Taking a minute or two at the beginning of the meeting, either in silence with a few words of guidance offered by the facilitator, to pause and notice that we are in a new space; to consciously connect with the others with whom we are meeting; and to clearly connect with the overarching purpose of the meeting, can radically transform the experience of the meeting. A similar process can be undertaken at the end of the meeting, to bring it to conscious … Read more
Negotiation Skills Win Win Win for Everyone
This is a metaskill and used in nearly every human situation where people have to share resources. Some people treat human relations as a war and so negotiation is a war. For others, where ensuring the best possible outcome for everyone is at the heart of the negotiation process, a very different approach is used. You need to listen attentively to what the other person wants. In some negotiation approaches, teachers or trainers suggest you learn as much about the other person before you … Read more
Appreciative Inquiry Solving problems by building on success
the Appreciative Inquiry process involves people telling stories about positive experiences they have had at work or in groups and distilling the common values and processes that underpin these (Discover); daring to be bold and developing a ‘Provocative Proposition’ that embodies the highest potential of the group (Dream); then designing pathways towards its achievement (Design) and, finally, ... doing it (Deliver)! It is a high energy, generative process that builds on positive prior … Read more
The Practice of Forum Building transparency and authenticity in community
In the practice of Forum, we come together in ongoing groups to share deeply and authentically what is alive in us. With skillful facilitation, an atmosphere of safety is created, which enables us to step out of our comfort zone and into deeper levels of vulnerability and creativity. We also start to see ourselves as an integral part of the whole and not an isolated fragment. As witnesses, we build the capacity to hold more of the richness and diversity of human experience without being … Read more
Support groups Women’s and Men’s Circles The role of support groups, in particular women’s and men’s circles
Finding a support group that meets regularly or can be activated when you need it, can make all the difference. Women’s circles Women generally meet to share about their lives, support one another, perform rituals and celebrate. Men’s circles According to the Mankind Project, this is a place to learn and practice conflict resolution, communication skills, relationship development skills, how to make and meet big goals. Other examples of support groups or networks: Gay, Lesbian, … Read more
Rank Understanding how power and privilege operate within and between individuals and groups
Amy and Arny Mindell, in Process Work, have outlined 4 types of rank and power (social, psychological, contextual and spiritual) and the signals that flow from those who have ‘high rank’ and ‘low rank’ in different situations. This is married with an understanding that rank is fluid, situational and by no means fixed. Developing rank awareness then becomes a lifelong, almost spiritual practice, leading to the development of mature, integrated and competent individuals and … Read more
Process Work Framework A multidimensional framework and set of tools that highlights the importance of inner work and indepth awareness in the facilitation of social change.
The framework and tools of Process Work facilitates deeper understanding in a wide range of human experience. It does this by tracking communication signals, somatic experiences and synchronicities until their meaning is revealed. It provides tools that allow us to unfold the embedded meaning in unintentional communication signals, facilitating indepth social change processes, informed by enhanced awareness. Process Work also addresses the social, psychological and contextual influence of … Read more
Pro Action Cafe Bringing the wisdom of a group to the support of an individual’s task, project and vision
using a blend of World Cafe and Open Space processes, we can create dynamic, creative and fluid spaces in which we support each other to interrogate more deeply the plans and projects we are already working on. Focusing on questions such as, ‘What is the deeper question you are addressing?’ or ‘What is missing?’ can enable us to go deeper into the true nature of our vision. It also helps to maximise the contribution of group members, who actually love to support one another given … Read more
Open Space Convening meetings on what interests us most
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
