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hosting_craft [2014-06-02 16:11] – majahosting_craft [2024-01-18 13:24] (current) – [Session 3: The Framing] added link to Processguidelines page timbo
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 ==== Hosting craft ==== ==== Hosting craft ====
  
-This page is an overview of facilitation and hosting techniques practiced at FoAM for over a decade. +This page has an overview of facilitation and hosting techniques practiced at FoAM for over a decade. The page is structured based on the [[lecture notes]] for the participatory Hosting Craft training sessions designed by Maja Kuzmanovic in 2013-2014. As such the page is still in progress... 
  
 //With thanks to Maggie Buxton, Simone Poutnik, Hendrik Tiessinga (and others from The Art of Hosting community), Nick Payne, Ineke Van Mulders, Edel Maex, Christina Stadlbauer, Helga Hartl and many others who have facilitated workshops, held trainings and retreats through which we experienced the practice and the craft of hosting and facilitation.// //With thanks to Maggie Buxton, Simone Poutnik, Hendrik Tiessinga (and others from The Art of Hosting community), Nick Payne, Ineke Van Mulders, Edel Maex, Christina Stadlbauer, Helga Hartl and many others who have facilitated workshops, held trainings and retreats through which we experienced the practice and the craft of hosting and facilitation.//
 +
  
  
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 You can start by framing the goal of the session (even if it is something like "we're here to get to know each other better"), as related to the topic or question. Then describe the flow from beginning to end, without too much detail. There will be a separate session on how to design a flow of a gathering (e.g. U theory) once we learned some simple hosting techniques.  You can start by framing the goal of the session (even if it is something like "we're here to get to know each other better"), as related to the topic or question. Then describe the flow from beginning to end, without too much detail. There will be a separate session on how to design a flow of a gathering (e.g. U theory) once we learned some simple hosting techniques. 
  
-With the goal and the flow people will have a picture of what will happen, but still need guidelines to know how they're expected to behave - an etiquette of a sort. For example:+With the goal and the flow people will have a picture of what will happen, but still need [[ProcessGuidelines|guidelines]] to know how they're expected to behave - an etiquette of a sort. For example:
   * please chose to talk to people you don't know (so well)   * please chose to talk to people you don't know (so well)
   * observe, then interact   * observe, then interact
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 +==== Session 6: Graphic harvesting ====
 +
 +Many thanks to Nik Payne for much of the information in this session comes from him...
 +
 +=== What is graphic harvesting/visual recording/visual facilitation? ===
 +
 +  * Not just about pretty pictures! It is much more about listening, digesting, synthesizing, organising, visualising and summarising conversations. So don’t worry if you feel that you can’t draw. Listening, distilling and spatial awareness are much more important to begin with.
 +
 +  * When the budget is tight, the facilitator can be the graphic harvester as well, but if  possible it’s better to have a facilitator focusing on hosting and the recorder on harvesting. The relationship between the host and the recorder is a very important one to cultivate - you’re there to support each other…
 +
 +== Why do it? ==
 +
 +  * It helps to keep your and other participants’ attention on the subject, to see patterns and key insights from the forest of words and discussions. It isn’t just about the result itself, but about the participants seeing the whole grow throughout the session: they can SEE the process evolve and remember more and make sense of what is happening. 
 +
 +  * Engaging multiple senses - not just audio and text, but also visuals (engaging other senses is another story). Our brain can process much more information when multiple senses are involved - illuminated manuscripts, graphic novels…
 +
 +
 +== What do you need for graphic harvesting? ==
 +  * People and conversations
 +  * Room with one or more big flat surfaces (walls, windows) and enough space to move (step back to see the big picture)
 +  * Paper (or blackboards / whiteboards)
 +  * Pens/Markers/Chalk
 +  * Masking tape (or other tape that is strong enough, but won’t damage the walls)
 +  * Knife (to cut the paper)
 +  * (big) sticky address labels (for covering up mistakes)
 +  * pastels to create blocks of colour
 +
 +=== What is the process of graphic harvesting? ===
 +
 +== Preparation ==
 +
 +Questions to ask:
 +  * What is the need
 +  * Who are the people
 +  * What is the purpose
 +  * What is the outcome desired
 +  * What is the process (and hosting)
 +
 +What is the desired format (images, video, graphics, quotes…)
 +  * depends on purpose and outcome
 +  * depends on who it is intended for:
 +    * individual - notes
 +    * collective - graphic
 +    * others who were not a part of the process - graphic for others
 +
 +To prepare yourself:
 +  * what do I know about the context and the subject? What I don’t know, can I find out?
