Gracious Space is a simple yet powerful approach to working better together. Defined as “a spirit and setting where we invite the stranger and learn in public,” Gracious Space sets the tone for honest and vigorous exchange, deep listening and creativity around challenging issues. Gracious Space can move organizations and communities forward, together, with deeper understanding and solid problem solving.

Gracious Space has had a significant impact in health care settings across the country. From leadership and staff development, to serving as a crucial component of public health or patient safety, Gracious Space is an environment where diverse people in a complex system can carry out the intensive and intimate work of health care. 

Following are some demonstrations of Gracious Space in hospital and health care settings.  

Northern Westchester Hospital, Westchester County, New York

November 2006 Annual Leadership Retreat “Taking NWH to the Next Level”

• This full day retreat for 80 medical and administrative leaders and managers focused on employee satisfaction and interdepartmental communication. Following a keynote on Crisis Communications by former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, Gracious Space author Pat Hughes facilitated an interactive training on the core concepts of Gracious Space, then led small groups to apply the concepts in their strategic planning goals. Groups reported on how Gracious Space opened up the nature of their conversations.

Children’s Hospital, Seattle Washington

• Gracious Space and Team Building, February 2006.  A half-day Gracious Space training for a department of neo-natal nurse practitioners.  Participants expressed how Gracious Space would help them address communication glitches they often had with each other. Evaluation comments about what they learned and would use going forward included:

     o     I liked the foundation of trust and the practical tools to get there

     o     Learning that we have different perspectives and how to accept these

     o     I need to invite “the stranger” into my space

     o     The things we worked on today were important to our team- strongly agree

• Employee Engagement Conference, March 2008.  Two 90-minute sessions on Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback in Gracious Space for 50 supervisors and managers, including charge nurses, physician leaders and medical directors.

Swedish Hospital, Seattle Washington

• Organizational Development Staff Retreat, November 2005. This full-day retreat focused on team building and clarifying roles. Gracious Space set a tone for open and honest exchange and helped clarify contributions toward the department mission and goals.  Of specific interest to the OD staff was to create gracious space in the future with their inter-departmental clients.

• Leadership Team Retreat, July 2008. This full day retreat for the Human Resources department heads focused on re-orienting the team after several changes in staff and strategic direction in a short period of time. The team used the principles of Gracious Space to assess their adaptation to the changes, and to address their strategic functions within the organization.

• Swedish Heart and Vascular Clinic, October 2006. This half day retreat focused on team building, interpersonal communication and work flow issues in order to improve clinic effectiveness. Gracious Space was used to establish the tone for the meeting, and identify shared values, positive methods to engage in difficult situations, and specific ways group members could work more collaboratively.

Hero House, Bellevue, Washington

February 2007

A member of the National Awareness on Mental Illness (NAMI), this organization facilitates the recovery and rehabilitation of adults with serious mental illness. The half day retreat for board members used the principles of Gracious Space to set the tone for an effective strategic planning meeting. 

Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood Florida

Ongoing

This member of the Memorial Healthcare System has purchased over 500 copies of the Gracious Space book for staff.

Many practitioners nationwide apply Gracious Space in customized ways, including:

• Harborview Hospital
• Health Research Education Trust / American Hospital Association
• Life Long Aids Alliance
• MCPP Healthcare Consulting
• Northwest Research and Education Institute
• Senior Services of King County
• Swedish Medical Center
• Snohomish Health District
• US Dept of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health