Suzanne and All <br><br>What an astonishingly insightful and inspiring piece to bring to the attention of participants in <a href="http://www.openspaceworldmap.org/stammtisch.htm" target="_blank">Stammtisch gatherings</a> around our little planet, 3rd from the sun. <br>
<br>I will do this for the novitiates in Adelaide, South Australia, who were given training in OST by Brendan McKeague of Perth, Western Australia. <br>
<br>Now back living in Adelaide, after six happy years in Hong Kong, I am setting local Stammtischs in train. <br><br>Number 2 is on 5 Sept 2011 <font size="2">which means that it will coincide - and likely </font><font size="2">be 'in tune' - </font><font size="2">with <span>similar </span>get togethers in other countries on dates listed in Michael M Pannwitz link above. <br>
</font>
<br>The venue is my new abode <a href="http://www.urbanecology.org.au/christiewalk/%20" target="_blank">Christie Walk</a>. <font size="2">See also a little video on this remarkable <a href="http://www.postcards-sa.com.au/features_videos_pages/features2011/eco_village.html" target="_blank">'right place'</a> which featured on </font><font size="2">a locally produced TV program. </font><br>
<br>What a great 'sparking' point you have generated Suzanne. <smile><br><br>And what a lovely gift to the whole Spacenik community. <br><br>With much appreciation<br><br>Alan <br>Adelaide <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On 7 August 2011 22:48, Suzanne Daigle <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:sdaigle4@gmail.com" target="_blank">sdaigle4@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Dear Dan, <br><br>Coming from someone who just can't get enough of Open Space ever since I was seriously introduced to it over 2 years ago, I'd say that the question is not about the size of the group and the number of people who are there. I'm speaking from the perspective of Open Space events with over 300 people, with only 10 and even just 2 individual (yes it worked...beautifully!) I fell in love with Open Space because I recognized its potential in our workplace, in community, in schools, and in so many places. I had seen sparks of open space in those places so it felt familiar but never had it been captured as it was with Open Space Technology nor embodied as it is by this wonderful world-wide Open Space community including facilitators and participants.<br>
<br>In the 30 or more times that I have facilitated, co-facilitated or attended an Open Space as a participant, there have been a few occasions where Open Space just didn't seem to have the energy, traction or spirit. <br>
<br>In each case, it was either because there wasn't:<br><ul><li>a real issue of concern, a lot of caring about the issue and a lot at stake (personally or collectively; a reason for meeting that resonates embodied by a theme)<br>
</li><li>a high level of complexity (an issue to tackle that is bigger than any single individual or small group)</li><li>a real passion, caring a lot about the situation or issue</li><li>diversity (diversity in thinking, diversity in being open or in other words not rehashing the same stuff with the same people; a true interest in fully engaging, listening and speaking)</li>
<li>a spirit of invitation (you don't have to come but we'd love you to come and we'd want you there because you have a lot to contribute); and if you do decide to come, it's because you have passion and care enough to take responsibility and are making the commitment to be there the whole time<br>
</li><li>an open dialogue with the sponsor and host team in the pre-work about self-organization, how Open Space is not your typical predict-control model geared to a defined outcome, not your traditional facilitation, and not the oft way of leading when someone is expected to inspire, have all the answers or make the final decisions.</li>
</ul>Harrison has said it, others have too; I believe all ingredients above need to be present. It is the important pre-work of Open Space, the meaningful dialogue that happens before an event, which also includes "personal preparation" by the facilitator (as I recall, there's a whole chapter on this in Harrison's User Guide).<br>
<br>Reading your two examples, I think it is clear what was missing. Open Space is not a technique to learn from a quick read or something that someone can come into at the last minute because they've facilitated many times before. <br>
<br>That said, I could easily make the case to put everything I've just said aside. Space in life is always open, whatever happens happens, it's the only thing that could have. Wherever, whenever, I treasure the moments that we are more consciously opening "space" and "time" in our lives. Any time we get off the frantic treadmill that is numbing us to life, choosing instead to be more present, to solve real problems, to address real issues, and to work together, that time will always be special. I trust that when we do so, self-organizing and leadership will always emerge from all kinds of places. We need only trust that it will and that it can. <br>
<br>My reflections on this beautiful sunny Sunday morning from Canada working with an awesome team as we plan a series of Open Space events, all of us inventing, creating and especially inviting a new opening of space because these times are calling on us to do so. <br>
<br>Suzanne<div><br></div></blockquote><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex">-- <br>Suzanne Daigle<br>NuFocus Strategic Group<br>7159 Victoria Circle<br>
University Park, FL 34201<br>FL 941-359-8877; <br>CT 203-722-2009<br><a href="http://www.nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">www.nufocusgroup.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com</a><br>twitter @suzannedaigle<br><br>
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