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group spirit

5/30/2014

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My introduction to Gracious Space was in 2004, when I connected to the Center for an internship experience. I then went to two or three Gracious Space workshops and seminars.
In my consulting work I attend to the spiritual dimension of organizational development. Gracious Space is an approach that allows the group spirit to manifest itself through authentic communication in a safe and trustful environment. In facilitating groups, I've found it useful to begin with a short piece on Gracious Space. The concept of Gracious Space helps people imagine more specifically how they want to work together.

A significant experience I had involving Gracious Space was with a multi-agency coalition that had weathered some difficult challenges. I facilitated a retreat designed to re-capture their energy and sense of commitment. After they articulated qualities of Gracious Space, such as peace, calmness, and acceptance, I asked them, “What would it be like if our meeting were characterized by these qualities?” In that moment, it was like the group breathed collective sigh of relief. I could feel them relax and there was a tangible shift in the energy in the room toward hope that they could engage in a positive manner.

I cannot say all that actually influenced the outcome, but it was a great meeting. They were engaged and direct in their communication with one another, dealt with difficult issues. They emerged with a positive commitment to their future, and Gracious Space helped set the context for that result.

A lot of what I do depends on collective engagement and Gracious Space supports that. It is another way to talk about opening space for developing shared awareness. Gracious Space nurtures a quality of relational space where a group can discover its collective spirit.
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    Author

    Larry Pennings

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