CONSP!RING EUTOKIA: Opening Space in Bilbao. The REPORT (part II)

Here the previous post.

(:::     LONGISH    ::: ) Report on an Open Space event (CO!NSPIRING EUTOKIA)

This mid-day event took place last aweek ago. Friday (XI-19) afternoon. More or less 30 people were at the start (but we had no idea before, as we hadn't asked for registration)  and at the closing. 10 conversations purposed and 1 shamanic session also. It ran fine, very well I'd say, for the reactions on and after it. I still have to meet the sponsors for the post-analysis (by the way, some info to read about the meeting with the sponsors after an Open Space?).

I´d like to share now some facts, impressions, and doubts:

The context: most people were coming first time to know this place -EUTOKIA- that was presented all along the week to small groups, officially inaugurated on Thursday,  and finishing the week on Friday with the OS with people from the community to envision and cocreate its furure activity. OS was new to (almost) everyone, I´d say.

The OST guidebook and the OSLIST were my main preparaation resources and proved to be so a big help! The OSLIST, beyond being a very productive knowledge source, amazes me for its humaneness and the positive impact it always has in my morale. As I recently a real learning comunity.

The sitting places/chairs: when I got to the room some hours before the event the sponsors told me that the ones we had plenty of were too formal for them, they suggested some fitness balls but they hadn´t enough of them. I explained them we usually like having all the people in similar conditions as a visulaisation of equity, but those are real creative people who couldn't stand the thing, you know :-)? Finally we came up with a solution: we put one wooden chair and one blue fitness-ball in sequence, maybe a creative view of equity,... and you know what? Even if we had no idea how many was attending, it was just the same number of places available, 30!

Speaking from the centre went ok thanks to the support and preparation. It got short, I'd say: some 15 minutes, in Basque and Spanish.

The making of the agenda was a bit harder to me. Yes, I know it isn't about myself, but I kept feeling unsure (may be it wasn't really a good idea to have an OS in this situation? maybe the sense of urgence wasn't such? may be my explanations weren't clear enough? should I ask already if there are more subjects? where should I go? where to look? just stay? where?... ) when time passed slowly between people who came to the centre, wrote and announced their issues, just one by one, with pauses in between that seemed to me very long... 1.... (yes, I said that there was no plan B and that probed to be a good joke, for the laughters I could hear) 2... 3.... 4...., 5,.... 6,.... till 11 subjects announced by 30 people... in some 25 loooong minutes.

Holding space was a really nice experience, happening to have myself interesting encounters and conversations with people that would come to me and ask: "what could I do...?", "how is it running?",...

Reports: people took notes as I asked in the introduction. These days, as I was reading about OS I realized that such short events (4 hours) would be more fluent, maybe, without this demand. Any views? I siad at the beginning that we would be emailing the written report  Even if I said they´d have it at the end, 5 days later, it hasn´t been delivered (the sponsor team had taken the responsibility. Exhausted and very busy after the event it´s getting delayed, I suppose also due to the will to do a really smart thing). Lesson learned. Next time I´ll insist we send it just after the event and leave the smarter report to be published in a website or so later on... I think we left the energy vanish a bit, and myself having avoided my respoonsibility...

Some people from the sponsor´s team made a mind-map based on the reports, as it was the sponsor´s purpose. It took a beautiful shape at the end. You can watch it here. As a result of this experience I find that someone with the ability to mind map who is open to integrate whoever in the making can add some value in such events. In our situation some more training on mind mapping and structuring ideas woud have been useful for the team. The important thing is that we learnt the lesson!

The closing (Tibetan temple bells do the convoking work in a simple, elegant, even amusing, way, definitely) expressed a need of more: more time for conversations. Going beyond. Deciding about actions to take... It´s clear for me that half a day is too short for this. As OS gets known we´ll have more and longer events, no doubt.

