the day progressed, the chairs became more stationary as people tired of
carrying them about the place.<br>
<br>
The closing was phenomenal ... 50 folks stayed to the end. I am accustomed to
seeing more "fall-out" than that . . . so I was feeling that this
event was a good one. The comments in the closing were SO validating for the
group. This group of independent contractors was speaking as ONE. There was a
solidarity I have never witnessed in a real estate environment . . . and the
party that ensued was unbridled passion.<br>
<br>
Reports are due to me in the morning - I will compile them and distribute them
mid-day along with a set of dots for prioritizing . . . Our intent is to
consider this prioritized list of issues FIRST as we formulate our plans for
Productivity, profitability, Growth, and culture for the 2007 year.<br>
<br>
Our Operating Partner and City Manager for the Nashville area Keller Williams
Realty market showed up at 5. They had missed the meeting because at 4:40 the
group had declared the time to "now be 5:00" thus giving the green
light to the opening of the wine and beer. Someone said:: "It's 5 o'clock
somewhere!" and so the party was well under way. We had our new Public
Relations person present and the environment was as festive as it could get.
The OP asked the question: "Could this happen for other market centers in
our area? How can we make this happen for everyone in the city, the region, the
nation?" I replied: "ABSOLUTELY!"<br>
<br>
In a post here a few months ago, I laid out a plan to do just that . . . host a
retreat in each of the market centers in the city . . . then do a full
city-wide Open Space . . . and let the results speak for themselves. If our
PPGC (Productivity, Profit, Growth, & Culture) do what I think they'll do
given that scenario, the Regional folks will notice . . . If Region notices,
the International office will notice . . .<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
b<br>
Barry Owen<br>
<a href="http://www.theowengroup.net">www.theowengroup.net</a> <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Also
. . . if you know of anyone (friend, family, work associate) in need of help
with real estate, please give me a call. I LOVE referrals and treat them like
royalty :-)</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Website
<a href="http://www.theowengroup.net"><span style='color:blue'>www.theowengroup.net</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Visit
my BLOG @ <a href="http://creatingspaces.blogspot.com/"><span style='color:
blue'>http://creatingspaces.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
Barry Owen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Principal
Broker<br>
The Owen Group<br>
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills Market Center<br>
2209 Crestmoor Road Ste 210<br>
Nashville, TN 37215<br>
Direct - 615.568.2123<br>
Toll Free 866.375.0965<br>
Fax - 615.523.2462<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Keller
Williams Realty is a learning-based Training & Consulting Company
supporting our Real Estate Professionals by offering business models, systems,
tools, & support to Build Careers Worth Having, Businesses Worth Owning,
and Lives worth living . . . We are THE fastest growing, most innovative real
estate company in America. Check us out @ <a href="http://www.theowengroup.net/"><span
style='color:blue'>www.theowengroup.net</span></a> OR <a
href="http://www.geocities.com/barryo.geo"><span style='color:blue'>www.geocities.com/barryo.geo</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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