 +  * What is the nature of the discussion, is there a structure?
 +  * What are the sought outcomes, how can I make sure to capture and visualise them?
 +  * Be aware that in the moment things might go differently, so be prepared to improvise
 +
 +
 +== Capture ==
 +
 +Important to remember that it doesn’t matter what you (the harvester) think. See yourself as a surface (e.g. surface of a lake) - when your mind is still, you can reflect things as they are, when it’s disturbed/wavy, you deform things, or make them murky… Be aware of your own lenses and try to keep them as clear as possible. You are there to support, not to give opinions: capture what is important to them, not to you. So first thing to do is BREATHE! It helps with staying calm and focused (and alive). The second thing is to LISTEN. Not just to what is said, but how it is said. The third thing is to THINK on your feet - just for a brief moment to help you DISTILL what is said. Put the pen on paper asap. TIME is of the essence…
 +
 +The first task is to gather data. Find flow and meaning in the words…
 +
 +The second (and most important task) is to distill and process data (what is the essence that can inform the outcome):
 +  * Highlight meaning and recurring insight - what is this conversation really about? find keywords (even if they are not said), patterns, name them… Capture things that made the room react, things that they repeat..
 +  * Relationships and connections (e.g. network maps, clusters, mind maps…)
 +  * Capacities, resources and methods (that can help the group achieve the outcomes)
 +  * Actions (things people mention in passing that already points to 'next steps')
 +
 +The final task is to create imagery (if there is time).
 +
 +== Feedback/summary ==
 +
 +  * Feeding back and feeding forward: using harvesting to make meaning of what happened and to inform the group towards next steps
 +  * Try to get the opportunity to explain what you have done and to ask for feedback (what have I missed?)
 +
 +
 +=== Harvesting tools ===
 +
 +  * **Letters** (speed vs legibility): if things are going fast, write things up as you can, don’t worry about graphics
 +  * **Spacing and structuring of space** (frame, flow - e.g. inside->outside, left, right, up, down…)
 +  * **Lines**: grouping, connection, separation, emphasis
 +  * **Shapes**: enforcing separation and grouping (different shapes have different associations: eg. circle = wholeness, square = contrast, stability, rigidity, star - importance, bright, rank), diagrams (venn, matrixes, curves…)
 +  * **Symbols**: maths, music, religious, monetary, airport, road…
 +  * **Visual conventions**: add meanings and contexts: speech bubbles, speed lines, emotional emphasis, hearts, excalamation marks, typographic playfulness (eg. shivering letters for the word cold)
 +  * **Colours**: group, separate, enrich meaning, stimulate (take time to consider which colours to use! (exercise: associations to red, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple, white (thin blue line around white letter), black)
 +  * **Insignia**: flags, logos
 +  * **Life**: people and things
 +  * **Icons**: use to visualise - steal, or build your own iconography.
 +
 +
 +=== Exercises ===
 +
 +<blockquote> Below are a few quick exercises we did during a three hour session, each of which can expand to fill in weeks and months of practice. After each exercise take your tome to reflect on what you observed
 +
 +  * Write the alphabet as quickly and legibly as possible, in a straight line (or lines). 
