Stop reading for a moment and look around you. Everything you see that
has been manufactured or constructed was originally an idea in somebody's
mind. Later, there was an idea in several people's minds to make/build it,
market it, buy it, and so on. None of the things you see would be there if
there hadn't been decisions to fill the space. We wouldn't have laws or
corporate policies if people had not chosen to fill those spaces.
The point of this is that our world at any given moment is filled with
creations of the mind. It is not filled with "things" that had to be there
because of some natural law or higher power. The creative processes that
gave all those things birth was not predetermined by rules nor were they
mandated by some nonhuman force. Those creative processes most likely arose
from free thinking during relaxed, unstructured moments.
WHY AREN'T WE MORE CREATIVE ABOUT OUR MEETING PROCESSES?
In the early 1980s, a professional group I am associated with decided to
hold a conference on leading edge thinking about organizations and
leadership. We organized the meeting just like we had been taught to do --
with a preconference call for proposals and papers that lead to the creation
of multiple tracks of offerings. We did it in this way, even though we all
said that when we attended such gatherings, we tended to avoid attending the
sessions that were the very reason for holding the conference in the first
place, in favor of hanging out with our buddies -- "Networking." Our
conference was a big success, AND we noted that people seemed to have the
most energy for engaging during the breaks!
The next year, we convened a second annual gathering, and structured it
in much the same way. Again, it was a big success; and again, people seemed
to be getting the most out of the unstructured moments. Harrison Owen, who
was part of the sponsoring cadre, wondered what would happen if the third
annual offering were "just one big coffee break" for the entire duration of
the conference! The rest of us were more than a little skeptical, but we
could certainly see that there would be a lot less committee work required
to put on a four and a half day long coffee break.
Without either a flashy agenda or a formal program announcement, fewer
people came to the meeting -- but the results were beyond our wildest
dreams! The whole week was high energy, abuzz with excitement and novel
ideas which, curiously enough, coalesced into themes and topics about which
the attendees were truly excited. Those that wanted to chase dreams found
their butterfly nets full. Those that thirsted for substance drank their
fill. Those that wanted to move around a lot served to cross pollinate all
the emerging ideas.
As the word spread during the ensuing months, our "network" became more
and more excited about repeating the "Open Space" conference in each
succeeding year. This summer, the 18th annual "Organizational
Transformation" Open Space conference will be held in Stowe, VT. And a vast
array of meetings and conferences have been run on open space principles,
hundreds of times, both within and across organizational boundaries, around
the entire world.
SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
First of all, it works! If you create a space and a theme, those who
come will articulate their relationship to the theme and, needing only
slight encouragement, dive into creating experiences for themselves that are
both learning filled and personally important.
Secondly, when Open Space is used as the format for a meeting to tackle
complex issues or create strategic plans or new ways of being together in
the organization, the results are both more creative than when traditional
formats are used AND people's buy-in to the results are much stronger.since
they all participated in creating them.
Third, whenever there are no "correct" or pre-ordained outcomes, the
results of Open Space Conferencing will be richer and more effective than
that which can be expected from traditional agendas.
Fourth, the process works! It is Not a risky or unproven way to operate.
People who attend do, in fact, hold within them the ideas and creative
potentials to create breakthroughs and quantum leaps of understanding,
resolutions, and new ideas.
WHERE HAS OPEN SPACE BEEN USED?
The Open Space format has been used in a wide range of applications over
the past decade and a half. Some of the most notable applications have been:
conferences for up to 300 people, strategic planning, organizational
restructuring, setting research agendas, building a vision of the future,
designing customer service programs, creating new curricula, and sparking
corporate culture changes.
WHAT WILL WE DO IN OPEN SPACE AT OS2?
Here is an overview of what to expect at the OS2 conference. There will
be a circle of chairs and a lot of wall space. On the walls will be an area
for each half day of the meeting that is devoted to open space, and a
separate area containing Post-It notes that specify times and places where
subgroup meetings can be held. After some opening remarks and
announcements, we will begin "filling" the space.
Everyone will be asked to reflect on the role of Humanistic Psychology
in the 21st century. then each person who has passion for an idea or a
question related to this theme will be asked to write a title and their name
on a piece of flip chart paper and then affix a "time and place" Post-It
note, and announce their idea to the community. You do not have to bring a
polished presentation to convene a session (although you may) -- just be
willing to take responsibility to show up at the appointed time and place,
remind others who show up of the theme and invite people to get involved in
your idea or question.
This whole process of establishing our Open Space agenda will take less
than an hour. Then it's time to go to the first round offering of your
choice. Twice each day, we will reconvene as a total community for any
sharing or interim reporting that people would like to do. At these times,
poetry and singing sometimes breaks out. Also, some of the original session
offerings may be merged or altered or cancelled, and new offerings may be
added to the "wall."
To summarize how it will work, please think about two things -- going to
a Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning and/or signing up for your
preferences on the activity board at summer camp.
A FEW PRINCIPLES OF OPEN SPACE
Whoever comes are the right people
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened
When it starts is the right time
When it's over, it's over (when the energy is gone, it's time to move on)
When it's not over, it's not over (keep on truckin if there's still energy)
Protect and promote "The Law of Mobility." (If you find that you're in the wrong place, get up and move)
Be prepared to be surprised!
SO, WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?
The honest answer is that one never really knows, except that we expect
to create an arena for creativity, fun, doing good work on really important
issues, and fellowship. Given the incredible depth and breadth of talent
that will be attending, the format will not tell people what to do or when
to do it. Rather, the format will build a supportive environment in which
we can get on with doing whatever needs to be done with a minimum amount of
hassle. I look forward to meeting you all very soon.
