|
Hello friends,
Thanks for all the excellent sharing on this list, I've enjoyed lurking
and learning for quite a while now.
I wanted to contribute a link to the mix, published earlier today by our
Program Director, Evelyn Arellano:
It's a set of observations, reflections and learnings captured as we
have worked to strengthen our practices in the virtual meeting realm
over the past few months.
We welcome feedback and tough love, as this is a living document and one
we hope to improve and keep up-to-date as we move forward.
peace,
gunner
--
Allen Gunn
Executive Director, Aspiration
www.aspirationtech.org
Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World"
Read our Manifesto:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/aspirationtech
|
Hello!
Thank you so much for sharing this helpful resource.
I had a few observations/questions to add, that I would welcome hearing from folks about, if they wish to share.?
First, I have seen as a common practice now with virtual meetings, to allow folks to join early to chit chat informally. I think privilege?is often very present in those spaces - who feels comfortable sharing informally or sharing at all? Who already knows each other and can easily connect on a shared experience, and who can't? Yet, there can be value?in starting this way but what strategies are folks seeing or offering to shift some of those dynamics, where possible?
I also wonder, and if its in the shared document, sorry I missed it - optimal practices around welcoming/accepting folks joining late or having to sign off early. Not everyone can spare an hour or more based on what is happening in their household/life at the time. Maybe its just a good practice to name at the beginning, we appreciate people being present, as long as they are able and then welcoming people as they join and finding a graceful way to have people step out/off as they need to.?
I have appreciated the wisdom and thoughtfulness of these threads of sharing. Take good care.
Lisa Kane Firefly Advisors
On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 9:31 AM Allen Gunn < gunner@...> wrote: Hello friends,
Thanks for all the excellent sharing on this list, I've enjoyed lurking
and learning for quite a while now.
I wanted to contribute a link to the mix, published earlier today by our
Program Director, Evelyn Arellano:
It's a set of observations, reflections and learnings captured as we
have worked to strengthen our practices in the virtual meeting realm
over the past few months.
We welcome feedback and tough love, as this is a living document and one
?we hope to improve and keep up-to-date as we move forward.
peace,
gunner
--
Allen Gunn
Executive Director, Aspiration
Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World"
Read our Manifesto:
Twitter:?
|
Thank you for sharing this, a rich overview on interventions needed to create an inclusive space, online & offline.
?
What I? to add is humbly would like to add that most interventions are ¡®head heavy¡¯ as in focused on the rational level. Especially online during the pandemic the facilitator can also be mindfull of his/her/their own positional power to create room for movements (human beings behind laptops/computers taking) and activate other ¡®information channels¡¯ such as music/meditation/dance.?
?
When it comes to raise awareness and building a new narrative, one can be mindful about the tone as well as ¡® C'est le ton qui fait la musique¡¯. A while back I create a for leader a d facilitators to create conditions for people to blossom. To bring lightness to cultivate gratitude in stead of frustration. To chose hope over fear.
?
How to play?
- Cat blocks the webcam or near the laptop? > Cuddle the cat or stretch like a cat!
- Tech not working properly? Can't share screen? > Life is a long learning journey! Celebrate!
- Background noise or barking dog? > Bark for the point you want to make!
- Kids want attention? > Cuddle time! - Unstable internet? > Dance like nobody is watching or do the hammer dance!
- Speaker going on too long? > Practice patience or deep listening
Three in a row? Virtual team hug or high five! (take a screenshot > ask permission first ;))
With gratituide,
www.bureautwitst.nl
?
?
|
Hi Allen thanks for starting this thread and sharing the freshly?published blog article by Evelyn, this kind of summative work on participatory values and group facilitation is always a blessing.
Yet, my 2 cents goes for the pre-meeting work that is critical for establishing the intended results that are desired upfront. Let's first start to clarify what are the outcomes of the meeting we are asked to facilitate with whomever actually 'owns' the meeting.?
And yes, clarifying meeting ownership is sometimes straightforward but not always.?
My association - IAF - has created and maintains?a list of 6 core competencies for anyone wishing to guide groups as a profession:??
The first of these competencies?is precisely to establish a collaborative relationship with your client. This can imply that the best meeting can actually be a meeting that doesn't need to happen after all.?
If power dynamics?and inclusion can be addressed?and solved in the social or organizational context where the meeting should happen, the better.?
