Art of Hosting and Harvesting
The Art of Hosting is a highly effective way of harnessing the collective wisdom and self-organising capacity of groups of any size. Based on the assumption that people give their energy and lend their resources to what matters most to them – in work as in life – the Art of Hosting blends a suite of powerful conversational processes to invite people to step in and take charge of the challenges facing them.
Groups and organisations using the Art of Hosting and Harvesting as a working practice report better decision-making, more efficient and effective capacity building and greater ability to quickly respond to opportunity, challenge and change. People who experience the Art of Hosting and Harvesting typically say that they walk away feeling more empowered and able to help guide the meetings and conversations they are part of move towards more effective and desirable outcomes.
What kind of leadership do we need to cultivate NOW for the future?
With major changes occurring in many sectors, questions are emerging; how can we collaborate authentically in a competitive environment? How do we collaborate effectively across sectors? How do we step up and lead others into the unknown? What is the healing that needs to occur before communities can strengthen themselves?
The practice of participatory leadership is strengthened by a range of processes that foster generative conversations where collective wisdom can give rise to new ways of thinking.
It is an approach to leadership that scales up from the personal to the systemic using personal practice, dialogue, facilitation and the co-creation of innovation to address complex challenges.
Participatory leadership assists in discovering new ways of working that are needed right now. It explores powerful ways to strengthen and build on relationships, which allow us to serve each other and the greater good while discovering and harnessing the power of The Information Age.
The Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter takes into account the whole process;
- All the preparations before the participants come together, what happens while they are working together, and how the results of their conversation – ‘the harvest’ – support next steps that are coherent for their purpose and context.
How to be a practitioner?
3 ½ days of training, learning, building and co-creation where you will explore, discuss, immerse and leave with a deeper understanding of Participatory Leadership & Engagement which will inspire you to tap into the essence of communities, organisations and businesses for the greater good!
Participants will explore
- Hosting conversations as a core leadership practice and skill set for leading change in complex systems.
- The Art of Hosting and Harvesting Meaningful Conversations/Participatory Leadership as an organizing pattern/culture that invites new ways of living and working.
- How the practice of hosting can be applied to key strategic change projects in our lives and work.
Participants will have the chance to experience several interactive processes that support participatory leadership, creativity, and shared commitment to wise collective action. These include Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, Circle, World Cafe, Pro-action Cafe, and other participatory methodologies. Learning Frameworks and Process Design Tools will be introduced to link deep purpose and vision with wise concise action.
Who Should Come?
People who are seeking a way to excel, innovate and lead with a generosity of spirit. Forward-thinking leaders, social innovators, organizational and community leaders who are seeking new and authentic ways to engage, inspire and activate innovation within their teams and stakeholders. Come prepared to step in, step up and practice.
Anyone who plants a garden is planning for results. Whether the result is a fruit or a flower, a gardener is planning for a harvest. In the same way, anyone who plans to host a meeting also wants to get a good result from their efforts. In this case, the harvest might be in the form of a project plan, or an agreement to action or a better relationship.
