Tools and Techniques for Meaningful Sharing in Group Settings

Context/Background

Research is often stereotyped as a matter of asking questions and obtaining answers to those questions. Insightful research demands that we go beyond just asking questions and collecting answers, feedback or information.

As researchers, we can only contribute to insightful research and deliver it to our clients, when we are truly present and when we are really listening to what is being shared with us. When we do, often the questions are no longer necessary. Real dialogue and meaningful sharing can emerge with this more authentic way of connecting with the other. With it, comes new learning, new ideas and new sources of inspiration for the future – and more easily too.

So, how can we get to meaningful sharing, especially in groups?

Through the fostering of deep, compassionate listening, personal emotional resilience and a habit of appreciation combined with the use of dialogue based tools and techniques that help people change the way they listen, relate and create together.

Who would benefit
This is a course for anyone who is looking for ways to generate meaningful sharing in group settings beyond traditional information sharing or gathering and would therefore benefit anyone from either the research-side or clientside.

It will also benefit those at the beginning of their career as much as those further advanced in their career development. Yes, it is for everyone!

Anyone who often needs to be empathetic and emotionally resilient in a client or research setting – e.g. running complex cross-cultural, international meetings or, for example, running terminally ill patient research.

If you run meetings on a regular basis, you will also learn how to run them more effectively and with a more productive and enjoyable output for everyone present.

Objectives

• To master deep, compassionate listening skills and become a proficient listener when running meetings or conversations in group settings
• To learn how to foster collaboration in groups and generate meaningful and insightful sharing through the use of specific tools and techniques

Learning outcomes

• To listen deeply and how to ask only the questions that matter
• To cultivate empathy and compassion in yourself and in others
• To fuel your emotional resilience and nurture a habit of appreciation
• To engage others in meetings and groups in ways that generate greater participation, more meaningful sharing, understanding, insights and ideas
• To use dialogue based tools and techniques such as Thinking Partnerships, Visual Explorer, World Cafe, LEGO® Serious Play® and Bohmian dialogue