Posted on by Tenneson Woolf

The Job — Reflecting on AoPL Last Week

AoPL (The Art of Participative Leadership) as offered last week was a three day program. Last week was intended three days in person. We got two — quite significantly. And then due to winter storm and a university closure, we switched the last day to online (thanks to the big skills of Chris Corrigan and Caitlin Frost).

One of the things I like about hosting such gatherings is that it refreshes the deep and simple purpose of gathering. It refreshes the intention. I wrote this earlier in my journal:

The job is to connect a group so that it can be wise, kind, and conscious together.

  • Methods for engagement help with that (Circle, World Cafe, Open Space, Proaction Cafe, and many moments of Turning to One Another).
  • A few orientations and maps help with that (Chaos and Order, 4-Fold Practice, Limiting Beliefs, Cynefin).
  • Spacious pace helps with that (not everything is meant to be solved quickly. Or over-simplified. Some things are meant to be dwelled with).
  • Authenticity helps with that. It’s so good to see people opening themselves and in the company of their colleagues. It brings vitality.

So much of all of that last week. Connected. Wise. Kind. Conscious. And then other things that grow from that. Courage. Compassion.

That feeling is the outcome. It is the job. It’s temporary for some. But it’s lasting and life-changing for many.

What a treat to be in such work and purpose, and in such good company — those in the room and those I host with that are now in our 20+ years of friendship.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Proudly powered by WordPress

Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

This will close in 60 seconds

asd
In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

This will close in 60 seconds

asd
Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

This will close in 60 seconds