Have a great sunday everyone!
??
On Sat, 30 May 2020 at 19:58, Sara Huang < sara@...> wrote: Thank you for sharing this, a rich overview on interventions needed to create an inclusive space, online & offline.
?
What I? to add is humbly would like to add that most interventions are ¡®head heavy¡¯ as in focused on the rational level. Especially online during the pandemic the facilitator can also be mindfull of his/her/their own positional power to create room for movements (human beings behind laptops/computers taking) and activate other ¡®information channels¡¯ such as music/meditation/dance.?
?
When it comes to raise awareness and building a new narrative, one can be mindful about the tone as well as ¡® C'est le ton qui fait la musique¡¯. A while back I create a for leader a d facilitators to create conditions for people to blossom. To bring lightness to cultivate gratitude in stead of frustration. To chose hope over fear.
?
How to play?
- Cat blocks the webcam or near the laptop? > Cuddle the cat or stretch like a cat!
- Tech not working properly? Can't share screen? > Life is a long learning journey! Celebrate!
- Background noise or barking dog? > Bark for the point you want to make!
- Kids want attention? > Cuddle time! - Unstable internet? > Dance like nobody is watching or do the hammer dance!
- Speaker going on too long? > Practice patience or deep listening
Three in a row? Virtual team hug or high five! (take a screenshot > ask permission first ;))
With gratituide,
?
?
|
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, 5:56 PM, Paul Nunesdea <p.nunesdea@...> wrote: Hi Allen thanks for starting this thread and sharing the freshly?published blog article by Evelyn, this kind of summative work on participatory values and group facilitation is always a blessing.
Yet, my 2 cents goes for the pre-meeting work that is critical for establishing the intended results that are desired upfront. Let's first start to clarify what are the outcomes of the meeting we are asked to facilitate with whomever actually 'owns' the meeting.?
And yes, clarifying meeting ownership is sometimes straightforward but not always.?
My association - IAF - has created and maintains?a list of 6 core competencies for anyone wishing to guide groups as a profession:??
The first of these competencies?is precisely to establish a collaborative relationship with your client. This can imply that the best meeting can actually be a meeting that doesn't need to happen after all.?
If power dynamics?and inclusion can be addressed?and solved in the social or organizational context where the meeting should happen, the better.?
Have a great sunday everyone!
?? On Sat, 30 May 2020 at 19:58, Sara Huang < sara@...> wrote: Thank you for sharing this, a rich overview on interventions needed to create an inclusive space, online & offline.
?
What I? to add is humbly would like to add that most interventions are ¡®head heavy¡¯ as in focused on the rational level. Especially online during the pandemic the facilitator can also be mindfull of his/her/their own positional power to create room for movements (human beings behind laptops/computers taking) and activate other ¡®information channels¡¯ such as music/meditation/dance.?
?
When it comes to raise awareness and building a new narrative, one can be mindful about the tone as well as ¡® C'est le ton qui fait la musique¡¯. A while back I create a for leader a d facilitators to create conditions for people to blossom. To bring lightness to cultivate gratitude in stead of frustration. To chose hope over fear.
?
How to play?
- Cat blocks the webcam or near the laptop? > Cuddle the cat or stretch like a cat!
- Tech not working properly? Can't share screen? > Life is a long learning journey! Celebrate!
- Background noise or barking dog? > Bark for the point you want to make!
- Kids want attention? > Cuddle time! - Unstable internet? > Dance like nobody is watching or do the hammer dance!
- Speaker going on too long? > Practice patience or deep listening
Three in a row? Virtual team hug or high five! (take a screenshot > ask permission first ;))
With gratituide,
?
?
|
Hi Allen Thanks for sharing Evelyn's post. I love reading other people's reflections, especially about power dynamics. As I read it I wondered if you are making an assumption that everyone is that everyone in the meeting is involved in one conversation. I think it's hard with a group of more than about four people to have an equitable conversation - whether it's face-to-face or online. Here are some of my other thoughts I had:
- We find that breakout rooms with people in small conversations are just great for everyone having a voice. A host from a core group can be in each group to gather all the insights. And/or the small groups can work on a specific part of a virtual board to brainstorm, plan, share ideas etc. Then the whole group can go round and visit what each other has been working on.
