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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Congratulations Brendan,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Again OS does it’s magic. Would you now go ahead in using the
butterfly and bee metaphor knowing as you said: </span>to his amazement, there
was no adverse reaction from the mob!<span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> Your hesitation was discussed just a few
weeks ago at an OS training where a participant was going to facilitate her
first OS with leaders of 40 large companies and was also intending to avoid
quoting the 2 metaphors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Other participants experienced with other daring or so called
touchy feely methods strongly felt that if the facilitator is comfortable and
trusts what he – she is doing and is doing something that has meaning, this trust
will be communicated to participants who will generally not only respect the
process but take full advantage of it to their own greater benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Interesting that you just demonstrated that with the bells.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Diane<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Brendan McKeague<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 16 mars 2008 00:45<br>
<b>To:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Creating Space in Construction (long'ish)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Hi folks <br>
A few weeks ago I posted a topic on the List about a bunch of construction
folks building a big, long road - $550m project - and how they had become a bit
'stuck' around communication and mistrust between management team, supervisors,
designers et al....this was an alliance project where a number of construction
companies had joined together to tender.....a couple of previous interventions
by the 'expert' (and thus expensive) HR consultants had been close to
disastrous and there was now a sense of mistrust around any facilitated
processes that involved outsiders....<br>
<br>
After a couple of heavy'ish conversations with the managers, and my
confirmation that Open Space does not accommodate a Plan B, they decided, 'with
'positive caution', to proceed with an OS meeting for an afternoon - with an
emphasis on the fact that every minute 'off-the-job' was costly and could be of
critical significance to the success of the project.<br>
<br>
And so, we continue the story....<br>
<br>
The invitation was languaged and circulated - "how can we shape the
alliance we want?' - no visually appealing lay-out - plain writing/memo-style
was the order of the day.<br>
About 35 folks came together at the site-office dining area to begin with a
12noon 'working lunch' and were then gathered into the circle at 1230
precisely! (I was amazed at how quickly all the sandwiches disappeared -
mmm, wonder why i noticed that - probable because i missed out!) - here was a
group hungry for something....<br>
I was conscious of the energy levels of 33 big-framed men and two women - in a
relatively confined space and the curious suspicion that permeated the
atmosphere<br>
The Alliance Innovations Manager introduced the meeting, followed by the
Project Director (Big Boss) sponsor thanking everyone for coming and
reiterating that 'time off the job is expensive' and thus the need to use the
time well and then handing over to me....<br>
<br>
I entered the circle of mostly rigid blokes, and breathed my way into the
space...<br>
<br>
'Welcome to Open Space - you have been invited to come to this meeting - you
have agreed to be here rather than somewhere else this afternoon - you have
said yes to help shape the alliance you want to have at this time...as you look
around this circle, notice your colleagues in this alliance who have also come
here this afternoon to join you in this task...and I now invite you to consider
what it is that you wish to address here today....what is really important to
you to raise and deal with here...the remaining time of this Alliance, the next
twelve months or so can be shaped and influenced by what you talk about and
decide to do here today....an important opportunity awaits you"<br>
<br>
Of course by this time I was around the circle and feeling the energies that
were present....mostly suspicious, unsure, somewhat curious and some downright
hostile....<br>
<br>
and then, the rest is history.....into the process of 'opening' and describing
how it works...<br>
<br>
After my opening (about 14.5 mins according to my Org Psych colleague who was
observing) - I walked out of the circle and made my way to other end of the
room - out of site so to speak! There was that pulsating, power-filled
pause - about 10 whole seconds - before the first insertion to the middle - by
one of the women present (i discovered later she was one of the designers) -
and quickly followed by a couple of others - and then they were off....for the
next ten mins, a strange topsy-turvy roller-coaster of announcements and pauses
- nothing happening (on the surface) - then a couple more postings - until I
asked them if they were done - and then they were off.....<br>
<br>
The rest is typically what we see in an OS meeting...in this case it was very
intensified for me - a smaller-than-usual physical space, and a
shorter-than-usual time, with a more heavily male dominated mob of
concrete-operational thinkers - much more accustomed to building spaces than
'being' in them....<br>
Lots of movement and intense levels of engagement throughout most of the
afternoon - some wandering around at times looking unsure what they should be
doing, or which topic was being discussed in each break-out space, little
off-shoot conversations, and plenty of solid work being done...<br>
<br>
There were three 1.25 hr conversation slots - and about 30 mins convergence for
any action planning (similar to what has recently been described here as
're-opening the space') in which five action planning groups met to pin down
next steps....and a closing circle....<br>
<br>
I thought you might identify with some of the comments: <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>This afternoon has opened up some trust in this
group and I'd like to think that we can continue this now... <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I got to see other people's perspectives - some
for the first time - that is really useful <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I think that, although it may be a bit late in
the project, the coming together of design and construction folks has been
very positive here today. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I'm going to spend a whole day next week riding
in a truck (from a designer) <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Let's acknowledge that this is a good project -
we're on track for time and within budget...we are doing real well so
far....and I was one of the ones on the management team who was very
cynical about this meeting - I didn't think it could be worthwhile -
and I need to say that I got a couple of niggling issues sorted out here
very quickly. I'm pleased I came. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I didn't think that all the right people were
here as it says on the sign - some of those who came left pretty early -
and its a pity they didn't stay to see how its ended up. They've missed
out on something positive and its up to us to convey that to them.
(started with 35 and ended with about 30) <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>There are so many points of view here - it was
good to be able to hear them all without too much aggression <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I really liked the way that people listened to
each other respectfully and really heard what others were saying. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>This was so much better than the previous meeting
where we had to draw tortoises with bird's heads....we actually got
something done here. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I got a chance to have my say - I feel better
about that now. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>It didn't solve all my problems with Main Roads
dept but it gave me a good start on some of these. <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I now really believe that we're all here because
we want to do a good job and help each other the best way we can. <o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>
And so, the circle concluded with the sponsor thanking everyone for their contribution
and saying that the time together had been productive and worthwhile for him -
now have a beer!<br>
<br>
One of my challenging decisions in preparing for this space was to leave out
the 'butterflies and bees' sign - while still referring (in the opening) to the
fluent and dynamic nature of behaviours (floating and buzzing around) that
might be exhibited in the meeting....I also did bring and ring the temple-bells
- with a little trepidation from the org psych - to his amazement, there was no
adverse reaction from the mob!<br>
<br>
And so another chapter in the experience of this OS practitioner....<br>
there will be a scheduled debrief meeting with sponsor next week<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Brendan<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>* *
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