Never Stop Telling the Stories

There are no Open Space certifications or trademarks. There is only the invitation to explore, try it out, and then share your learning with others. Harrison Owen shared his own stories and learning generously. Many of us have followed his lead. (This page is LONG, but it offers a LOT of resources in one place.)

You’ll find all kinds of stories here, about why, how, when and where Open Space works. Open Space runs on shared learning. Never stop telling the stories!

Flying above the turbulence, but not separate from it. Photo by Harrison Owen, Potomac, Maryland USA

Stories Shared by Harrison Owen

Stories Shared by Friends Around the World

What is Open Space?

English | Svenska | Português | Français | Deutsch | Español | Magyar | Euskara
Dansk | Nederlands | Haitian Creole | Polski | Chinese | Estonian | Italiano | Türkçe
| | | | |  | Україна

Talking About Open Space

Books on (or including) Open Space Practice

  • Inviting Leadership – Michael Herman’s “Inviting Guide,” most frequently shared OS training materials, with original articulation of Inviting Organization/Leadership.
  • Open Space Technology: A User’s Non-Guide – Michael Herman and Chris Corrigan edited two months of wide-ranging OSLIST conversations into this valuable companion to Harrison’s User’s Guide, addressing the Non-Doing in Open Space facilitation
  • The Tao of Holding Space – Chris Corrigan’s translation of the Tao Te Ching for Open Space facilitators
  • Living Peace: The Open Space of Our Lives – Raffi Aftandelian edited this collection of Open Space facilitators’ stories about how they practice Open Space in everyday living
  • The New Parish Priest – Fr. Brian Bainbridge recounts the journey of a Catholic parish changing from “top-down” control to “self-organization.” Brian was an active pastor (making 500-700 “house visits” per year), an Open Space consultant and facilitator, in locations around the world, for organizations like the World Bank and A.T Kearney. He was the man who brought Open Space to Australia and the one person in the world most likely to attend the annual Open Space on Open Space practitioners’ conference. “I learned something important EVERY time I sat down to chat with Brian.” — Michael Herman
  • Open Space on the Open Road: A Love Story – What Happens when Work Collides with Life in a Good Way? This is the tale of a workaholic fiercely dedicated to the idea that LIFE at WORK should be vibrant, inclusive, productive, and joyful. Suzanne Daigle tells her “before and after” stories and how she learned to open space wherever she goes.

Books on Open Space and Business Agility

Stories and Resources for Facilitators

Significant Online Collections

Online Open Space Platforms

  • QiqoChat.com – OS-informed platform for online community development
  • VillageCo.org – strengthening neighborhoods, workplaces and families with OS-informed model for micro-community formation and development
  • OpenSpace-Online® – Gabriela Ender’s pioneering platform for OS online, since 1999!

Other Miscellaneous Resources

  • Two Page Open Space Primer – The basics of doing an open space in brief. If you’ve attended an open space, this provides a quick reference to help lead one yourself from Anne Stadler.
  • Open Space Technology Notes – a detailed description of doing open space –Rick Lindman
  • Talking About Open Space – a document for talking about Open Space with Australian examples –Alan Stewart.
  • Choosing Open Space Technology Things to consider if you are contemplating an Open Space Meeting or if you are contemplating transforming your organization to operate as an Ongoing Open Space Organization from Birgitt Williams.
  • Open Space Checklist Here is a detailed list of everything from masking tape to microphones that you need before, during and after an Open Space event. Also included are some notes for talking to potential sponsors and writing an invitation from Peggy Holman
  • Meeting Room Capacity Spreadsheet – a spreadsheet that calculates the number of people that a meeting room will hold in one or more circles, via Koos de Heer
  • LeanCoffee – a small-group, short-meeting approach that drives a bit like Open Space

Training and Coaching

The following people and websites offer more information about Open Space training and practice, coaching and mentoring.  Mostly listed by primary/home country, but many work across borders and/or around the world. 

North America

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

Asia