An anecdote: someone had convened two sessions. One of them was quite crowded. The other one was signed in by just one person and did never happen. This person, when holding the  device substituting the talking stick told the convener that she was still waiting for the meeting. The convener, a bit embarrassed apologised... I suppose that she could have searched the convener and told him at the time the meeting was supposed to take place... we lost perhaps an interesting conversation on "an unofficial mayors' world conference". May be next time.

Some 25 people in the closing. I say we´ve got the masher instead of a talking stick and I say we have some 30 minutes to express our feelings and projects. After having passed it over, when the 3rd person or so is speaking, someone comes to tell me "it´s better to put it in the middle". I answer "take the next position to hold the masher and purpose it to the group, if you feel like. So he does, explaining it is freer and more real. But most people ask for the masher to follow the purposed turns (costum? easier to come up with one´s uneasiness to speak in public if you now when your turn is?).  Some put it in the centre, but mostly people take it from their neighbour.

When the masher comes back, I invite people to look on people´s eyes as in the opening (is it the same kind of looking?). Delicious silence during this moments. Breathing in calm, due to stand un, oh!, the sponsor still wants to say something regarding to a concern someone expressed in his turn... afterwards, it all vanishes, people stand up and greet each other before leaving.

The part of the closing after looking around the circle in the mates´ eyes is a bit extrange to me. I´d love to listen to more stories...

By the end I felt empty (having being very focused and present in the event for some days) and full (in peace, serene) at the same time. Some hours later, joyful. Some days after it, I feel more confident and positive about the future.

Some people of the sponsor team got quite impressed with the spirit and what they could hear in the closing circle, and said they'd like to have more of this,...

Good news for more opening space in Bilbao and surroundings, I guess.

With enormous gratitude and love,

Eleder

BM31_Bilbao: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

www.burumapak.blogspot.com (Basque)
www.flowandshow.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Eleder_BM

ps: yesterday I was sent the link to the report of the event, but I could't download it yet (10 megas): http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9GVKD2IM

SPEAKING FROM THE CENTER (II)

Briefing of the answers to the message cited in part I of this post:

Advance: The opening was easy, I really enjoyed it  and your support was a key

The event ran very well (I'll post about it next time)

Thanks so much, friends!

LONGISH:::

I asked my questions on Wednesday, 2 days before opening space. The next day I was attending a workshop, and I spent Friday morning training a group of teachers on mind mapping... Today I could finally take the time to read all this amazing messages and now I answer them.

So, before opening space on Friday afternoon, I had just had time to percive the quick reaction to my questions on the first messages of this thread. And first, I was again so impressed of the support one can receive from this community! This gave me an important message: "there are some people over there that care about you, be calm, everything is ok...:-)!"

I also picked (and then followed them "on stage") some invaluable ideas: walk the circle slowly; if you do so some hours before the event when you are alone in the room, much better; breathe consciously; move over the place when speaking; if you feel nervous just say so; practice the days before (you can watch here the mind map prepared last week based on Harrison´s OST user´s guide-a DIN A3 real size- on opening-holding-closing space);... and, painfully, I had to discard the option to hide at the edge of the circle :-)!

Now I'm doing the proceedings draft and hope it will summarise quite good such a rich thread.

SPEAKING FROM THE CENTER (SUMMARY) Participants: (Harrison, Suzanne, Elisabeth, Anna Caroline, Christine, Lisa, Harold, Michael, Anne,... Convener: Eleder

1. BEFORE

attitude/feeling:

• think of the gift that participants will receive through Open Space...a gift of freedom and of choice.
• soaking in the energy of the group.
  Before starting remind yourself: "Enjoy: If it ain't fun - it ain't work!" 
  
• Realizing that the 15-20 minutes are kind of the only time that I am visible that day makes me expand them in a feeling of gratitude... what a priviledge and joy!
• it is of course not about you. It is about them. So if you focus on them and on making your voice and the instructions something they can hear and that invites them, then once you begin you are in partnership with them - and they can feel it...
• be youself and enjoy.

practice:

But I think you will become more and more comfortable as you practice, sort how you like to say things, and experience yourself doing it more and more.

just.... breathe.... and ... go.... and be amazed, as I know you are....

organizing physical space:

setting up the whole space the day before

inviting people home, just expalining where things are and inviting them to feel at home...

circle:

do make a nice big circle with room in between each chair (It is true that having too small a circle and towering over people is hard for them).

