Henry Wai of the Center for Nonviolent Communication conducted the March 2012 DwD with Patricia Kambitsch of Playthink .

THE WORKSHOP

The session engaged people in interpersonal interactions that revealed the principles of nonviolent communication (NVC). NVC is a technique for opening possibility in areas of life where individuals experience being stuck or frustrated. When provided with an empathic space, such as created in the workshop, an innate resourcefulness in the person is freed up for opening up possibility at work, home, or community.

Henry Wai’s hands-on workshop explored:

• How common thinking and habitual patterns limit our capacity for constructive possibility
• A simple and powerful approach to get to the heart of issues
• How this insight serves as the basis for creative action

The workshop held three seminar sessions with a total participation of about 40 people. Methods for exploring empathy and listening in communication included dyad and triad exercises and the NVC Feelings / Values cards.

Visual reflection by Patricia Kambitsch.

The recent annual Summer Institute, held in Columbus, Ohio, was well attended by DwD community members. July’s DwD session engaged about 20 participants with Greg Judelman, Patricia Kambitsch, Mark Kuznicki and others that attended revealing their learnings and insights. The structure and inquiry of the evening was inspired by processes from ALIA,  a movement exercise and reflection into our own deeper capacity to lead positive change.

The July DwD led to a voluntary continuation of dialogue at Sin and Redemption. It appears that our goal of re-creating the ALA experience was achieved – since the DwD, we’ve had numerous reflections on the core idea of vulnerability as authentic risk in leadership.

In his Attention Surplus podcasts, Sean Howard discussed his insights into the practice of attending to vulnerability explored in this DwD. Being vulnerable in leadership, listening, and engagement with others was a core notion from ALIA.  Highly recommended -

THE WORKSHOP

Just as the designer of a ship’s structure exerts more influence on its performance than does the captain or the crew, the structure of our thinking is the primary determinant of our actions and thereby the pattern of results we are getting in our lives. A change in how we think translates into a change in the results we are creating. Actions and results that were not possible before become possible. It is that simple—and also that difficult.

The most effective leaders are by no means perfect leaders, but they do have an upgraded thinking structure. This workshop will introduce you to and immerse you in this structure.

Key learnings:

• A ground breaking model for leadership
• Insight about which of 3 most commonly held illusions is getting in your way.
• A powerful tool for creative relating when experiencing conflict or resistance.
• An exploration of what really matters to you

The following image reflects the model used in the workshop process. A sample survey of how an organization might fit the different dimensions overlays the circle model.  The circle map shows the  the definitions of the creative competencies and reactive styles.

Also see:  Leadership: Uncommon Sense

Fernando Lopez is president of Bridgespace Consulting Inc., an executive coaching firm that specializes in helping clients create the space for powerful collaboration. Fernando coaches (in English or Spanish) clients in North America, Latin America, and Europe.

Fernando is well known for his expertise in organization and relationship systems coaching. He is a faculty member of the Center for Right Relationship and the Coaches Training Institute, an industry leader that has trained over 20,000 coaches worldwide. Motivated by discovering new coaching approaches and sharing them with others, he has been a speaker at both Toronto OD Network and International Coach Federation conferences and workshops.

Fernando’s mission is finding often-surprising solutions to leadership and relationship challenges.

Before founding Bridgespace, Fernando was at Medsite Inc. (now part of WebMD) where he bridged technology and business teams. Having lived in Mexico, Toronto, New York, Hawaii, Munich, Brazil, and Chile, Fernando is comfortable operating in different cultures.  Fernando has a dual degree in Management and Technology from the Wharton School and the School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania.