Every time we gather becomes a model of the future we want to create. – Peter Block In today’s world we live with the paradox that meetings are an important tool for leaders and change-makers, yet they can be an ineffective and expensive strategy. We are used to attending meetings we don’t know the purpose […]
One of the core elements of my work is hosting myself before I host others. It is the art of becoming present. For me one of the practices I have found valuable as I prepare for circles and as I work with teams to design circle-based participatory gatherings is The Work of Byron Katie. It […]
This is a follow up from last week’s post on Resources for Circles + Conflict, which supported a one hour teleseminar where I spoke about using circle practice and process to transform conflict in the workplace. “Change the chairs, change the conversation” is a line us circle practitioners will often say. Sometimes moving the chairs into a circle and […]
I’m preparing a little list of resources for those interested in learning more on how circle practice can be used to transform conflict in the workplace. Here are few key ones: Circle Process and What is Circle (PDF) from my webiste The Circle Way by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea Corporate Circles by Maureen Fitzgerald The Little […]
The email came in with a short invitation: I am planning a gathering and wonder if you are available and interested in helping me to lead a circle? The purpose of the night was around the Bridge Mat Shelter Program that has been going on in several communities just outside Vancouver. The program is operated […]
As part of my preparation for the Art of Hosting on Bowen Island in February I have been reflecting on what’s alive in my work these days. An Art of Hosting learning experience is not delivered from a standard curriculum that we dust off and teach. Rather, it is informed by what inquiries participants bring […]
In October 2010 I made the short journey from my home to Bowen Island, British Columbia (just outside Vancouver) to join an Art of Hosting learning experience. I returned again in 2011, and then in 2013 was excited to join the hosting team. We had a break year in 2014 and this February I am […]
One of my favourite cards in the Group Works Pattern Deck is Reflection Action Cycle – both for working with groups as well as my own personal practice. Each New Year I pause to look back at the previous year to reflect and learn, and then dream about the coming year. This year I used a combination […]
Join us this coming Wednesday, November 19th evening in Vancouver BC for creative, generative and inspirational conversation as part of a Pro Action Cafe, sponsored by the Art of Hosting Vancouver Community of Practice and hosted by Amanda Fenton, Caitlin Frost and Chris Corrigan. …Do you have a vision, an idea, a big plan or […]
Art of Hosting practitioners – as well as others who use participatory process as part of their facilitation practice – are often familiar with circle mostly as a tool for check-in and check-out, or as a way of arranging the chairs to create an environment for something different to occur. And it is much […]