Invitation as process

[Ria Baeck]

Copied from the emaillist, summer '12:

Looking for this wise group's insights and ideas as I begin a deeper exploration around the concept "invitation is a process"... In chatting with a friend about a conference they are potentially convening, the question of "how to get the right people/influencers in the room, and how to get them invested in the issues at hand" came up between her and her project leader. 

Tuning into the breaths of process architecture, my sense was three-fold: map the system to better understand who the people and influencers are, get interested in them and view the issues through their eyes (seek first to understand), and invite them well to attract them fully to the meeting. I realize I'm leaping to the invite breath - at this point her question has sparked my desire to learn more about the art of invitation.

I've done some searching on the Ning and other sites and have found some great resources, including Chris' Reflections on Invitation and am wondering what others have done with "hosting little conversations to find out what quality of invitation would attract them to this gathering".  I'm thinking of little helpers to share with a core planning team that provide more of the 'how' and principles for these little conversations.

Example: I'm curious if anyone has used/adapted Otto Scharmer's Stakeholder Interviews from Theory U as part of the invitation process. 

Looking forward to discovering other approaches ... Thank you always for this list's sharing and collective exploring. 

Amanda