Inviting Integration as Presence

This week I’ve been working with a colleague, prepping for a 3-day gathering that we will co-host in September. The first movements, the first connections of that group, will likely have large impact. There will be 100 people in the room.

As a facilitator I’ve learned that one of the first jobs is to create connection. That, so that presence is more palpable. I’ve also learned that it really helps to make that initial connection easy. I so often start with partner conversations. Little short ones with random partners, typically 2-3 minutes for each question. I do 4-5 of these so that in the first 15 minutes people already have 4-5 people they’ve made connection with.

For this upcoming gathering, I’ll likely ask the question — “What excites you about being part of this gathering?” It’s meant to activate an appreciative and anticipatory energy, which I know serves the group well. It’s easy. There’s no wrong answers. People often want to verbalize on this.

I’ll likely then ask a related question but of a much different flavor — “Is there a sorrow that you bring into this gathering?” This is a group that guides many people through grief and change. This question is meant to activate an authentic energy, which I know also serves the group well. This question insists a bit more thoughtfulness that people also want to verbalize.

And thus, we integrate. And create presence. In the small steps that begin. And in the narrative that will carry over the three days. I rarely think of integration as the thing we do for others. I often think of integration as the depth of field that we encourage together. When we have that, wow, learning and joy naturally follows.

Fun to think about it coming.