 +
 +  * Have someone read a magazine article out to you and try to:
 +    * a) write it all down as quickly as possible not worrying about where on the paper you place the text
 +    * b) take another article and write it out spatially. think about what is talked about and decide where to place the text. (left-right, up-down, centre-periphery, left bottom corner - right top corner). Note how the different spatial structuring effects the meaning and mood of the text
 +
 +  * Write down 3-4 words with sufficient space between them. Then draw different lines:
 +    * one line to group two or more words
 +    * one line to connect two or more words
 +    * one line to separate two or more words
 +    * one line to emphasize one or more words
 +    * try to make a story based on what you see
 +
 +  * Write the same word four times. Then draw a circle around the first word,  a square around the next one, a star around or next the following word, a cloud around the final one. Then look at the different words and reflect on the meaning the different shapes add to the written words
 +
 +  * Divide the paper into four parts. Write two words in the first, three in the second, four in the third and five in the fourth. 
 +    * In the first part create a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venn_diagram|venn diagram]] to connect the two words 
 +    * In the second create an [[http://www.graphpad.com/faq/images/1467a.png|xy graph]] and connect the words with an arrow
 +    * In the third create a [[http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/uploads/Research/Decision_Support_Tools/2x2_matrix.gif|2x2 matrix]] and place one word in each quadrant
 +    * In the fourth connect the five words in a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map|mind map]]
 +
 +  * Divide your paper into two columns and ~10 rows. In the left column write a word, in the right draw a symbol. The facilitator says words one by one, the participants write and draw: Eg. music, restaurant, toilet, money, love, death, religion, go left, no parking, Belgium, Michelin, Apple...
 +
 +  * The facilitator says words describing emotional states and actions, the participants draw them (using visual conventions, such as speech bubbles, speed lines, symbols...); Eg. hate, rest, death, love, thinking, yelling, running, laughing, sadness...
 +
 +  * The facilitator shows one coloured card at the time, the participants free associate. What does this colour bring out in you (emotion, action, mood...)
 +
 +  * The facilitator shows different ways of drawing people (star people, balloon people, stick figures, squiggles...) and invites participants to create a scene using different kinds of 'people' doing different things. At the end the participants describe what they see in each other's scenes
 +
 +  * Play a short video (5-10 minutes) of a public speech (politicians, TED talks, Pecha Kucha talks, debates...) and attempt to graphically record the talk using all the 'tools' learned so far.
 +
 +</blockquote>
 +
 +See also other explanations of graphic recording:
 +  * http://uxmastery.com/sketchnoting-101-how-to-create-awesome-visual-notes/
 +  * http://nuggethead.net/category/sketchnotes/
 +
 +Next session: Flow, or how to design long form sessions that are composed of different types of conversations and exercises. This session is planned for the 18th December 2014.
 +
 +==== Session 7: Flow ====
 +
 +
 +This session is co-created and hosted by Maja Kuzmanovic and Simone Tiesinga-Poutnik
 +
 +
 +Designing a flow in participatory processes concerns the design of the process as a whole and the connections and relationships between different elements (sessions, participants, spaces, content…). Flow is both spatial and temporal. A spatial flow includes movement of people in, out and through the place in which the process takes place. Temporal flow is about the sequence in which different sessions or processes happen. You might call this a  'programme' or 'agenda' or 'schedule'. By naming it differently we set a different tone and intention in a process. 
 +
 +<blockquote>Exercise: associate words, concepts and atmospheres that come up in your mind when you hear the word:
 +
 +  * programme
 +  * schedule
 +  * ark
 +  * flow
 +</blockquote>
 +
 +=== Flow across fields ===
 +
 +== Flow in spiritual practices ==
 +
 +It won’t surprise you that flow is often associated with fluidity & spontaneity. This connotation is embedded in our language. Flow is one of those holistic terms that is applicable across disciplines and cultures. For example, in taoism, flow is related to the notion of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei|wei wu wei]] - action without action or effortless doing. The texts talk about the yielding nature of water that can assume any shape it inhabits - a lake, waterfall, rain… Water adapts to its environment, without loosing its essence: it always remains water in whatever shape or form.
 +
 +One of the important taoist lessons is that to achieve flow it’s important to let go of struggle, to stop fighting against the current to make things happen. It doesn’t mean that we should become apathetic and allow anything to happen, but that it’s important to observe what’s happening and act from an awareness of the situation, rather than holding on to goals that might not be realistic in a given situation. It also teaches us to embrace uncertainty, without fearing it. This is of course easier said than done: it’s all about practice of observing and interacting - wei wu wei not something that can be learned from books.
