Noticed it did not go through the list
😊
Thomas

Från: Thomas Herrmann
Skickat: den 8 maj 2025 08:26
Till: 'Peggy Holman' peggy@peggyholman.com
Ämne: Sv: [OSList] Re: Planning goes on OST in fishing village

Thanks Peggy!
I do think it could serve the group to have some kind of summarizing picture. Thanks for sharing from your amazing work!
A challenge is that we don’t know how many will be present at each gathering, could be 150, could be 30. I assume the method you shared about suits better with small-ish groups?

At the third occasion we want to open up space for action and it would be nice to also have a converging activity as well. I am thinking about the 35-method (I found an explanation of the process when googling, for anyone interested. I’ve used it many times, also with groups up til 250!
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/facilitation-processes-35/1606587?utm_source=chatgpt.com

I’d be interested to hear of any other methods. One good thing apart from the results, using 35, is that its quick and give us more time for the action part.
Cheers
Thomas

Från: Peggy Holman via OSList <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Skickat: den 7 maj 2025 23:44
Till: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Ämne: [OSList] Re: Planning goes on OST in fishing village

Just getting home from three weeks of travel…some thoughts on convergence…

I tend to think of three possible scenarios at the end of an Open Space:

• 1. The meeting itself is enough. A chance to come together with colleagues to explore questions of interest together is the purpose. Whatever happens next occurs through what the individuals who came are moved to do.
• 2. An articulated shared perspective - convergence — is desired. I often think of this as a naming of shared principles or a framing that both connects participants through a shared perspective and frees them to act on their own in congruence to a shared bigger picture. I think of the metaphor I once heard from a Boeing engineer: a jet is 3 million parts flying in close proximity.
• 3. The intent is to move ideas to action, optionally shared action.

Sometimes groups want both a shared framework and movement into action.

For action...
Like Michael, I will often re-open the space for action. People take it from there. Simple and straightforward. I have also used a Pro-action cafehttps://journalismthatmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Proaction-Cafe-Basics.pdf for action. For those unfamiliar with it, it’s a cross between an Open Space and a World Cafe that is specifically intended for this purpose.

If a framework is desirable…
I’ve experimented with a variety of approaches to create a shared framework. Most often, I’ll do something that starts with what moves each person after they have spent time together in Open Space. I'll invite them to pick one thing they want to guide them as a result of their time together, knowing that among the group, a web of what’s most important will emerge. I’ll ask each person to write it down, as they would a topic for the agenda wall. With a small group, I’ll ask them to speak it out loud, as you would in a closing circle. Then I invite people to mingle, forming a cluster with people who have a similar thought. I have been amazed how 3-7 clusters reliably emerge that, together, form a framework. Each group then works to create a statement or two that captures their principle. I’ll sometimes ask for volunteers to take the rough material from all the groups and refine it on behalf of the group.

Here’s an example from a journalism convening called Experience Engagement: https://medium.com/experience-engagement/towards-a-civic-communications-ecosystem-for-thriving-community-f4f75c4ca450

I’ve used other practices for coalescing. Depending on the group size, some work better than others. Happy to say more about approaches I’ve used that result in a loosely-held shared framework.

Peggy

Peggy Holman
peggy@peggyholman.commailto:peggy@peggyholman.com

Bellevue, WA  98006
206-948-0432
www.peggyholman.comhttp://www.peggyholman.com

Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunityhttps://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/

"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger

Join the Open Space practitioner’s conference - the World Open Space on Open Space (WOSonOShttps://www.wosonos2025.org) - in Kenya, November 6-8.

On Apr 29, 2025, at 2:49 PM, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Thomas,

after the two ost events the process needs actionorienting.

Have the third event as an "action space".

Folks will be surprised who all shows up in the "action space". Participants have carried
the content into their environment and even folks that were at neither of the two ost-events.
They might be those that also are needed but not thought of before.

Any of those present can post their projects that has heart and meaning for them.
Be ready to be surprised as you see projects posted that were not part of the prior two
ost-events.

The projects are dealt with as issues were dealt with in the ost-events.
They are announced and posted and then there is time to work on the projects.
For this they dont have to go into breakout sessions but work standing next to
the project posted on a wall... and have a passion for and want to take responsibility for.

Each project that the participants want to work on needs a "first step".
The name of the project is written down in the "first step" document (one page) that contains the date, time and place where
the project gathers.
That and the title of the project and those that participate in it and the name
and contact data of the contact person is documented.

After all projects have been discussed and have action sheets for first steps all participants
can walk around to every project and add their names even though they were not in
the original group that has filled in the "first step" sheet.

