Christine: It is said that one picture is worth a thousand words, so I always make sure that my pitches paint a picture ... as vividly as possible ... and this means telling a story ... which is even better than a picture.
So in telling people about OST, I find myself always beginning with the story of its development ... a group of organisational consultants noticing that the best times at a conference were the coffee breaks. Amongst my listeners, everyone resonates with this (they have all had the experience) and there is always some laughter of recognition. This is a great way to start a pitch -- everyone is smiling and on your side. Then a quick story like the Rockport one (the security guard getting caught up in the excitment) gives the feeling of an OST event. It also dramatizes the fact that tangible results can happen quickly, and that this technique is being used by serious profit-driven companies. Recently I have also been using the quote, mentioned recently in this list, from the Clerk of the Social Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament ... "one day in open space is worth a year of hearings". Testimonials like this give credibility. This quote also adds a sector (govenment) and makes the efficiency argument for OST rather succinctly. But again, put it in story form if possible. Good luck with your pitch! Marty Boroson www.becomingme.com www.temenosproject.org ----- Original Message ----- From: <claudi...@juno.com> To: <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 4:22 AM Subject: Re: elevator speech Hello, Dear! Hope this isn't too late either. Took me forever to find... So, here is the link: http://www.michaelmpannwitz.de/index.php?id=69 And the "event id" is 99. You just have to scroll down. I've attached some pix, but, as you know THAT transmission is sometimes volatile. When I hear you talk about the "mood" of the meeting, it takes me right back to the endless meetings in Fort Collins. It's a miracle that anything gets done, isn't it? Stuff like that is deadening, and, yet it is all sparked by good intentions. So much to learn... Claudia -- Christine Whitney Sanchez <milagr...@cox.net> wrote: Thank you, Michael! These are great. Definitely not too late for my purposes - I'll be "briefing" on Thurs morning. I'll get that compilation back to everyone shortly thereafter. Christine Whitney Sanchez > > From: Michael Herman <mjher...@gmail.com> > Date: 2005/03/15 Tue PM 01:23:59 EST > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: elevator speech > > might be too late for this question, but we do have a number of > 'elevator speeches' posted at > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/wiki/wiki/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceElevatorSpeeches > > > On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 14:28:33 -0700, Spady's <ejesp...@mydurango.net> wrote: > > > > Robin, > > I, too, am interested in some advice on how to briefly explain OS to > > clients...especially in writing. Thank you so much for sharing this blurb > > that you wrote. It's great! :-) > > > > I do find something a bit confusing though. You state: "Open Space meeting > > is highly structured through the capacity of self organization." Isn't it > > sort of an oxymoron to use "highly structured" and "self organization" in > > the same sentence...? or Highly structured with regards to anything that is > > OS? > > > > I'm curious to know others thoughts on this... > > Judy > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Robyn S Berkessel > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 12:48 PM > > Subject: Re: elevator speech > > > > > > Christine, I concocted this to email to a banking executive this week. It > > is a combination of words from Michael Hermann and Chris Corrigan (from and > > some of Harrison's recent musings. Hope it is helpful. I also welcome > > feedback from anyone. Regards, Robyn. > > > > > > > > > > What is Open Space Technology? > > > > Open Space Technology is a simple and highly effective meeting method that > > enables groups of people to deal with issues constructively and speedily. > > > > > > > > Five Preconditions for Open Space > > > > · Real issues of concern > > > > · Diversity of players > > > > · Complexity of elements > > > > · Presence of passion > > > > · Decision time was yesterday. > > > > > > > > In Open Space meetings, participants create and manage their own agenda of > > parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance. > > > > > > > > There are Four Principles of Open Space > > > > · Whoever comes is the right people > > > > · Whatever happens is the only thing that could have > > > > · Whenever it starts is the right time > > > > · When it's over, it's over. > > > > > > > > There is One Law of Open Space > > > > · The Law of Two Feet - if you find yourself in a situation where > > you are neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet. > > > > > > > > Open Space meeting is highly structured through the capacity of self > > organization. Those who care, and are prepared to take responsibility for > > change, step up and drive the change agenda with an energy and commitment > > that no imposed management?driven design could prescribe. > > > > What will happen? > > > > We never know exactly what will happen when we open the space for people to > > do their most important work, but we can guarantee these results when any > > group gets into Open Space: > > > > · All of the issues that are MOST important to the participants will > > be raised. > > > > · All of the issues raised will be addressed by those participants > > most qualified and capable of getting something done on each of them. > > > > · In a time as short as one or two days, all of inputs and plans for > > immediate action will be documented in one comprehensive report -- finished, > > printed and in the hands of participants when they leave. > > > > · The meeting duration depends on the number of people and issues > > they put on the agenda. With groups of 5 to 2000 one-day workshops or, > > three-day conferences, the results are powerful and effective > > > > Impact of Open Space > > > > It all begins with an invitation > > > > · Palpable passion > > > > · Voluntary responsibility and accountability for issues of concern > > > > · Connection at all levels across all divides > > > > · Opening of the mind and heart > > > > · Energy for change and action > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the 20 year period since 1985 when I created Open Space, it has been > > used in excess of 60,000 times in 108 countries with groups ranging in size > > from 5 ? 2000. Typical applications have included such things as strategic > > and tactical planning for Rockport Shoes Inc ? in which some 400 employees > > established goals and directions for their company in addition to developing > > a totally new product and redesigning their inventory system. All of this > > was accomplished in 2 days, and except for the opening and closing of the > > event there was absolutely no intervention by the facilitator (me) at any > > time. The people did it all by themselves. > > > > > > > > In another case, some 2008 German Psychiatrists gathered for a single day's > > event intended to synthesize their collective learning at the conclusion of > > their biannual conference and further build the common body of knowledge. In > > all they created 236 working groups in about half an hour, self-managed the > > entire process and produced a book of proceedings as a record of their > > effort. > > > > > > > > In the United States, a much smaller group (23) of architects, technicians, > > and executives completely re-designed the AT&T Olympic Pavilion for the 1996 > > Olympics. They essentially started with a blank sheet of paper, and at the > > conclusion of 2 days had a totally new design down to the level of working > > architectural drawings for the $200,000,000(US) project. Once again the > > group did it all without outside intervention." > > > > > > > > Harrison Owen, esteemed creator of Open Space > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Christine > > Whitney Sanchez > > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 1:58 PM > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > Subject: elevator speech > > > > > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I have been given 5 minutes, at a meeting next week, to "brief" 300 CEO's > > about Open Space. Do you have a favorite elevator speech that has helped > > people understand the essence and application of OS? I'm especially eager > > for any thoughts about the relationship between OS and governance. > > > > Thanks in advance, for anything you can share. > > > > > > Christine > > > > Christine Whitney Sanchez > > Triune Milagro, LTD > > 480.759.0262 > > VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.triunemilagro.com > > > > Invoking the wisdom and capacity of the human spirit! > > * * ========================================================== > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * > > * ========================================================== > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > * * ========================================================== > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > -- > Michael Herman > Michael Herman Associates > http://www.michaelherman.com > ...inviting people and whole organizations into movement > > Small Change News Network > http://www.smallchangenews.org > ...linking active givers and gifted activists to make a bigger difference > > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
