(A brief)
Open Space (OS) Guide (to the galaxy)
The promise
If OS as a process is given enough time and the invitation is a genuine call to participation, we can count on it to engage people in conversations about what matter to them. If the inviting question or theme is aligned with the participant's passions and they have the ability and commitment to take responsibility for their passions, they will move from open space engaged in projects and experiments that yield meaningful outcomes. These outcomes can be greater connections, learning, collaborations, innovations, and achievements than they had before OS. For OS to work its magic, it requires no less than a half-day and gets closer to desireable results in at least 1.5 - 2.5 days. It takes time for people to move authentically through the engagement cycle of awareness > alignment > action > achievement. We can never know the timing of a community's readiness for creativity, consensus, or responsibility taking. All we know is, as the four principles indicate: The right people will show up, things will start when they start, they'll end when they end, and the only thing that can happen will happen.
The invitation
OS begins with an invitation from the sponsoring hosts. It can be a question or theme around an issue, opportunity, or possibility. A genuine invitation is an invitation for people to participate in ways that are meanignful to them, rather than the host. If the host simply wants compliance or enrollment or ideas to support the implementation of either, the invitation is not a genuine invitation for OS. Crafting the invitation can take minutes or days, depending on the complexity of the focus, context, and participants. Three kinds of people can come to OS: 1) Awareness People who simply want to observe and learn, 2) Alignment People who want to collaborate in developing new ideas and action strategies, and 3) Action People who are willing and able to take responsibility to carry action forward into the achievement of something new for their community. Some people represent single or multiple categories. Each has a place in the OS circle.
The space
We generally need enough room to fit people into a single circle or concentric circles depending on the size of the group. We also need ample wall space or other adequate breakout areas for the multiple sessions that occur in the process. The brighter and more connected to outside the space, the better. A theatre style auditorium with fixed chairs in elevated rows and no windows is the worst scenario.
The preparation
In preparation for an OS event, invitations need to be crafted and distributed to participants in enough time for them to get it on their calendars. The space needs to be arranged as well as refreshments and food depending on how involved the event is in terms of time. Flipcharts, tape, markers, and laptops and other resources for recording and printing results from the sessions need to be arranged. There is at least one conversation between the OS facilitator and the sponsoring host and any other key stakeholders to pan the details and intention of the event.
The process
Once people arrive and get settled, we invite people to sit in the circles provided and the facilitator gets everyone and the process introduced. We review the OS one law and four principles and announce the invitation question or theme. We then ask people to come up and announce and post their topics in a marketplace - a wall with time slots and locations. People are then set off into the sessions and reconvened at the end of the time scheduled or segment of the day, like at the end of the morning or start of the afternoon in multi-day events. Every session is recorded and if the technology and talent and time are available, we strive to get everyone copies of all the sessions as soon after they complete.
The follow-up
If the conversations have fermented enough ideas and inspired enough passions, and if there is enough time, and if participants are able and empowered enough, they are asked to identify actionable, concrete projects to take forward beyond the process. In the best cases, people leave OS with plans, timelines, a team, and next steps to make something meaningful to them happen. Depending on the host's role in the community and resources, the host can play any kind of role possible in supporting the success of these projects and initiatives.
To explore more about Open Space for your organization or community, contact Jack Ricchiuto @ 216.373.7475 or jack@ at designinglife.com
|
|
