Wow!
Lots said. So many wonderful ideas and thoughts! Hooray for the OSLIST!!!
I've many things to write all in the spirit of a smile and an arm around
the group's shoulders:
1) I second Harrison's thoughts:
it has been my experience that
even in intensely conflicted situations the groups themselves will find
their best way. This can be very nervous making for the facilitator, but in
all the years that I have been working in Open Space I have never seen a
situation in which the group did not find an effective way to deal with its
conflict -- and perhaps more to the point did not learn mountains for having
dealt with their issues. The whole thing can seem extraordinarily messy, and
the urge to clean it up and calm it down can be almost overwhelming. BUT --
the people will make it. They always have if not in one session then in a
following one, or as a congregation of bumble bees or a flight of
butterflies.
In my practice I've stepped fully out of the room and out of the topic
when anyone asks me to facilitate, or mediate an issue and have found
the group is much better for having learned how to work out their issues
together. That's what I witnessed and that's what I've been told after
stepping out and letting the open space be filled with energy other than
mine.
2) I second Lisa's thoughts:
To clarify - I mean "invited" and "designed-into-the-program" speeches
or traditional workshops should not be placed into the OS day (and if
the conference hosts really feel they must include these things, they
should place them the day before OS even opens).
and wish to add:
We have an ability as facilitators of an event to plan for non-OST
portions of a conference or whatever. And I have seen key note speakers,
process/skill learning days prior to 1, 2, or 3 days of Open Space work
incredibly when, given that the larger invitation, the "scheduled" bit,
and the spoken invitation are all in alignment with each other and form
a consistent purpose for gathering. I always refer to and
encourage/invite people to post topics about what they've been doing,
what they experienced the day before and to use the Open Space as a way
to expand and cross polinate ideas that were sparked by the "scheduled"
bits. I also encourage/invite participants to post topics on anything
else that fits under the umbrella topic of the whole event.
3) Sometimes when I'm opening the space I refer to the act of posting
topics as creating a mini invitation within the larger invitation, and
if it is appropriate, for the person posting the topic (invitation) to
state how they intend to meet if it is different from the group norm (in
this case, conversation in circle), just as we do when we write an Open
Space invitation and talk about what the event/gathering is and how
people will be invited to interact. Just as with Open Space events, a
well crafted invitation brings the right people.
Sometimes I'll get the question, what happens if no one comes to my
topic. And I tell them that they have several options - 1 is to wait,
noting the principles whoever comes, when it starts..., when it's
over..., whatever happens... 2 is to take notes about what ideas are in
your head, so that others can learn later if in that moment their two
feet had taken them somewhere other than to the convener's topic and 3
is to explore how they created their invitation. Are there other words
or a different way to state their topic and it's purpose. The idea may
be great but if the invitation is fuzzy or ill worded it may not inspire
excitement.
4) I've also hosted events where we've created space for one-way,
speaker type interactions to take place, which we titled storytelling
sessions within the Open Space framework. There happened to be a strong
demand for many people to share their ideas contributions to an emerging
field. Creating, providing a specific break-out area for one-way
communication (storytelling) created a place where participants who
wanted to gain knowledge from an "expert" could know where to go.
(Another way to display/indicate a storytelling topic was with a post-it
note shaped like a flower, to designate the topic as a storytelling
session). And as Lisa says, let the presenter know how Open Space works
and what to expect:
Lisa wrote:
it's just when some presenter-types approach the conference organizer
with (or the organizer or co-hosts hear someone is interested in doing)
a didactic (expert-to-audience) presentation (powerpoint, speech,
whatever) that it's a great thing (when talking with that person before
the conference) to inform them that this is a little different than
another kind of conference - that people may be coming in and out of
their presentation as they sample the marketplace of ideas, that you do
(or do not) have technical capability or a room to show their
powerpoint, whatever. To me, it's just a thoughtful part of invitation
- letting folks who need to know about what tools are available and that
it's all rather a flowy day of folks sampling allsorts of juicy
conversations and teaching and learning together in this way throughout
the day.
In my experience the presenters modified their style to include a
greater degree of conversation and through the spirit of Open Space
there was room for one-way learning (expert to audience) to take place
deeply interwoven with rich conversations. Including butterflys and
bumblebees contributing to the mix.
5) Jimmy wrote:
"I guess I am imagining myself as a participant that wants to use a
slower, more reflective process to consider a particular topic, rather
than a fast and loose conversation. I fear that if I merely say, I want
to talk about x, that I will end up with a group that wants to use a
fast and loose conversation and my only option if I don't like it is to
use the law of two feet. So, I want to invite others to talk with me
about x in a particular way. And the manner of conversation is as
important as the topic. "
I've found the law of two feet to be very powerful for finding a way to
create the type of space the participant is looking to be in.
And as Lisa wrote:
"Trust the people, trust the process."
And it will be perfect. Whatever happens is the only thing that could.
with grace and love,
Zelle
************
Zelle Nelson
Engaging the Soul at Work/Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document
www.stateofgracedocument.com
ze...@maureenandzelle.com
office - 001.828.693.0802
mobile - 001.847.951.7030
Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
USA
*
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