If it is too small on the inside I see no problem with walking the outside of the circle (though when I have done this some of my OS colleagues have *gasped* !.  But it is so I do not close everyone in too tightly, in those instances.

inclusion: 

ask on registration forms who has any access / ability / mobility issues they would like to bring to event coordinators' attention. Then you have this extra info if you need it for some individuals, and can give them extra eye contact or some notes as well.

(self) preparation:

on the evening before the event and twenty minutes before the opening -  silently walk in nature. Fresh air and the sky above maintain balance.

think of them, who they are and what they care about. .. as if opening space before being even there

visualize: ...And I envision the participants and their listening faces, and I smile and welcome them before they get there.

reading:

page 81, Third edition ("open space technology guide") ... its a great read every time
ps:page 118 in my (mmp) book, it gives the actual o-tone
Dale Carnegie  "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
www.scarletwindmill.blogspot.com]

training:

Lisa's training was so valuable - getting experience walking and talking in the circle "desensitizes" (llama care metaphor) to the discomfort so one can spend more time tuning into the energy of the room and being what they need from me as a facilitator.

pre-work:

That's also a lot easier when I already feel I have a relationship with the theme and the people because of strong pre-work. It has also helped knowing a lot of the people in the room - getting a chance to talk make eye contact even before getting into the circle, and having some friendly faces to help remember it's all good.

I do work intensively with the sponsor and the planning group on all aspects of the event sometimes months before the OS event itself with the result that I get to know them, they get to know me and, of course, I also get to know about their theme and what it is they want to achieve.......My experience is that me getting into the theme (more than even the participants) or my relationship with the Planning Group becoming intensive (more than the relationship between the members of the Planning Group) can deflect the focus in a way that both my presence and invisibility necessary for my focus on space and time for the forces of selforganisation are deminished.

a journey of mutual courage to accompany a client and a team as they wrestle with the difficult moments of inviting people to something that they cannot fully describe as most often they have not experienced open space themselves.  I am always humbled by their trust and the deep relationship that develops.......I also realize now that by engaging too much on the theme with the host, it can make the post-work all the more difficult. I think that perhaps my relationship with the host/team may be too close. 

2. DURING

walking the inner cricle:

just want to convey from your heart and by walking slowly that we will all be safe, and that this will be fun. 
tell yourself self that it's not about you and that you´re just human so being nervous is ok. 

acknowledge the people I am passing and invite them to let their eyes go around the circle noticing all the people.

... By walking the boundaries you define the space and make it safer by your action. ... it is just a very natural act. It is the greeting and acknowledgement of the people of the journey which is about to take place.

walk the inner circle before people arrive, as slowly as I can (it's always too fast nevertheless) when the room is still empty, and the outer circle too (behind the chairs).It gives me the feeling of the space, and helps me later ajust the level of my voice .

if you look a few people ahead and keep moving (slowly, breathing, present) you are indeed never having your back to anyone for very long. If you turn your head as you move you are including people behind you as you travel, as well. If your voice is loud enough or you have a microphone everyone can hear you even if you are not facing everyone.

  when you start and walk the inner circle, do you speak or do it silentely ?

I now always take care to have a circle of at least 10 meters in diameter so that I am not too close to the seated participants, too towering as I walk

my habit is to walk it once or a bit more than once, sometimes two times... changing my mode of movement after that "focusing the group" part which I do with the idea that the group begins to focus on itself... and eventually using the entire space as a dancer would on a stage with the idea that it is a space that can be used in all ways possible

speaking:

speaking slowly 

breathing

remember you are in your walking, your breathing, your explaining - creating a container that is open and welcoming and has tools and a process - so that they can do their best work....

