Thank you for this reply Lisa--and for asking this question Annamarie.
I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your response Lisa. It is easy for
me, when i am passionate about something (and i'm pretty passionate
about OST), to get very focused on the benefits and good reasons for
using a particular approach--and to sometimes forget to take that
extra step back (open the space) and look at who the client is, where
they are at, and what will serve them best as they are right now.
There is a covert reminder in what you say: that OST is not the only
way to open space. That has a lot more to do with my presence and
example.
There is so much innate respect in your approach, Lisa. I find that
there can be a kind of process-arrogance that can creep in for me
(especially when i am a participant in other less open forms). And
even though it's based on solid experience, it can still be
disrespectful at some level to others who have not had the benefit of
that experience. Or the privilege and opportunity to learn. You also
point to a disrespect of the process itself--to ask a form to stretch
and deliver in all circumstances is unwise. Better to remember the
essence and do my best to uphold that. Your sharing has stirred me to
revisit my commitment to absolute respect: for my clients and those
present, for the processes i love, and for myself as a convenor.
big hugs,
Wendy
On 15-Apr-10, at 11:27 AM, Lisa Heft wrote:
(okay, here also is my test to see if I am back on the OSLIST, able
to post and to receive - thanks Michael for your thoughtful
attention and thanks to the Boise person as well...here...goes...
with my signature in its colored font intact - if this does not work
I will try with a plain text signature...)
Thanks for inviting this, Annamarie -
It helps me explore where my own points of 'going for it' are - and
where I tell a client it is not the right tool when there is so
short a time:
I have also done very short Open Spaces - I bow to Jeff Aitken who
inspired me in this area when I was holding so tightly to 'no
shorter than three or four hours'.
However, I am a big believer of analyzing overarching objectives,
desired outcomes, context of the task and what comes before and
after this particular meeting connected to that task, designing in
appropriate and useful participant-driven documentation and more.
I then ask myself: with this short a time availability, and for
these objectives and desired outcomes, what is the right tool for
the deliverables? (including Open Space, World Cafe and other great
dialogic tools - and knowing that Open Space has different
deliverables depending on the amount of meeting time).
I am also passionate about access and inclusion. So another question
I ask myself is - is making very short discussion rounds or only a
few minutes to post topics favoring only the quick responders in the
room - and does that give a sense of the overall group's interests
or issues.
I consider how one of the useful elements of Open Space is
*multiple* sessions so people can see their thoughts link and change
across the sessions, and as the conversations progress, notice
things they didn't see before.
I am also very big on documentation - a way to provide data for the
ongoing work of the group - more than the feeling of the moment of
conversation.
I ask the host if more time is available (including that lunch,
including that networking time - whatever I can get to expand the
meeting length) and I explain why more is better.
I explore what other designs would deliver what the host is asking
for in a way that allows for reflection or emergence or breathing
room.
And if I end up using OS (which I have done on occasion for such a
short time) it is because there is no other alternative which will
provide the desired outcomes and deliverables in this short of a
timeframe.
I do not use a part of Open Space and call it Open Space. If I use
one element or adjust it (for example just the part about inviting
people to think of topics they are passionate about, making a sign,
posting it on the wall and being amazed at the diversity of thought)
I do not call it Open Space.
And I look out for opportunities to invite the group or host to a
full-on Open Space sometime soon, so they will come to know the
difference in what is possible and how the mind (and relationships,
and networking, and discovery) work over longer times in Open Space
together.
Thank you for inviting the question - I had fun opening up my brain
to see how I do things when asked to do short Open Spaces.
Lisa
Lisa Heft
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
Opening Space
lisah...@openingspace.net
www.openingspace.net
Ask me about the Open Space Learning Workshops - April 21-23 and
December 15-17, 2010 - San Francisco
October 15-17, 2010 - Medellin, Colombia
OSLIST - the World Open Space community in conversation (English)
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
The Open Space World Community space (all languages)
http://openspaceworld.ning.com
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Wendy Farmer-O'Neil
CEO Prospera Consulting
we...@xe.net
1-800-713-2351
The moment of change is the only poem. -- Adrienne Rich
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