Appreciations from Facilitative Leadership for Social Change participants
July 29, 2024
Last month, I had the privilege of co-training the final session of a Facilitative Leadership for Social Change workshop at an organization that strives to improve the health of their community. It is a large system with a well-established hierarchy and a focus on deliverables.
At the end of the session, my co-trainer Marie Michael asked – on behalf of the two of us plus Marie’s co-trainer for much of the workshop, Kiara Nagel – “What is one gift you are grateful to have received from others in this space that we’ve created?”
Whoo! The tears and emotion were evident. Through that, here are some of the words that we heard:
- The materials speak to me and allow me to know that I am on the right track and then have the tools to implement.
- The gift of belonging – in a world that otherwise tells me I am not worthy, I felt worth and belonging.
- I now have the ingenuity and relationship about what we are trying to achieve in our respective units.
- As an introvert, it’s great to have this space and to meet people and learn ways to channel leadership as an introvert.
- The gift of the listening heart; knowing I am not alone.
- Inspiration. I am motivated and inspired to work differently and more collaboratively.
- The ability to pause. Initially when I saw the time commitment I was not sure if I could commit. Now I realize I’ve used this time to pause and grow individually and not just “not be at work.”
- I gained a community of like-minded people who I can bounce ideas off of and be challenged by when needed.
- The feeling and energy of hope. One of the values where I work is hope (we do that for others but less for ourselves). I left feeling full.
- Grateful to be in a space of mutuality where I can gain so much knowledge. Thank you for the materials and to everyone who shared deeply and honestly.
Facilitative Leadership for Social Change remains an enduringly impactful learning experience – and a transformative one for many who participate. It is gratifying for us to hear how the workshop is experienced so if you have a story to share, we invite you to share it here!