Diana -- any move to action has got to be a good thing which most groups appreciate. And it is obvious that you did something very useful. But I do have to ask -- would it have been possible to accomplish the same objectives with yourself remaining "totally present and absolutely invisible?" This is not a matter of "doctrinal purity" (the "right OS approach") but more about group empowerment. I have found that any time we take the lead and do something that the group might do for itself -- to that extent we dis-empower that group. This is not about being mean, nasty, egotistical -- it is rather a fact of life.
In similar situations I have found that the group can be enabled to focus on needed actions through some very simple stratagems. The simplest, and also the most "clunky," is priority voting -- done with sticky-dots or (in larger groups) with some weighted voting software. Net result is that areas of high interest are quickly identified, and from there it is quite easy to generate useful action plans. Another approach, which Chris Corrigan and others have originated involves re-opening the space in the final time periods -- but this time for really hot issues the group would like to act upon. Having done this several times myself, I find that it is most effective, and has the added benefits of carrying on the spirit and form of Open Space and also keeping me out of the limelight. Just some thoughts. ho Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Diana Larsen Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:39 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Moving to action Recently I opened space for a group of about 100 people that is used to Open Space sessions concurrent with conferences, but this time wanted to move into action. After a day and a half of sessions, just before the lunch break, I posted a bunch of flip chart pages on the wall (because I didn't have any butcher paper rolls) to make a big blank area. I put the OS theme in the middle of the paper. I asked who in the group was familiar with creating mind maps and many people raised their hands. I asked them to explain the process to anyone around them for whom mind mapping was new. Then I invited the group to create a mind map of what they had discussed over their time together. When we got back together in circle after lunch, I reviewed what was on the mind map (for those who couldn't see it across the room) and asked for any additions. A few things were added. I solicited suggestions of how to group the items on the mind map, and circled the affinity areas the group identified. Then I wanted to find who had energy to take on some section of the mind map to plan for future action. I asked for a host for each section, then who would join that person to work on the area. We allowed 90-120 minutes for the groups to work, then they reported their progress and intentions to the whole group before our closing circle. Afterwards everyone said it was the best OS they had ever had. I think it was because they finally walked away with something more than unresolved discussions. ;-) It was one of those ideas that came to me unbidden as I sat holding the space and wondering what would work best. (I had another plan but it didn't feel like a good fit.) I'll try the mind map again. Diana Diana Larsen 503-288-3550 www.futureworksconsulting.com co-author, "Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great!" Amazon Best Books of 2006 Top Ten Editors' Picks: computer & internet http://tinyurl.com/ynacvb Attend "Agile Open Northwest 2007: Agile for Real" January 30-31 2007, Portland OR http://www.agileopennorthwest.org * * ========================================================== 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