Closing an Open Space happens in many ways. It is largely dependent on the purpose of the gathering. At a minimum, there is always time to reflect on the experience. When there is a need to converge, then whole other activities can be involved. Always keep in the style and spirit of the gathering. Here are a few approaches I’ve used.
There are two basic areas in which people can reflect:
· What content related things came out for them (What did they notice? What were their aha’s?);
·
What did they learn about the principles in
action (How does this process apply back in the real world?)
Basic flow
Make any announcements
Deal with any remaining logistics about the proceedings, both getting in
materials and getting them distributed
Acknowledge them and what they’ve accomplished
Then it’s time for reflection
When there’s lot’s of time
Explain the use of a talking object (as a gift from Native Americans – whoever has the stick talks, everyone else listens. There are responsibilities for both the talker to speak with respect, listen with respect -- and to respect the time available. If the group wants to continue after The End Time – so be it – but everybody is free to use the Law of Two Feet.)
When you need to be fast
Some questions I’ve used:
¨ What’s different as a result of our time together?
¨ Based upon your view of all of the possibilities discussed and explored, how do you personally wan to use your energy, your two feet to further what’s happened?
¨
In light of what you've read and experienced,
how do you personally want to use their time and energy to actualize what you
want?
¨ What is necessary to support this spirit, action, work, project, whatever, going forward?
Michael Herman (from listserv, I think)
¨ What is possible now?
OSonOS,
¨ Consider using Angeles Arien’s questions for a closing reflection:
What surprised you?
What inspired you?
What challenged you?
What touched you?
¨ As a result of this session, …
From Chris Corrigan
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My bias is to identify next
steps by inviting people to pay attention to their personal energy – taking
responsibility for what they care about, for themselves and the whole. To do this, for the last few years, I have
simply re-opened the space after people have reviewed notes from the rest of
the Open Space. In reopening, I use a
synthesizing question, something like,
When you reflect on what you’ve experienced over this time together, how
do you wish to use your time and energy to actualize what you want on behalf of
yourself and the whole?
The sessions posted become the
call to action. I usually do one round,
often with an extended time so that people can deeply explore their
actions. I love spreading this session
over lunch, encouraging people to actually take a break and come back fresh to
their work together.
Once this session is complete, it is time for the closing circle.
(*A note on reports: with technology being what it is, I usually
ask that reports be e-mailed within 48 hours to me or whomever is gathering
them into the report. To be sure the commitments
are explicit, I pass a sign-up sheet in the closing
circle asking anyone who has a report to do to put their name, the session name,
and their e-mail address on paper. That
tells me what to expect. In all but a
few instances, I’ve gotten 100% return, albeit, with prompting.)
Do closing circle, as above
Developed
by Peggy Holman