Gracious Space Practitioners

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Comment by steve stapleton on August 1, 2011 at 3:35pm

I wanted to let everyone know that Pat Hughes will be a guest on the radio show, "The Boss Show", hosted by fellow Gracious Space practitioner, Steve Motenko, on September 14 5-6pm Pacific. They will discuss the new book "Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space" and take call-in questions and comments (425) 373-5527.  The show can be heard in the Seattle area on 1150 AM, or streamed live on-line at www.thebossshow.com

Comment by patricia hughes on July 27, 2011 at 10:20am

The next Gracious Space training is October 27-28 in Seattle.  Join us for a deep dive into specific aspects of the new Courageous Collaboration book - like the work of the change agent (that's you!) and the four openings, with a particular focus on Opening to Risk - we are finding that is the *crux* move in the change model. If you've already taken a training that's ok - it's designed to be a deeper engagement and a refresher.  Contact Pat for info.  Have a good summer!

Comment by steve stapleton on June 13, 2011 at 2:03pm

The new book, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space, will be available for shipping on Friday June 17.  Click here for an order form.

Comment by steve stapleton on April 21, 2011 at 2:37pm

Hi Gracious Space Group members!

I wanted to share some upcoming dates and events with you.

1. April 28 6:30-8:30pm will be an open house to learn the basics of Gracious Space and an opportunity to talk with Pat, Karma, and Dale in person.  This is also the official launch of the 2nd Gracious Space book, Radical Collaboration with Gracious Space and we'll be selling them at a discounted price of $10.  Be the first to get it! RSVP to Steve Stapleton
2. May 17 6:30-8:30--Workshop: Opening to Safety and Relationships with Gracious Space.  $25 Register here.
3. May 31 6:30-8:30--Workshop: Opening to Risk and Collective Creativity with Gracious Space.  $25 Register here.
4. June 10, 17, & 24 (all-day, 1/2-day, 1/2-day)--Deepening the Practice for Internal Change Agents.  $395  Register here.  View the brochure.

Comment by steve stapleton on December 3, 2010 at 2:01pm

There will be a Gracious Space Author reading on December 8 in Seattle. Come by and celebrate the release of the Second Edition of Gracious Space with authors Pat Hughes and Bill Grace. Follow the link to RSVP and for specific details.

Comment by patricia hughes on April 19, 2010 at 10:47am

HI everyone,

I just uploaded a paper by Ron Heifitz and friends on Adaptive Leadership. The skills and practices he says are needed to lead in challenging times are very much in alignment with the skills and practice of Gracious Space. You can find it in the BOX.

Comment by steve stapleton on April 1, 2010 at 12:20pm

I just wanted to alert people that the Center for Ethical Leadership's web site has quite a few stories about how Gracious Space has been used in different settings by various practitioners. Check it out and then feel free to add your own either here or there.

Comment by Jessica D. Peterson on March 15, 2010 at 10:50am

After I was trained to be a Gracious Space Practitioner by Pat Hughes via Humanities Montana, I provided a free service in this area to a local community group. Here's my story (in brief). I'd appreciate feedback or to hear other stories that relate!

I incorporated Gracious Space into an Annual Retreat and Planning Meeting for a local Board that oversees youth development in my town. It was a dynamic experience. The Board came away from the meeting feeling more connected, and they also felt like they'd accomplished a great deal toward action in 2010. The agenda proposed by the Board director was very ambitious. Yet, the Board had specifically requested a "retreat" feel for their meeting. It was a lot to pack in while also maintaining the feel of a retreat. So, one of our discussions surrounded feeling content with accomplishing good sized pieces of the agenda rather than fitting everything in. Perhaps one value of the GS framework allowed the participants to walk away from the meeting at the end of the day feeling like it was ok to table some discussion in order to have a more gracious experience with their co-board members.

After the meeting I created some post-meeting materials for them to use in the coming year, some images that highlight their gracious space, the one they created together at the meeting. They can use the images to help guide further discussions and reflection on their group processes as they work toward their 'common good.'

A few days after the meeting when I met with the YC Director, she informed me that at their Monday meeting the next week after the retreat, for the first time ever, the board actually experienced and expressed conflicting viewpoints on a particular issue. She wondered if this was because of the time we spent on Gracious Space elements. She told me she felt pretty nervous and unsure about how she should handle what was happening. She said she did not expect it.

I realized during the retreat that there are some really big "moquitos" that surround this board's activities. One of the big ones was the issue that came up at the meeting that followed the retreat.

After I spoke with the Director, I created a reflecting closing document for the group. I created pictures for the group about who they are and provided questions for them to reflect on over the year. I heard back from one of the board members who I saw at a community social event that he really appreciated this document. He said that many times people can leave these types of trainings/meetings with loose strings flapping in the wind. He liked that I provided follow up and closure to the session in a document that highlights what we went over and the group's own personal identities, strengths and areas for development.

In my area of graduate study it was emphasized that often what isn't said or mentioned is also very important. It's a dialogue surrounding giving voice to the voiceless or social exclusion or highlighting values that are not mentioned in a group, so therefore not considered. So, with this lens, I created a separate picture, which has a picture of an unopened gift box. All the values and behaviors that were not mentioned at all by group members I put on this page and titled it "Unrevealed or Unopened." I included this in their follow up packet with some reflection questions (mostly from Pat Hughes' book). Interestingly, many of the areas that are unexamined or not mentioned are areas for inviting the stranger and learning in public...also values and behaviors that are helpful when there are conflicting viewpoints. Interesting stuff!Unexamined_Template.pdf

Comment by Karma Ruder on March 2, 2010 at 12:40pm

HI Mike,

I would love to hear a specific example. I'll share one of mine. When I was doing some Gracious Space training to bridge youth and adult partnerships, we did a learning in public exercise that had youth in one line and adults in another so that they were facing each other. Each person was asked to form a burning question about what it takes for youth and adults to work together in partnership and to ask that of the person standing opposite them. Then they listened to the answer in silence for one minute. Once both partners had asked and been answered, we moved the line along. In 10 minutes, each person had been able to ask and get five different answers.

It was really fun because everyone got to define the most important question for themselves and it moved quickly wiht lots of laughter. There were some great insights - about learning in public and about the topic itself.

Comment by Mike Beebe on March 1, 2010 at 5:51pm

Hi all- I have been having fun integrating some teaching on Gracious Space into my Group Facilitation Skills workshops that I lead on fairly regular basis with AmeriCorps teams. AmeriCorps members have appreciated this new component to my workshops.

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