Dear Peggy, I had a lot of pleasure from an OST meeting within a larger meeting with everyone from what was two tracks coming in to the closing circle. This was at the National level in Canada for an issue regarding public health. My colleague Susan Lilley was with me and if she is still on this list, might add her perspective. It worked, and it worked well.
Before I say a little more about that, I wish to address decision making regarding Working with Open Space Technology. You are aware that we have a four day workshop by that name. Within that program, we emphasize that every facilitator must make his or her own mind up about the key ingredients of the form of an OST meeting. For him/her--what is his/her bottom line of what he/she won't compromise. Each person handles this differently. We then turn the attention of our participants to the essence of OST, encouraging each person to make his/her determination of what is OST, what is the "opening of space" and what is the "holding of space". We suggest that it is from this understanding, which is also subject to individual interpretation, perception, experience, that will serve well into the future for decision making. From that personal understanding, as the twists and turns come up both in planning the meeting (and you are right, most have twists and turns already at that stage) and when one is actually facilitating. The number of decisions to make are often very many. For years, I handled these intuitively and didn't know how many decisions I was making both as I was opening the space and as I was holding the space. It was not until I had other facilitators working with me, that I became aware of all of the questions that were raised in their minds regarding the minute to minute decision making. I equip those learning with me with developing their own understanding of their own bottom line regarding both form and essence (I realize this is an artificial separation but it helps). When I was faced with a challenge just as you are facing now, I used my understanding of the form but more importantly, my understanding of the essence to make my decision. I decided that the space was not closed, based on my understanding of what "open space" is, if there were such a large number who joined us in the closing circle. The majority of the participants at the conference were in a traditional strategic planning process "to get the real work done". As we approached the end of day 2, our group in OST had generated many reports, many strategies for future action, and had developed the action plans to go along with the strategies. All of them understood that there was no funding to move their work forward as a "given" stated in the opening. Early in the day, I chose to develop a quick evaluation form and had them photocopied onto two different colors of paper. It was my intention to have one color filled out by those in the traditional strategic planning group and another color for those who had been in the OST throughout. I thought that was a brilliant way to get some research done. The sponsor agreed. And again, more twists and turns and decision making and I had to put this plan of evaluations aside (it was brilliant but alas was not done). Our closing circle was scheduled for 4pm. At 2:30 pm we had a contingent of guests arrive, mostly men, in business suits looking very official. What gave away to me what they were doing and who they were was that they had a ladder with them and a cameraman with camera. Oh dear----the typical team of a federal cabinet minister. A cabinet minister had originally planned on attending the conference but at the last, gave her regrets. I marched over to this group (of about 6 people) and asked who they were and what their intention was. They said they were the staff of this cabinet minister and that she had decided she would come and that she was going to make a speech for the closing. And of course, the intention was to film it. I have had previous experience with such people and I know their total job is to "make the Minister" look good. I suggested strongly to them that they were on the wrong track and that if they truly wanted to "make their Minister look good", they should dispense with the plan for the speech, let the closing circle progress as planned, and that they should sit her immediately to my right. I explained that our microphone would be passed to my left and that each person would have the opportunity to say something and by placing her to my right, she would be the last person (except for me) to speak. If she still chose to give her speech, so be it, but I suggested to them that this would not likely be the case. The closing circle could not have gone any better if it had been planned. People from both the "traditional strategic planning" and the OST spoke. There was a huge and clear difference between the passion, the innovation, the inspiration, the commitment to action, and great action plans between the two groups. I think you can guess which of the two groups of people shone in the brightness of their passion and commitment. The "traditional strategic planning group" had a plan that was going forward for approval. The OST group had a plan for approval AND they each had action steps they were taking whether the plan ever moved forward or not. And in their contributions in the closing, they said that their actions did not require funding but that they had figured out how to move ahead despite the government and the bureaucracy going so slow on what to them was a critical matter. By the way, when we sorted out the "givens" ahead of time in our planning, a given was that items could move forward for action in the different communities if someone so chose, just so long as they could do so without additional government funding". The cabinet minister was so impressed, she gave a very moving and short speech when it was her turn. She never used her planned speech. And she spoke elequently and with passion about the passion and commitment and her joy about this. As people were leaving, there was a lot of chatter about what had come out of the OST group. And the others were in awe, impressed, and in disbelief. It did not compute logically for them. I think there were so many important lessons in this for everyone concerned. If I had not taken the risk, based on my understanding of OST, I would have denied them the opportunity. As for the evaluations, I had to give up on that plan because for me to "hold the space" for the two groups, the cabinet minister, and the cameraman, I could not turn any of my attention to talking about the evaluations or dealing with them. I felt if I did this, I would not be able to keep the space open. There were already too many variables at hand. I hope this helps. Blessings to you and all whom you make genuine contact with Birgitt Williams Mentoring for Organizational Effectiveness We invite you to visit us at www.genuinecontact.com and join the list serve at http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/genuinecontact "I believe that Spirit matters and people are precious. I know that organizations incorporating these values have exciting, tangible results including wealth, prosperity, and abundance. Daily, these organizations attend to their health and balance. Participating in the Genuine Contact program takes you on a learning journey of HOW to achieve the healthy and balanced organization (the conscious Open Space Organization). Birgitt Williams, Dalar International Consultancy Contact information for Dalar International Consultancy Mailing address: Po Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 or for courier 12136 Shooting Club Rd., Raleigh, North Carolina USA 27613 Phone: 919-522-7750 Fax: 919-870-6599 -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Peggy Holman Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 12:33 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: OST as a conference track Wow, my query sure turned up a lot of stuff! Harrison -- I would love to hear the story that leads to your unequivocal advice. To the questions: (Koos) What is the reasoning behind this? Why do OST for just a part of the conference? It has to do with the purpose of the Open Space. It is focused on a particular project that won't be of interest to everyone. Artur said it quite clearly: > It is (1) to do it for the sub-community that cares about "Building a > Pattern Language of Living Communication" We did explore doing the whole conference in OS. This didn't seem to make sense 1) because speakers were already committed; 2) the purpose and passion for the OS was tied not to the conference theme but to the specific topic of creating the pattern language, which is a track within the conference. BTW, the OS will have it's own physical space. (Winston) Has the session been advertised/promoted as open to everyone at the conference? Could it possibly be of interest to everyone? (sounds like not from the nature of the topic but...) We're planning on providing an invitation flyer as part of the conference packet and the sponsor will say a few words of invitation at the opening plenary that introduces the concept of a pattern language. It will be open to everyone. I doubt it will be of interest to everyone. ON THE CLOSING CIRCLE: Atur said: > Now, what I would try is to talk with the organizing committee and say them > that IF they want the closing circle to be open to all the participants, > then the opening circle should be scheduled for a time slot where there are > no other simultaneous events, so that every participant that cares can > come. Then I would not care about the fact that someone's will not show up > for the opening, neither for the fact that many will not participate in the > rest of the OST sessions. I would treat them has butterflies ;-) There is nothing competing with the closing circle. It is the time for the conference close. Artur, I really appreciate your image of those coming in from outside the OS as butterflies. That helps. It's just that there may be a LOT more butterflies than OS participants. What makes me think it could work is that a closing question on what people are taking home from the conference works no matter where they've been. So, guess I'm taking a real leap with this one. Any other thoughts are welcome since the dates are May 18-19. Will let you know what the water's like (or if the pool was dry....) Peggy > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, > Visit: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html >