Regarding convergence, forget it.
It is simply a statistical step.
Long ago, I used simple and complex designs to find out the most interesting, the most important, etc. issues.
Often, surprise, the most interesting or the most important, etc. did not receive the required folks for getting that issue into a project.

Its passion and responsibility and fire and a bunch of other stuff that gets projects to live.

The Project sheets are gathered, copied and handed to all participants.

Have a great time and keep reporting and asking.

Greetings from Berlin and post how it went at this year's

https://www.wosonos2025.org/

mmp

Am 29.04.2025 um 23:08 schrieb Thomas Herrmann via OSList:
Hi friends and again many thanks for all responses!

Where we are now in our planning is to do convergence later and be in open space for both 4 hour session. Also we are looking at how we can create space during the 9 days between the meetings, to continue conversations. It looks like we can keep the reports from the 1st occasion in the physical space, a large tent, during the time inbetween. So maybe that space can be used if groups want to meet.

We are also considering an online space… We do have to keep it simple, which is always good anyway, as its only 2,5 weeks until the 1st meeting – May 14th. The second is May 23rd.

The outline I plan is the same for both occasions: Opening circle, 2 timeslots for 1,15 hours. Closing circle. People are of course welcome to join both times.

Now we have to figure out how to do some convergence. It will probably be another meeting for that. So there could be space for even more conversations/sessions before that if its not directly after day 2… Imagine if that could be possible – Saturday morning the 24h….!

I see the total of all reports as a “fluffy vision” for the future for the community. Any ideas for if/how it is possible/meaningful to converge more to have a more of a common vision? There have been expressions of this to have more of a common voice as many in the community feel overrun by the larger municipality especially regarding plans for changes in the harbour.

I have been considering using the 35 method that some of you may know about – to get the highest priority issues of a question.

I guess actions are gonna happen anyway but that would also be part of a convergence meeting, to invite actions.

That’s my thinking at this late hour. Thanks for listening ❤
It looks like we are going for it. So more ideas are welcome!

Thomas Herrmann
Open Space Consulting AB

Pensévägen 4, 434 46 Kungsbacka, Sweden
Telefon: +46 (0)709 98 97 81
Email: thomas@openspaceconsulting.commailto:thomas@openspaceconsulting.com
Homepage: www.openspaceconsulting.comhttp://www.openspaceconsulting.com/ / www.5toFold.comhttp://www.5tofold.com/
Profile on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thomasherrmannopenspaceconsulthttp://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasherrmannopenspaceconsult

Open Space Consulting frigör livskraft i människor, organisationer och samhälle.
We release lifepower in people, organizations and society.

Trainings/workshops (Info & registrationhttps://openspaceconsulting.com/kategori/aktiviteter/kommande-aktiviteter/)

2025
Sept 9-11: Working with Open Space Technology, the Netherlands
Sept 17-19: Open Space för Demokrati, Gullbrannagården.
Sept 23-25: Att arbeta hållbart med Open Space-metoden, Örby, Sverige
Okt 8: Erfa-utbyte om Open Space (gratis, online)
Nov 7-9 WorldOpenSpaceOnOpenSpace, Nairobi, Kenya

Continous opportunities for online learning - selfstudy + mentoring – leadership and facilitation incl Open Space
<image001.png>

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org

To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.orgmailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org

See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Michael M Pannwitz

Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany

+49 30 7728000    mmpannwitz@posteo.demailto:mmpannwitz@posteo.de

This year the WOSonOS will be in Kenya in November, have a look

https://www.wosonos2025.org/
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.orgmailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
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Wow thanks for this dear Peggy.
Will probably go with 35 this time.
Look forward trying Cheeks in Chairs!
Agree clustering is also an option
All the best
Thomas

Skickat från Outlook för iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef

Från: Peggy Holman via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Skickat: Friday, May 9, 2025 7:59:02 PM
Till: Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Ämne: [OSList] Re: Planning goes on OST in fishing village

Practices for discovering what is emerging have always been of interest to me.

I’ve used clustering with groups of 70-100+. If there are lots of clusters, the clusters can be clustered in another round.

I have also used Thirty-five to get a taste of priorities. It can be done with any size group. It’s great. And it has people moving around after lots of sitting in intense conversations. I’ll usually do 35 as an entry into Evening News.

Another practice I’ve used for people to get a taste of what is emerging is “Cheeks in Chairs.” I learned of it from Miki Kashtan, of the nonviolent communications (NVC) community in the Bay Area in California.

In brief, ask your synthesizing question, perhaps some version of  "What’s an action you’re taking following our conversation" or "What’s an insight that will continue to inform you?"