You are with your walk, your voice, your instructions, your breathing... weaving that open and inviting container. And in your walking you are invoking (calling in) energy. 

If you feel nervous, just admit it and move on. The transparency puts people at ease and you stop having to fight wondering whether anyone is noticing that you are nervous.

Breathing:

(during walking the circle:) slow your breathing to an easy in/out and match your paces to your breath. when you arrive at the point where you started you will notice a real change in you and in the group.  Anxiety levels are down and eager anticipation is up. ........

(before speaking) Take a deep breath in and out ........ and in and out and off you go!

looking:

During the introduction I walk the circle and I look at the people a few chairs in front of me to offer a close contact. I used to look at the people right in front of me, but I learned that looking straight down to them from my standing/walking position can offend people.

I have also learned from my workshop participants that if you have any nervousness about looking people in the eye, try instead....looking at the tops of their heads (!).It often feels like you are looking at them - try it.

What I really enjoy while opening the circle is to look at all the different expressions - most of the people have very relaxed or unemotional expressions when they listen, which doesn't mean that they aren't following (just think of your own expression when you listen to somebody).

leaving private space for people to breathe into what they are feeling, nervous, uncomfortable, etc. That's why as I let my eyes meet those of the participants walking the circle for the first times, with some people it may only be a split second, with others a tiny bit longer. I want to honor and respect their physical space and internal space.

Love,

Eleder

BM31_Bilbao: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

www.burumapak.blogspot.com (Basque)
www.flowandshow.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Eleder_BM

SPEAKING FROM THE CENTER

Another message to the OSLIST, 2 days before my next OS... 

Hello!

How do you feel speaking from the centre for, let's say, 15 minutes when opening space?

There's a small issue that makes me a bit uneasy: just knowing that I'll be all the time showing my back to some attendees. Do you walk a bit around to avoid it?

What about looking at people's eyes when speaking? Do you do it consciously one by one around the circle?
Do you perhaps look far away just to keep calmer?

What are the rituals that help you enjoy this moment instead of feeling nervous?

Those are some of the questions that are coming to my mind during the preparation of my next OS, next Friday.

Warmly,

Eleder

BM31_ BILBAO: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

• www.burumapak.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Eleder_BM

OPEN SPACE TRAINING by HARRISON OWEN and friends: Jan 2011, NY

       Opening       Space       for       Higher       Purpose:      
                           Peace       and       High       Performance             
                for       Myself,       Others       and       our       Planet      
                        

For all the details check out http://openspaceworld.com/Opening%20Space%204%20Higher%20Purpose%20Invite.pdf

International House, New York City_________January 14-17, 2011

Rarely, if ever, have the people of this planet had greater need for both Peace and High Performance. Peace so that we may freely pursue the fulfillment of our potential. And High Performance for ourselves, our organizations and our world so that our pursuit may be accomplished with energy and simplicity.

Can we be highly productive and peaceful at the same time?
Can organizations produce exhilarating performance in peaceful environments? What if we could have it both ways? This sounds ideal and also impossible. You can have one or the other, not both -or so we have thought.

However, as a result of a natural experiment of over 25 years, it has become clear the ideal can become reality, and that the means are at hand. It is our choice. We can be hugely productive. We can be peacefully present. And we can do both at the same time as well as sustain our planet.

The experiment is called Open Space Technology (OST). It began in 1985, and , and subsequently has been run well over 100,000 times. Almost one hundred and forty countries and millions of people have been involved, and group sizes have ranged from five up to 2500. Specific uses have included everything from community planning to design of complex projects.

Deeply complex and conflicted issues can be dealt with productively in an atmosphere of respect, hope, trust – even a degree of intimacy and affection amongst prior sworn enemies. Some people have viewed the results as counterintuitive, unbelievable, even magic. The results continue, however, the "magic" is not Open Space Technology. Rather it is the force that underlies it - the power of self-organization. You are invited to learn how to apply the powers of this age-old force to facilitate High Performance and Peace. Take advantage of this opportunity to fulfill your personal highest purpose.

