another word that's coming to my mind is "expectations." my apologies if it's already been discussed and i missed it in previous messages.
if the sponsor and others expect some type of breakthrough during one meeting, anything short of it could be determined as average or even below average. if they are open to experimenting with a new approach to convening people and are sincerely interested in inviting people to fully engage, hopefully they'll see that the first open space meeting is merely the beginning of a new way of being in organizations. thus, to draw a lot conclusions after one meeting may be a waste of time. i'm reminded of how important it is for we facilitators to be talking about issues like this with sponsors when considering using open space. michael herman and chris corrigan and others on the list often talk about the importance of seeing this as a type of "practice." we're wanting to nurture new habits and attitudes. i suspect we're setting the stakes rather high to expect this will happen in one meeting. of-course, we want to be open to it (new habits and attitudes forming), welcome and embrace it when it happens but not be disappointed when it doesn't. john C isa Kocher <c...@ttnet.net.tr> wrote: "Failure" st2\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } > Youre not leading them into heaven, only into an open place. if people are going to do a group activity, the most important thing is that the direction s are clear I have seen some of the worlds most beautiful quilts, and there is nothing more divine and exquisite than a truly beautiful quilt, and they are done by a lot of ladies working together anonymously each person doing each piece. I am so sure that such a together lady like yourself will give just the right amount of direction and people will take off and sew up a storm. I am a 1000% confidant. love and peace isa http://www.tiwiguide.com/ http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=B6D9H5 We do not inherit it; we borrow the Earth from our children: Native American wisdom. The only immorality is not to do what one has to do when one has to do it: Jean Anouilh Youre not leading them into heaven, only into an open place. If theyre the right people for the issues and opportunities at hand, well then... (shrugging my shoulders). In other words, dont blame yourself. For all of you out there celebrating Thanksgiving this coming week, happy holiday and love from central New Jersey, USA. Ralph Copleman * * ========================================================== 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 www.johnengle.blogspot.com View video clip! www.circlesofchange.com Participatory learning and leadership www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting for justice that all may have enough email: j...@johnengle.net telephone: 202-236-6532 fax: 202-449-8343 John Engle P.O. Box 337 Hershey, PA 17033 * * ========================================================== 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