 +
 +A similar concept is found in hinduism and tantric buddhism, something called Sahaja -   'spontaneous spirituality’ or 'naturalness'. It talks about flow that is always there, although can be obscured by afflictive emotions, civilisation and grasping.
 +
 +"The tree grows according to Sahaja, natural and spontaneous in complete conformity with the Natural Law of the Universe. Nobody tells it what to do or how to grow. It has no swadharma or rules, duties and obligations incurred by birth. It has only its own inborn self or essence - to guide it. Sahaja is that nature which, when established in oneself, brings the state of absolute freedom and peace."
 +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaja
 +
 +
 +== Flow in ecology and permaculture ==
 +
 +In the science of ecology flow is about the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_flow_%28ecology%29
 +|flow of energy]] in self-organising systems, a way of maintaining a dynamic balance. For example, we talk about energy flows in the food chain: solar energy fixed by plants, moving to primary consumers, herbivores who eat the plants, then to secondary consumers, carnivores and predators who eat the herbivores and finally the decomposers the fungi, maggots and insects who eat all that decays.
 +
 +
 +In permaculture it is important to harness the [[
 +http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/permaculture/permaculture-design-principles/4-zones-and-sectors-efficient-energy-planning/|natural flows]] of energies as water, traffic and wildlife. Flow is the dynamic and changeable aspect of [[https://treeyopermacultureedu.wordpress.com/design-process-3/assessment-phase/|permaculture design]]. Another aspect of flow in permaculture is the flow of energy conservation, where a self-sustaining system divides its energy into three phases. 1/3 energy used to preserve yourself, 1/3 energy you give to smaller components that can feed you and finally 1/3 of your energy goes to maintaining the larger system on which you are dependent. 
 +
 +
 +
 +== Crowd dynamics ==
 +
 +[[http://www.crowddynamics.com/crowd-modelling-simulation.php|Behaviour of crowds]] is modelled using fluid dynamics, which studies the physical aspects of liquids. [[http://www.gkstill.com/CV/PhD/Chapter3.html|Crowd dynamics]] is used in urban planning, architecture, disaster drills, risk and crowd control (protests, manifestations). Crowds are a flowing continuum (a term from borrowed from fluid mechanics). In fluid mechanics equations applicable to [[http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.fluid.35.101101.161136|thinking fluids]] can for example be used to assist crowd control to prevent deaths due to aggressive mob dynamics, for example in the muslim hajj, traffic jams, battles, evacuation, etc.
 +
 +Crowd is non-linear, time dependent and has a particular type of intelligence of its own, that is different to the sum of intelligencies of each individual in the crowd. It can be related to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_behaviour|swarm dynamics]] of social insects (bees, ants, bird-flocks) - where we collectively behave more like water - in waves, rather than particles…
 +
 +
 +== Traditional medicine ==
 +
 +Within our bodies, according to ancient healing systems like [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine|Traditional Chinese Medicine]] (TCM) or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda|Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine]] (TAM), humans are made up of channels through which both liquids and energy flow.
 +
 +In TCM, the Flow of Qi or life energy happens through a network of meridians that criss-cross our bodies. We use acupuncture to stimulate the flow in the meridians. In TAM illness is caused by blockages in the flow of fluids and energy through the body that can only be cleared using a holistic approach - massage, diet, meditation, movement and environmental stimuli. The physical and energetic flows are inextricably connected - something that contemporary reductionist and disciplinary approaches to medicine are lacking. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrative_medicine|Integrative medicine]] is an interesting approach where the knowledge flows between alternative and evidence based approaches.
 +
 +
 +=== Human flow experiences ===
 +
 +Our mental flows influence the way we interact with the world. Particular activities make us feel as if things flow from inside us to the outside and back again - we say we feel 'energised'  or 'drained' by some people and situations. When we’re energised - things flow smoothly and interactions build on each other - energy you put into the system feeds you as well. When we feel drained - we put a lot of energy into a system but it gives nothing back, leading to exhaustion, or we want to put energy into it, but something is blocking us, leading to frustration. When we say there is a good flow, there is usually a positive feedback loop between yourself and others, feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Some activities are known to produce flow experiences more easily than others, for example, improvisation, sports, creative endeavours, rituals, religious/spiritual practice, play and games… All share the same type of flow experience.
