Harrison Owen created a social technology that enables people to convene meetings about the topics that are most alive in them and allows for crossfertilisation of ideas. Participants make sure they do what inspires them most, as they move between the spontaneously emerging landscape of conversations and interactions arising from the group. References: www.openspaceworld.org Handout on Open Space Submitted by: Kosha and Robin … Read more
Non Violent Communication Connecting Communication
Non violent communication was developed by Marshall Rosenberg, and invites to practice empathy with ourselves and the others by focussing attention on four components observation: an observation specific to time and context is recommended the facts instead of an evaluation of meaning and significance feelings: emotions or sensations, free of thought and story careful: “I feel I did not get a fair deal.” is not a feeling! needs: universal human needs, instead of particular strategies … Read more
Leadership Styles Four Archetypes that underpin inspirational leadership: Sovereign, Great Mother, Medicine Woman, Warrior
Carl Jung and others saw that inside every human being is a feminine and masculine potential (yin and yang, anima and animus) and a static and dynamic potential. When we marry these four potentials together, 4 archetypes of human behaviour emerge: Medicine Woman (Dynamic, Feminine), Great Mother (Static, Feminine), Sovereign (Static, Masculine), and the Warrior (Dynamic, Masculine). Once we are aware of these four styles, we can reflect on how well established each archetype is in our own … Read more
Holistic Business and SelfOrganisation The Emergence of the Global Village
We can view humanity as being separate from Nature or being an integral part of it. If we choose the latter view, then we ought to look to Nature to be our teacher. If we do this, we see the following principles at work: ● holism : where all parts of a system are recognised and the parts together add up to more than the whole. ● emergence : we can try to plan for every eventuality and control external events (people, situations and so on) or we can allow ourselves to be led by life and … Read more
Empathy The ability to really understand others
To step out of the assumption that mankind is “evil” and that people have bad intentions helps to really understand people’s motivation and intention. This means understanding on a rational but also on a heart level. If you reach a level of connection where your heart begins to warm to them that’s what it is. It is like putting yourself into the shoes of another person, role or societal group and not only knowingthis role or acting like this role but really to feelit. Understanding … Read more
Cooperation Dynamics Promoting cooperation instead of competition between individuals, groups and organisations, and across sectors.
However, the idea of a Solidarity Economy and the cooperative movement generally challenges this logic and proposes an alternative. Instead, the idea and logic is that cooperation can help us to strengthen the organizations and projects although it is important and necessary to design appropriate structures and dynamics to help this unfold. Design of structures for intercooperation at different levels: Reproductive Cooperation: are the dynamics of support that require us to share … Read more
Conflict Transformation Theory and Practice of Working with Conflict
Welcome conflict and embrace it as an inevitable part of human experience. See the other as yourself and sense the feelings and needs that underpin the outer expression. Create a sense of safety, possibly by bringing in a facilitator, in order to hold a bigger perspective and allow winwin solutions to emerge. Bring compassions to the conflict and see it as an opportunity for learning and deepening intimacy. Would you rather be right or happy? References: ● Exercise: Working with … Read more
Community Building A process to develop authentic communication in community
Scott Peck has identified 4 phases of group development and created guidelines for skillfully navigating these that culminate in an experience of a mature, authentic community. Once we know that going through, for example, phases of pseudocommunity, chaos and conflict, vulnerability and letting go of expectations, are necessary steps in the evolution of a group, we will be more willing to embrace them. The conscious practice of authenticity counters any tendency we might have to hide … Read more
Art of Hosting A way of harnessing the collective wisdom and selforganizing capacity of groups.
The Art of Hosting is an approach to leadership that scales up from the personal to the systemic using personal practice, dialogue, facilitation and the cocreation of innovation to address complex challenges. Different methods and techniques are framed under this umbrella that understands that the way of hosting is an invitation that makes a meaningful difference in the way that people and groups interact. Practitioners report improved decision making, capacity building and ability to … Read more
Social/Solidarity Finance Beyond Banks...
If traditional methods do not fit well with entrepreneurs who are in need of funding, what can we do? There are several ways to solve this need. We can use our network to request solidarity private loans at an interest rate of CPI or 0%. Or private loans at a market interest rate that is negotiated and which is sometimes organized as micro credits. Or we could become partners with a credit union that works with similar criteria to those of our organisation. This is a easier and faster … Read more
