-------------- Original message -------------- From: OSLIST automatic digest system <lists...@listserv.boisestate.edu>
> There are 19 messages totalling 6336 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Thoughts on a Town Crier (9) > 2. Bells, town criers, climate > 3. Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers (6) > 4. SV: Thoughts on a Town Crier > 5. SV: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > 6. open space-time > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:53:46 +0600 > From: TYASTO > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand > this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01C856B4.E206AF10 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3 > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item: > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the circle), 2 > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time for > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work. > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, some > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But then > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if they do > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit later > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second sessions > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the lead > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all. I do > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into one > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they have > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports. > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2 > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in our > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short written > instructions. > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time - > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle "When > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion. > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the results > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes. > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers. > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it in a > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I try > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we all > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing. If > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say one > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these short > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a workshop > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move it. > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > Marina Tyasto > tya...@sapa.nsk.su > > -----Original Message----- > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > Dear Peggy, > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they care, > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them a > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to 'spread' > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid, may > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just no > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that it > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you > say... > > thank you for the question > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :) > > elena marchuk > novosibirsk > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Peggy Holman > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective. > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > description of what he does. > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > information that marks the passage of time. > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > Peggy > > ________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274 > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, > is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > * * ========================================================== > 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 > > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01C856B4.E206AF10 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="iso-8859-1" > > > > > > > > > > > Dear > Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > size=2> > > size=2>I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of > the world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3 > and > often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each > item: Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the > circle), 2 sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some > time for reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I > call > it Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have conversations > about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work. > In > first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are sitting > in > the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they can do and > everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this case it is > voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be butterflies > today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, some people begin > to > write the topics and all works well. When people at the Market place are > trying > to realize what to do and where to go I wish them all well and say when we > will > meet again in the circle and go out. But then I usually come back at the time > of > change between sessions to see if they do it or not. Sometimes they can do > it themselves, sometimes little bit later than on the schedule. But their > shock of freedom is so big and they have such a fun talking in their first > groups and leaders of the second sessions are too weak to break it, that > mostly > they expect someone to take the lead and say - now it is time for the second > session or they miss it at all. I do the same as "Town crier", saying - it's > time for the second session, but it's up to you what you are doing now. Then > they can move or not. I agree with Elena that when we have such short time we > have to encourage them to take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes > they come all into one big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The > energy > is high, they have great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the > reports. > I > learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this > 2 or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in > our 2 > weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time > somebody > says "I will do it at my working place". I give them > short written instructions. > What > else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time - > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle "When > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion. > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course this > sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the results of > their > work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they learnt more > from each other than from all their other classes. > You > will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and give > them > back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", because it's no > other way yet - they don't have access to computers. > > face=Arial color=#0000ff> So, you see, we really do some more things than > you and probably do it in a different way. But I realized that even 2 hours > in open space is more powerful than two weeks of passive learning from > teachers. > That is why I try to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible > group. The shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, > where we all worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions > and closing. If i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask > people to say one word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe > that we have homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through > these short OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a > workshop which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, > more self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps > us to do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian > bells > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move > it. > > class=453460412-14012008>With warm greetings from cold > Siberia, > > class=453460412-14012008> > > class=453460412-14012008>Marina Tyasto > > class=453460412-14012008>> > href="mailto:tya...@sapa.nsk.su">tya...@sapa.nsk.su> V> > > class=453460412-14012008> > > class=453460412-14012008> -----Original Message----- From: > Elena Marchuk [mailto:ma...@mail.nsk.ru] Sent: Monday, January 14, > 2008 8:25 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: > Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Dear Peggy, > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let > participants to work as they care, but most OSs I provide are very limited in > time, and several time I missed the time by chance (though not much...) I > could see, that people are just seeting and talking in a previous groups. If > I > had the time to give them a 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and > will have time to 'spread' time for another quant of session, I would > probably > do, but I'm affraid, may be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that > we would have just no time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say > in opening, that it is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town > Crier, as you say... > > thank you for the question > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, > though sun shining :) > > elena marchuk > novosibirsk > > style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: > #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> > ----- Original Message ----- > > style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: > black">From: > > href="mailto:pe...@opencirclecompany.com">Peggy Holman > To: > title=osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > href="mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu">osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 > PM > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions > over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way > that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone > telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms > and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually > forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS > a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this > one. He told me that he was a little surprised when > the first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people > it was time to get started. He came to me when the > first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going > to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him that I never > did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out for > themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always > lets people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and > more people who have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many > practitioners doing what Jon does - telling people when it is time to start > the next session. I realized that since most of these folks came at > Jon's invitation, they were probably enculturated to responding to a > bell. > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, > "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist > thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how > people used it. > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the > session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the > space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So, > it strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does. > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one > doing something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on > providing information that marks the passage of time. > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > Peggy > > ________________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle > Company 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 (425) 746-6274 > > > > href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > href="http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHan > > dbook > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > burnt, is to become the fire". -- Drew Dellinger * * > ========================================================== > 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 > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01C856B4.E206AF10-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:12:07 -0500 > From: Diane Gibeault > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > This is a multipart message in MIME format. > > ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="us-ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > Interesting example of how we show up, even in small things, communicates > big time values and believes. > > > > Even a Town crier to me is the continuation of the "culture of dependency " > Open Space is wanting us and helping us get away from. It's nourishing the > old mental model that the participants can't do it by themselves but the > people that know (authorities including the facilitator) can do it best. It > sustains the thinking that participants need a mom to remind them. So they > will not only be dependant on time but will continue in this frame of mind > on many other aspects of the meeting. > > > > I let people self manage around time - other than having a schedule posted > on a flip chart like Harrison had in his first edition of his Users' Guide. > Participants tell me later on that they like having no one - no form of boss > even a nice facilitator - telling them what to do. It really sends a clear > message we are encouraging self-organization and more importantly, that we > value them we value trust and show it by actually trusting them. > > > > It also makes room for the leadership to emerge from the group: the small > and big task of reminding colleagues it's time to start is an opportunity > for someone to take a special step in the group they belong to. It's also an > occasion to add to the quality of their relationships. Doing it for > participants, takes away from them, those opportunities for learning and > being. > > > > It's been working for over 10 years for me. Harrison said about OST: it's > not the techniques of OST that are hard to learn, it's letting go. > > > > Diane > > > > > > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Peggy > Holman > Sent: 13 janvier 2008 12:23 > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective. > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > description of what he does. > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > Peggy > > > > ________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274 > > > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, > is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > * * ========================================================== > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="us-ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = > xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = > xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" = > xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> > > > > charset=3Dus-ascii"> > > > > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>Interesting example of how we show up, even in small = > things, communicates > big time values and believes. > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>Even a Town crier to me is the continuation of the = > culture > of dependency Open Space is wanting us and helping us get away = > from. Its > nourishing the old mental model that the participants cant do it = > by themselves > but the people that know (authorities including the facilitator) can do = > it best. > It sustains the thinking that participants need a mom to remind them. = > So > they will not only be dependant on time but will continue in this frame = > of mind > on many other aspects of the meeting. > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>I let people self manage around time other than = > having a > schedule posted on a flip chart like Harrison had in his first edition = > of his Users > Guide. Participants tell me later on that they like having no one - no = > form of > boss even a nice facilitator - telling them what to do. It really sends = > a clear > message we are encouraging self-organization and more importantly, that = > we value > them we value trust and show it by actually trusting them. = > > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>It also makes room for the leadership to emerge from the = > group: the > small and big task of reminding colleagues its time to start is = > an > opportunity for someone to take a special step in the group they belong = > to. Its > also an occasion to add to the quality of their relationships. = > Doing it > for participants, takes away from them, those opportunities for learning = > and > being. > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>Its been working for over 10 years for me. = > Harrison said > about OST: its not the techniques of OST that are hard to learn, = > its > letting go. > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'>Diane > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; > color:#1F497D'> > > > > > 0cm 0cm 0cm'> > > > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:= > > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST > [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Peggy = > Holman > Sent: 13 janvier 2008 12:23 > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people = > move > into sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of = > a > trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there = > won't > be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow = > their own > rhythms and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I > usually forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is = > going on. > > > > > > > > > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about = > 50. > He uses OS a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this > one. He told me that he was a little surprised = > when the > first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people = > it was > time to get started. He came to me when the first = > round > after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring = > a bell > and let people know? I basically told him that I never did = > that. > The participants were adults and could figure it out for = > themselves. He > was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people = > know. > And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have > experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what = > Jon does > - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I = > realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were = > probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > > > > > > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and = > rang a bell, > saying, "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town = > crier was > a minimalist thing to do -- providing information without = > attachment > to how people used it. > > > > > > > > > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to = > understand > his perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the > session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding = > the > space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. = > So, it > strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he = > does. > > > > > > > > > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon = > isn't the > only one doing something like this. I'd love to hear other = > thoughts on > providing information that marks the passage of time. > > > > > > > > > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > > > > > Peggy > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > > > > > > > > href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> :p> > > > > > > > > > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/= > ChangeHandbook > > > > > > > > > > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step = > into the > fire and not get burnt, is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > * * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 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 > > > > > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C8568D.89A44200-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:29:29 +1100 > From: Brian S Bainbridge > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="us-ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > Dear Peggy > > I guess I am lazy. > > I really have never used any form of time-keeping or time-crying. > > Even in short events, I reckon if people are so wrapped up in the topic they > have started and are pursuing, then "whatever happens..." in a > self-organizing fashion is how I have always seen things. Which reinforces > my "laziness". > > Sometimes, they just keep going but transmogrify into the other topic or > topics on the wall anyway. They often seem interrelated -0 understandable > that the group has some commonality of purpose and origin if it is a company > group, obviously. > > So far, I have never heard - in the closing circle of such groups - anyone > jumping up and down about "we should have been told the time". I think they > get that the responsibility rests with them, especially if they are a repeat > Open Space group. > > My 2-cent's worth of observation-experience, I guess. > > Cheers and blessings, BRIAN > > > > Fr Brian S. Bainbridge > 0412 111 525 > > Skype: briansbain > > > > * * ========================================================== > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="us-ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = > xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = > xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> > > > > charset=3Dus-ascii"> > > > > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear = > Peggy > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I guess I am = > lazy. