Open Space - allowing people, to do the right things - at the right time - for the right reasons

Participatory Leadership in One Sentence

2009-08-27T08:36:00.003-04:00

This description of participatory leadership rings a bell for me and many of my clients who really care about allowing and optimizing on the natural energy that people can bring to their work.

Read the statements and note which “ring true” for you and which surprise you! Adopt one for week at a time and see what happens around you. Is there a difference in your energy and that of others.

Time and Money are limited and non renewable. Energy on the hand is an ongoing internal renewal resource.

Jean-Yves

For a printable PDF copy click here

The first dawn of the second half of my life

2009-08-18T08:27:00.006-04:00

This summer, I turned 60! Considering my gene pool (my grandfather is 104 and doing well) and my lifestyle choices, I believe this to be the exact mid-point of my life. So one morning I set out with Jacquie to consider the first day of the second half of my life by being present at sunrise.

There is very little more beautiful than the first rays of the sun in the morning! Especially when shared in a special moment with someone you love!

-Ottawa at sunrise (6:04am August 15th, 2009)

Click here to have a better view of the Peace Tower.

1ère rencontre européenne des praticiens du Forum Ouvert

2009-08-16T16:45:00.002-04:00

FORUM OUVERT sur Forum ouvert: 1ère rencontre européenne des praticiens du Forum Ouvert

Harmony happens in remarkably simple ways

2009-08-06T09:19:00.003-04:00

Many thanks to Chris Corrigan for sharing this link !

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

City Wide Open Space

2009-04-28T09:09:00.011-04:00

The invitation is out. L'invitation est lancée! See this 2 minute video that tells all on the spirit that drives an Open Space meeting. Mayor Kai Degner of Harrisonburg, VA explains how the Open Space meeting will work. See the mayor's invitation page here: How refreshing and inspiring it is to see this openness on the part of a leader. Stay tuned and see what happens for this OPEN consultation! Le lien ci-haut mène vers une entrevue en video du maire de cette petite ville qui explique comment cette consultation publique va se dérouler. Enjoy the interview here: Kai Degner on the Mayor's Sustainability Summit from Scott Rogers on Vimeo.

The Site (WOSonOS 2009)

2009-04-23T11:39:00.004-04:00

The World Open Space annual event web site!

http://www.frontier.org.tw/2009wosonos/the_site.html

Stay in Touch with Jean-Yves

2009-04-21T09:41:00.008-04:00

Coaching & Open Space - Same Difference

2009-04-19T11:25:00.006-04:00

Coaching and Open Space Techonology for meeting facilitation are the same thing to me!

Both about opening and holding space so that the person, the group, or the entire organization can fully participate with passion and responsibility. It allows evolution to a higher degree of self-actualization, self-correction and self-generation for the individual, the team or the entire organization (system). Both result in unimagined levels of engagement, empowerment and responsibility.

Both coaching and OST are about inclusiveness, compassion, and the recognition and respect of each others humaness, including our strengths, talents and foibles.

To get a sense of what OST might be like, check out this page:

http://tinyurl.com/OST-some-basics

Forum Ouvert Sur Forum Ouvert

2009-04-18T15:58:00.005-04:00

Venez apprendre à changer le monde, en commençant par soi et surtout une rencontre à la fois. Une méthode de facilitation pas comme les autres.

liquer sur le lien pour plus d’information sur cet activité tout à fait spéciale.

Info sur le FOsurFO

Getting “Buy-in” of New Proportions

2009-04-16T10:19:00.005-04:00

A Open Space Case Study

A large department of a government organization had been impacted by changes in policy. Structural changes had to be made in how services were delivered and a new leader was in place. Regional and central employees had to overcome existing operational silos and concern was growing as concerned employees faced another change.

Three weeks before a planned annual meeting, the new leader inquired about using Open Space Technology (OST) for part of their time together to deal with the challenges. There was a high potential for conflict over complex issues; an urgency to move forward with the changes as the deadline loomed for adoption of annual plans; and the leader admitted they did not have all the answers and believed they had a shot at creating viable solutions if they all worked together.

There was a high potential for conflict over complex issues; an urgency to move forward

An invitation outlining the basic approach was sent to all 65 employees. Participants were asked to prepare simply by thinking about what they wanted to discuss to better meet the challenges ahead. No agenda was attached – they would have to put one together on site.

