Just a short word of appreciation to Harrison for these words of wisdom. I think we all suffer some anxiety and nerves when planning and anticipating an Open Space. However, I think you are "right-on" with the idea that all the best-laid plans go by the wayside when we allow the participants to drive the train and make it their event. And so I think it should be.
Thank you. Jaymee Keith Ombudsman's Office Washington State Dept. of Transportation 360-705-7438 > ---------- > From: Harrison Owen[SMTP:o...@tmn.com] > Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 5:33 AM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: OSLIST: Re: Thinking about OPEN SPACE > > At 10:54 PM 12/2/99 +1100, you wrote: > >Just some thoughts following on from some of the recent discussion on > >the net about how Open Space can/could/should work. > >I think I have learnt to use Open Space with great simplicity. > ******************************* > I find myself very comfortable with what Brian says -- but I also know > that > there are lots of ways to Rome, and each traveler will have different > requirements along the way. From where I sit it is less about the "right" > way to do things -- knowing that the "way" will vary constantly as the > facilitator, client and situation varies. What might remain a useful > constant is an effort to keep the space Open and Fresh. In this regard, I > have found a simple practice to be very useful. Each time I open space, I > think of one more thing not to do. Since Opening Space for me begins the > moment you think about it, and continues till it's over -- whenever that > is > -- there are a lot of opportunities not to do something. Long ago, I laid > aside warm-up exercises and ice-breakers in Open Space 'cause none of that > seemed to have any useful effect -- except maybe to give me something to > do > when I was feeling a tad nervous. > > But recently, I have tried the same "not doing" approach before and after > the Open Space. This has nothing to do with lack of interest, or > un-willingness to spend more time/energy. I think, it is really about > focus > and presence. What I am finding is that time spent with my self clearing > out crap and getting myself here if not all there sort of thing is most > useful. When focused and present (as much as I can) time and a specific > program -- as in meeting for a day afterwards or whatever -- become less > important. It may be nothing, it may be 5 minutes, or it may be a full > week > of intense dialogue. And all that has happened. > > I guess the point is that I have never truly know in advance what i was > going to do. For a long time that bothered me, and it certainly bothered > the client. But truthfully, any plan that I ever made up-front didn't > quite > happen. So might as well not do it to begin with. I think. > > Harrison >