That's a great reminder Michael! Made me smile ;) Mostly because it brought some relief from the frequent emphasis I do put on thinking about "how" things can be done better in open space!
Recalls to my mind when I worked on a crisis and suicide intervention hotline. We had a big sign hanging up reminding us, "It's not about you". Tricia Chirumbole US: +1-571-232-0942 Skype: tricia.chirumbole On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 5:21 PM, Michael Herman via OSList < oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > All of us as facilitators would do well to remember that people are not >> coming to a meeting to be wowed by a process that you personally love. >> They are coming to get work done. And so it behooves us to put a lid on >> our passions for the mechanics of the process and simply open space so that >> work can get done. Later on you can reflect on WHY it happened like that. > > > yes yes yes, chris. it may well be that the, shall we say, "traditional" > story of 4 principles, one law and a couple of bugs is ready to go the way > of voting. there is still something to be said for talking about the > purpose, and something to be said for not knowing what will happen. i > always liked that fr. brian used to put "be prepared to be surprised" at > the entrance to the space. and something to be said for giving people a > chance to think about what they want to do/post, before the chaos of > writing and announcing begins. probably this "time to think" is the most > important part about talking about principles and bugs. the higher the > stakes and/or the larger the group, probably the more time for pre-soaking. > guess that's the art of it really... just enough, but no more, in the > briefing. and in whatever way that we don't create a distraction from > which we cannot escape. the better we know the group and the issues, > probably the easier it is to do this. > > > > > > > > -- > > Michael Herman > Michael Herman Associates > 312-280-7838 (mobile) > > http://MichaelHerman.com > http://OpenSpaceWorld.org > > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 4:03 PM, Chris Corrigan via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > >> I have opened space many many times without ever mentioning the four >> principles, the law or any other assorted wisdom associated with WHY the >> process works. >> >> My basic practice is to explain HOW we will organize ourselves, pointing >> out the tools we have to do so: paper, markers, bulletin board. >> >> I talk about passion and responsibility “Please only post a topic you >> will personally show up for…” and I mention the freedom of choosing and >> moving. >> >> That is all that people need to get into Open Space. I’m not sure the >> principles or the law or anything else are necessary pre-conditions for the >> appearance and deployment of Open Space in a meeting. I think they help >> explain what is happening, and I think they help people let go of control a >> little. >> >> All of us as facilitators would do well to remember that people are not >> coming to a meeting to be wowed by a process that you personally love. >> They are coming to get work done. And so it behooves us to put a lid on >> our passions for the mechanics of the process and simply open space so that >> work can get done. Later on you can reflect on WHY it happened like that. >> >> As for the idea that OST is mainstream, well perhaps not yet. But within >> the world of people who think a lot about this sort of thing it is widely >> known. I feel like these days people call and ask about OST having >> experienced it whereas in the 1990s and early 200s people were calling >> because it seemed like a good idea, but they had never experienced it. So >> not mainstream per se, but widely accepted and known in a small part of the >> world. >> >> At any rate it has been a long time since I have asked the question at >> the start of a meeting and seen zero hands go up. There seems to be at >> least one person who knows Open Space. >> >> Whether we use the original instructions or modifications or innovations, >> whatever you do, do it very very well. Be very conscious, model good >> leadership and never stop embodying invitation. Lots of people have >> witnessed poorly planned Open Spaces run by facilitators who are too >> nervous to let go of their control of it. We all owe it to our clients and >> participants to meet their needs well with a process that helps them get >> unlocked from the stuck places they get into. >> >> Here’s my book again for you to download. I hope it inspires your >> practice. >> >> The Tao of Holding Space >> <http://www.archive.org/details/TheTaoOfHoldingSpace> >> >> Chris >> >> >> On Nov 14, 2014, at 11:09 PM, John Baxter via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >> Nice reflection Harrison. >> >> You've unfortunately created too many loose ends to inspire a neat >> reply. So here is a messy one. >> >> Regards the simplest recipe for Open Space, to what degree have the Law >> and N Principles (and the animals) been critically tested? To be honest, >> these have never really resonated for me and I've always used a different >> variation each time searching for something that feels right (and no longer >> than it needs to be). >> >> I think it's a long bow to describe Open Space as mainstream, or anywhere >> near it. It has spread to all corners of the globe perhaps, but it is >> still the System A alternative, islands within a System B world. I would >> hazard 90% of those who have been to conferences and meetings and like >> gatherings have not heard of it... (speaking at a conference on