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<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>So pleased to see I am not the only one with events that turn
out more or less as disasters. I am very pleased this topic showed up. For
my PhD project I read a lot of stories about OS and other large scale
interventions, but it seems as if in formal literature all projects are
successful. Maybe we don’t like to talk about the less successful ones,
so thank you all for sharing. Then again, what is success and when is going to
show? I notice that especially in projects that “fail” you
see the working principles very clearly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I want to share a story of an OS I facilitated a few years ago.
It really educated me </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> . It is about
an organization that consists of 55 schools on 70 locations in one city. The
public schools in the city are dealing with a negative image: many children
from lower income families, too much foreigners, lower quality of education. They
face a serious decline in pupil numbers. If the trend was not turned around some
schools would have to close and the image of the public schools would become
even worse. We had two meetings with a preparation team of seven people. We planned
a one day OS as start of a bigger project to make the schools more attractive. The
OS is planned on an already scheduled directors meeting. A second
conference is planned a few month later. They didn’t want to invite parents
or teachers, that had something to do with dirty laundry. What happened? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The OS is in the communication museum in the city centre. The
conference room is long and narrow. Murphy’s Law is working: The project
leader is unable to come. The sponsor, the general director, is delayed. After
reception with coffee, about 70 directors take a seat in a wide oval of chairs.
My colleague Ronald, who is specialised in school marketing, starts with
a visualization of twenty minutes. He tells a story of what parents are
experiencing when they visit one of the schools. Then the sponsor explains the
goals for the day and for the larger change process, including personal targets
for acquisition. After one hour, I introduce Open Space. The theme is: How do
we make our schools more attractive? Energy levels are low. Looking at a lot of
skeptic faces, I feel my energy dropping too. For a few minutes no one enters
the circle to announce a topic. I just wait. Finally, eleven groups are formed
for the first round and seven for the second round. The sponsor is enthusiastic
about the process: they are really taking responsibility for subgroups and some
groups have lively discussions. He sees the lack of taking own responsibility as
one of the problems in his organization. Each group produces a report in a news
centre with ten laptops. Reports are copied in a nearby copy centre. During
lunch, information about school marketing and support options is displayed. Participants
read the reports. After a plenary discussion, participants place stickers on
flip charts to select the most important items. A third round for action
planning is on the agenda, but energy is dropping fast. In the corridors I hear
some very negative voices. At three o’clock p.m. the sponsor
decides to skip the third round and start with the conference evaluation in the
closing circle. Am I pleased with that decision? It was enough for that day,
but what about action planning? In the closing circle some are positive about
the exchange of experiences and the opportunity for everyone to contribute who
wanted to, some pass the microphone with a sceptic face. Every participant
receives a binder with the reports and information about school marketing. The
next week the planning group meets for the third and last time. The evaluation
is positive in general, but they say the program could have been shorter and
the beginning more energetic. The twelve items with the most stickers are
selected for follow up actions in a project team. The second conference is
called off. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I evaluated this case after two years, for my PhD study, using an
evaluation instrument with success factors and effects I developed. The overall
project was a success. A negative trend of ten years is turned into a positive
one. The image of the schools is improving. The sponsor thinks the OS was worth
the effort, it raised awareness of the urgency and collective responsibility
for the issue. Among directors and consultants, perceptions of causes and
effects differ strongly. It worked, but couldn’t it have been done much
better? There hasn’t been another interactive project so far. Was this
the only thing that could have happened? School directors face a lot of
problems, maybe this was all the energy they could offer. But what if we had
insisted on inviting more diversity, other voices? Same people – same interaction
certainly showed here. What if we skipped the long introduction and opened
space as soon as possible? My presence was not good, I felt intimidated. I think
it could have been done much better, in any case by me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hope to hear more of your learning experiences, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Tonnie <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US 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 lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Van:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>Namens </b>Suzanne Daigle<br>
<b>Verzonden:</b> maandag 16 november 2009 2:08<br>
<b>Aan:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Onderwerp:</b> [SPAM]Re: [OSLIST] Facilitati</span><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>on disasters - your stories please<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Such wise words on a topic that has
generated so much insight.<br>
I felt myself seeped in what has been described and discussed. This community
of learning and sharing is the best!<br>
Suzanne heading back to Florida after 2.5 wonderful days of Wave Rider surfing
in Orillia, Canada!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang=EN-US>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US>
<hr size=3 width="100%" align=center>
</span></div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From: </span></b><span lang=EN-US>Harrison
Owen <hhowen@verizon.net> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>Date: </span></b><span lang=EN-US>Sun,
15 Nov 2009 19:53:12 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>To: </span></b><span lang=EN-US><OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>Subject: </span></b><span lang=EN-US>Re:
Facilitation disasters - your stories please<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'>Absolutely Annamarie! It is all about choosing. A friend told me
– never sell Open Space. It is like teaching a pig to sing. Sounds
terrible, and annoys the pig. I think so. </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'>ALSO – There really isn’t any sale to be made or choice,
for that matter. The nasty truth is that the whole cosmos is self-organizing
(Open Space) – and so the fundamental choice was made just about 13.7
million years ago. We do, however, have the choice about how well we
“do” it. Or more extremely – whether we want to maintain the
delusion that we are actually in control, and if not us, then surely somebody.