 +
 +<blockquote> Exercise: What characterises the experience of flow in different human endeavours?
 +
 +List characteristics in terms of emotions, actions, resources.
 +
 +</blockquote>
 +
 +In our exercise the answers were the following:
 +  * an intrinsic goal, the activity is the goal itself
 +  * a pleasant relationship with time, joyful
 +  * intense focus without distractions, almost meditative
 +  * concentrated energy
 +  * disappearance/irrelevance of self/ego
 +  * crossing the treshold, a point of no return
 +  * a dance with pleasure and pain
 +  * spontaneity and serendipity
 +
 +
 +=== Flow in Psychology ===
 +
 +Flow (aka Zone) in psychology, according to Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, "is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does."
 +
 +According to the flow theory three conditions that have to be met in order to reach 'the zone':
 +
 +  * involvement in an activity with clear goals and progress 
 +  * clear feedback must exist between your action and its effect on the task (so you can adjust what you’re doing to remain in the flow state)
 +  * a good balance between perceived challenges and your own perceived skills - you must be confident that you are able to complete the task at hand.
 +
 +
 +<html><a href="https://reeceharry.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/flow-model.png"><img src="https://reeceharry.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/flow-model.png" width=600></a></html>\\
 +//Flow model//
 +
 +
 +When deliberately designing for flow experiences it’s good to keep these conditions and their effects in mind. It is therefore important to know beforehand who the people are, what is their skill level and what they’re interested in.
 +
 +[[http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~gogo/courses/imgd5100/papers/FlowQuestionnaire.pdf|Flow loop model]] (Schaffer) is another tool that might help:
 +
 +<blockquote>opportunity for action -> action -> performance feedback -> opportunity for action -> action -> … </blockquote>
 +
 +In Schaffer’s model several conditions must be met:
 +  * Knowing what to do
 +  * Knowing how to do it
 +  * Knowing how well you are doing
 +  * Knowing where to go (if navigation is involved)
 +  * High perceived challenges
 +  * High perceived skills
 +  * Freedom from distractions
 +
 +Something similar is often used in game design:
 +
 +
 +<html><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWdMoEOKnDk/T_CwrAwRSII/AAAAAAAAAyU/z5kVDBab2f0/s1600/gameatoms_Loop.png"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWdMoEOKnDk/T_CwrAwRSII/AAAAAAAAAyU/z5kVDBab2f0/s1600/gameatoms_Loop.png" width=350></a></html>\\
 +
 +=== Group flow ===
 +
 +So far we talked about individual flow experiences, but what interest us in Hosting Craft is how to achieve group flows where individual members can remain 'in the zone' for extended periods of time - hours or days at the time.
 +
 +There are some characteristics of groups that psychologists suggest we should think about:
 +
 +  * Creative spatial arrangements: Chairs, pin walls, charts, but no tables; thus work primarily standing and moving
 +  * Playground design: Charts for information inputs, flow graphs, project summary, craziness (here also craziness has a place), safe place (here all may say what is otherwise only thought), result wall, open topics
 +  * Parallel, organized working
 +  * Target group focus
 +  * Prototyping and visualising, making ideas concrete
 +  * Using differences among participants as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle
 +
 +See more about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29
 +|Flow Psychology on Wikipedia]] 
 +
 +
 +Spatial Flow: How will people move in space, what is there to guide them, how do you steer movement, is there enough personal space?
 +
 +Useful metaphors
 +  * different forms of water - raindrops, brook, river, waterfall, lake, puddle, ocean…
 +  * swarms, flocks - group made of individual particles
 +
 +
 +Temporal flow: How will the group move towards its purpose while staying engaged and energised?