cocreation >> and placemaking recently, I requested a hands-up and had a whole TWO of >> hundreds confess to acquaintance) >> and even if 90% had, I'm sure less than 1% of the gatherings they attend >> are consciously designed to unlock self organisation. >> >> What you describe of the permutations of the practice matches what I see >> (though I'm too new to know differently), but I can't see how this could be >> because of a tipping point as the practice is mainstreamed. >> >> Maybe that's just where I participate. >> >> Regards the permutations and combinations... bring them on! This thread >> could quickly follow all sorts of rabbit holes on this one, so I might save >> those thoughts for another day. >> >> Cheers >> >> >> *John Baxter* >> *Cocreation Consultant & CoCreate Adelaide Facilitator* >> jsbaxter.com.au <http://www.jsbaxter.com.au/> | CoCreateADL.com >> <http://cocreateadl.com/> >> 0405 447 829 >> | >> @jsbaxter_ <http://twitter.com/jsbaxter_> >> >> *Thank you to everyone who came, helped or spread the good word about >> City Grill!* >> *Summary and links: cocreateadl.com/localgov/grill-summary/ >> <http://cocreateadl.com/localgov/grill-summary/>* >> >> >> On Fri, Nov 14, 2014 at 5:37 AM, paul levy via OSList < >> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >> >>> The problem with sticking with things is you might just end up stuck. >>> >>> Ho hum. >>> >>> Paul Levy >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 13 Nov 2014, at 18:14, Harrison Owen via OSList < >>> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: >>> >>> Open Space, in its “original” form is sparse simplicity to say the >>> least. Ten to fifteen minutes introduction, and it is off the races, or in >>> my case, off to take a nap. The evolution of this format followed a simple >>> dictum: “Think of one more thing NOT to do.” Over time in my practice I >>> simply removed one more element. The first to go were so called, “warm up >>> exercises.” But it went down from there. My surprise was that the less I >>> did, the better it got... which seemed to be the exact opposite of many of >>> my colleagues’ experience with the methods and approaches they had created. >>> Their simple guide books gave way to 400 page Manuals with additions and >>> extensions. Of course, there were times when people remarked to me that OS >>> was so simple it couldn’t possibly work. But it did. Simply sit in a >>> circle, create a bulletin board, acknowledge the 5 principles and the Law – >>> and Go to Work! That’s it. That’s all. >>> >>> >>> I confess that I do love elegant simplicity, and so there is a large >>> part of me that would stick with the “original” for that reason alone. To >>> this may be added the fact that this “elegant simplicity” apparently >>> violated essentially all the principles and practices of management that I >>> knew about. To some extent this was a source of no small amount of >>> embarrassment, for after all when what you see, do, and think is at odds >>> with the Received Wisdom there are obvious questions about your grasp of >>> reality. But, the disparity between what I was witnessing and what (I was >>> told) I should be experiencing has led to a marvelous quest into the >>> strange new world of self organizing systems. Rich and rewarding indeed. >>> >>> >>> Now it seems that the world is changing (or at least our perception of >>> that world) such that the strange environment of self organization is no >>> longer so strange. What appeared odd, counter-intuitive, impossible is now >>> almost mainstream. Not quite but getting there. And if so, perhaps it is >>> now time to let go of that old “elegant simplicity” in all of its appealing >>> purity... and plunge into the marvelous world of combinations and >>> permutations. And why not? It could be a lot of fun. >>> >>> >>> I can see the possibilities, but I doubt seriously I would change. >>> Senile sentimentality for sure, AND I actually have another concern which I >>> think may be determinative. I suspect that OST (simple version) may be the >>> best Training Program going when it comes to the introduction of folks to >>> the High Arts of navigating a self organizing world. And best of all it is >>> Experiential Learning from the start. Training and Doing are absolutely >>> united. It is not talking about self organization it is being intentionally >>> in that mode. And any added complexity/parallel program will tend to >>> obscure the central mind bending fact – It’s happening all by itself. >>> >>> >>> We have talked about this “ training” function before, usually under the >>> heading of Chris Corrigan’s notion of Training Wheels. That is definitely >>> good start, but only a start. We can do more, and it could be a real kick. >>> >>> >>> So I plan to stick with the original – with the hope and intent that >>> lots of new people will drop by to experience the incredible, productive >>> freedom of losing control, and then come to understand that it is actually >>> their birthright. They only have to claim it. >>> >>> >>> Harrison >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Winter Address >>> >>> 7808 River Falls Drive >>> >>> Potomac, MD 20854 >>> >>> 301-365-2093 >>> >>> >>> Summer Address >>> >>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. >>> >>> Camden, ME 04843 >>> >>> 207-763-3261 >>> >>> >>> Websites >>> >>> www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com/> >>> >>> www.ho-image.com >>> >>> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the >>> archives of OSLIST Go to: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >
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