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I really have never used any form = > of > time-keeping or time-crying. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Even in short events, I reckon if = > people > are so wrapped up in the topic they have started and are pursuing, then = > whatever > happens .. in a self-organizing fashion is how I have = > always seen > things. Which reinforces my = > laziness. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sometimes, they just keep going but > transmogrify into the other topic or topics on the wall anyway. They = > often seem > interrelated -0 understandable that the group has some commonality of = > purpose > and origin if it is a company group, = > obviously. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So far, I have never heard = > in the > closing circle of such groups anyone jumping up and down about = > we > should have been told the time. I think they get that the = > responsibility > rests with them, especially if they are a repeat Open Space = > group. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>My 2-cents worth of = > observation-experience, > I guess. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Cheers and blessings, = > BRIAN > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Fr Brian S. Bainbridge > 0412 111 525> style=3D'color:navy'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Skype: = > briansbain > > > > > > > lang=3DEN-US > style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > ------=_NextPart_000_0047_01C856D3.04EABD00-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:51:13 +0100 > From: Michael M Pannwitz > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Dear Elena, > oh, this arrow is very hightech, of course. > It is made of 160g red heavy paper, cut with a scissor. > It is attached to the schedule either with a pin in case the surface > permits that or with a short piece of adhesive tape rolled together and > stuck to the backside (a chewing gum might do the trick, too)...the > point is, it needs to be movable. > Constructing this time arrow is one of the tasks in setting up an open > space as described in the set of task cards...usually team members get > into a fight over who gets to do that task. The word "now" (in German > "jetzt", which by the way is a wonderful old word containing both the > roots for "now" and "eternity", a real open space word)is written on > both sides of the arrow so that the arrow can point either to the right > or to the left. As I said, hi tech. > In the following link you see the time arrow being used in a > German/Russian open space with both languages shown on the time arrow > > http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100 > > Have fun > mmp > > Elena Marchuk wrote: > > Hi Michael, thank you for the idea, > > I love it and will think, how to do it on my time/place schedule > > and wonder, what do you mean by cardboard arrow? > > is it magnetic? > > as usually I have just space near the blackboard, which I use to be free > > for posters, and it is just for one flip-chart paper and no space for a > > sort of one-arrow watch, which I thought first of... so it could be an > > arrow just over the words : session1, session 2 - which would need a big > > arrow....sorry, and happy, I have fun with thinking about this > > take care > > and best wishes in a Happy New Year, today in Russia is an OLD (ortodox) > > Happy New Year, so we have 2 of them and very happy to celibrate > > everything twice (our Christas was on January, 7:) > > elena marchuk > > novosibirsk > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael M Pannwitz" > > > > To: > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:14 AM > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > >> Dear Peggy, > >> I have never seen anybody in these parts do what Jon does. > >> That might have different reasons such as the many training events and > >> local OSonOS people have participated in... > >> What is done here a lot and I always do it, is to have a detailed > >> schedule posted on a large flipchart complete with a time arrow (a > >> little red cardboard arrow with the word "now" written on it). When > >> introducing the schedule to the group I also point out the function of > >> the arrow...me or another team member and often participants > >> themselves move the arrow as the event progresses. My line is: In case > >> you lose track of time or wonder what is next just walk up to the > >> schedule and have a look at the arrow. > >> Of course, sometimes people come up to me and ask about beginning > >> times, my response is to just point to the schedule...I would hate to > >> add a town crier to my repertoire seems it would be one more thing to > >> do and one chance for selforganisation and selfmanagement taken away. > >> Here is a few links to show examples of schedules with the time arrow > >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/102 > >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/99 > >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100 > >>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/101 > >> > >> > >> Have a great day in Seattle! > >> Greetings from Berlin > >> mmp > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Peggy Holman wrote: > >>> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into > >>> sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a > >>> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that > >>> there won't be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to > >>> them to follow their own rhythms and interests. I haven't quite > >>> internalized this yet, so I usually forget. Anyway, I think I may > >>> have figured out what is going on. > >>> > >>> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a > >>> lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He > >>> told me that he was a little surprised when the first round of > >>> breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people it was time > >>> to get started. He came to me when the first round after lunch were > >>> scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring a bell and let > >>> people know? I basically told him that I never did that. The > >>> participants were adults and could figure it out for themselves. He > >>> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people know. > >>> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have > >>> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > >>> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I > >>> realized that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, > >>> they were probably enculturated to responding to a bell. > >>> > >>> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, > >>> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist > >>> thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how people > >>> used it. > >>> > >>> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > >>> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the session > >>> start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the > >>> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > >>> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So, it > >>> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does. > >>> > >>> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > >>> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > >>> information that marks the passage of time. > >>> > >>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle, Peggy > >>> > >>> ________________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle Company > >>> 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 (425) 746-6274 > >>> > >>> www.opencirclecompany.com > >>> > >>> > >>> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > >>> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > >>> > >>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > >>> burnt, is to become the fire". -- Drew Dellinger > >>> > >>> * * ========================================================== > >>> 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-- > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg > >> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany > >> ++49-30-772 8000 > >> www.boscop.org www.michaelmpannwitz.de > >> > >> > >> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 472 resident Open > >> Space Workers in 76 countries (working in a total of 132 countries > >> worldwide) > >> www.openspaceworldmap.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 > > > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:30:19 -0500 > From: Harrison Owen > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > Ringing Bells for sessions. > > =20 > > I guess I can understand why you might be tempted in a short Open Space = > with > short sessions, but even then my feeling is that is a temptation to be > resisted. Part of this is the whole question of participants really = > taking > responsibility for what they care about - including the consequences of > either not caring or caring in a different way. But the real reason is a > deep feeling on my part that the essential task of the facilitator is to > create the optimal conditions under which the self-organizing system = > (the > group of participants) can function most effectively. It is NOT about > keeping things "on time," except for the start, and maybe the ending. = > For > whatever it is worth, I always make best effort to start "on time" - not > that it always works out that way.:-) And when it comes to the ending, I > feel the obligation to at least point out to folks that the official = > closing > time has arrived so that those who have some necessity to leave (planes = > to > catch etc) can do so. But in between beginning and ending it is all open > space, or should I say open time? > > =20 > > My learnings have been that self-organizing systems quickly generate = > their > own sense of time, which has little to do with the passage of hands over = > a > clock face, and everything to do with the flow or activity. Every group = > will > perceive this somewhat differently, and who am I to say what is a long = > time > or short time. Point is -- it is "their time," determined by their own = > sense > of need, accomplishment and ultimately the flow of their engagement. I = > can > never know how long people will require for a particular conversation, = > and I > think we have all been surprised how much can actually be accomplished = > in a > few moments when things are really flowing. Inserting "arbitrary" time > breaks interrupts that flow. "Arbitrary" in the sense that they are > determined by an external timetable (our schedule) as opposed to the > emergent and internal sense of time which the group creates for itself. = > To > me this is "organizing a self-organizing system," which in addition to = > being > an oxymoron, usually turns out badly or at least awkwardly. > > =20 > > Harrison > > =20 > > =20 > > =20 > > 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=20 > > OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the = > archives > Visit: > www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > =20 > > -----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Peggy > Holman > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:23 PM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > =20 > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions = > over > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone = > telling > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > =20 > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot = > but > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that = > he > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came = > to > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it = > out > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always = > lets > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people = > who > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what = > Jon > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I = > realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were = > probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. =20 > > =20 > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, = > "It's > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to = > do > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > =20 > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his = > perspective. > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are = > part > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care = > what > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > description of what he does. > > =20 > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > information that marks the passage of time. > > =20 > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > Peggy > > =20 > > ________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274=20 > > =20 > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > =20 > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:=20 > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook=20 > > =20 > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get = > burnt, > is to become=20 > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > * * = > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > > > > > charset=3Dus-ascii"> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Ringing Bells for = > sessions > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I guess I can understand why you = > might be > tempted in a short Open Space with short sessions, but even then my = > feeling is > that is a temptation to be resisted. Part of this is the whole question = > of > participants really taking responsibility for what they care about = > > including the consequences of either not caring or caring in a different = > way. > But the real reason is a deep feeling on my part that the essential task = > of the > facilitator is to create the optimal conditions under which the = > self-organizing > system (the group of participants) can function most effectively. It is = > NOT > about keeping things on time, except for the start, and = > maybe the > ending. For whatever it is worth, I always make best effort to start = > on > time not that it always works out that = > way.> color=3Dred face=3DWingdings>> > style=3D'font-family:Wingdings;color:red'>J> color=3Dred face=3DArial> = > And when it > comes to the ending, I feel the obligation to at least point out to = > folks that > the official closing time has arrived so that those who have some = > necessity to > leave (planes to catch etc) can do so. But in between beginning and = > ending it > is all open space, or should I say open time? > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>My learnings have been that = > self-organizing > systems quickly generate their own sense of time, which has little to do = > with > the passage of hands over a clock face, and everything to do with the = > flow or > activity. Every group will perceive this somewhat differently, and who = > am I to > say what is a long time or short time. Point is -- it is their = > time, > determined by their own sense of need, accomplishment and ultimately the = > flow > of their engagement. I can never know how long people will require for a > particular conversation, and I think we have all been surprised how much = > can > actually be accomplished in a few moments when things are really = > flowing. > Inserting arbitrary time breaks interrupts that flow. = > Arbitrary > in the sense that they are determined by an external timetable (our = > schedule) > as opposed to the emergent and internal sense of time which the group = > creates > for itself. To me this is organizing a self-organizing = > system, > which in addition to being an oxymoron, usually turns out badly or at = > least awkwardly. