<div dir="ltr">I want to second what Marai says about "How..." questions, because they are such an easy default. I, too, find them more closing than opening. I think we actually tend to hear "How do we..." as "Do you know how we can..." which is essentially a yes-no question without a lot of potential for discussion. <div><br></div><div>Having tried for many many years to improve on "What are the issues and opportunities for... (usually the future of something)?" -- and only occasionally, very situationally, succeeded... I've pretty much stopped trying. There's lots of room for discussion, framing and storytelling in the invitation, but the "issues and opps" question is as good a punch line there is for anchoring the invitation and carrying into the circle. It's wide open, nobody knows the whole answer, and it leaves room for positives and negatives, history and futures. </div><div><br></div><div>Once upon a time, a client was struggling with the drafting of an invitation. I made a list of questions and suggested she think about short answers to each, or the ones that resonated most. She and then others found that useful. Over the years that page evolved into a short guide and then I wrapped all the rest of my favorite OS sharing materials around it. </div><div><br></div><div>Here's the link to that document, still called an "Inviting Guide." <a href="http://www.michaelherman.com/publications/inviting_leadership_guide.pdf">http://www.michaelherman.com/publications/inviting_leadership_guide.pdf</a> I often point clients to the one page full of questions that might be useful and suggest they sketch a few lines to answer a few of the most relevant questions. They're listed in an order that the answers could almost always be simply strung together in that order and make good sense, but that almost never happens. In the end that list of questions is just a way to ease into the potential. </div><div><br></div><div>And, having just cracked open Harrison's User's Guide for the first time in a long time, I find no reference to the "broad and inclusive" language mentioned earlier, but the Guide itself is still a marvel of substance and simplicity!! </div><div><br></div><div>Michael</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div> <br>--<br><br>Michael Herman<br>Michael Herman Associates</div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">312-280-7838 (mobile)</span><br style="font-size:12.8px"></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://MichaelHerman.com" target="_blank">http://MichaelHerman.com</a><br><a href="http://OpenSpaceWorld.org" target="_blank">http://OpenSpaceWorld.org</a></div><div><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 10:24 PM, Thomas Herrmann via OSList <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Wooow, thanks Rolf, sounds like lots of fun and rewarding. Will try it!<div><span class="">Thomas<br><br><div id="m_9186595263242856705AppleMailSignature">Skickat från min iPhone</div></span><div><div class="h5"><div><br>12 juni 2018 kl. 19:18 skrev Rolf F. Katzenberger via OSList <<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">oslist@lists.openspacetech.<wbr>org</a>>:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<p>Craig,</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>sometimes I use a specific setup to help an org/core team refine
their intial "raw" question. Essentially, it's 5 people (or 5
pairs, groups, ...) assuming one role, each:</p>
<ol>
<li>IT - represents the need and the purpose<br>
</li>
<li>I - represent the caller(s)</li>
<li>YOU represent ta single (!) person receiving the call</li>
<li>WE - represent the relationship between the Is and the YOUs<br>
</li>
<li>FLOW - represents the flow & lifecycle of IT, and of the
open space</li>
</ol>
<p>Whatever format for a conversation these 5 people choose, they'll
be refining the raw question along the lines of the meta-question:
"As one of these five, what do I need to feel myself represented
well by this question?"</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>This leads to all kinds of interesting discussions, like:</p>
<ul>
<li>IT wants to be more open, e.g. "hey, we're already imposing a
conclusion on the YOUs!"<br>
</li>
<li>I want to be more visible, "those folks want to see a living
person behind the call"</li>
<li>YOU want to feel appreciated and attracted - there's not
enough in it to convince YOU to come yet</li>
<li>WE want to be something new, together - what kind of
relationship am I inviting YOU to?</li>
<li>FLOW wants this to be less restricted / confined /
pre-arranged, "WE are still in our infancy, folks..."</li>
</ul>
<p>...and so on.... Just remember to talk about what each of the
five wants more of, instead of what it wants less of. Otherwise,
alternative words will have a really hard time emerging.<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Usually, it also pays to have a limit of 12 words for the
question (suggests that you make decisions and avoid the
committee-phrasing-syndrome; set priorities; stay open), and many
times it's even helpful to use the Fridge Magnet technique (stick
large post it with one word each to a wall, put alternative words
in columns, play with it in the group, always keep the full
question in sight and see what it feels like).</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>In the end, seek consent (no severe objections to the refined
question), not consensus (everybody is very fine with the refined
question). If there is consensus among the 5, there is no need for
an open space, I'd say ;-)<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
Just my 2 cents, maybe it's helpful.<br>
Rolf<br>
<pre class="m_9186595263242856705moz-signature" cols="72">--
«If it works, it's right.» | «Richtig ist, was funktioniert.»
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</pre>
<div class="m_9186595263242856705moz-cite-prefix">Craig Gilliam via OSList schrieb am
11.06.2018 um 15:35:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div id="m_9186595263242856705divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif" dir="ltr">
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">I do not post often, but
I read the Open Space Posts regularly and find them
thought-provoking and helpful. Thanks! </p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">I practice Open Space in
multiple contexts professionally and in my own person life. Am
a strong believer in what it creates and invites from and out
in others and myself. . .</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">When I begin with
groups, I regularly hear, "What makes for a good question?" I
have my responses, but want to hear what you have to say. I am
looking for suggestions, thoughts, ideas, resources (books)
etc., that you would recommend to help people/groups identify
and write helpful/good theme/intention questions for OS
conversation. What are the qualities of a good question, and
what are some resources you suggest?</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Invite your
thoughts. Thanks to anyone who has some thoughts or
suggestions on this.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Thanks,</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Craig</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<div id="m_9186595263242856705Signature">
<div id="m_9186595263242856705divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr">
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="m_9186595263242856705x_gmail_quote">
<blockquote class="m_9186595263242856705x_gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div id="m_9186595263242856705x_m_1982062078219054662divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont">
<div id="m_9186595263242856705x_m_1982062078219054662Signature">
<div id="m_9186595263242856705x_m_1982062078219054662divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr">
<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><b>Dr. W. Craig
Gilliam</b></span></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt">2927 Paradise
Dr.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt">Shreveport, LA
71105</span></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><a href="tel:%28504%29%20250-4046" rel="noopener noreferrer" value="+15042504046" id="m_9186595263242856705LPNoLP" target="_blank">504-250-4046</a></span></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><br>
<span style="background-color:rgb(102,102,102)"></span><span style="font-size:10pt"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(117,123,128)">Achiever | Learner |
Adaptability | Maximizer | Relator</span></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><i><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt">To live fully is our call.</span></i></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><i><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt"> On this grand
adventure,</span></i></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><i><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont"><span style="font-size:10pt"> our mere
being says t</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span><span style="font-size:10pt">hat we are
invited. . .</span></span></i></p>
<span style="font-size:10pt"></span>
<p><span style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt">(The Invitation </span><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt">by </span><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt">w. craig gilliam;, original
2015, revised 2017</span><span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont">)</span></span></p>
<div><span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Cambria,serif,serif,EmojiFont"><br>
</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201)"><i><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></span></i></span></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p style="text-align:left"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><i><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201);font-size:10pt"><br>
</span></i></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset class="m_9186595263242856705mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
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