Filiz and Funda, I like your new principle. It reminds me of a statement that must be a corollary to your "rule". I came across it over 30 years ago during my brief career in public relations. Author unknown.
"If you make something so perfectly clear that no one can possibly misunderstand, somebody will." You obviously had a difficult time, and there may have been things you could have done differently, I wouldn't know. But it does sound like a lot was accomplished. Congratulations. It seems like folks got outcomes they needed to move forward, so you did a good job. I think when I concentrate on creating a "perfect" open space experience, seeking to execute all the pieces just right, doing it just as I've learned it, I lose sight of why I'm really there. I once worked with a group of 200 business people (in one organization) for 2.5 days. Big, important conference, lots of high level people. After the opening, each succeeding circle (evening news, morning announcements, closing) got smaller and smaller. Some got bored, I guess, others were there against their will, still others hadn't planned to stay the whole time anyway and booked early flights. Some probably just slept late. Undoubtedly several thought the process was silly or just didn't like me. Who knows? So we were down to about 160 by the end. And then at the closing, a hired guy with a big, professional video camera on a rolling platform established himself in the middle of the circle and taped everyone's comments as the talking symbol made its way through the group. (This was done with everyone's permission, but he kept blocking the view.) I could have jumped up and down complaining "this isn't open space!" But it was, and the client, who had entered into the whole affair with reluctance (and courage), told me afterward that the system clearly derived much more benefit than anyone had imagined. He had the patience and good sense to focus on the results and not all the uncomfortable, unpredictable behaviors that arose during their time together. He knew that people's opinions of me did not matter. I will ban any such video gear in the future, but otherwise, it's what happened. Ralph * * ========================================================== 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