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > > > face=3DArial>> > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison = > Owen > > > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 > River Falls = > Drive > > > face=3DArial>> > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac, > Maryland 20854 > > > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone = > > style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; > color:red'>301-365-2093 > > > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype = > hhowen > > > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open > Space = > Training> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.openspaceworld.com/">> > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com > > > > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open > Space = > Institute> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.openspaceworld.org/">> > face=3DArial>> style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org> n> > > > face=3DArial>> > style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal = > website> color=3Dred> > href=3D"http://www.ho-image.com/">> face=3DArial>> > style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com = > > > > face=3DArial>> = > style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST> t>> > color=3Dred face=3DArial>: = > To subscribe, > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: = > > color=3Dred>> > > href=3D"http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">> > > face=3DArial>> > > style=3D'font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.h= > tml > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> > > > face=3DTahoma>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original = > Message----- > From: OSLIST > [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] > style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On > Behalf Of Peggy Holman > Sent: Sunday, January 13, = > 2008 > 12:23 PM > To: = > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Thoughts on a = > Town Crier > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Has anyone noticed more > milling about before = > people > move into sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing = > enough of a > trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there = > won't > be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow = > their own > rhythms and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I > usually forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is = > going on. > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I just did an OS for a > friend for a group of = > about > 50. He uses OS a lot but wanted to be able to really participate = > in this > one. He told me that he was a little surprised = > when the > first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people = > it was > time to get started. He came to me when the first = > round > after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring = > a bell > and let people know? I basically told him that I never did = > that. > The participants were adults and could figure it out for = > themselves. He > was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people = > know. > And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have > experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what = > Jon does > - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I = > realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were = > probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>So I took what seemed a > middle ground to me = > and rang a > bell, saying, "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a = > town > crier was a minimalist thing to do -- providing information = > without > attachment to how people used it. > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I then spoke more with > Jon because I wanted = > to > understand his perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, = > like the > session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding = > the > space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. = > So, it > strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he = > does. > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Given the trend I > mentioned, I suspect = > Jon isn't > the only one doing something like this. I'd love to hear other = > thoughts > on providing information that marks the passage of = > time. > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>from sunny (for a > change) = > Seattle, > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Peggy > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> > style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>> > href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> span> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/= > ChangeHandbook > > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> > > > > > > > face=3D"Times New Roman">> style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>"An angel told me that > the only way to = > step into > the fire and not get burnt, is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > > > > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C85698.79648E30-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:43:14 -0500 > From: Ralph Copleman > Subject: Bells, town criers, climate > > Peg, Jeff, and all, > > My response to a participant who wants me to ring the bell after lunch > might have been to suggest to him that he was perfectly free to remind > people about the time, if he chose to. I agree that it's not a role I > personally want to take on. > > Gabriella, old friend, > > Congratulations on the climate change event. We're clearly in danger > and quickly running out of time. We need to open lots of space for > Earth right now. > > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:26:23 -0700 > From: Harold Shinsato > Subject: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Open Spacetronauts, > > This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San > Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up= > > that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the proces= > s > of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of ho= > w > to manage things during the event. > > Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of= > > about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several > locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally > organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share > information about the industry and our own work. We would submit > suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the > sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads. > > Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company, > which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been > "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization.=20= > > I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering > Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations= > > about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger > company. > > My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an > invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are of= > ten > fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to > suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can = > I > get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possibl= > e > I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk > about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and drivi= > ng > the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the age= > nda > building session itself, even if I'm not in management. > > Thanks so much for any help. > > Happy 2008! > Harold > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:23:28 +0200 > From: Mickey Averbuch > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it > right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very > glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my > daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring > the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a > lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a > puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a > constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that > as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf > fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from > coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of > styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer > than the actual personal wording > these are my two cents of the day > a happy new year to all, though with some delay > Tova Averbuch > Holon, Israel > > Quoting TYASTO : > > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program as > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for 3 > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item: > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the circle), > > 2 > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time for > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a very > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their work. > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in this > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, > > some > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But then > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if they > > do > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit later > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second sessions > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the lead > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all. I > > do > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into one > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they > > have > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports. > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2 > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in > > our > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short written > > instructions. > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time - > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle > > "When > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion. > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the > > results > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes. > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and > > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers. > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it in a > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I > > try > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we all > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing. If > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say > > one > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these > > short > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a workshop > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move it. > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > > > Marina Tyasto > > tya...@sapa.nsk.su > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > > > Dear Peggy, > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they > > care, > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them a > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to 'spread' > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid, > > may > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just no > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that it > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you > > say... > > > > thank you for the question > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :) > > > > elena marchuk > > novosibirsk > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Peggy Holman > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions over > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone telling > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot but > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it out > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I realized > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were probably > > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, "It's > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his perspective. > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are part > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care what > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > > description of what he does. > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > Peggy > > > > ________________________________ > > Peggy Holman > > The Open Circle Company > > 15347 SE 49th Place > > Bellevue, WA 98006 > > (425) 746-6274 > > > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > > burnt, > > is to become > > the fire". > > -- Drew Dellinger > > * * ========================================================== > > 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 > > > > > > * > > * > > ========================================================== > > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:52:59 -0500 > From: Harrison Owen > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Harold -- Welcome! > > Invitation: Short, sweet, and open. For a theme -- maybe something like > "Issues and Opportunities for Building Our Business." Presuming they (your > engineers) care about the business, that should get them started. > > Don't try and explain Open Space. Folks wouldn't believe you anyhow. But you > can make some definite promises. 1)Every issue they care about will be on > the agenda. 2)Every issue will be discussed. 3) All will be reported. Those > are "keepable" promises. > > No need to prepare anybody -- and in fact it will be counterproductive. > Suggesting issues in advance may make people think that they SHOULD talk > about those issues, when what they need to do is to talk about issues they > care about. > > If this is your first Open Space I suggest that you do nothing but > facilitate. Admittedly there is not much to do, but there is a lot to learn, > and if you are busy posting/hosting issues you could miss a big bunch. > > And by the way -- Everything I have said (and a whole lot more) is "in the > book." (Open Space Technology: A User's Guide -- Berrett-Koehler). You will > probably find it helpful to get a copy (Amazon will do it) > > Have fun! > > Harrison > > > > 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 Harold > Shinsato > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 11:26 AM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Open Spacetronauts, > > This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San > Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up > that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the process > of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of how > to manage things during the event. > > Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of > about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several > locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally > organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share > information about the industry and our own work. We would submit > suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the > sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads. > > Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company, > which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been > "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization. > I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering > Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations > about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger > company. > > My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an > invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are often > fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to > suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can I > get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possible > I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk > about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and driving > the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the agenda > building session itself, even if I'm not in management. > > Thanks so much for any help. > > Happy 2008! > Harold > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:20:25 -0700 > From: Harold Shinsato > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Owen, > > Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think = > my > issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some > chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again i= > n a > different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. I've= > > seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that peo= > ple > will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have t= > o > "do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or top= > ics > like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some engineeri= > ng > topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on their= > > prior experience, which is the "box". > > It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me qui= > et > it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no on= > e > filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the firs= > t > tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50 > engineers in a single department but working on different projects? > > Harold > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:54:52 -0800 > From: Tree Fitzpatrick > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Content-Disposition: inline > > Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I pause to > remind all who might be reading that when I share my opinion, I am not > putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I have commented on this list > (and others) people seem to hear me putting down others' ideas when I am > simply saying "I think this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this morning > so I offer this caution. > > It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today. Last week, > I was thinking about open space time and how it works best when we trust > ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to others timing. As > you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on Friday and we did not discuss > open space time but it was alive in my etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me > because it was alive in you because of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps > open space time was alive last week and we both tuned in. > > The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the very > heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfold exactly > as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do. > > Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought of > you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS events > and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind the design > team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollection that you have said > this when the design team was feeling a time crunch, fretting that we > couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you would say 'we are in > open space time' and an ease would settle upon us. > > We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As an open > space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her response to > you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the space is really the > work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or town criers. If a > facilitator does remind participants of session times, this will be just > fine because in open space, there is no right or wrong but I think > announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of open space > facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much more > important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the > opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is always > about much more than the stated goals in the event's invitation. Yes, when > we are accountable to a client who has hired us because they wish to achieve > goals, sometimes we will calibrate our choices to give the cilent > satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I think of open space facilitators as > cultural capacity shamans. The human race urgently needs to learn how to > trust that all is well and to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best > wya for the human race to develop these skills is to spend time in > openly-acknowledged open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all' > they get out of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click > that said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is an > amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfolding. If > someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from knowing for their > own self what time it is, where they should be, what they should be doing. > What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the first moment I > got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived within myself that > I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that inkling until I stood in > the place just right. That is os facilitation, if you ask me. > > I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workplace > goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . . but > for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better discern their > own wisdom, well, it is the whole point. > > Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget Sound and > the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer screen. I > see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm, sunny home in > California and I have another week of Northwest winter ahead of me. There > is a reason I am very cold this week. I am sitting here waiting for that > reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are like ice. I write to keep warm. > > On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch wrote: > > > > for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it > > right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very > > glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my > > daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring > > the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a > > lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a > > puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a > > constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that > > as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf > > fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from > > coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of > > styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer > > than the actual personal wording > > these are my two cents of the day > > a happy new year to all, though with some delay > > Tova Averbuch > > Holon, Israel > > > > Quoting TYASTO : > > > > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > > > > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the > > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different > > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the > > Siberian > > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program > > as > > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for > > 3 > > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item: > > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the > > circle), 2 > > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time > > for > > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call > > it > > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our > > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a > > very > > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have > > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their > > work. > > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are > > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what > > they > > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it ( in > > this > > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be > > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always everywhere, > > some > > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the > > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish > > them > > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But > > then > > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see if > > they do > > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit > > later > > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have > > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the second > > sessions > > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the > > lead > > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it at all. > > I do > > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but > > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I > > agree > > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them > > to > > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into > > one > > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high, they > > have > > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports. > > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this > > 2 > > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the best in > > our > > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time > > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them short > > written > > > instructions. > > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every > > time - > > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 > > minutes > > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to > > ask > > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the principle > > "When > > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional > > discussion. > > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course > > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see the > > results > > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that > > they > > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes. > > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them > > and > > > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", > > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers. > > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably do it > > in a > > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more > > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That is why I > > try > > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The > > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we > > all > > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and closing. > > If > > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people to say > > one > > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have > > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through these > > short > > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a > > workshop > > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more > > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us > > to > > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells > > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move > > it. > > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > > > > > Marina Tyasto > > > tya...@sapa.nsk.su > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto:ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Peggy, > > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as they > > care, > > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I > > missed > > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are > > just > > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them > > a > > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to > > 'spread' > > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm affraid, > > may > > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just > > no > > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that > > it > > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you > > > say... > > > > > > thank you for the question > > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :) > > > > > > elena marchuk > > > novosibirsk > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Peggy Holman > > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> > > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions > > over > > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone > > telling > > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot > > but > > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that > > he > > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came > > to > > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it > > out > > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always > > lets > > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people > > who > > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what > > Jon > > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I > > realized > > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were > > probably > > > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, > > "It's > > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to > > do > > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > > perspective. > > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are > > part > > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care > > what > > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > > > description of what he does. > > > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > > > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > > Peggy > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > Peggy Holman > > > The Open Circle Company > > > 15347 SE 49th Place > > > Bellevue, WA 98006 > > > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > > > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > > > > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > > burnt, > > > is to become > > > the fire". > > > -- Drew Dellinger > > > * * ========================================================== > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > * > > > * > > > ========================================================== > > > 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 > > > > > > -- > Love rays, > Tree Fitzpatrick > > http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/ > > . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with Augustine, > "I want you to be," without being able to give any particular reason for > such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation. -- Hannah Arendt > > 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35 > Mountain View, California 94043 > (650) 967-9260 > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712 > Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Content-Disposition: inline > > Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post= > , I pause to remind all who might be reading that when I share my opinion, = > I am not putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I have commented= > on this list (and others) people seem to hear me putting down others' = > ideas when I am simply saying "I think this". I am feeling = > unusually sensitive this morning so I offer this caution. > It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today.&nb= > sp; Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it works best w= > hen we trust ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to other= > s timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on Friday and w= > e did not discuss open space time but it was alive in my etheric. Perhaps i= > t was alive in me because it was alive in you because of your recent work w= > ith Jon. Or perhaps open space time was alive last week and we both tuned i= > n. > The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the= > very heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfo= > ld exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do. Last = > week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought o= > f you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS = > events and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind the= > design team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollecti= > on that you have said this when the design team was feeling a time crunch, = > fretting that we couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you= > would say 'we are in open space time' and an ease would settle upo= > n us. > We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. = > ; As an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her= > response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the space= > is really the work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or town c= > riers. If a facilitator does remind participants of session times, th= > is will be just fine because in open space, there is no right or wrong but = > I think announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of o= > pen space facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much mo= > re important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the op= > portunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is always abou= > t much more than the stated goals in the event's invitation. Yes, when = > we are accountable to a client who has hired us because they wish to achiev= > e goals, sometimes we will calibrate our choices to give the cilent satisfa= > ction. But mostly, I guess I think of open space facilitators as cult= > ural capacity shamans. The human race urgently needs to learn how to trust = > that all is well and to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya = > for the human race to develop these skills is to spend time in openly-ackno= > wledged open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all'= > they get out of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click = > that said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, th= > at is an amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfoldin= > g. If someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from know= > ing for their own self what time it is, where they should be, what they sho= > uld be doing. What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the= > first moment I got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived wi= > thin myself that I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that inklin= > g until I stood in the place just right. That is os facilitation, if you as= > k me. > I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workp= > lace goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . .= > but for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better discern= > their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point. > Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget = > Sound and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer = > screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm, sun= > ny home in California and I have another week of Northwest winter ahead of = > me. There is a reason I am very cold this week. I am sitting here wai= > ting for that reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are like ice. I write= > to keep warm. > On 1/14/08, > ername">Mickey Averbuch <= > averb...@post.tau.ac.il> wrote: > te" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt= > 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> > for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it> > r>right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I= > am very glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in= > my > daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring> >the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a lo= > t of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a purit= > an if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a > constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I belie= > ve that as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track= > .Beinf fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from > coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of st= > yles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer than t= > he actual personal wording these are my two cents of the day &n= > bsp;a happy new year to all, though with some delay > Tova Averbuch Holon, Israel Quoting TYASTO <> lto:tya...@sapa.nsk.su">tya...@sapa.nsk.su>: > Dear Peggy,= > Michael, Elena and others! > > I will support Elena and tell w= > hy we are doing this in our part of the > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different= > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the S= > iberian > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written = > in their program as > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to = > us for 3 > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes fo= > r each item: > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chai= > rs into the circle), 2 > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some = > time for > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circl= > e. As I call it > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in = > OST. Great majority of our > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we ha= > ve a very > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way t= > o have > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to impro= > ve their work. > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while th= > ey are > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling t= > hem what they > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they d= > on't like it ( in this > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all w= > ill be > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always = > everywhere, some > people begin to write the topics and all works wel= > l. When people at the > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wi= > sh them > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and = > go out. But then > I usually come back at the time of change between = > sessions to see if they do > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometim= > es little bit later > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedo= > m is so big and they have > such a fun talking in their first groups = > and leaders of the second sessions > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take = > the lead > and say - now it is time for the second session or they mi= > ss it at all. I do > the same as "Town crier", saying - it&= > #39;s time for the second session, but > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or n= > ot. I agree > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to= > encourage them to > take the lead and organize second groups. Someti= > mes they come all into one > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is high,= > they have > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get= > the reports. > I learnt to take it easy and let them do w= > hatever they want during this 2 > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the b= > est in our > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the co= > urse. Each time > somebody says "I will do it at my working plac= > e". I give them short written > > instructions. > What else you don't do normally - listen= > the reports - I do it every time - > have them in the circle to shar= > e briefly their reports. I have a 3 minutes > sand-glass and show to = > them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the princ= > iple "When > it's not over it's not over" and say t= > hat it needs additional discussion. > Because my class takes place no= > rmally at the end of their 2 weeks course > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see t= > he results > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They alw= > ays say that they > learnt more from each other than from all their o= > ther classes. > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type t= > hem and > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Col= > lective wisdom", > because it's no other way yet - they don&= > #39;t have access to computers. > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and= > probably do it in a > different way. But I realized that even 2 hour= > s in open space is more > powerful than two weeks of passive learning= > from teachers. That is why I try > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group.