Hi Ingrid, I only just now had a chance to read your message and am sorry for my delay in responding. I think that the method that you are using is wonderful. I have a strong belief in mentoring people who wish to learn Open Space. There are so many nuances that it is only when we work with each other that we actually really have a chance to explore these---these are not covered in any book, nor could they be. I also know that whoever "mentors" receives much more in return in terms of their own learning. I have had the privilege of mentoring a number of people and in many ways they are my teachers, and help to shape and mold me in my thoughts and my practice. And I know that many of them in turn then mentor others and everybody learns still more. It is my hope that between us all, that Open Space will spread increasingly in its use in the world. I will be interested to hear more from you as it unfolds.
Kindest regards, Birgitt Bolton -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Ingrid Olausson Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 1999 4:54 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: A case for training When you do an Open Space there are always several participants who are so delighted that they want to apply it themselves. Sometimes they tell you, sometimes they just do it. You don't have a clue how good they are at holding the space or whatever they are going to do. I often tell the participants in the closing circle, that this is something they can do themselves, but that they have to know what they are doing and I suggest they read Harrisons book. After having worked with several large organizations where they want to use Open Space ongoing, I have arrived at a possible solution. I offer them a course, that rather is coaching them through a real Open Space. I have now a group of 8 persons in an organisation with 5000 employes. Six of them had participated in one or two Open Space Conferences that I had already conducted with people from the organization. Before the first seminar day they had to read Harrisons book (and also my own about dialogue and large group methods in Swedish). The first day was about Open Space in general (with the US West film) about what to do and not (pitfalls etc). In the afternoon we started planning the event that they already had decided on. Looking at the venues, invitation letter etc. Everyone is involved in these tasks. The next day will be the day before the conference that is in the end of feb. We will go through the whole process, rehearse etc. The conference day I will only be in the background. They shall run the whole thing themselves. After the conference we will have a feedback session. After this I think there is a good possibility that they will work with Open Space in a good way in their organization. Ingrid Olausson This is a late contribution to this discussion, because I had trouble with my e-mail. Sorry