On Mar 28, 2020, at 10:57 AM, Amy Lenzo <amy@...> wrote:

VERY helpful! Thank you for sharing your design and the results, Susan, and thank you for your courage in stepping in to this challenge.?

On Mar 27, 2020, at 6:24 PM, Susan <susanpartnow@...> wrote:

My client was experiencing a severe breach of trust, with multiple issues piling up over the past couple of years, climaxing with budge/personnel cuts early this year... which led to the staff of 13 presenting a very strong letter to the ED and her team... One of the demands was for a restorative circle - which is when they contacted me.? Initial planning was for a day long retreat in a lovely setting..? then came the Pandemic...

I have facilitated many meetings and workshops online, many restorative circles and mediations off line...? This was a challenge!!? And a leap into the unknown...

...we set it up for two consecutive half-ish days... Day 1 - part one, relationship building, sharing values, forming agreements, connecting...? part two:? rolling up sleeves for the tough conversations:? sort of a writing simultaneously (not seeing): divided the group into two (staff/exec team) - and they were asked to discuss and then record on a shared google doc that had a column for each group - how they were NOW - impact of all the events leading to this...? As expected, it was raw and intense - people were very honest...? part two of fishbowl:? go back and now reflect (without interpretation or reacting) - what they heard - the feelings and values... I went in to each group to offer some coaching - staff initially were so triggered they couldn't 'listen' - but with some listening to them, they began to step in to the shoes of the other... And Exec Team too, at first were responding/explaining/defending....? Then we came back together --did some breathing... and did some popcorn style sharing as a whole group... as I asked:? Do you feel heard?? Is there anything you want to take responsibility for? What else needs to be said now?? ?So this day ended very raw -- they had experienced radical openness... Feelings expressed in closing circle:? sadness, grief, some fear... a few felt reassured by the honesty...? Essentially - cracked open.? I asked them to do some journaling...

Day 2 - begin with self compassion meditation, 'weather report' check in (lots of storm clouds, even a hurricane)...? Then moved in to Restorative Circle asking - where are you now with regard to this organization and creating the culture you want... Popcorn style (everyone raised their virtual hand - then lowered after they spoke so could see who was left)...? The ED started with a powerful apology/acknowledgement of what she heard, disclosure of some unknowns behind issues, etc...? Everyone engaged very deeply, very honestly -- extraordinary...? Lasted nearly two hours...? When we returned from lunch there was still more... another 45 minutes... Finally ready to move forward:? I asked them to journal their ideas for actions to get them to sustain the desired culture - and this quality of honest open communication... and then they went into mixed breaks of 4-5 and brainstormed.. Came back together and harvested... used virtual stickers on Trello to prioritize...

They closed with a sense of hope and shared ideas of ways to move forward...
I'll offer some coaching to the Exec team to help sustain...

This can be done in the virtual environment!!!? Day 1 part 2 was rough but I believe fundamental to getting to where we did...

May we all be well!

--


.o0o.
Amy Lenzo |?weDialogue
Virtual Space, Real?Engagement
amy@...?|