<div dir="ltr"><div>Another Open Space! As beautiful and wonderful in its own way. A virtual arts group in New Brunswick Canada inviting to a province wide gathering to talk about collaboration and a future that works for all! A planning team that ebbed and flowed, uncertain and hopeful, controlling and then more trusting, like waves coming to shore, back and forth. <br>
<br></div><div>Many conversations, laughter and frustration, a tinge of fear (will people come or not? what will happen after? will there be action? such high expectations...always for a relatively short event 1.5 days because this format seems to promise something more...as if a longing and a yearning).<br>
<br></div><div>As the day gets closer, the camaraderie and laughter and letting go increases. It is a joy to see. There is excitement in the air with a tinge of worry -- another big snow storm in April, will it keep people away?<br>
<br></div><div>Kevin O'Brien, Louie Surette and I arrive (we are all Open Spacers; we were in New York together). The main room and breakouts are so beautifully set -- better than we could have hoped or imagined. The planning team and facilities personnel are all smiles. Hospitality and invitation at its best. The newsroom, the principles, the Law of Two feet, some flowers and even candy dishes are lovingly added to the decor. It looks beautiful. Our student videographer and student photographer are drawn into this beautiful welcoming web. The team is relaxed and excited -- different than how they were a few short months ago. <br>
<br></div><div>Soon people arrive -- diverse, very diverse in every way. A tapas meal before we sit in the circle - the conversations are igniting already. Anticipation, excitement and yes a nexus of caring. We can feel the energy. A preview of things to come. <br>
<br></div><div>Now it is time. The 60 to 70 souls move to the main room. I sense a tinge of nervousness. People rush to the back rows first and then the seats in front start to fill. The announcers (French and English) welcome briefly and give a few housekeeping items; the host (Louie) speaks of the theme, setting the stage for more to come. The newsroom is on the ready (Kevin has done such an amazing job). I begin to walk the circle. French, English, yes it will be done in both languages in a way where I wish it to flow easily. It is THAT TIME. The invitation to write your topics. Without fail, the floor becomes crowded and in 15 minutes or a bit more, 46 topics on our infamous wall. A few last instructions and I send them on their way. It happens as it always does in Open Space. The buzz is in the air. Butterflies, bumble bees and folks sitting in their groups. A university setting with plants, an atrium and these cozy nooks and crannies. It is to die for. A short evening news that first night. <br>
<br></div><div>Tomorrow another day. Morning news! Some did not sleep much... too excited they say. Others are tired because they stayed up real late continuing the conversations. More discussions groups,the news room is abuzz; a Google drive on the ready and it's happening with such ease. The news wall is appearing before our very eyes; a few green sheets with next steps (thank you Linda Stephenson for teaching us this so well). Great food, plentiful coffee, the day is moving along as it always does in Open Space. I sense the exhaustion and high energy. I sit on the sidelines watching quietly at these pods of people are so engrossed with each other as if there is no one else there. In one corner, a video interview; in another, people typing their notes with large flip chart sheets strewn on the tables; here and there, two and/or three people lost in their conversations. Peels of laughter, serious discussions. Who are the leaders? Where is the control? Where is the hierarchy? I can't really tell. Young and old seem ageless in these conversations and their ways of being together. The images are seared in my soul. How I love this work!<br>
<br></div><div>Soon it is closing circle. A few are still typing their notes. Twenty six topics, 600 photos at least, 15 or more videos. A good day it seems! As always, the words shared in the circle have more to do with hope, connection, purpose, feelings and gratitude. Little said about what worried people most in the days leading up to this no agenda, no expert, no powerpoint presentation event. Action seems to be a given now. When there is connection and a nexus of caring, the trust for action also seems to emerge. <br>
<br></div><div>Now they get it! Now the planning team knows! They have felt the Nexus of Caring. <br><br></div><div>The Book of Proceedings is lovingly prepared by the trio tribe (Louie, Kevin and Suzanne) that same night. A beer or two or three while munching on pizza. It all comes together and with great pride we press the send buttom. Nearly 60 pages in everyone's inbox on the same day. It is a first draft because with the Google drive and videos to come, another version will soon arrive. We are a bit giddy as often happens. We feel privileged to do this work, to inspire and invite a leadership within and with others. With it comes joy and a vibrancy that is difficult to describe in words. <br>
