Context: Setting the tone and kicking off a full-day conference for college staff (non faculty)

Type of event: 45 minute interactive keynote

Audience: 100 staff

Creating Gracious Space: Working Better Together

45-minute keynote

What is gracious space?

How do we practice it?

Handouts:

PPT slides (Power Point)

Self assessment, 2-pgr

8:30 – 9:15        Keynote:  Pat Hughes, Author of Gracious Space from the Center for Ethical Leadership
Gracious Space is a philosophy, a way of being, a collection of practical tools and skills, and an approach to catalyze transformational change. It has been used across the country in health care, education, business, government, community and non-profit sectors to create spaces where people judge less, listen more and open up to new understandings and increased creativity. It only takes a small opening to create the space for profound transformation.

AGENDA

Welcome Introductions (5)

Why Gracious Space?

Links openness inclusiveness and acceptance and what you need to do to create that environment for others. Theme: Building Community.

1. Discovering Characteristics of Gracious Space (10)

What does the term mean to you?

Pairs 3 minutes

Call responses- chart

PPT: Give definition

PPT: Spirit (5)

We can “be” gracious space.

(Dimensions)

Sets gr space apart from other conflict res, comm, or problem solving models. Comes from a place of values, inner life. Asks us to listen and act from a place of core values. Is what you just said or did – does that align with what you say your values are?

Gandhi – be the change you want in the world

Liz story – I had to change, be more compassionate

This is what makes you a uniquely gracious space person.  When XX comes into the room, you bring this quality. People depend on you for it, get known for it.

HANDOUT: Self Assessment (10)

Do self assessment (handout) 3 min

Put one on your name tag. Introduce your selves at tables: hi, I’m slowing down. Hi, I’m random acts of kindness.

Remembering your Spirit of gracious space is like Warming up for the day. Athletes, singers - warm ups, practices - how do you warm up for your day? How do you prepare yourself for the work and relationships you will encounter?  Do you have a practice that relies on, strengths your spirit of gracious space?

Most importantly, what is your well? When you giving it out, but not getting any back? What is your source of compassion and curiosity? Spacious grace. Little openings. Little invitations. To self and others.

PPT: Setting (5)

External. Libraries, homes, offices.

(Dimensions)

What is gracious about this setting?

What is not?  What would make it more?

Think about your own workspace. What makes it a gracious or nurturing environment for you? For your staff? Examples – move piles off chair, toys in office for tough, personal discussions, ice cream socials. “meeting balls”

Write down one thing that you can do Monday to make your space feel more gracious.

Transition (2)

Inner/outer mutual reinforcement

Take aways for sprit and setting: know what you’re good at, work on weak areas, physically improve your environment.

First part of gr sp we can do on our own. “Daily gracious space.”  Internal, Individual commitment that leads to individual behavior.

Second part is related to working with groups; the culture, systems and policies that emerge. 

PPT: Invite the “stranger” (20)

Parker Palmer, writer, teacher, a senior associate of the American Association of Higher Education, and senior advisor to the Fetzer Institute, designer of Teacher Formation Program.

–        two truths about community; last person you want, another shows up.

–        “Community is dependent upon our ability to invite the stranger”

Dimensions

Gr sp is more than that. Beyond tolerance of differences, active invitation of people different from us. Does your culture invite this? Is this something you share?

In Economist few months ago, review of organizations and leadership who are doing things in a new and effective way. The Toyota Way: rules of culture, they specifically name that one is respect for other people, not just as people, but for the ideas and skills and special knowledge that derives from their particular position in the company. They believe “if two people always agree, one of them is superfluous.”  Different opinions expressed, but in a respectful way.

Hugo House - Collisions of possibility. Things that wouldn’t ever happen if not get difference together. Young man, old man. Writing story about the death of my father. Cool I’m into death too.

In pairs: What is your comfort with difference? 

What is the BCC “norm” around inviting the stranger?  (link to climate study)

PPT: role of leader in Conflict

Remember one thing about inviting the stranger: what happens when you invite people with different opinions? Different opinions = conflict!

If no conflict, either don’t have enough difference, and all but one can go home, or not enough trust to state the differences.

Make link to the work of the day: culture climate

Learning in Public (20)

PPT: Edward Thorndike (early American psychologist and learning theorist)

(Dimensions)

Learning in public, moving from club to community, inviting the stranger, learning with self and others – learning organization, a gracious organization.

Aspects of a learning community:

Activity:

PPT: Risk taking and mistakes in learning

Fear, mistrust can block gracious space, also the fear of doing it wrong.

In complex territory, things are not simple. Mistakes will be made. Errors are part of the learning process. When do you learn the most? When you try something and it doesn’t work all the way – you tweak, you improve.

What do we do when we win? Hurrah!  Hands in the air.  What do we do when we goof, mess up. Hang head and avoid eye contact.

Want to invite you to take as much celebration into failing as succeeding.  Now, keep in mind this is CALCULATED risk taking and failure is only good when we learn from it. 

PPT: I failed!

I want to practice celebrating your failures: stand and shout “I failed!!!”)

PPT: Gracious Space in action

Review Gracious space definition.

Oh the joy - read poem as closing

In conversations today, bring your spirit, practice an aspect of gracious space: listening more, judging less, being open