Invite everyone to stand. When someone speaks, they sit down. So does everyone who was going to say something similar. Go until everyone is seated. Be sure to have someone capturing the comments because they’re usually gems. I’ve put an example, captured by a graphic recorder, Nitya Wakhlu, from a Journalism That Matters convening, Elevate Engagement, below.

The first time I used Cheeks in Chairs was at the end of a 2-day Open Space with 250 people. I wondered how long it would take with that big a group. When the second person spoke, half the room sat down. It was a physical “whumpf” as so many people sat at the same time! A relatively small number of statements are mentioned no matter the size of the group. So it can be done in under 10 minutes. Not only is it fast, it gets at what is most important to people.

Peggy

P.S. It’s from 2010, but I stumbled into something I wrote on Closing an https://peggyholman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Closing-an-Open-Space-Event.pdf Open Space Eventhttps://peggyholman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Closing-an-Open-Space-Event.pdf. It doesn’t mention cheeks in chairs so I picked up that option later.

[7.Cheeks in chairs.jpeg]

On May 9, 2025, at 12:03 AM, Thomas Herrmann via OSList everyone@oslist.org wrote:

Noticed it did not go through the list
😊
Thomas

Från: Thomas Herrmann
Skickat: den 8 maj 2025 08:26
Till: 'Peggy Holman' <peggy@peggyholman.commailto:peggy@peggyholman.com>
Ämne: Sv: [OSList] Re: Planning goes on OST in fishing village

Thanks Peggy!
I do think it could serve the group to have some kind of summarizing picture. Thanks for sharing from your amazing work!
A challenge is that we don’t know how many will be present at each gathering, could be 150, could be 30. I assume the method you shared about suits better with small-ish groups?

At the third occasion we want to open up space for action and it would be nice to also have a converging activity as well. I am thinking about the 35-method (I found an explanation of the process when googling, for anyone interested. I’ve used it many times, also with groups up til 250!
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/facilitation-processes-35/1606587?utm_source=chatgpt.com

I’d be interested to hear of any other methods. One good thing apart from the results, using 35, is that its quick and give us more time for the action part.
Cheers
Thomas

Från: Peggy Holman via OSList <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Skickat: den 7 maj 2025 23:44
Till: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Ämne: [OSList] Re: Planning goes on OST in fishing village

Just getting home from three weeks of travel…some thoughts on convergence…

I tend to think of three possible scenarios at the end of an Open Space:

• 1. The meeting itself is enough. A chance to come together with colleagues to explore questions of interest together is the purpose. Whatever happens next occurs through what the individuals who came are moved to do.
• 2. An articulated shared perspective - convergence — is desired. I often think of this as a naming of shared principles or a framing that both connects participants through a shared perspective and frees them to act on their own in congruence to a shared bigger picture. I think of the metaphor I once heard from a Boeing engineer: a jet is 3 million parts flying in close proximity.
• 3. The intent is to move ideas to action, optionally shared action.

Sometimes groups want both a shared framework and movement into action.

For action...
Like Michael, I will often re-open the space for action. People take it from there. Simple and straightforward. I have also used a Pro-action cafehttps://journalismthatmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Proaction-Cafe-Basics.pdf for action. For those unfamiliar with it, it’s a cross between an Open Space and a World Cafe that is specifically intended for this purpose.

If a framework is desirable…
I’ve experimented with a variety of approaches to create a shared framework. Most often, I’ll do something that starts with what moves each person after they have spent time together in Open Space. I'll invite them to pick one thing they want to guide them as a result of their time together, knowing that among the group, a web of what’s most important will emerge. I’ll ask each person to write it down, as they would a topic for the agenda wall. With a small group, I’ll ask them to speak it out loud, as you would in a closing circle. Then I invite people to mingle, forming a cluster with people who have a similar thought. I have been amazed how 3-7 clusters reliably emerge that, together, form a framework. Each group then works to create a statement or two that captures their principle. I’ll sometimes ask for volunteers to take the rough material from all the groups and refine it on behalf of the group.

Here’s an example from a journalism convening called Experience Engagement: https://medium.com/experience-engagement/towards-a-civic-communications-ecosystem-for-thriving-community-f4f75c4ca450

I’ve used other practices for coalescing. Depending on the group size, some work better than others. Happy to say more about approaches I’ve used that result in a loosely-held shared framework.

Peggy

Peggy Holman

peggy@peggyholman.commailto:peggy@peggyholman.com

Bellevue, WA  98006
206-948-0432
www.peggyholman.comhttp://www.peggyholman.com/

Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunityhttps://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/

"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger

Join the Open Space practitioner’s conference - the World Open Space on Open Space (WOSonOShttps://www.wosonos2025.org/) - in Kenya, November 6-8.