<br></div><div>A few days pass... the congratulatory notes come in from the planning team and sponsor. In essence, they all say the same thing. Now we understand! Yes I'm sure the doubts will surface as they did for me when I first experienced Open Space. Wondering whether this was real but the stirrings felt cannot be easily dismissed. Now people know there is something more to be had in life. Once aware, difficult to become unaware.<br>
<br></div><div>These short notes arrive a day or two later.: <br></div><div>
<p class=""><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)">"I am a believer in allowing people to talk with minimal
structure and not based on first having had an expert layout what can be spoken
of. But I have never worked in quite this process. I was hopeful - I think that
was my word at our planning session in the Fall? - and my hopefulness was
fulfilled." </span></p>
</div><div>Then another similar comment:<br></div><div><br>"<span style>It
was a very affirming, renewing experience (and this is coming from a gal with
the potential to be rather cynical!)"<br><br>And finally:<br>"</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)">Louie promised that the best of things come in
the coffee breaks; but for me, the best of things came in the team that created
and managed this event."<br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Yes it was just another day in Open Space. Predictable and wonderful. And even if people had not said the nice things they did, it would still have been as it always is in Open Space, "whatever happens is the only thing that could have". <br>
<br></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">And now to the next trailblazing event with a wonderful team to revolutionize the world of work. Minneapolis in June with Josh Allan Dykstra, author of Igniting the Invisible Tribes, Designing Organizations that don't suck. Linda Stephenson, Kevin O'Brien and Derek Wade inviting and igniting together. More on that later. <br>
<br></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">For now I am still feeling the glow and joy of this with our precious Open Space community knowing you will totally understand every morsel of what I have shared. We are blessed to have each other and to do this work. <br>
<br></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">And if I have been a bit too gushy as I often am, well knowing that I will soon be 60 while feeling no more than 40, I just gotta say what I gotta say.<br>
<br></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Suzanne<br>
</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br></span> </div><span style="background-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style></span></span><br clear="all">
<div><div><div><div><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr">Suzanne Daigle<br>Open Space Facilitator<br>NuFocus Strategic Group<br><br>FL <span class=""><span class="skype_c2c_print_container">941-359-8877</span><span class="skype_c2c_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1" onmouseover="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.showMenu(this, event)" onmouseout="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.hideMenu(event)"><span class="skype_c2c_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_c2c_textarea_span"><img class="skype_c2c_logo_img" src="resource://skype_ff_extension-at-jetpack/skype_ff_extension/data/call_skype_logo.png"><span class="skype_c2c_text_span">941-359-8877</span><span class="skype_c2c_free_text_span"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1" onmouseover="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.showMenu(this, event)" onmouseout="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.hideMenu(event)"><span class="" dir="ltr"><span class=""><img class="" src="resource://skype_ff_extension-at-jetpack/skype_ff_extension/data/call_skype_logo.png"><span class=""><span class="skype_c2c_print_container">941-359-8877</span><span class="skype_c2c_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1" onmouseover="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.showMenu(this, event)" onmouseout="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.hideMenu(event)"><span class="skype_c2c_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_c2c_textarea_span"><img class="skype_c2c_logo_img" src="resource://skype_ff_extension-at-jetpack/skype_ff_extension/data/call_skype_logo.png"><span class="skype_c2c_text_span">941-359-8877</span><span class="skype_c2c_free_text_span"></span></span></span></span></span><span class=""></span></span></span></span> <br>
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<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></div>
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