= > The > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, = > where we all > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 ses= > sions and closing. If > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask peo= > ple to say one > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring.= > I believe that we have > homeopathic influencing on the civil servan= > ts in Siberia through these short > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard= > about a workshop > which is must to participate". We help peopl= > e to feel happier, more > self-confident and be leaders. I= > f additional ring of the bell helps us to > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian= > bells > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to com= > e and move it. > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > > Marina Tyasto > tyasto@sap= > a.nsk.su <mailto:tyasto@sapa.n= > sk.su> > > -----Original Message----- >= > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto: > ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > Sent: M= > onday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > To: > RV.BOISESTATE.EDU">osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: = > Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > Dear Peggy, > I wish I could NOT rin= > g the bells and let participants to work as they care, > but most OSs= > I provide are very limited in time, and several time I missed > the = > time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to giv= > e them a > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and w= > ill have time to 'spread' > time for another quant of session= > , I would probably do, but I'm affraid, may > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would = > have just no > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though sa= > y in opening, that it > is up to them, how they will work, I would ju= > st be a Town Crier, as you > > say... > > thank you for the question > warm hug= > s from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :) > &= > gt; elena marchuk > novosibirsk > > ----- Original Messag= > e ----- > > From: Peggy Holman <mailto:> mpany.com">pe...@opencirclecompany.com> > To: > o:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu">osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu <ma= > ilto: > OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTAT= > E.EDU> > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > Subje= > ct: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Has anyone noticed more millin= > g about before people move into sessions over > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a t= > rend this way that I > always intend to explicitly tell people that t= > here won't be anyone telling > them when to move, that it is up t= > o them to follow their own rhythms and > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, s= > o I usually forget. > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is = > going on. > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of abou= > t 50. He uses OS a lot but > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. H= > e told me that he > was a little surprised when the first round of br= > eakout sessions was > starting that I didn't tell people it was t= > ime to get started. He came to > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and as= > ked me > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? = > I basically told him > that I never did that. The pa= > rticipants were adults and could figure it out > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. = > ; He said he always lets > people know. And then it d= > awned on me: there are more and more people who > have exp= > erienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session.&n= > bsp; I realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon'= > ;s invitation, they were probably > enculturated to responding to a b= > ell. > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, s= > aying, "It's > 1:30 and all's well." I f= > igured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do > -- providing infor= > mation without attachment to how people used it. > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand = > his perspective. > He said that to him, what is posted, like the sess= > ion start times, are part > of the commons and when he is holding the= > space, that is part of his > > contract with the group, to give them the information. = > He doesn't care what > they do once they hear it. So, = > it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > description of what he does= > . > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the = > only one doing > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thought= > s on providing > information that marks the passage of time. ><= > br>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > Peggy > > __= > ______________________________ > > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th= > Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274 >= > > www.opencirclecompany= > .com > <http://www.opencirclecomp= > any.com> > > > For the new edition of The Change H= > andbook, go to: > > ok"> > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > <> > kconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook<= > /a>> > > "An angel told me that the only way to step in= > to the fire and not get burnt, > > is to become > the fire". > -- Drew D= > ellinger > * * =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > i...@listserv.boisestate.edu">osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ To subscribe, > unsubscribe, chan= > ge your options, view the archives of > > serv.boisestate.edu">osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > "http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about &= > gt; OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > ld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > * *= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > OSLIST@LISTSERV.= > BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe, > uns= > ubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > to:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu"> > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > estate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/os= > > > list.html To learn about > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:= > =20 > http://www.openspaceworld.= > org/oslist > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------> r>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your > options, > view the arc= > hives of oslist@listserv.= > boisestate.edu > : > > l">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > = > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > ://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist"> > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > * * =3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D OSLIST= > @LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of= > oslist@listserv.boisesta= > te.edu: > ml"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn abo= > ut OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > orld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > -- Love rays, Tree Fitzpatrick > r>http://thecultureoflove= > .blogspot.com/ . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, w= > hich says, with Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able= > to give any particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable affirmati= > on. -- Hannah Arendt > 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35 Mountain View, California 94043 (6= > 50) 967-9260 > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_Part_8170_1653873.1200336892712-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:20:00 +0100 > From: Thomas Herrmann > Subject: SV: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > Dear friends in Open Space > > I=92m in the middle of a 3 day OS training with 16 participants and = > we=92ve > discussed similair things at times during this first day. Such as = > =93does the > facilitator have to tell people that they may help themselves with = > coffee > and tea=94 although it is just in the face of them, or can he/she assume = > they > grab whatever they like?=20 > > I think we have a lot to dis-learn to get back in shape. Small kids = > would > never ask before grabbing whatever they like =96 until they are taught = > that > it=92s probably not OK if noone said so, or that they have to ask first. = > > > =20 > > I see many situations in Open Space of my life as well as in an = > OS-meeting > when adults wait for permission instead of acting or at least = > asking...and > an important aspect of OST, to me, is to allow people to learn to be > responsible, in the process. After a while they get it. But this can = > make > the learning a bit rough in short OS-meetings. > > =20 > > Anyway, I follow HO=92s advice and do my best to find another thing not = > to do. > So I trust people do whatever is best for them =96 may it be rough = > learning... > > Warm regards > > Thomas Herrmann > > PS Today I had a nap, played pool and walked in the snow =96 during our = > Open > Space-meeting. Great! DS > > =20 > > _____ =20 > > Fr=E5n: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] F=F6r Peggy = > Holman > Skickat: den 13 januari 2008 18:23 > Till: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > =C4mne: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > =20 > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into sessions = > over > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone = > telling > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > =20 > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a lot = > but > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that = > he > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came = > to > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could figure it = > out > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always = > lets > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people = > who > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what = > Jon > does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I = > realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were = > probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. =20 > > =20 > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, = > "It's > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to = > do > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > =20 > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his = > perspective. > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are = > part > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > contract with the group, to give them the information. He doesn't care = > what > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > description of what he does. > > =20 > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > information that marks the passage of time. > > =20 > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > Peggy > > =20 > > ________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th Place > Bellevue, WA 98006 > (425) 746-6274=20 > > =20 > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > =20 > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:=20 > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook=20 > > =20 > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get = > burnt, > is to become=20 > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > * * = > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="iso-8859-1" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = > xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = > xmlns:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = > xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> > > > > charset=3Diso-8859-1"> > > > > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = > name=3D"PostalCode"/> > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name=3D"State"/> > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name=3D"Street"/> > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name=3D"City"/> > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name=3D"place"/> > > namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" > name=3D"address"/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear friends in Open = > Space > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Im in the middle of a 3 day = > OS > training with 16 participants and weve discussed similair things = > at > times during this first day. Such as does the facilitator have to = > tell > people that they may help themselves with coffee and tea although = > it is > just in the face of them, or can he/she assume they grab whatever they = > like? > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I think we have a lot to dis-learn = > to get > back in shape. Small kids would never ask before grabbing whatever they = > like > until they are taught that its probably not OK if noone said so, = > or that > they have to ask first. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I see many situations in Open Space = > of my > life as well as in an OS-meeting when adults wait for permission instead = > of > acting or at least asking...and an important aspect of OST, to me, is to = > allow > people to learn to be responsible, in the process. After a while they = > get it. > But this can make the learning a bit rough in short = > OS-meetings. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Anyway, I follow HOs advice = > and do > my best to find another thing not to do. So I trust people do whatever = > is best > for them may it be rough = > learning... > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Warm = > regards > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thomas = > Herrmann > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>PS Today I had a nap, played pool = > and > walked in the snow during our Open Space-meeting. Great! = > DS > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> > > > > > size=3D3 > face=3D"Times New Roman"> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>Fr=E5n:> t > size=3D2 face=3DTahoma>> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> > OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] > style=3D'font-weight: > bold'>F=F6r Peggy Holman > Skickat: den 13 januari = > 2008 18:23 > Till: > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > =C4mne: Thoughts on a = > Town Crier> lang=3DSV> > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into = > sessions > over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this = > way > that I always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be = > anyone > telling them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own = > rhythms > and interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually > forget. Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going = > on. > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He = > uses OS > a lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this > one. He told me that he was a little surprised = > when the > first round of breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people = > it was > time to get started. He came to me when the first = > round > after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring = > a bell > and let people know? I basically told him that I never did = > that. > The participants were adults and could figure it out for = > themselves. He > was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people = > know. > And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have > experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what = > Jon does > - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I = > realized > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were = > probably > enculturated to responding to a bell. = > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, = > saying, > "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a > minimalist thing to do -- providing information without = > attachment to > how people used it. > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the > session start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding = > the > space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. = > So, it > strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he = > does. > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only = > one > doing something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on = > providing > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>from sunny (for a change) > w:st=3D"on">Seattle, > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Peggy > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>________________________________ > Peggy Holman > The Open Circle Company > 15347 SE 49th = > Place > Bellevue, = > WA > 98006 > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>> > href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com> :p> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > href=3D"http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook">www.bkconnection.com/= > ChangeHandbook > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire = > and not > get burnt, is to become > the fire". > -- Drew Dellinger > > > > > > > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > ------=_NextPart_000_005B_01C856EA.DE6312F0-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:06:03 -0500 > From: Harrison Owen > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0 > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > Harold -- It is not about trusting the process for after all Open Space = > has > been "done" well over 100,000 times in 134 countries -- and it always = > seems > to work. It is really about trusting the people. And if the 150 = > employees of > your company are anything more than marginally competent, committed and > brainy, there is not a question in my mind that they will come up with = > the > pertinent issues for the company. After all, they ARE the company. Not > everybody will have the same issue (thank God), nor will everybody be > interested in all the issues -- but take it from an old timer you can be > totally certain that the right people will come up with the right issues = > -- > the ones they care about. And of course, if there are no issues, you = > will > have a very short session.