Human to Human

For many of us whose group process facilitation approach is participative, there is a certain amount of translation that each of us does. It is the “what” and “why” of design and agendas.

For me it starts with basic statements of purpose. E.g., “People come for learning. So as to be good at what they do. This is a learning gathering.” Or in using images like that above from nearby Butterfield Canyon (thx for weekend hike Dana) to invoke path and discovery.

Many groups yearn for potent learning together. The planners of meetings yearn for it. And they have the hunch that something rich is available beyond the traditional didactic means.

For me, I’m often guiding Circle, World Cafe, and Open Space Technology as methodologies. Each of these are now more widely used than they were 30 years ago.

Yet, there is newness. Planners are trying to invite from the heart with language and translation that their participants from more traditional formats will be able to recognize.

Here’s one level of that translation that I’m crafting with colleagues for an upcoming “Empowering Practice” 2-day event for medical practitioners.

We are excited to employ many learning formats at CEP. Some will feel familiar. Some might feel new. And are likely to feel uniquely empowering because they deliberately draw out the wisdom and inspiration of people in the room to guide next steps.

Open Space Technology (OST) is a large group format for self-directed learning. We’ll do it Saturday at CEP. It’s your learning, your way. Yet with deliberate group integration. Rather than creating agenda in advance, we create it real time, based on the immediate learning needs and passions of participants present in the room. People then select the topic groups of learning they wish to lead or join. The whole group meets back together to share insight, discoveries, and next learning topics.

The World Cafe (WC) is also a large group format to amplify the power of small groups in focussed conversation. We’ll do it Friday at CEP. Rather than lecture format, this learning is tables of 4-5 people exploring questions that matter for 20-25 minutes. Then moving to other tables — exploring patterns of relevance. The outcome is insights. The outcome is new questions. The outcome is strengthened camaraderie for empowered practice.

Our work is so often creating the bridge. Giving it structure. And purpose. Sticking with simplicity. And then trusting and welcoming the hearts and minds of people in the room to come alive together.

Finding path. Changing path. Welcoming it to change us.

I so love exploring. The feeling of new path. New green of spring. Beckoning vistas. And visiting Raven.

Dana and I hiked yesterday. Our first time up nearby Butterfield Canyon.

Whether nearby canyons or the many learning fields with people in groups, yes, the exploration is such a potent invite.

Wilding is a theme I’ve long appreciated.

Lately, like these Wild Snapdragons, now in Spring bloom. There’s oodles of them where I ride my bike these days. And where Dana and I walk.

Wilding.

As in what grows naturally, and often with rather impressive pattern..

As in what lives beyond domestication, beyond too-tight plans.

As in the unstructured or less structured.

As in the intuitive, the dream world, and the other sub-consciousness layers.

To see the wild, seems to call out the wild in me.

And of course many others.

What a thing to invite creativity together for the things we care about. To invite growing naturally. Life. What flows. Intuition.

Wilding.

Celebration.

My friend and colleague Peggy Holman recently offered reflections Open Space Technology. It was some of her learning. It was some of her tribute to OST Founder, Harrison Owen, who died in March 2024.

Enjoy the read. And Peggy’s learning.

OST has been goto for me over the last twenty years. Because of the way it energizes. Because of the way it brings connection. Because of the way it brings simplicity to learning and action.