TRAINING
Early bird Registration Is Open!
Working with Open Space Technology
Advanced Facilitation Skills 1 | Genuine Contact Program
15 to 17 September 2026
De Lunterseboer, Lunteren Netherlands
ABOUT THIS TRAINING
This is a unique opportunity to learn how to use this superior collaboration method in a small group setting, offered by 3 highly experienced Open Space practitioners.
Open Space Technology (OST) is a meeting methodology that taps into the collective wisdom of the group, team or organization to address concrete business issues, find answers to complex problems, and nurture leadership in times of change. Using the potential of the whole group, whether 5 or 500+ people (online or in physical meetings) OST has the capacity to bring together (large) groups of people around topics that are deeply important to them and thus prone to misunderstanding. OST has proven long term effects in problem-solving among groups and improving how people work together. Working repeatedly with Open Space Technology has the capacity to transform organizations.
Developed in the mid-eighties by Harrison Owen, a leading organizational culture and transformation expert, this powerful and surprising meeting methodology is now used around the world as an effective process for facilitating change in both organizational and community settings.
This training is designed to provide you with the skills, tools and attitudes for working successfully with OST, using the perspective of the Genuine Contact™ approach, focusing on creating a strong container for preparation and follow-up, in addition to the meeting itself.
This training is part of the Advanced Facilitation Skills series of the Genuine Contact™ Program.
ABOUT THE TRAINERS
Doris Gottlieb (The Netherlands), Thomas Herrmann (Sweden), and Anna Caroline Türk (Germany) have joined forces with the commitment to make the full series of Genuine Contact™ program workshops available in English in Europe. They are highly dedicated to this approach and invest much of their energy in the development of the Genuine Contact Program and have worked closely with Birgitt and Ward Williams, founders of the Genuine Contact Program, for almost two decades.
They have developed these trainings together in order to integrate their specific expertise, strengths and practical insights to provide you with a rich and varied learning experience. At each workshop they will work either individually, in a pair or as a team of three depending upon group size and availability.
As consultants, they have assisted organizations such as Volvo, Etsy, World Wildlife Fund, Dropbox, City of Gothenburg, Stena Line and the Karolinska Institute, Emancipator, Sounds of Change, Municipality of Waddinxveen, and Rotterdam School of Management - Erasmus University, in learning and applying the Genuine Contact approach to increase organizational success.
Training Location
The training will take place in the Netherlands at a location that offers full board and lodging. Once the exact location is known we will publish it here.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS TRAINING
During this practical 3 day training you will learn the craft of Open Space facilitation not only by experiencing the method, but by learning all aspects of how to use Open Space Technology effectively. In this experiential training you will:
Explore what you need to develop within yourself to be able to facilitate this sort of highly dynamic meeting.
Develop knowledge of how to work with your clients, to support them in making the best decisions for their organization about how, when and in what ways to use OST.
Learn how to assist people after the event to anchor and make use of their knowledge so that the relationships and trust built through the process continues to grow and give results.
Develop your own personal inner map of how you as a unique individual can develop your facilitation skills to enhance maximum freedom and choice for your clients or in your organization.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
When 15, 16, and 17 September 2026
Where: De Lunterse Boer, Boslaan 87, Lunteren
Prices include 3-Day Training, including coffee, tea, and lunch each day and dinner on the 15th. and 16th, Workshop Workbook, and a 1/2 day online follow-up meeting.
Normal Price €1595,00 (Corporate | Public)
Reduced Price €1395,00 (Self-employed/Small NGO)
If you still have difficulty paying, contact us!
Lodging and Board | The costs for lodging and overnight stay at the Lunterse Boer is €320,00 (Incl. VAT) This includes:
Lodging in an individual room at De Lunterse Boer on 15 and 16 March
Breakfast at the on the 16 and 17 September
Dinner (3 courses) on the 15 and 16 September
It is also possible to book an overnight stay on 14 September should you so wish.
Special Rates
Early bird Discount | Sign up before March 20th, 2026 and receive a 10% discount on the price of the training.
Group Rates | Coming together with a colleague? If you plan to come with a colleague from your organization, you will receive a 10% discount. If more than two people from your organization would like to take join, please contact us for group rates at doris@dorisgottlieb.com.
Reduction for Members of the Genuine Contact Organization | Members of the Genuine Contact Organization (Friends, Partners, Ambassadors, and Stewards)receive a 10% discount on training price
Repeating a Workshop | If you have already taken this workshop with a certified Genuine Contact program trainer and would like to repeat, please contact us for special discounted rates at doris@dorisgottlieb.com
Language | The language of the workshop will be English, however Dutch, Swedish, and German and Spanish may also be used.
MORE INFORMATION | Feel free to contact us if you have questions about this training or would like to know more about Open Space Technology and how it can help you or your organization.