Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversation

This retreat training is for all who aspire to learn and find new ways for working with others and to create innovative and comprehensive solutions.

In this 4 day program you will experience & practice using unique and powerful conversational methodologies including Appreciative Inquiry, World Café, Open Space, Dialogue, Circle and more….

Click here to access this year's Schedule and Contacts for the Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations occurring around the world.

• To schedule a complimentary collaborative interview about this program please click here.

Many of you continue to ask about conferences and trainings that share Berkana's focus on life-affirming leadership. The Art of Hosting and Convening Conversations, described below, is deeply aligned with the principles/practices of leadership we feel are essential in the world at this time. It has been very impactful for many and has roots in the From the Four Directions efforts Berkana and Interchange began in Europe in 2000.

We invite you to join with colleagues in The Art of Hosting and Convening Conversations. It is for leaders, trainers, teachers, consultants, politicians, entrepreneurs, social innovators, hosts – people who want to experience a different perspective of leadership, which sets free other people's creativity and intelligence and are willing to let go in order to achieve higher levels of engagement, innovation, cooperation and results.

These sessions are happening in many locations around the globe in the coming months and year. Currently they are scheduled for Croatia, Toronto, the Netherlands, Greenland, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. Many more will be scheduled in the months to come!

The challenges of these times call for involvement, collective intelligence and co-creation of the solutions we need to find. This training is built on the assumption – and experience - that it is common sense to bring more people together for the conversation, when you need to find new solutions for the common good. Human beings that are involved and invited to work together will take ownership and responsibility when the ideas and solutions must be put into action.

This training is not for spectators...

• Our learning will grow out of participant contributions and presence – we will support each other as co-learners.
• We will learn by observation, experience and practice, using interactive processes to build a safe and inspiring learning environment.
• Taking a chance to explore – and experiment with – applying these tools to your own projects in progress will help you to apply your skills, as well as develop and continue a new practice that will last well beyond this training

This training will explore and support…

• Hosting as an art, and as a core leadership practice and competence
• Making visible the conditions needed to create space for meaningful conversation
• Specific interactive processes through which learning and creation can emerge: Open Space Technology, Circle, Council, Appreciative Inquiry and World Café
• Recommended conditions and timing for using particular methods and tools
• How the practice of hosting is relevant to key areas in each of our lives and work

Please come if...

• You have decided that hosting conversations and processes can add to the work you are already doing.
• You are prepared to challenge assumptions on how learning and co-creation happen.
• You are willing to practice your hosting and leadership by designing your specific project/process that will take place in the near future.
• You are willing to take responsibility for your own learning – to bring your “burning questions” and explore them throughout the event.

Click here to access this year's Schedule and Contacts for the Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations occurring around the world.

The 2006 Art of Hosting Vancouver, Canada dates are Sept. 24th – 27th. Find out more here.
contact: Brenda Chaddock info@followtheleader.ca

News of future offerings will also be mailed to the Berkana community. Contact Teresa Posakony teresa@berkana.org for more information or to consider sponsoring a session in your community.