Bring Gracious Space into your workplace
“A spirit and a setting
where we invite the ‘stranger’
and learn in public.”
MORE INFORMATION ON GRACIOUS SPACE:
Gracious Space is a simple yet powerful approach to crossing boundaries and collaborative change that can move organizations and communities forward, together, with deeper understanding and solid problem solving.
Developed by Seattle’s Center for Ethical Leadership, Gracious Space is grounded in evidence-based approaches and ten years of transformational application in organizations and communities.
Stressing the value of different ideas, generative listening, and openness to risk and creativity, Gracious Space enables groups to learn and act together toward their highest potential.
Some Organizations and Communities Using Gracious Space:
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· Bellevue College, WA · The Freedom Project, WA · Girl Scouts of America, FL · Highline Community College, WA · Horizon House in Seattle, WA · Humanities Montana · Montana State University, Billings MT · Northern Westchester Hospital, NY · Plymouth Congregational Church, WA · Snohomish and King County Health Departments, WA · Seattle Public Schools · Seattle Public Utilities · Senior Services of King County, WA · Tacoma Public School for the Arts, WA
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· Big Creek People in Action, WV · Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor, MI · Citizen Action of New York, NY · City of Burien, WA · City of Billings, MT · Laguna Department of Education, NM · Leadership Montana · Llano Grande Center for Research and Development, TX · Lummi Cedar Project, WA · Kebaya Coaching and Consulting, CO · Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, CO · Migizi Communications, MN · Roca Inc, MA · Salish-Kootenai College, MT |
Gracious Space has:
- Helped senior government leaders rebuild the culture of their institution from one of fragmentation and mistrust into one of cooperation and shared leadership;
- Been used by a non-profit organization over the course of two years to build trust between departments that were stuck in an “us versus them” pattern;
- Helped a community group discuss race and class which enabled them to build a respectful, shared community vision;
- Been applied as a foundation in a state-wide initiative on public discourse in Montana;
- Been used to address conflict, raise compelling questions, reconcile polarizing issues, reduce fear in the workplace, and build creative connections.
Gracious space can expand and contract with the time and space available. It can be five minutes at the beginning of a meeting or run throughout the course of a multi-year initiative. Generally Gracious Space focuses on:
- Opening the space in a positive way for the group to do its work
- Creating the relational field
- Connecting the relational field to the larger context of change
- Aiming the work of the group toward its shared purpose
- Being present and moving together on the change work
If you'd like more information or learn how to schedule a training or facilitation for your group please email Steve Stapleton or call our office at 206-328-3020.
If you would like to become skilled at facilitating, leading or applying Gracious Space in your change efforts, contact the Center at 206-328-3020 about the next Creating Gracious Space training.
If you would like to order copies of the Gracious Space monograph, you can download the order form.