Our Contemplative Dialogue Offerings
 


I think a major act of leadership right now, call it a radical act, is to create the places and processes so people can actually learn together, using our experiences.
                                                             Margaret J. Wheatley

Bread of Life partners with the Centre for Contemplative Dialogue including serving as faculty for the 2-year competency based Certification Practicum for Mindful Leadership Engagement. The government of Alberta, Canada sees such value in the approach that they currently have 2 cohorts of mid to upper level managers in the 2-year practicum process. Our own Jean Holsten serves as one of the faculty. See the GOA website. We offer the first local 2 year Active Engagement Practicum here beginning in July 2012. 

We offer:
 

The Need

Developing the capacity to learn together in public requires intention and skill. Dialogue helps create a thoughtful exchange of information and perspective without defendedness or the need to push a position.

At its best dialogue leads to a common understanding as people with different gifts, point of view and values grow in capacity and willingness to think creatively together. It is rare in most organizations.

Far too often bright, competent, caring individuals feel stymied by "politics" and conflict in business, education, healthcare, and church communities alike. When things go unstated (except in parking lot conversations) or periodically blow up, barriers grow that limit our ability to envision and achieve goals.
 
 

The Approach

Contemplative Dialogue is a training program designed to give organizational leaders the experience and training to initiate dialogue in their own settings.Good intentions are not enough; a genuine desire and skill in three related stances with specific practices are needed for:
  • noticing current reality
  • non-defended engagement
  • non-violence (compassionate presence)
 

 Dialogue as learned and practiced in The Path of Contemplative Dialogue training:

  •  Helps people move beyond simple advocacy for their own position into creative collaboration
  • Allows each person to be fully present, engaged and to interact with integrity
  • Allows for diverse opinions to be articulated without dividing or devastating people.
  • Facilitates efficient, productive meetings. Less time is wasted on politicizing, strategizing and dealing with unspoken barriers.
  • Helps work through issues of personal and organizational mistrust.
  • Allows the spirit of the organization to reveal itself as a positive foundation for collaboration.

For more information contact Jean Holsten.  


 
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