Ah – the great aching simplicity of the days when we actually knew what
we were doing, and did what we knew…</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'>Harrison</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Harrison Owen</span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Potomac,
Maryland 20854</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Skype hhowen</span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Open Space Training</span><span lang=EN-US
style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></a> </span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Open Space Institute</span><span lang=EN-US
style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></a></span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>Personal website</span><span lang=EN-US
style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.ho-image.com/"><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.ho-image.com</span></a> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your
options, view the archives Visit: </span><span lang=EN-US
style='color:red'><a href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></a></span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>-----Original
Message-----<br>
<b>From:</b> OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Annamarie
Pluhar<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Facilitation disasters - your stories please</span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>Such an
interesting conversation that you have started Robyn. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>My own
experience was (gulp!) 15 years ago. My life has taken twists and turns away
from group facilitation - the fact that I'm on the list now has everything to
do with a current contract/assignment. Before meeting the client -
knowing what they were looking for "empowering the people"
"new ideas" "enthusiasm" and "excitement" I
thought that sounds like OS. Turns out those are just words.. they only
want want is safe and familiar and what they did last year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>15 years ago, I
was facilitating a two-day annual retreat for a smallish company. Day two
was to have been OS. It was started OK, but the owner of the company
hijacked the process (I can't remember the exact words) - he invited (he's the
boss so invited...) everyone to go on a hike with him on a trail. When I
was invited to go, I said "no" on the grounds that I wasn't sure
everyone was there and some might be looking for the group. I was told
that they ended up having a very good conversation on top of the
mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>I think that the
contracting process is the most important. what I'm holding to is that the
client has to choose OS rather than it being recommended... <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span class=apple-style-span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#4449FF'>Annamarie Pluhar</span></span><span
lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span class=apple-style-span><b><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Copperplate Gothic Bold","sans-serif";
color:#392BEB'>Pluhar Consulting</span></b></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:6.5pt;font-family:"'Copperplate Gothic Light'","serif";
color:#392BEB'>Results through effective group process</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span class=apple-style-span><i><span
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>On Nov 14, 2009,
at 7:44 PM, Robyn Williams wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span lang=EN-US>Hi folks<br>
<br>
On Friday I was facilitating a 2 hour workshop primarily using Open Space<br>
principles as requested, and as I would have suggested anyway given the task<br>
in hand. My own 2 feet did the walking less than halfway through when the<br>
'person in charge', who I'd not met before, interrupted the process,<br>
criticised me, and gave me directions (in public) and not for the first<br>
time. The agenda items were being announced, and her direction was that all<br>
the issues should be dealt as a whole group and indicated that I should<br>
facilitate that. I said no, thanked them for their time, wished them well<br>
for the rest of the session, and left.<br>
<br>
Given the short duration and the task at hand, this had been a long-winded<br>
arrangement which resulted in more questions than answers. Arranged by a<br>
delegated person without authority, I wasn't able to ascertain who was<br>
really 'in charge' (I was told that it was a group project, ie all team<br>
leaders) or get agreement for a meeting to clarify expectations. The day<br>
before the workshop I contacted the Director of the department, had a<br>
pleasing chat, and arranged to meet before the session. That session was<br>
cancelled later in the day, and a shorter session was re-convened for<br>
another time (when critical people could be available). Sure bells were<br>
ringing but I started to think that I was being overly consultative. I mean<br>
what could go wrong in 2 hrs? Right? <br>
<br>
On the way home I reflected on how it had unfolded and my part and felt that<br>
I'd done as well as I could do under the circumstances despite my<br>
inner-critic suggesting that walking out was pretty extreme and surely I<br>
could have done better. Needless to say I've learned lessons from this and<br>
have damage control ahead of me this week (sigh).<br>
<br>
So what would you do, or have you done, when your role is undermined?<br>
And how did you reach closure with the client/s?<br>
<br>
<br>
Best wishes, Robyn<br>
Fremantle Western Australia<br>
<br>
PS WA colleagues - anyone available to debrief this with me?<br>
<br>
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