 +
 +Useful metaphors
 +  * ebb & flow
 +  * breathing, pulsing
 +  * birth, growth, decay, death
 +  * day, season, year, decade…
 +  * cycles within cycles  - a flow is rarely linear progress
 +  * bodily rhythms - different processes occurring simultaneously… think about flows for individuals (different shades of introverts and extroverts), small groups, whole group, their distant networks…
 +
 +
 +=== Designing group flows ===
 +
 +We tend to rely on a combination of intuition (which comes through practice - our craft) and on proven techniques (either developed by ourselves or others). Intuition cant be taught. It comes from an iterative practice of designing a flow beforehand then running through it in your minds eye and check what your gut feeling says, then adjust accordingly. It also helps to run through the flow with someone you trust - whether they are co-facilitating with you or not - as if you’re crowdsourcing your intuition.
 +
 +Both intuition and known techniques can give us enough grounding to include more experimental methods, which we always do - otherwise the sessions can become stale and routine. Most participatory processes are akin to the creative process which consists of phases of divergence and convergence, with an interesting, but usually difficult emergence zone in the middle, also known as "the groan zone":
 +
 +{{ ::divergence-convergence-diagram_000001.jpg?600 |}}
 +//Divergence, emergence, convergence//
 +
 +It’s good to prepare the flow (in quite a bit of detail) beforehand, then adjust on the spot if something doesn’t feel right. No predesigned flow is ever perfect. It’s like a canal vs. a river. A canal cuts through a landscape according to a plan, a river carves its way through a landscape on its lowest points, where there is least resistance. To recognise the resistance the hosts rely on their keen perception and observation: you watch carefully not just the explicit communication, but also pay attention to body language, sounds, light and other material and immaterial signs. 
 +
 +Designing a flow must be an iterative process. It’s like breathing - there is a progress but it develops through different cycles (e.g agreeing on purpose, action, reflection). In the Art of Hosting one of the approaches to designing the flow is a process called [[http://api.ning.com/files/Hu6bOG3IkcRrQP7ywCv5g4mT0AEg98rtJB2GDEwHutE0X-hWH-N2LrRS64I6bGakdyTACN2-qXc7RLWpq2-LOQEuT3qEEVB1/The8Breaths0313.pdf|The 8 Breaths]]:
 +
 +<html><a href="http://amandafenton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Screen-Shot-2012-08-26-at-6.11.26-PM.png"><img src="http://amandafenton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Screen-Shot-2012-08-26-at-6.11.26-PM.png" width=600></a></html>\\
 +
 +  - The Call: the caller formulates the question and creates commitment in the team (with hosts help)
 +  - Clarify: clarifying the purpose and context, agree on the core team and people’s roles 
 +  - Invite: "the art of invitation" - deciding who are the stakeholders who should be present - who cares about the matter, who should but can’t be heard. The invitation can be open or closed, curated or allowing for serendipity - it all depends on the call and the context.
 +  - Design: create the 'recipe' with its ingredients and methods (purpose, flow, skills, resources, harvesting…). Design a detailed script, including all the logistics; over-prepare in order to be free
 +  - Meet: before starting, check-in with the team and make sure you’re all present and grounded… It’s good to have someone to do 'space hosting' - have a birds' eye view on the whole, to avoid getting lost in the details. Recording and HARVESTING is crucial - it’s often said that we don’t design the process but the harvest, the thing that remains after the process ends.
 +  - Harvest: reflection: a good framework to use is the so called [[http://www.hsdinstitute.org/learn-more/online-learning-and-products/adaptive-action-2013-02.pdf|"what? so what? now what?"]] framework. 
 +  - Act: communication, documentation, follow-up. Participants want to know what happens with the results of a process, or they might feel betrayed…
 +  - Reflection: breathe, celebrate, connect back to the purpose and the call
 +
 +=== Hosting as Art and Craft ===
 +
 +In designing flows we have to remember that it isn’t all about methodologies and formats - the stakes are much higher than that. Focusing on the techniques alone cannot produce life-changing experiences. [[http://www.integralfacilitation.com/|Integral Facilitation]], based on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_theory|Integral theory]] by Ken Wilber talks about a much more holistic approach. 