On Apr 29, 2025, at 2:49 PM, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Thomas,

after the two ost events the process needs actionorienting.

Have the third event as an "action space".

Folks will be surprised who all shows up in the "action space". Participants have carried
the content into their environment and even folks that were at neither of the two ost-events.
They might be those that also are needed but not thought of before.

Any of those present can post their projects that has heart and meaning for them.
Be ready to be surprised as you see projects posted that were not part of the prior two
ost-events.

The projects are dealt with as issues were dealt with in the ost-events.
They are announced and posted and then there is time to work on the projects.
For this they dont have to go into breakout sessions but work standing next to
the project posted on a wall... and have a passion for and want to take responsibility for.

Each project that the participants want to work on needs a "first step".
The name of the project is written down in the "first step" document (one page) that contains the date, time and place where
the project gathers.
That and the title of the project and those that participate in it and the name
and contact data of the contact person is documented.

After all projects have been discussed and have action sheets for first steps all participants
can walk around to every project and add their names even though they were not in
the original group that has filled in the "first step" sheet.

Regarding convergence, forget it.
It is simply a statistical step.
Long ago, I used simple and complex designs to find out the most interesting, the most important, etc. issues.
Often, surprise, the most interesting or the most important, etc. did not receive the required folks for getting that issue into a project.

Its passion and responsibility and fire and a bunch of other stuff that gets projects to live.

The Project sheets are gathered, copied and handed to all participants.

Have a great time and keep reporting and asking.

Greetings from Berlin and post how it went at this year's

https://www.wosonos2025.org/

mmp

Am 29.04.2025 um 23:08 schrieb Thomas Herrmann via OSList:
Hi friends and again many thanks for all responses!

Where we are now in our planning is to do convergence later and be in open space for both 4 hour session. Also we are looking at how we can create space during the 9 days between the meetings, to continue conversations. It looks like we can keep the reports from the 1st occasion in the physical space, a large tent, during the time inbetween. So maybe that space can be used if groups want to meet.

We are also considering an online space… We do have to keep it simple, which is always good anyway, as its only 2,5 weeks until the 1st meeting – May 14th. The second is May 23rd.

The outline I plan is the same for both occasions: Opening circle, 2 timeslots for 1,15 hours. Closing circle. People are of course welcome to join both times.

Now we have to figure out how to do some convergence. It will probably be another meeting for that. So there could be space for even more conversations/sessions before that if its not directly after day 2… Imagine if that could be possible – Saturday morning the 24h….!

I see the total of all reports as a “fluffy vision” for the future for the community. Any ideas for if/how it is possible/meaningful to converge more to have a more of a common vision? There have been expressions of this to have more of a common voice as many in the community feel overrun by the larger municipality especially regarding plans for changes in the harbour.

I have been considering using the 35 method that some of you may know about – to get the highest priority issues of a question.

I guess actions are gonna happen anyway but that would also be part of a convergence meeting, to invite actions.

That’s my thinking at this late hour. Thanks for listening ❤
It looks like we are going for it. So more ideas are welcome!

Thomas Herrmann
Open Space Consulting AB

Pensévägen 4, 434 46 Kungsbacka, Sweden
Telefon: +46 (0)709 98 97 81
Email: thomas@openspaceconsulting.commailto:thomas@openspaceconsulting.com
Homepage: www.openspaceconsulting.comhttp://www.openspaceconsulting.com/ / www.5toFold.comhttp://www.5tofold.com/
Profile on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thomasherrmannopenspaceconsulthttp://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasherrmannopenspaceconsult

Open Space Consulting frigör livskraft i människor, organisationer och samhälle.
We release lifepower in people, organizations and society.

Trainings/workshops (Info & registrationhttps://openspaceconsulting.com/kategori/aktiviteter/kommande-aktiviteter/)

2025
Sept 9-11: Working with Open Space Technology, the Netherlands
Sept 17-19: Open Space för Demokrati, Gullbrannagården.
Sept 23-25: Att arbeta hållbart med Open Space-metoden, Örby, Sverige
Okt 8: Erfa-utbyte om Open Space (gratis, online)
Nov 7-9 WorldOpenSpaceOnOpenSpace, Nairobi, Kenya

Continous opportunities for online learning - selfstudy + mentoring – leadership and facilitation incl Open Space
<image001.png>

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org

To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.orgmailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org

See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Michael M Pannwitz

Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany

+49 30 7728000    mmpannwitz@posteo.demailto:mmpannwitz@posteo.de

This year the WOSonOS will be in Kenya in November, have a look

https://www.wosonos2025.org/

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.orgmailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.orgmailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.orgmailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org