On the day of the meeting, participants arrived to find a large circle of chairs in the centre of the meeting room with a blank wall on one side under a sign stating “Market Place” and another wall with “Breaking News”. And there no agenda was to be seen anywhere. As they took their seats, many (later declared) sceptics wondered how they would possibly survive the day and more importantly, doing what?

Within one hour of the leader’s short welcome everything had changed

Within one hour of the leader’s short welcome everything had changed. Each participant who cared to, had identified issues for which they had real passion and which were related to the central theme. They had written it on a sheet of paper and posted it to the “Market Place” complete with an identified time and space where task groups could gather. Raising an issue, included taking responsibility to convene a session on that topic and making sure a report of the results was written. Within 45 minutes of the opening, many looking at the 19 topics posted, wondered how they were going to do it all in the one day. Once all topics were up, everyone was off their seats and at “The Market” to sign up for sessions in which they cared to participate! And off they went!

Over the following 3 hours, all 19 subjects were discussed. At lunch break, during which animated discussions continued, reports were printed and posted to the “Breaking News” wall for all to read. Participants came back to read the reports and determine which topics/issues were the top priorities for the organization to address now. That done, each participants chose among the priorities, the topic most important to them and met again in task groups to decide on the next steps, follow up action and sharing of responsibilities. Six of the top priorities were discussed.

It all ended 45 minutes late, in high spirit and a low desire to leave.

In the course of the day, all notions of silos between the “structural” working groups had disappeared. New bonds took hold between staff at all levels and the energy sustained itself right through the usual "afternoon lull". Conversations were lively and focussed on moving forward. Often they extended over the "suggested times". They had taken charge – it was their meeting and all a facilitator could do is stay out of the way. It all ended 45 minutes late, in high spirit and a low desire to leave.

Worth mentioning is that the decision to hold the meeting in OST format was made only three weeks earlier and that there was only one facilitator for twenty five (25) task groups that met and produced written reports before the end of the day.

A week later, harvesting of the energy and ideas was still taking place. The level of excitement generated lasted for the following days of the annual meeting. A task group had self-organized another meeting to continue the work started, and others were planning as the OS lived on - beyond the event itself! OST works like that!

To get a printable 1 page formated PDF

Don’t Miss a Step: Take Time to Celebrate!

2009-04-09T14:32:00.020-04:00

The path of a goal, whether a goal set for your personal life or in the course of business, is generally seen as having four steps: 1) Assess the situation 2) Set goals for how you want it to be 3) Take steps to achieve the goals, and 4) Achieve the goals (completion). After Step 4, many people return to Step 1 with the question: “OK, what’s next?” And then it’s on to Step 2 and 3 and 4 again. Hold on. Stop right there. There is actually a very important fifth step that many of us leave out. Step 5 is where we STOP, APPRECIATE and CELEBRATE our achievements! After working hard to reach our goals, taking time to celebrate gives us the opportunity to: • Capture the learning. When we take stock of what we’ve learned along the way to our goals, we are consciously integrating the learning and incorporate those lessons for use in the future. • Acknowledge your internal resources. In achieving goals, we bring forth various internal resources, such as courage and persistence, to meet the challenges. To have others acknowledge us—and to give ourselves credit, as well—is deeply satisfying. Too often, we miss seeing these qualities in ourselves and others. Acknowledging and the power to call us forth to use them even more on future challenges. • Build a sense of unity. Your team will feel more inclined to go the extra mile if given the opportunity to celebrate their achievements.Nothing can bond people more than striving toward a common goal and then sharing in the joy of the achievement. If you don’t stop to appreciate the people who helped make it happen, connection and goodwill will break down and the discretionary effort that could have been available in the future will evaporate. • Send a message to the Universe. Stopping to savor and celebrate your successes sends the message out into the Universe that you know how to appreciate this success and that you are ready for more! The Law of attraction steps in and you and your team become magnetized for more success. • Have fun! As Dr. John Medina points out in his book Brain Rules, fun is serious business. Knowing that you get to celebrate in a fun way after your goal is achieved is a great motivator. And both you and your team benefit from an added bonus in that fun, which is a powerfully positive emotion, stimulates your brain’s ability to learn and integrate new knowledge. Self confidence builds to new highs. You’ve done a fantastic job—of course you want to be rewarded with some fun and enjoyment. You deserve it, so do it! There are countless ways to celebrate and savor your successes, so add Step 5 and CELEBRATE. Whatever brings you a sense of joyous completion is the ticket. Be as creative and energized about it as you can! Click here to receive a printable formatted PDF version!

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