=20 > > =20 > > You may also need to think about another company :-) > > =20 > > A suggestion: Do you Open Space as the last day - in which people are > challenged to assess and synthesize what they have learned on the first = > two > days, and point the way forward. Doing OS on the first or second day = > will > create problems. As you know from your own experience, life in Open = > Space > will get pretty energetic, exciting and stimulating - after which = > sitting at > the feet of Talking Heads will not seem appealing. > > =20 > > I am reminded of working with a group of Japanese engineers (software) = > and > the sponsor's concerns were totally similar to your own. Not only were = > these > engineers, but they were Japanese Engineers (whatever that was supposed = > to > mean). I told him that as long as the group fell generally within the > genetic pool of Homo sapiens there should be no difficulty. There = > wasn't. > > =20 > > It's true. Even Engineers can do it! > > =20 > > Have fun!! > > =20 > > Harrison=20 > > =20 > > Harrison Owen > > 7808 River Falls Drive > > Potomac, Maryland 20854 > > Phone 301-365-2093 > > Skype hhowen > > Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com=20 > > Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org > > Personal website www.ho-image.com=20 > > OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the = > archives > Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > =20 > > =20 > > -----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Harold > Shinsato > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:20 PM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software = > developers > > =20 > > Dear Owen, > > =20 > > Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think = > my > > issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some > > chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again = > in a > > different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. = > I've > > seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that = > people > > will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have = > to > > "do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or = > topics > > like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some = > engineering > > topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on = > their > > prior experience, which is the "box". > > =20 > > It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me = > quiet > > it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no = > one > > filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the = > first > > tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50 > > engineers in a single department but working on different projects? > > =20 > > Harold > > =20 > > * > > * > > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > 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 > > =20 > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0 > Content-Type: text/html; > charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > > > > charset=3Dus-ascii"> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Harold -- It is not about trusting the process for after all = > Open Space > has been "done" well over 100,000 times in 134 countries -- = > and it > always seems to work. It is really about trusting the people. And if the = > 150 > employees of your company are anything more than marginally competent, > committed and brainy, there is not a question in my mind that they will = > come up > with the pertinent issues for the company. After all, they = > ARE > the company. Not everybody will have the same issue (thank God), nor = > will > everybody be interested in all the issues -- but take it from an old = > timer you > can be totally certain that the right people will come up with the right = > issues > -- the ones they care about. And of course, if there are no issues, you = > will > have a very short session. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>You may also need to think about another company = > > face=3DWingdings>> style=3D'font-family:Wingdings'>J > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>A suggestion: Do you Open Space as the last day in which = > people > are challenged to assess and synthesize what they have learned on the = > first two > days, and point the way forward. Doing OS on the first or second day = > will create > problems. As you know from your own experience, life in Open Space will = > get > pretty energetic, exciting and stimulating after which sitting = > at the > feet of Talking Heads will not seem appealing. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>I am reminded of working with a group of Japanese engineers = > (software) > and the sponsors concerns were totally similar to your own. Not = > only > were these engineers, but they were Japanese Engineers (whatever that = > was > supposed to mean). I told him that as long as the group fell generally = > within > the genetic pool of Homo sapiens there should be no difficulty. There = > wasnt. > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Its true. Even Engineers can do it! > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Have fun!! > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Harrison > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Harrison Owen > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>7808 River Falls Drive > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Potomac, Maryland 20854 > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Phone 301-365-2093 > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Skype hhowen > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Personal website www.ho-image.com > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your = > options, > view the archives Visit: = > www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>-----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Harold > Shinsato > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:20 PM > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software > developers > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Dear Owen, > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from = > you. I > think my > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the = > book > (some > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to = > hear it > again in a > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate = > the > encouragement. I've > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust = > that > people > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep = > thinking I > have to > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>"do" something to make it work, to allow people to = > bring > questions or topics > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not = > just > some engineering > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based = > on > their > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>prior experience, which is the = > "box". > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to = > help me > quiet > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space = > and > then no one > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in = > the > first > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation = > for > 30-50 > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>engineers in a single department but working on different = > projects? > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> Harold > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>* > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>* > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>------------------------------ > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your = > options, > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>view the archives of = > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html= > > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'> > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST = > FAQs: > > > style=3D'font-size: > 12.0pt'>http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > > > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C856C7.605457C0-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:08:31 +0100 > From: Koos de Heer > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > --=====================_8871446==.ALT > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > Dear Peggy, dear Tova, Tree and all the others who have shared their > wisdom about time keeping: > > This time keeping thing is a frequent topic over here. In an OS > meeting, it often happens that someone comes up to me and tells me it > is time to tell the time. People in the Netherlands are very fond two > things: keeping time and reminding others of their responsibilities > ;-). So I often get this friendly reminder from a participant that it > is time for me to tell the time. I never do. If the person looks > really worried, I explain that this is one of the core principles of > Open Space: people manage their own agenda. I remind them that I have > said in my opening "when it is over it is over" and that also means > that "when it is not over, it is not over." They always remember me > saying that. I then ask them: "How can we know if it is over or not?" > They have to agree that we can't. So then we usually agree not to > tell the time. On other occasions, when they look not so worried, I > just smile at them. Often they will then say: "Or do people have to > see for themselves?" I nod, still smiling.They then usually laugh > about this new discovery and happily go about their business. > > Just my 2 cents > > Love > > Koos > > > At 19:54 14-1-2008, Tree Fitzpatrick wrote: > >Greetings to all. Before I respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I > >pause to remind all who might be reading that when I share my > >opinion, I am not putting down others' comments. Sometimes when I > >have commented on this list (and others) people seem to hear me > >putting down others' ideas when I am simply saying "I think > >this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this morning so I offer this > >caution. > > > >It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you > >today. Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it > >works best when we trust ever more deeply within our own selves > >without regard to others timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met > >in person on Friday and we did not discuss open space time but it > >was alive in my etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me because it was > >alive in you because of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps open > >space time was alive last week and we both tuned in. > > > >The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the > >very heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things > >unfold exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do. > > > >Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I > >thought of you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several > >multi-day OS events and several times I have been grateful to hear > >you softly remind the design team 'we are in open space time'. It > >is my recollection that you have said this when the design team was > >feeling a time crunch, fretting that we couldn't get in all that we > >had to get in and then you would say 'we are in open space time' and > >an ease would settle upon us. > > > >We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As > >an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in > >her response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds > >the space is really the work of facilitation. We are not > >timekeepers or town criers. If a facilitator does remind > >participants of session times, this will be just fine because in > >open space, there is no right or wrong but I think announcing times > >is a subtle failure of trust. To me, the work of open space > >facilitation is much deeper than any particular event and much more > >important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving a group the > >opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared intention is > >always about much more than the stated goals in the event's > >invitation. Yes, when we are accountable to a client who has hired > >us because they wish to achieve goals, sometimes we will calibrate > >our choices to give the cilent satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I > >think of open space facilitators as cultural capacity shamans. The > >human race urgently needs to learn how to trust that all is well and > >to trust our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya for the human > >race to develop these skills is to spend time in openly-acknowledged > >open space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all' they get out > >of the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click that > >said to them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is > >an amazing thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution > >unfolding. If someone calls the time, we are depriving participants > >from knowing for their own self what time it is, where they should > >be, what they should be doing. What an awesome gift to give someone. > >I will never forget the first moment I got that click when I was in > >an OS event and I perceived within myself that I was in the wrong > >room and hey I could follow that inkling until I stood in the place > >just right. That is os facilitation, if you ask me. > > > >I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with > >workplace goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour > >open space. . . but for me, having each participant in an os event > >begin to better discern their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point. > > > >Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget > >Sound and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the > >computer screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss > >my warm, sunny home in California and I have another week of > >Northwest winter ahead of me. There is a reason I am very cold this > >week. I am sitting here waiting for that reason to be revealed to > >me. My fingers are like ice. I write to keep warm. > > > >On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch > ><averb...@post.tau.ac.il> wrote: > >for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to do it > >right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" and I am very > >glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my > >daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to bring > >the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite a > >lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be a > >puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was also a > >constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I believe that > >as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right track.Beinf > >fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from > >coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number of > >styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we ofer > >than the actual personal wording > >these are my two cents of the day > > a happy new year to all, though with some delay > >Tova Averbuch > >Holon, Israel > > > >Quoting TYASTO <tya...@sapa.nsk.su>: > > > > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > > > > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part of the > > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to different > > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the Siberian > > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their program > > > as > > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come to us for > > > 3 > > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each item: > > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into the > > circle), 2 > > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have some time > > > for > > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As I call it > > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great majority of our > > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we have a > > > very > > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to have > > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve their > > > work. > > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while they are > > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them what they > > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like it > > ( in this > > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all will be > > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always > > everywhere, some > > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people at the > > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I wish them > > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go out. But > > > then > > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to see > > if they do > > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes little bit > > > later > > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and they have > > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the > > second sessions > > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to take the > > > lead > > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it > > at all. I do > > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the second session, but > > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or not. I agree > > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to encourage them to > > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come all into > > > one > > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is > > high, they have > > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the reports. > > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they want during this 2 > > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the > > best in our > > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. Each time > > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I give them > > short written > > > instructions. > > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it every time > > > - > > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a 3 > > > minutes > > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have chance to ask > > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the > > principle "When > > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs additional discussion. > > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 weeks course > > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see > > the results > > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say that they > > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes. > > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type them and > > > give them back to take home with them as tangible "Collective wisdom", > > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to computers. > > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and probably > > do it in a > > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is more > > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That > > is why I try > > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible group. The > > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, where we > > > all > > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and > > closing. If > > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask people > > to say one > > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that we have > > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through > > these short > > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard about a > > > workshop > > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel happier, more > > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the bell helps us to > > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people tibetian bells > > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come and move > > > it. > > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > > > > > Marina Tyasto > > > tya...