The Program

The Program will unfold over 3 or 4 days. On Day I anyone who cares to learn the fundamentals of Open Space facilitation is invited. This day includes essentials for opening space with any group, including core principles, the planning process, when to use Open Space, role and behavior of the facilitator, and action approaches. Practice during Days II-IV will increase your proficiency.

Days II – IV: The design for each of the following three days is identical. In the morning, Harrison Owen, the originator of OST, will offer a reflection and the balance of the day will be spent working with peers and colleagues. We will all be teachers as wellas learners. At the conclusion you will have a compendium of material (online) to remind you of your experience and to support you in your new ventures.
    Reflections by Harrison Owen:
       Day II       Peace and High Performance - A Natural State
       Day III     Griefwork – Keeping Things Moving
       Day IV      Practicalities – Doing High Performance, Peacefully
If you are specifically interested in the facilitation of OST, the first day is essential, as well as reading Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide and Expanding Our Now: An Introduction to Open Space. Other recommended books of Harrison Owen are The Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance and The Practice of Peace.

For all the details check out http://openspaceworld.com/Opening%20Space%204%20Higher%20Purpose%20Invite.pdf


I'm myself seriously considering to attend this training, sure! Enjoy life!


Eleder
BM31_ BILBAO: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

• www.burumapak.blogspot.com
• www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (IRRATI ELKARRIZKETAK)
• www.bm31-liburuak.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Eleder_BM

CONSP!RING EUTOKIA: Opening Space in Bilbao

This is the message I sent to OSLIST just some minutes ago... Looking forward to receiving some response...

EUTOKIA is a place for what is called social innovation supported by the Bilbao Council. It's being inaugurated starting tomorrow and finishing with a half day Open Space event I was invited to facilitate just last Monday: 3D BURUMAPA.

The conditions have been quite special. Some points about it:

• The  invitation was already made. Even if the sponsors and their invitation embody the OS spirit, I suggested some changes that we are going to introduce in the signals in the room.
• They insisted that they don't want to ask people to confirm attendance, as it may be a bit as "forcing".
• They asked me, so to think how to make it really easy to get introduced in the job for people coming at whatever time (the attendance is supposed to be something like this: 20 people at 4, 20 more at 5, 20 more at 6, maybe 40 more between 6 and 8 and many people leaving in between). I thought about some lines to hand out to facilitate a quick understanding of OS.
• Taking notes and the final report may happen, but the sponsors challenge (that I accepted) was to integrate every idea and note during the event in one big Mind Map.
• I'll open space in both Basque and Spanish to encourage conversations taking place in both (everybody coming know Spanish, but I'm sure that different languages would form different groups and give birth to more diverse ideas), so I'll be trying to be as short as possible in the introduciton message. That's why I'm very interested about the answers to Artur's last message (OST following a creative enhacing training) that I repost here:

"....Anyhow the main facilitator/trainer of the previous day made me a suggestion that I would like to have your opinions about. The suggestion was based in the way they have done their trainings in the past (explaining everything in the beginning) and the way they do now (explaining only what is needed for each phase). So the suggestion was to divide the opening in two parts: the first one with a bit of history and the presentation of the timetable with no Agenda and then ask for session topics; and then explain the principles, law and animals and go on to the Market Place." ...

I have some opinions about this, but I prefer to give them later. At this moment I would like to know if anyone has ever tried this two-steps type of opening and with what results. If not (and considering the context I have mentioned of the previous one day training) what do you think about the suggestion I have received?..."

If you know about anyone near Bilbao that might be interested in OS, forward this piece of info, please, and our invitation to join us in  the consp!ration.

Thanks for your support,

Eleder

pd: I recently moved from Bilbao to Mundaka, a small town on the coast, much more inspiring for wave riders, sure :-)!