 +
 +
 +{{ :tree.jpg?direct&300 |}}\\
 +The image above by Simone Tiesinga-Poutnik describes a holistic approach to hosting. Grounded in our own source of life, we must pay attention to the world-views - our own and those present in the group (e.g. relational, mechanistic…), they are usually under the surface, but will influence conversations and can easily be disturbed. Just above ground we’ll find the purpose or reason for a process, that should be shaped into powerful questions. A host is there to help people to stand up for what they want to do. Metaphors and mental models (such as divergence-convergence, chaordic process…) can help us frame the the overall scope of the process. Above the models we come to the processes and methods, which are chosen based on the purpose, woven together into a flow. Only then we come to the techniques - which is what people tend to think is the core of facilitation (but as we have seen in Hosting Craft, it definitely isn’t!). There are many techniques that can be used, combined, adapted, re-mixed and woven together. See links to several techniques below. All techniques begin and end in conversations - the fruits of the participatory process. Fruits need to be harvested, which is an often overlooked part of facilitation. We should harvest both tangible and intangible results and always have a surplus - a harvest should be abundant (images, notes, audio, video… have back-up plans…) - better harvest too much than too little. At the end of the process participants like to have something to take away (a newsletter for example). If you don’t have the resources to make it yourself, get people to make something themselves… Don’t just leave them hanging as unwanted fruit… And to end, don’t forget to celebrate!
 + 
 +=== Participatory techniques ===
 +
 +Here are a few links to (compilations of) existing techniques:
 +
 +  * [[http://www.natural-innovation.net/our-toolkit/|Collaborative Innovation Guide]] by Natural Innovation, an extensive compilation including the explanation of the 8 breaths and a range of participatory methods and techniques, from appreciative inquiry to open space and many more. 
 +
 +  * [[http://www.berkana.org/pdf/Hosting_in_a_Hurry.pdf|Hosting in a Hurry]] by Chris Corrigan is an excellent quick guide to the Art of Hosting in practice
 +
 +  * [[https://www.presencing.com/tools/|U-theory tools]] based on the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-procedure_and_Theory_U|Theory U]]
 +
 +  * [[http://www.kbs-frb.be/uploadedFiles/KBS-FRB/Files/FR/PUB_1600_MethodesParticipatives.pdf|MÉTHODES PARTICIPATIVES]] by the Boudewijn Foundation, in French
 +
 +  * [[http://artofhosting.ning.com/page/core-art-of-hosting-practices|Core Art of Hosting practices]]
 +
 +  * [[http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/|Appreciative Inquiry Commons]] 
 +
 +  * [[http://www.openspaceworld.org/|Open Space World]]
 +
 +  * [[http://www.theworldcafe.com/|World Cafe]]
 +
 +  * [[http://www.futuresearch.net/|Future Search]]
 +
 +  * [[http://www.dragondreaming.org/|Dragon Dreaming]]
 +
 +  * (see also the reference links at the bottom of this page)
 +
 +=== Flow exercise ===
 +
 +As our hosting craft session was close to the winter solstice, our flow exercise was to collectively design a solstice ritual.
 +
 +<blockquote>
 +
 +Exercise: Design a ritual
 +
 +The Call\\ 
 +hat is the purpose of the ritual? One or more people can succinctly describe the call, which can be discussed until everyone agrees on the purpose. 
 +
 +The Ingredients\\
 +Brainstorm (first individually, then in the group) what are the ingredients of the ritual (elements, modalities, atmospheres, sensations…). Everyone writes a few ingredients on post-its (one per post-it). The participants present their ingredients and the facilitator makes a rough series of clusters (with everyone’s help). The clusters can become the 'sessions/components' in the ritual. 
 +
 +The Flow\\
 +Combine the components into the flow of the ritual. How does it begin, where does it end? What are the inputs and outputs of each component? What is missing? Do we need additional/transitional ingredients? Look back at the purpose: does each of the components, and the flow as a whole lead towards the fulfilment of our purpose? What is the spatial flow of the ritual - where does each component happen and how do the people move from one component/space to the other?