@sapa.nsk.su > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Elena Marchuk [mailto: ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > > > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Peggy, > > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work as > > they care, > > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several time I > > > missed > > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people are just > > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to give them > > > a > > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time to > > > 'spread' > > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm > > affraid, may > > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would have just > > > no > > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in opening, that > > > it > > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, as you > > > say... > > > > > > thank you for the question > > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun shining :) > > > > > > elena marchuk > > > novosibirsk > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Peggy Holman > > > To: > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.ed > > U > > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into > > sessions over > > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend this way that I > > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be anyone > > > telling > > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own rhythms and > > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I usually forget. > > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses > > OS a lot but > > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He told me that he > > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions was > > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get started. He came to > > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and asked me > > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I basically told him > > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and could > > figure it out > > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets > > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who > > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next > > session. I realized > > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they were > > > probably > > > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, > > > "It's > > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist thing to do > > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used it. > > > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > > > perspective. > > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start times, are > > > part > > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of his > > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He > > doesn't care what > > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town Crier is a good > > > description of what he does. > > > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > > > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > > Peggy > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > Peggy Holman > > > The Open Circle Company > > > 15347 SE 49th Place > > > Bellevue, WA 98006 > > > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > www.opencirclecompany.com > > > > > > > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > > > > > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > > > > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not > > get burnt, > > > is to become > > > the fire". > > > -- Drew Dellinger > > > * * ========================================================== > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.ed > > U ------------------------------ 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.ed > > U ------------------------------ 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 > > > > > > >* > >* > >========================================================== > >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 > > > > > > > > > >-- > >Love rays, > >Tree Fitzpatrick > > > >http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/ > > > >. . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with > >Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able to give any > >particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable > >affirmation. -- Hannah Arendt > > > >1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35 > >Mountain View, California 94043 > >(650) 967-9260 * * > >========================================================== > >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 > > --=====================_8871446==.ALT > Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > > Dear Peggy, dear Tova, Tree and all the others who have shared their > wisdom about time keeping: > This time keeping thing is a frequent topic over here. In an OS meeting, > it often happens that someone comes up to me and tells me it is time to > tell the time. People in the Netherlands are very fond two things: > keeping time and reminding others of their responsibilities ;-). So I > often get this friendly reminder from a participant that it is time for > me to tell the time. I never do. If the person looks really worried, I > explain that this is one of the core principles of Open Space: people > manage their own agenda. I remind them that I have said in my opening > "when it is over it is over" and that also means that > "when it is not over, it is not over." They always remember me > saying that. I then ask them: "How can we know if it is over or > not?" They have to agree that we can't. So then we usually agree not > to tell the time. On other occasions, when they look not so worried, I > just smile at them. Often they will then say: "Or do people have to > see for themselves?" I nod, still smiling.They then usually laugh > about this new discovery and happily go about their business. > Just my 2 cents > Love > Koos > > At 19:54 14-1-2008, Tree Fitzpatrick wrote: > Greetings to all. Before I > respond to Peggy's 'town crier' post, I pause to remind all who might be > reading that when I share my opinion, I am not putting down others' > comments. Sometimes when I have commented on this list (and others) > people seem to hear me putting down others' ideas when I am simply saying > "I think this". I am feeling unusually sensitive this > morning so I offer this caution. > It is fascinating to me, Peggy, to see this post from you today. > Last week, I was thinking about open space time and how it works best > when we trust ever more deeply within our own selves without regard to > others timing. As you know, Peggy, you and I met in person on > Friday and we did not discuss open space time but it was alive in my > etheric. Perhaps it was alive in me because it was alive in you because > of your recent work with Jon. Or perhaps open space time was alive last > week and we both tuned in. > > The above paragraph might sound off-topic but to me, it gets to the very > heart of self-organization. The more I believe that things unfold > exactly as they ought, well, my goodness, the more they do. > Last week when I thought about 'open space time', each time, I thought of > you, my dear Peggy. I have worked with you on several multi-day OS > events and several times I have been grateful to hear you softly remind > the design team 'we are in open space time'. It is my recollection > that you have said this when the design team was feeling a time crunch, > fretting that we couldn't get in all that we had to get in and then you > would say 'we are in open space time' and an ease would settle upon us. > > We are always in open space. We are always in open space time. As > an open space facilitator, I think much like Tova has described in her > response to you, Peggy. The quality of how the facilitator holds the > space is really the work of facilitation. We are not timekeepers or > town criers. If a facilitator does remind participants of session > times, this will be just fine because in open space, there is no right or > wrong but I think announcing times is a subtle failure of trust. To me, > the work of open space facilitation is much deeper than any particular > event and much more important than a client's deliverables. To me, giving > a group the opportunity to collaborate in open space on a shared > intention is always about much more than the stated goals in the event's > invitation. Yes, when we are accountable to a client who has hired us > because they wish to achieve goals, sometimes we will calibrate our > choices to give the cilent satisfaction. But mostly, I guess I think > of open space facilitators as cultural capacity shamans. The human > race urgently needs to learn how to trust that all is well and to trust > our inner inklings/guidance and the best wya for the human race to > develop these skills is to spend time in openly-acknowledged open > space. If someone comes to an OS event and 'all' they get out of > the event is that moment when they noticed an inner click that said to > them 'it is time to move to another session', well, that is an amazing > thing, that is the whole point, that is evolution unfolding. If > someone calls the time, we are depriving participants from knowing for > their own self what time it is, where they should be, what they should be > doing. What an awesome gift to give someone. I will never forget the > first moment I got that click when I was in an OS event and I perceived > within myself that I was in the wrong room and hey I could follow that > inkling until I stood in the place just right. That is os facilitation, > if you ask me. > I know the above can sound highy impractical to a client with workplace > goals to achieve in a 2.5 day open space or a two hour open space. . . > but for me, having each participant in an os event begin to better > discern their own wisdom, well, it is the whole point. > Coming to you from cold, overcast, and windy Whidbey Island. Puget Sound > and the Olympic Mountains are within my view, just past the computer > screen. I see lots of white caps. It is way cold. I miss my warm, > sunny home in California and I have another week of Northwest winter > ahead of me. There is a reason I am very cold this week. I am > sitting here waiting for that reason to be revealed to me. My fingers are > like ice. I write to keep warm. > On 1/14/08, Mickey Averbuch > <averb...@post.tau.ac.il > > wrote: > > > for me it was letting go of the notion that there is "a way to > do it > > right". I started by being very puritan"by the book" > and I am very > > glad I did. it helped me a lot in stating to live open space in my > > > daily life and uncovering what open space is. Being the one to > bring > > the use of OST to Israel had put me both in a position I had quite > a > > lot of figuring out to do and, at the same time, felt I have to be > a > > puritan if I am "carrying the message". The lean choice was > also a > > constant dictate to do "one thing less each time" and I > believe that > > as long as we practice this principle, we are on the right > track.Beinf > > fortunatr enough towork and play with many of you, learning from > > > coleagues and freinds all over the world, seeing quit a number > of > > styles, my personal openion is that it is more the presence we > ofer > > than the actual personal wording > > these are my two cents of the day > > a happy new year to all, though with some delay > > Tova Averbuch > > Holon, Israel > > Quoting TYASTO > <tya...@sapa.nsk.su>: > > > > Dear Peggy, Michael, Elena and others! > > > > > > I will support Elena and tell why we are doing this in our part > of the > > > world. We have the lucky opportunity to introduce OST to > different > > > categories of the state and municipal civil servants here at the > Siberian > > > Academy for Public Administration (SAPA). It's written in their > program as > > > Business game with the theme on improving their work.They come > to us for 3 > > > and often for only 2 hours. It gives us only 30 minutes for each > item: > > > Introduction (including moving tables and putting chairs into > the circle), 2 > > > sessions and Closure (in case of 2 hours). In 3 hours I have > some time for > > > reports, voting and convergence and after it Closing circle. As > I call it > > > Voluntarily-compulsory participation in OST. Great > majority of our > > > participants have no idea what to expect from this event and we > have a very > > > short time to invite them and explaine it as a good way to > have > > > conversations about issues and opportunities of How to improve > their work. > > > In first 30 minutes they have a collective cultural shock while > they are > > > sitting in the circle and facilitator going inside telling them > what they > > > can do and everything is OK even to go away if they don't like > it ( in this > > > case it is voluntary participation). Common reaction is : We all > will be > > > butterflies today. Then, as Harrison said it happens always > everywhere, some > > > people begin to write the topics and all works well. When people > at the > > > Market place are trying to realize what to do and where to go I > wish them > > > all well and say when we will meet again in the circle and go > out. But then > > > I usually come back at the time of change between sessions to > see if they do > > > it or not. Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes > little bit later > > > than on the schedule. But their shock of freedom is so big and > they have > > > such a fun talking in their first groups and leaders of the > second sessions > > > are too weak to break it, that mostly they expect someone to > take the lead > > > and say - now it is time for the second session or they miss it > at all. I do > > > the same as "Town crier", saying - it's time for the > second session, but > > > it's up to you what you are doing now. Then they can move or > not. I agree > > > with Elena that when we have such short time we have to > encourage them to > > > take the lead and organize second groups. Sometimes they come > all into one > > > big circle and discuss all issues alltogether. The energy is > high, they have > > > great fun, but some issues even discussed, don't get the > reports. > > > I learnt to take it easy and let them do whatever they > want during this 2 > > > or 3 hours, because I know that at the end they say - it was the > best in our > > > 2 weeks here and it should be at the beginning of the course. > Each time > > > somebody says "I will do it at my working place". I > give them short written > > > instructions. > > > What else you don't do normally - listen the reports - I do it > every time - > > > have them in the circle to share briefly their reports. I have a > 3 minutes > > > sand-glass and show to them, but don't interrupt. They have > chance to ask > > > questions or discuss something. If it goes longer I show the > principle "When > > > it's not over it's not over" and say that it needs > additional discussion. > > > Because my class takes place normally at the end of their 2 > weeks course > > > this sharing in the circle is the only way they could really see > the results > > > of their work and feel their collective wisdom. They always say > that they > > > learnt more from each other than from all their other classes. > > > > You will be surprised, but I also collect their reports and type > them and > > > give them back to take home with them as tangible > "Collective wisdom", > > > because it's no other way yet - they don't have access to > computers. > > > So, you see, we really do some more things than you and > probably do it in a > > > different way. But I realized that even 2 hours in open space is > more > > > powerful than two weeks of passive learning from teachers. That > is why I try > > > to use every opportunity to introduce OST to every possible > group. The > > > shortest one I had OST in 1,5 hours with a group of trainers, > where we all > > > worked very fast, but had all 4 items - opening, 2 sessions and > closing. If > > > i don't have much time for closing I send the bell and ask > people to say one > > > word or two. It's always positive and inspiring. I believe that > we have > > > homeopathic influencing on the civil servants in Siberia through > these short > > > OST classes at SAPA. Some people come and say "I've heard > about a workshop > > > which is must to participate". We help people to feel > happier, more > > > self-confident and be leaders. If additional ring of the > bell helps us to > > > do this, we will ring. By the way, for the Russian people > tibetian bells > > > work magicly. I also like the arrow, but someone have to come > and move it. > > > With warm greetings from cold Siberia, > > > > > > Marina Tyasto > > > tya...@sapa.nsk.su > < > mailto:tya...@sapa.nsk.su> > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Elena Marchuk > [mailto: > ma...@mail.nsk.ru] > > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:25 AM > > > To: > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Peggy, > > > I wish I could NOT ring the bells and let participants to work > as they care, > > > but most OSs I provide are very limited in time, and several > time I missed > > > the time by chance (though not much...) I could see, that people > are just > > > seeting and talking in a previous groups. If I had the time to > give them a > > > 'teach' that it is their way of doing things and will have time > to 'spread' > > > time for another quant of session, I would probably do, but I'm > affraid, may > > > be it is ok to be, and just do, but I'm afraid, that we would > have just no > > > time for the next session, so I usualy ring, though say in > opening, that it > > > is up to them, how they will work, I would just be a Town Crier, > as you > > > say... > > > > > > thank you for the question > > > warm hugs from -25 C Siberia with a lot of snow, though sun > shining :) > > > > > > elena marchuk > > > novosibirsk > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Peggy Holman > < > mailto:pe...