A 3-day programme exploring theories, concepts and practices that support convening conversations in complexity.
Programme details
Thank you for your interest! While bookings are closed for now, please check back here soon for updates on our next available course dates.
Change in complexity
Most of the challenges we face are complex. This requires a different approach from those in public service who find themselves inhabiting a convening role, often working collaboratively with other organisations and communities. We recognise that no individual, organisation or sector can achieve sustained positive change by themselves. Instead, answers emerge from understanding diverse perspectives, collective sensemaking and taking action in uncertainty.
Learning is at the heart of this kind of work and requires self-awareness, the ability to suspend judgement, work in uncertainty and surface diverse perspectives. It requires convenors of systems who have their sights on the health of the whole system, not just their organisation or area of responsibility.
They must build relationships through working effectively with groups, facilitating a different quality of conversation. This work also requires deep listening and enabling learning through reflection and action.
There is an increasing appreciation that this is challenging work and requires skilled convening and collaborating, with a renewed focus on learning and action. The key to shifting to this way of working is to develop skillful facilitation with groups seeking to bring about change in complex challenges.
When working with the complexity of groups, convening and facilitation are not just about methods, tools or techniques, but the level of conscious awareness that enables conveners to collaborate with those working at the edge of discomfort and experimentation.
In particular, it involves helping people to remove obstacles to:
- Contribution
How people can change the structures that hinder them from being able to make an effective contribution to the collaboration
- Connection
People need to be connected, to the situation they are trying to address and to their thinking, feeling and will to collaborate effectively.
- Equity
People’s contribution and connection will be constrained if they cannot collaborate equitably. Helping people dismantle the structures that are giving some people more freedom, power and privilege than others.
Adapted from Facilitating Breakthrough, Adam Kahane, 2021
Agenda
Over three days, we will explore theories, concepts and practices that support convening conversations in complexity. We will model approaches to facilitating groups and convening conversations and use approaches that can be developed and adapted to work situations.
Although the programme will be delivered online, you will work individually, in pairs, in small groups and in a large group. Throughout the programme, there will be an emphasis on reflecting on learning at an individual, group and system level. There will be plenty of opportunities to take a break from the screen!
Day 1: Understanding the context and theories
• Human Learning Systems: understanding complexity, working relationally and embedding learning
• Developing self-awareness: theory and practice of how to convene groups in complexity
• Working with power dynamics in groups (1)
• Working below the surface through mindfulness and meditation
Day 2: Using the models and methods in practice
• Creating a learning environment that is cooperative and democratic
• Creativity and diversity in practice
• Working with power dynamics in groups (2)
• Developing levels of listening and dialogue
Day 3: Developing our practice and reflecting on learning
• Working with peers on a convening or facilitation challenge
• Developing your inquiry questions and learning journeys.
• Walking the chaordic path
• Individual and group reflections
Convening Conversations in Complexity
Bookings are closed for now, but please check back here soon for updates on our next available course dates.
