Do you dread meetings as much as I do? The thought of sitting through a 3 or 4 hour session brings to mind images of the cartoon just to the north. But last week I had an opportunity to attend my first Open Space meeting, and wow, what a difference.
There were about 50 attendees, and as a group we selected 12 topics. The 12 topics were split up into 3 half-hour breakout sessions containing 4 topics each, so each attendee could sit in on a total of 3 discussions (although drifting from one breakout group to another is not discouraged).
I’ve never learned so much and gotten to know so many people in so short a time! The Open Space format facilitates conversation, creativity, and camaraderie. It’s like blogging live – lots and lots of discussion/comments around a central topic/post. Only because Open Space is live, it’s far richer than a virtual meeting of the minds.
Consider an Open Space format for your next business meeting. No way people could exit with their eyes glazed over. Have you ever attended or conducted Open Space meetings? What was your experience like? I would imagine the meeting facilitator would have to be well schooled in the Open Space philosophy and technique.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in any kind of corporate meeting room, but I seem to remember feeling exactly like the meeting participants pictured in your post.
A new type of meeting in which participants actually find interesting and stimulating? That’s certain to be embraced by meeting organizers – not to mention long suffering meeting participants!
I have found staff meetings at Korean schools to take an interesting format. Staff do not actually look at the principal while he is speaking, and continue working at their desks whilst the meeting is in progress. This is not a sign of disrespect to the speaker, and is considered acceptable (indeed normal) behaviour. Staff listen but multi-task – attending to other tasks whilst simultaneously fully listening to the speaker.
It’s interesting to see how different meeting etiquette applies in different countries.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew, that is very interesting. In the States, and I assume Australia, that kind of behavior would be unacceptable. There must be some deep cultural differences behind it.
Brad,
As you say, this behaviour would not acceptable in the States, nor would it be acceptable in Australia.
I don’t precisely understand the reasons behind this behavior. However, I think they may be related to another related interesting form of behavior. Koreans don’t usually look people in the eye during a conversation. They seem to perceive eye contact as ‘confrontational,’ or ‘too direct’ and usually avoid it.
Koreans generally prefer indirectness and often go to great lengths to avoid any form of confrontation.
Again, in most Western countries, failure to make eye contact shows lack of respect, and perhaps, lack of confidence or trustworthiness. In Korea, eye contact is generally avoided.
There are many small matters of etiquette in which customs in Korea differ from those in western countries.
It makes life in Korea a truly fascinating experience.
Cheers
Andrew
Interesting. I never knew that about life in Korea…
Hey, this sounds like something we should suggest to Liz for the next SOBCon, Brad.
Robert, actually as I think about Andrew’s comments, I realize most of my high school education followed the Korean format, at least from the student point of view. As for SOBCon, wouldn’t surprise me down the road to have meetings in Korea and Scotland and who knows where.
Brad, your brain can refine your best ideas as you sharpen them in conversation with others. Ellen Weber has told me that the most powerful words at a conference are the ones each participant says. The Open Space plan is definitely a forum where that takes place.
Loved the cartoon – it says so much!
Hi Robyn, yes, that cartoon seems to resonate with many people. What do you think of Andrew’s description of Korean meetings, from a brainwork point of view?
Since that is a cultural approach, Brad, the kids’ brains get wired for that behavior. But, some people here are not wired so much for multitasking and like to focus more on one activity at a time… as long as they’re the ones active. We could all learn that if we did it a few times
I have used the Open Space “format” ( that’s ironic really ) many times and the outcomes are always fantastic. One criticism is that there is a lot of talk and very little action – but not in the ones I have been involved in . We end by dividing up agreed action needs – putting names to those and the teams fall behind them.
….and I am really intersted to read that Scotland is on the list of must places to have a SOBcon!
Hi Jackie, Scotland would be tops on my list, but I’m not sure how much that’ll help!