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Dear Michael,<br>
<br>
Thanks for the practical advice. Very much appreciated! I will give
that format a try the next time I convene a session. I've been
mostly just showing up and seeing what happens with less than
satisfactory results. I can tell it could go better - but not quite
seeing how it could go better or what the people are doing that make
it go better.<br>
<br>
Now that you mention it - I have generally seen the successful
conversation oriented sessions usually just kind of log jam until
the attendees chime in somehow with their objectives and what they
want. I'm not so sure how helpful it is when people go around the
circle and give their credentials. It seems to lead to posturing and
less listening - though I do see that giving a little space for
people to identify themselves so people can hear where they're
coming from does help.<br>
<br>
Thank you for mentioning the value of giving the session a
summarizing closing. Like going around the circle and asking people
to share one thing they learned. It sounds like a mini closing to an
Open Space. Great idea - thank you!<br>
<br>
I love the Mind Map idea. I'd definitely like to try that one out.
Some kind of visualization is certainly helpful, even for a
conversation. The "Lean Coffee" meetings I mentioned use a Kanban
approach of just putting the topics on stickies and stepping through
them. But I like the less linear format of a mind map. I look
forward to seeing how that one works.<br>
<br>
Another thing I notice is to keep the space open for divergent
opinions. It's a trick I'm still learning. My wife seems to have
great success beginning with an admonition - a little bit of
facilitation - saying that we're not there for arguments - which
appears to keep out the space invaders. I sense there's some
importance for just claiming and owning the space, setting some
intentions. It's feels like a bit of a facilitator's stance - one
that calls for all voices.<br>
<br>
Many successful session conveners actually do a dog and pony show,
step through some points, or at least start with and share what they
know about the topic. The longer these openings go - often the more
impatient I become - but it depends on how compelling, entertaining,
and engaging they are as a speaker.<br>
<br>
A lot of sessions I really love are some kind of game or activity -
ideally with a debriefing if it's a learning game. The session
convener basically sets up the rules, they we play the game or do
the activity - and we close with some talking.<br>
<br>
For some folks, this is completely not interesting because it comes
so naturally. For others, like myself, this is a bit more of a
struggle. My Japanese heritage calls on me to avoid being too
assertive and assuming. But my Portuguese heritage has a lot it
wants to say! Harrison - you are definitely not the weird one!
Hopefully people won't mind that I continue to wonder out loud.<br>
<br>
What's needed to keep the conversation going when one also has
things to say? I'm amazed at how well some people do it - many of
which are on this list.<br>
<br>
Anyway - thank you Michael for answering my plea for help! I am
definitely interested and welcoming to more observations and
thoughts about this topic. I really am not looking for rules to
impose on open space or on anyone. I want OST to continue to give
plenty of room for improvisation, playing around with formats, and
trying out new things. But tips like Michael offered can help me
from having to reinvent the wheel or continue to spin around.<br>
<br>
Harold<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 7/14/11 5:29 PM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4E1F7BBC.4030704@boscop.org" type="cite">Dear
Harold,
<br>
as a participant of events in which I posted an issue and convened
a session I tried different things that worked for me.
<br>
During the introduction to an os event I as facilitator normally
mention one approach I as convener have used in breakout sessions.
<br>
Just one!
<br>
<br>
Here what I do as participant convening a session:
<br>
<br>
1. As convener, I always invite everyone that showed up and who
cares to do so to say briefly what brought them to this issue I
convened this session for.
<br>
It surprises me every time how in no time flat a tapestry of
motives, interests, goals and other tidbits (names of the
participants, etc.) is created... it seems to provide a supportive
backdrop for the following discussion / dialog for mutual
understanding and other good stuff.
<br>
It works regardless of the size of the group. On some occasions
(again regardless of the size of the group) most of the
("scheduled") time of a breakout session was taken up by this
process... it "re"placed the usual type of discussion and at the
same time apparently dealt well with the issue.
<br>
<br>
2. As convener, I often start a visualisation of the discussion
with a mindmap. Sometimes, actually just about always, others jump
in and participate in the visualisation, expanding the mindmap
with their own handwriting. The visualisation makes it well
transparent for everyone what is going on... people that join
later can quickly get connected... and the mindmap has a way of
documenting the emerging structure of the issue (it
selforganises), also making "missing" stuff visible and providing
a starting point for action planning at a later stage.
<br>
<br>
3. As convener, I always also invite for a go-around before the
session closes where I invite comments around the question "How
was it?". This is a simple and productive way to learn from what
just transpired in the last hour or so... a chance I never want to
let go by unused.
<br>
<br>
None of these things are rocket science, none take long and they
add to parameters such as information, meaning, spirit, starting
points for action, new collaborations, dialog... and regularly
change the direction of the initial issue, improving and deepening
the initial issue or that which evolved.
<br>
<br>
They also seem to go well with the one and only given that I think
has all the trappings of a given: selforganisation.
<br>
<br>
I would love to hear of things you and you others reading this
post have tried when taking part in an open space as participant
regardless of whether you then advocate using these things in your
role as a facilitator introducing the participants to the OST
process... and how you and the breakout group and the issue fared.
<br>
<br>
Greetings from Berlin
<br>
mmp
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Harold Shinsato<br>
<a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com">harold@shinsato.com</a><br>
<a href="http://shinsato.com">http://shinsato.com</a><br>
twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/hajush">@hajush</a></div>
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