@opencirclecompany.com> > > > To: > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > < > mailto: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> > > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:22 PM > > > Subject: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > > > Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into > sessions over > > > the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a trend > this way that I > > > always intend to explicitly tell people that there won't be > anyone telling > > > them when to move, that it is up to them to follow their own > rhythms and > > > interests. I haven't quite internalized this yet, so I > usually forget. > > > Anyway, I think I may have figured out what is going on. > > > > > > I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He > uses OS a lot but > > > wanted to be able to really participate in this one. > He told me that he > > > was a little surprised when the first round of breakout sessions > was > > > starting that I didn't tell people it was time to get > started. He came to > > > me when the first round after lunch were scheduled to start and > asked me > > > wasn't I going to ring a bell and let people know? I > basically told him > > > that I never did that. The participants were adults and > could figure it out > > > for themselves. He was floored and a little upset. > He said he always lets > > > people know. And then it dawned on me: there are > more and more people who > > > have experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners > doing what Jon > > > does - telling people when it is time to start the next > session. I realized > > > that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, they > were probably > > > enculturated to responding to a bell. > > > > > > So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, > saying, "It's > > > 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a > minimalist thing to do > > > -- providing information without attachment to how people used > it. > > > > > > I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > perspective. > > > He said that to him, what is posted, like the session start > times, are part > > > of the commons and when he is holding the space, that is part of > his > > > contract with the group, to give them the information. He > doesn't care what > > > they do once they hear it. So, it strikes me that Town > Crier is a good > > > description of what he does. > > > > > > Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one > doing > > > something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on > providing > > > information that marks the passage of time. > > > > > > from sunny (for a change) Seattle, > > > Peggy > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > Peggy Holman > > > The Open Circle Company > > > 15347 SE 49th Place > > > Bellevue, WA 98006 > > > (425) 746-6274 > > > > > > > www.opencirclecompany.com > < > http://www.opencirclecompany.com> > > > > > > > > > For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > > > > > www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > > > > <> "> > http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook> > > > > > > "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire > and not get burnt, > > > is to become > > > the fire". > > > -- Drew Dellinger > > > * * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To > subscribe, > > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > > > > tourl"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn > about > > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > > > > * * =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To > subscribe, > > > unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > > > > tourl"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn > about > > > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > > > > > > > * > > > * > > > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > > ------------------------------ > > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > > > view the archives of > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu : > > > > > tourl"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > > > > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > > > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > > > * > > * > > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > ------------------------------ > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > > view the archives of > > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > > > tourl"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > > > -- > Love rays, > Tree Fitzpatrick > > http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/ > . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with > Augustine, "I want you to be," without being able to give any > particular reason for such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation. > -- Hannah Arendt > 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35 > Mountain View, California 94043 > (650) 967-9260 * * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To > subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > > tourl"> > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about > OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > --=====================_8871446==.ALT-- > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:13:00 +0100 > From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Lise_Damkj=E6r?= > Subject: SV: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Hallo Harold, > > As an engineer and open space-freak I have to answer your beautiful > challenge! I do understand your questions, but calm down, I'm sure the > engineers will surprise you (and probably themselves aswell)! > The theme should at least engage yourself - and be a question, that you and > your colleagues don't know how to answer, but really want to know it! Don't > be afraid of making the question too difficult - in open space no question > is too difficult. > Maybe you should expand your own thinking of engineers - don't you recognize > them as ambitious, deeply involved in their own stuff, resultoriented as > well as "reserved" - My guess is that you can give them a theme building > upon the believe that they are deeply concerned about something, concerned > enough to speak and suggest sessions - and hold your own suggestions until > at least 15 other suggestions are raised... > > I'm sure open space will work and you will do a good job! > > Lise > Copenhagen, Denmark > > -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- > Fra: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] På vegne af Harold > Shinsato > Sendt: 14. januar 2008 17:26 > Til: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Emne: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Open Spacetronauts, > > This is my first post to the list after an excellent training in San > Francisco in OS Facilitation from Lisa Heft. With a one day OS coming up > that I'll be facilitating in February, I'm a little daunted by the process > of building the invitation and the theme and I have a few questions of how > to manage things during the event. > > Some background, we used to be an independent engineering organization of > about 50 software developers, QA, documentation, and managers in several > locations in the U.S. and Europe. We used to hold a conventionally > organized "Summit" with 2 tracks of presentations intended to share > information about the industry and our own work. We would submit > suggestions and management would choose the presentations. A few of the > sessions would be interactive, but most were powerpoint talking heads. > > Last July our 150 person company was acquired by a 5000+ person company, > which is being acquired by SAP, (40,000+). Even though we've been > "assimilated", we're still fairly intact as an engineering organization. > I've been given the ok to hold one of the three days of the Engineering > Summit as Open Space. It's a great chance to open up great conversations > about the strains and opportunities around the integration with a larger > company. > > My questions for anyone who has done anything similar: How do I build an > invitation and a theme to best engage the participants? Engineers are often > fairly reserved. How can we best prepare them and get them engaged to > suggest conversation topics when the actual Open Space happens? How can I > get them thinking outside the box of a PowerPoint lecture? Is it possible > I'll need to suggest some topics to get them started? Is it ok to talk > about possible topics in the invitation without overtly pushing and driving > the agenda? Do I have to hold back from suggesting topics during the agenda > building session itself, even if I'm not in management. > > Thanks so much for any help. > > Happy 2008! > Harold > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:14:57 +0100 > From: Koos de Heer > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Harold, > > I can resonate with your agony. I have held a few Open Space > conferences for IT people (up to 200) and I have had the same > worries. But believe me, even the toughest nerds are able to function > fine in Open Space. Be prepared to sit on your hands for a number of > seconds. They may be slow to begin, but they will come. Those few > seconds after you have opened the floor will last an eternity, but it > is worth the wait! Please don't do anything to make it easy for them > - you will ruin the feeling of accomplishment. Just keep breathing. > > Koos > > > At 19:20 14-1-2008, Harold Shinsato wrote: > >Dear Owen, > > > >Thank you, it's such an honor to get a reply directly from you. I think my > >issue is faith in myself and in the process. I've read the book (some > >chapters more than once). I think maybe I just needed to hear it again in a > >different way to help me "get" it. I appreciate the encouragement. I've > >seen Open Space work in other scenarios and I just need to trust that people > >will bring the topics that they care about. But I keep thinking I have to > >"do" something to make it work, to allow people to bring questions or topics > >like "How can we lead in a 50K Conglomerate?" and not just some engineering > >topic that they had to spend a week preparing a powerpoint based on their > >prior experience, which is the "box". > > > >It's like an ugly itch in the brain, but is there some way to help me quiet > >it down? I keep seeing this image of me opening the space and then no one > >filling in any topic cards, or just a few that didn't get put in the first > >tracks. Has anyone had experience in a similar situation for 30-50 > >engineers in a single department but working on different projects? > > > > Harold > > > >* > >* > >========================================================== > >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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:35:16 +0200 > From: Arno Baltin > Subject: open space-time > > Hi everyone! > > This discussion of different time schedules in OS is most intriguing. It > is so often that client wants to get everything and more in shortest > time period. And this is probably where the need to hurry up comes from. > Could we just introduce different types of OS - fast, normal and slow OS > and let the client choose one of them, letting them know that they are > quite different. It is so seducing to " give somebody the taste of OS", > to do it fast. And may most wonderful experience as participant was OS > with three participants for 2,5 days. This was real slow one (in the > sense of "time is honey"). > > with very best regards, > > Arno Baltin > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:36:41 +0600 > From: Elena Marchuk > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > Hi Michael, > thank you for the letter and especially for the reminding me about adhesive > tape rolled together .... which I saw, when Marina used it, but ususlly did > not use myself. My thoughts went only to magnets as a possible way out (need > to work more on my brains - to train them :) > > and thank you for the picture, I like it. and arrow ... and especially I > like a new item in the agenda - pause, which is from 8:30 to 9:00. I will > never dream of such an item in an agenda! Do you mean coffee-break by that? > > it is also interesting, how different people organize their 'seeing > materials' > I really enjoyed that! > > thank you very much > warm hugs from cold Siberia > Elena > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael M Pannwitz" > To: > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 12:51 PM > Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > > > > Dear Elena, > > oh, this arrow is very hightech, of course. > > It is made of 160g red heavy paper, cut with a scissor. > > It is attached to the schedule either with a pin in case the surface > > permits that or with a short piece of adhesive tape rolled together and > > stuck to the backside (a chewing gum might do the trick, too)...the point > > is, it needs to be movable. > > Constructing this time arrow is one of the tasks in setting up an open > > space as described in the set of task cards...usually team members get > > into a fight over who gets to do that task. The word "now" (in German > > "jetzt", which by the way is a wonderful old word containing both the > > roots for "now" and "eternity", a real open space word)is written on both > > sides of the arrow so that the arrow can point either to the right or to > > the left. As I said, hi tech. > > In the following link you see the time arrow being used in a > > German/Russian open space with both languages shown on the time arrow > >> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100 > > > > Have fun > > mmp > > > > Elena Marchuk wrote: > >> Hi Michael, thank you for the idea, > >> I love it and will think, how to do it on my time/place schedule > >> and wonder, what do you mean by cardboard arrow? > >> is it magnetic? > >> as usually I have just space near the blackboard, which I use to be free > >> for posters, and it is just for one flip-chart paper and no space for a > >> sort of one-arrow watch, which I thought first of... so it could be an > >> arrow just over the words : session1, session 2 - which would need a big > >> arrow....sorry, and happy, I have fun with thinking about this > >> take care > >> and best wishes in a Happy New Year, today in Russia is an OLD (ortodox) > >> Happy New Year, so we have 2 of them and very happy to celibrate > >> everything twice (our Christas was on January, 7:) > >> elena marchuk > >> novosibirsk > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael M Pannwitz" > >> > >> To: > >> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 1:14 AM > >> Subject: Re: Thoughts on a Town Crier > >> > >> > >>> Dear Peggy, > >>> I have never seen anybody in these parts do what Jon does. > >>> That might have different reasons such as the many training events and > >>> local OSonOS people have participated in... > >>> What is done here a lot and I always do it, is to have a detailed > >>> schedule posted on a large flipchart complete with a time arrow (a > >>> little red cardboard arrow with the word "now" written on it). When > >>> introducing the schedule to the group I also point out the function of > >>> the arrow...me or another team member and often participants themselves > >>> move the arrow as the event progresses. My line is: In case you lose > >>> track of time or wonder what is next just walk up to the schedule and > >>> have a look at the arrow. > >>> Of course, sometimes people come up to me and ask about beginning times, > >>> my response is to just point to the schedule...I would hate to add a > >>> town crier to my repertoire seems it would be one more thing to do and > >>> one chance for selforganisation and selfmanagement taken away. > >>> Here is a few links to show examples of schedules with the time arrow > >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/102 > >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/99 > >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/100 > >>>> http://www.boscop.org/page/show/101 > >>> > >>> > >>> Have a great day in Seattle! > >>> Greetings from Berlin > >>> mmp > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Peggy Holman wrote: > >>>> Has anyone noticed more milling about before people move into > >>>> sessions over the last few years? I'd been noticing enough of a > >>>> trend this way that I always intend to explicitly tell people that > >>>> there won't be anyone telling them when to move, that it is up to > >>>> them to follow their own rhythms and interests. I haven't quite > >>>> internalized this yet, so I usually forget. Anyway, I think I may > >>>> have figured out what is going on. > >>>> > >>>> I just did an OS for a friend for a group of about 50. He uses OS a > >>>> lot but wanted to be able to really participate in this one. He > >>>> told me that he was a little surprised when the first round of > >>>> breakout sessions was starting that I didn't tell people it was time > >>>> to get started. He came to me when the first round after lunch were > >>>> scheduled to start and asked me wasn't I going to ring a bell and let > >>>> people know? I basically told him that I never did that. The > >>>> participants were adults and could figure it out for themselves. He > >>>> was floored and a little upset. He said he always lets people know. > >>>> And then it dawned on me: there are more and more people who have > >>>> experienced OS. Perhaps there are many practitioners doing what Jon > >>>> does - telling people when it is time to start the next session. I > >>>> realized that since most of these folks came at Jon's invitation, > >>>> they were probably enculturated to responding to a bell. > >>>> > >>>> So I took what seemed a middle ground to me and rang a bell, saying, > >>>> "It's 1:30 and all's well." I figured a town crier was a minimalist > >>>> thing to do -- providing information without attachment to how people > >>>> used it. > >>>> > >>>> I then spoke more with Jon because I wanted to understand his > >>>> perspective. He said that to him, what is posted, like the session > >>>> start times, are part of the commons and when he is holding the > >>>> space, that is part of his contract with the group, to give them the > >>>> information. He doesn't care what they do once they hear it. So, it > >>>> strikes me that Town Crier is a good description of what he does. > >>>> > >>>> Given the trend I mentioned, I suspect Jon isn't the only one doing > >>>> something like this. I'd love to hear other thoughts on providing > >>>> information that marks the passage of time. > >>>> > >>>> from sunny (for a change) Seattle, Peggy > >>>> > >>>> ________________________________ Peggy Holman The Open Circle Company > >>>> 15347 SE 49th Place Bellevue, WA 98006 (425) 746-6274 > >>>> > >>>> www.opencirclecompany.com > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to: > >>>> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook > >>>> > >>>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get > >>>> burnt, is to become the fire". -- Drew Dellinger > >>>> > >>>> * * ========================================================== > >>>> 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-- > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg > >>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany > >>> ++49-30-772 8000 > >>> www.boscop.org www.michaelmpannwitz.de > >>> > >>> > >>> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 472 resident Open > >>> Space Workers in 76 countries (working in a total of 132 countries > >>> worldwide) > >>> www.openspaceworldmap.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 > >> > > > > * > > * > > ========================================================== > > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:38:58 -0700 > From: Harold Shinsato > Subject: Re: Advice for an OS for learning & sharing for software developers > > Dear Owen, > > Thanks for making me laugh with some of your insights, especially about > perhaps looking around for another company if the session is short. Bein= > g > genetically half-Japanese, I'm a little familiar with the Japanese-Engine= > er > effect. It has something to do with politeness and respect for authority= > .=20 > I'm really American but the genes do have their say. A native American a= > t > our San Francisco Open Space facilitation training mentioned how "Respect= > > for Elders" can often cause the Youngers to go silent. Some extra > facilitator work was needed but I think that was outside the context of O= > pen > Space. In any case, I appreciate the guidance to trust my colleagues. T= > hey > really are smart, and not that shy. Sometimes I do wonder if they really= > > trust that if they bring real issues whether it will make a difference to= > > the managers who make the decisions, and whether it would be safe to stan= > d > up. There is the famous Japanese proverb that "The nail that sticks out > will be hammered down." But clearly Open Space has worked in Japan and > other similar cultures, so it can work in my group. > > When I asked for permission to bring Open Space to our conference, I aske= > d > for the whole event but suggested if that other conferences put an Open > Space at the end - so that's what we did. I really look forward to the > after buzz. My hope is that next time they won't settle for just one day= > of > Open Space. > > And Koos, thanks for the encouragement to breathe and sit on my hands if > necessary! > > Thanks, > Harold > > =20=20=20=20=20 > > > * > * > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 > > D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= > > 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > 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 > > ------------------------------ > > End of OSLIST Digest - 13 Jan 2008 to 14 Jan 2008 (#2008-10) > ************************************************************ * * ========================================================== 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