 +
 +The Production\\
 +Once you are satisfied with the flow, work on the details - the practicalities and logistics. Decide on the roles - who is doing what? Do they know what their role entails? Do they need anything from others? Think about the resources needed - materials, media, scents, foods or any other physical elements that might need to be made or procured. 
 +
 +The Rehearsal\\
 +Run through the ritual with everyone. First talk through the flow, then actually do it, by briefly walking through the spaces you’ll be using, inviting the people responsible for different components to explain what will be happening. 
 +
 +The Ritual\\
 +Set the intention to go through the ritual and fulfil its purpose. Check-in with the team and do a short grounding/breathing exercise before you start. Once you start, go through it from beginning to end without stopping.
 +
 +The Reflection\\
 +After a short break have a brief reflection on what people experienced (possibly using the "what? so what? then what?" framework.
 +
 +The Celebration\\
 +End the session in a celebration of your choosing. It can be as simple as toasting to each other, or as elaborate as a whole party. It’s up to you, you are - after all - the host! 
 +
 +</blockquote>
 +
 +=== The end ===
  
 +With the flow and the ritual, we come to the end of the Hosting Craft training. It was an inspiring learning journey. From now on we will transform into a community of practice, sharing experiences and supporting each other’s facilitation effort. 
  
 +My warm thanks to Simone Tiesinga-Poutnik who much enriched the last session on flow. But most of all I’d like to thank the gracious host-trainees: Eva Peeters, Eva De Groote, Rasa Alksnyte, Kathleen Melis, Luea Ritter, Michka Melo, Alkan Chipperfield, Barbara Raes and Stevie Wishart. I wish you all the most wonderful hosting experiences and hope to see you at our upcoming Hosting Craft gatherings - which you’re welcome to initiate yourself!
  
 ==== References ==== ==== References ====
Line 506: Line 877:
   * Overview of 'art of hosting' facilitation methods (world cafe, open space technology, appreciative enquiry...)   * Overview of 'art of hosting' facilitation methods (world cafe, open space technology, appreciative enquiry...)
     * http://www.artofhosting.org/what-is-aoh/methods/     * http://www.artofhosting.org/what-is-aoh/methods/
 +  * Conversation circle: http://conversationcircle.com/
   * Proaction Cafe   * Proaction Cafe
     * https://sites.google.com/a/pro-action.eu/pro-action-caf-/how-to-become-a-host/hosting-kit     * https://sites.google.com/a/pro-action.eu/pro-action-caf-/how-to-become-a-host/hosting-kit
Line 528: Line 900:
     * http://levenindemaalstroom.drupalgardens.com/     * http://levenindemaalstroom.drupalgardens.com/
     * http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/author.html     * http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/author.html
 +  * Improv games (for ice-breakers, warm-up, energisers, etc.): http://improvencyclopedia.org/
   * Lego Serious Play (a bit too proprietary for my taste)   * Lego Serious Play (a bit too proprietary for my taste)
     * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Serious_Play     * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Serious_Play
Line 543: Line 916:
     * A series of exercises for a research course at KABK lasting 6 weeks: http://lib.fo.am/parn/vegetal_culture_degustation     * A series of exercises for a research course at KABK lasting 6 weeks: http://lib.fo.am/parn/vegetal_culture_degustation
     * FoAM's experimental methodology to create embodied future scenarios: http://lib.fo.am/resilients/prehearsal_pocket_guide     * FoAM's experimental methodology to create embodied future scenarios: http://lib.fo.am/resilients/prehearsal_pocket_guide
 +    * Variations on the prehearsal pocket guide can be found through Future Fabulators [[:/future_fabulators/scenarios]]
     * Luminous Green workshops and retreats (the pages include briefings, questions, framings, harvesting etc.):        * Luminous Green workshops and retreats (the pages include briefings, questions, framings, harvesting etc.):   
       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/retreat_2010       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/retreat_2010
       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/workshop_2008       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/workshop_2008
       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/workshops2007       * http://lib.fo.am/luminous/workshops2007
 +      * http://lib.fo.am/futurist_fieldguide/
  
  • hosting_craft.1401725517.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2014-06-02 16:11
  • by maja