Facilitated Conversations

We design and facilitate conversations WITHIN groups who would like to move together effectively toward a shared purpose OR SUSTAINABLE ONGOING RELATIONSHIP.

FACILITATION/MEDIATION OFFERINGS

When assisting groups that are experiencing communication challenges, we offer processes that prioritize all voices being heard and understood. We can offer the following supportive structures to address your unique situation.  

Group Facilitation – This process is very supportive in exploring complex issues where the stakes feel high. Some examples of where group facilitation is helpful include: times of transition, when difficult decisions need to be made, when there are strongly differing viewpoints, where ease of communication has broken down. Facilitation provides a structure for navigating creative tension, checking assumptions, voicing concerns, sharing perspectives and considering ways forward. 

The process begins with individual confidential interviews with key participants. In these interviews we are able to hear what’s important to each person, explain the guidelines of the process and answer questions.  

With interviews complete a facilitated meeting of the whole group is scheduled.  In this meeting (usually 3 hours), each person has opportunities to speak uninterrupted and receive a reflection of what they’ve expressed from the facilitator. When each person is satisfied they’ve been heard accurately, their contribution is written as a record of what was explored during the meeting. Next steps often emerge naturally. The facilitator keeps track of progress made, items still needing further exploration, any convergences the group has reached and action items.

Group Facilitation is very helpful for boards, work teams, faith communities, families, cooperatives, organizations, community groups, and so much more.

Circle Processes - These processes can be supportive in restoring authentic, sustainable connection and can include Empathy Circles or Peacemaking Circles.  Participants literally sit in a circle and each person has the opportunity to speak while everyone else listens with attention and presence.

Succession Planning Conversations - This process helps families, businesses and organizations have the sometimes challenging conversations needed to plan for the future or begin transitioning some aspect of their structure. Some examples could include passing the family farm to the next generation, transitioning business ownership to a cooperative, expanding from an individual dream to a non-profit organization. We can help you have the important conversations needed to consider where you are, where you want to be and how you can get there. We are not content experts nor do we offer advice. Rather, we create a supportive structure that allows you to explore all the pieces of the puzzle, express what is most important, and decide together what the next steps could be.

Mediation – This process is very supportive when a group is being negatively impacted by conflicts between specific individuals to such an extent that it is unlikely that a group process will be supportive until these specific conflicts are addressed. This structure begins with identification of individuals in conflict. 

The mediator meets confidentially with each individual and then mediated conversations are arranged between pairs of willing participants. 

In the mediation sessions (usually 2 - 3 hours) the mediator invites people to speak one at a time about what is most important to them. The mediator reflects what they are hearing and checks for accuracy, asks open ended questions, summarizes points of convergence and divergence, and helps people consider what they would like to request of or offer to the other. 

FACILITATOR/MEDIATOR ROLE

In the role of facilitator/mediator we consider ourselves to be “multi-partial”. This means that we do not take any sides, attempt to direct the course of the conversation or steer participants toward particular outcomes. 

Our dedication is to making sure everyone who wishes to speak is heard and understood accurately and to help participants track progress toward desired outcomes. 

To achieve this we help the group work within the structural guidelines of the process, track time, attend to what comes up in the process with great care and ask clarifying questions.  

We assist the participants in determining how they would like to move forward, which may take the form of additional sessions or something different. 

SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS

Groups benefit from having systems in place that support them in times of conflict. Some examples could include: policies that address how an organization will address conflict, community agreements a group wishes to follow, how feedback will be given and received, supports that assist people in working through conflict, etc. A supportive system is most successful and sustainable when created by the group reflecting the needs and values of their unique culture and conditions. We’ve noticed that supportive systems work best when they are clear, transparent, equitable and accessible to all. We can assist you in creating your custom supportive system.