DOING AN OPEN
SPACE:
A TWO PAGE
PRIMER
WHAT IS OPEN SPACE?
It is a self-organizing way of facilitating
communication/action which supports the inherent creativity and leadership in
people.
WHEN TO USE IT:
v
Where
conflict is holding back the ability to change
v
Where
the situation is complex
v
Where
there is a high degree of diversity
v
Where
there is an urgent need to make speedy decisions
v
Where
all stakeholders are needed for good decisions to be made
v
Where
you have no preconceived notion of what the outcomes should be
PROBABLE OUTCOMES:
v
Builds
energy, commitment and shared leadership
v
Participants
accept responsibility for what does or doesn't happen
v
Action
plans and recommendations emerge from discussions as appropriate
v
You
create a record of the entire proceedings as you go along
HOW IT WORKS:
The Law of Two Feet means you
take responsibility for what you care about -- standing up for that and using
your own two feet to move to whatever place you can best contribute and/or
learn.
Four
principles
apply to how you navigate in open space:
Whoever comes is the right
people
Whoever
is attracted to the same discussion are the people who can contribute most to
that discussion because they really care.
Whatever happens is the only
thing that could've
We
are all limited by our own pasts and expectations. This principle acknowledges we'll all do our best, in the present
time and place, and not worry about what could've or should've happened.
When it starts is the right
time
The
creative spirit has its own time, and our task is to make our best contribution
and enter the flow of creativity when it starts.
When it's over, it's over
Creativity
has its own rhythm. So do groups. Just a reminder to pay attention to the flow
of creativity -- not the clock. When
you think it is over, ask: Is it over? And if it is, go on to the next thing you have
passion for.
HOW OPEN SPACE WORKS WHEN
THERE IS CONFLICT:
The Law of Two Feet gives participants
freedom to move at any time to a discussion they care about. The result is that if a viewpoint is held
strongly by one person who is dominating the group, people who feel left out
are free to leave. Now there is an
opening for learning on all sides and reconvening later on if there is a desire
to continue the discussion.
Sometimes there are differences in
power and authority. Open Space levels
the playing field so people who do not normally have an opportunity to talk
with each other can meet around their shared passions.
GROUP SIZE:
To date, we know that Open Space
accommodates groups from 5 to 500 people.
It can be run for a couple of hours to 3 or more days; consecutively or
over time; at one site or at multiple sites connected by computer and/or phone
and video. The longer it runs, the more
learning and depth happens.
THE STEPS IN BRIEF:
1.
Select
a focusing statement or theme for your gathering. It should frame the largest context for your discussion in a
positive way.
2.
Invite
the people: all stakeholders or all the people you'd like to have in the
room. Include the theme, date, place
and time of gathering in the invitation.
3.
Create
the space: Set up chairs in a circle or
in concentric circles, leaving space in the center. Choose a blank wall for the Agenda Wall and label it AGENDA: AM,
PM across the top. Set up a table for
computers near a wall you label NEWS.
Put blank sheets of news print (about quarter size of a flip chart page)
and colored felt pens in the center of the circle. Near the Agenda Wall and the News Wall put masking tape to post
papers on the walls.
4.
To
begin the gathering: Facilitator
explains: the theme, the simple process the group will follow to organize and
create a record, where to put things up and find out what is happening, the Law
of Two Feet, and the Principles of Open Space.
5.
Then
the Facilitator invites anyone who cares about an issue to step into the middle
of the circle and write the topic, their name, a time and place for meeting,
announce it and post the offering on the Agenda Wall -- one sheet per
topic. They will be convenors who have
responsibility for facilitating their session(s) and seeing to it that a report
is made and shared on the News Wall.
6.
When
ALL offerings are concluded, the Facilitator invites people to sign up for what
they are interested in and take responsibility for their schedules, using the
Law of Two Feet.
7.
People
participate in discussions. The
Facilitator takes care of the space.
Reporters enter discussion reports in the computers and printouts are
posted on the News Wall.
8.
Closing: all reconvene an hour before closing to
share highlights, "ahas" and key learnings in a Dialogue format: simply
listening to whatever people have to offer without discussion. You can pass a "talking stick" for
each person to hold as he/she is talking, or to pass along if the person
doesn't want to speak.
9.
Mail
out whatever record is created and an address list to all who came.
This great tool was created
by Anne Stadler. It is too good not to
share!
For mor
information, contact Peggy Holman