- One of our most gratifying practices is to invite people into shared google doc (or other shared space for jotting notes) where they can think aloud in real (or real-ish) time. That way we get what otherwise might be silent thoughts. We pause every now and then in a meeting to let people write their insights, reflections, or ongoing questions into the document. Then we reflect all together on what strikes us about these notes and reflections. You get a much richer array of perspectives that way.
- We don't start from an assumption that people are there to "share info and experience" or even "to communicate with each other". We assume (and monitor) why people are there... it's often because they want to problem solve, plan, advocate, feel like they are with other like-minded people, test out an idea etc ... Then we design activities where people can do just that.
I wrote a post recently "". It is about a workshop, but it's also gives an idea of how we organize community meetings. Just in case it sparks some new ideas! Bev ? ?
|
Hi everyone,
I hope you are having a good weekend.
?
I thought this resource by Evelyn at Aspiration was fantastic so I tweeted the link from my @HelenBevan account yesterday giving attribution to @aspirationtech of course. So far, 5,800 people have engaged with the content and there have
been a lot of wonderful comments for Evelyn. Thank you for making this available.
?
Helen
?
?
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Allen Gunn
Sent: 29 May 2020 04:46
To: [email protected]
Subject: [f4c-response] Power dynamics and inclusion in virtual meetings
?
Hello friends,
?
Thanks for all the excellent sharing on this list, I've enjoyed lurking and learning for quite a while now.
?
I wanted to contribute a link to the mix, published earlier today by our Program Director, Evelyn Arellano:
?
?
It's a set of observations, reflections and learnings captured as we have worked to strengthen our practices in the virtual meeting realm over the past few months.
?
We welcome feedback and tough love, as this is a living document and one? we hope to improve and keep up-to-date as we move forward.
?
peace,
gunner
?
--
?
Allen Gunn
Executive Director, Aspiration
?
Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World"
?
Read our Manifesto:
?
Twitter:?
?
?
?
*
This message may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient please inform the
sender that you have received the message in error before deleting it.
Please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in relation to its contents. To do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Thank you for your co-operation.
NHSmail is the secure email and directory service available for all NHS staff in England and Scotland. NHSmail is approved for exchanging patient data and other sensitive information with NHSmail and other accredited email services.
For more information and to find out how you can switch, https://portal.nhs.net/help/joiningnhsmail
|
Hello All,
Power dynamics are alive and well in virtual meetings. Gunner, Thanks for the initial article by Evelyn.
Lisa, I have also noticed the chit chat being uncomfortable at the beginning. It¡¯s worst when the untrained facilitator doesn¡¯t even say hello as people are arriving. A best practice is to greet people, even while you are chit chatting before the meeting. OR acknowledge that we started checking informally because we got here a little early. I assure people we will all check in when the meeting starts.
If it¡¯s 15 or less people, as facilitator I greet people who come in after we have started, just like I would do in a face to face engagement.
If possible, I tell them where we are in the agenda.
Sara, I love the bingo idea to make light of technology ¡°snafus¡±. It¡¯s like yes and in improv or seeing the other side of a situation.
Paul, I especially like IAF 3. Creating and sustaining a participatory environment) talking about evoking creativity. Like the bingo, lightness and a bit more informality sets an inclusive tone.
Bev, I agree that smaller groups are important to gain trust and intimacy, along with the large forums. Last week, we gave people permission to go into groups and have silence. My group sat for a couple minutes, looking at each other¡¯s faces and being still. Of course, many meetings don¡¯t have time for the silence stuff! I look forward to reviewing Mural for a creative meeting option.
I find that having a check in that asks for feelings, even if it's in the chat is critical for inclusion. Then validate that "many of us are distracted today. Does our agenda still make sense?"
I appreciate this dynamic interchange!
Leilani
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2020-05-31 09:51, Bev Wenger-Trayner wrote: Hi Allen
Thanks for sharing Evelyn's post. I love reading other people's
reflections, especially about power dynamics.
As I read it I wondered if you are making an assumption that everyone
is that everyone in the meeting is involved in one conversation. I
think it's hard with a group of more than about four people to have an
equitable conversation - whether it's face-to-face or online.
Here are some of my other thoughts I had:
* We find that breakout rooms with people in small conversations are
just great for everyone having a voice. A host from a core group can
be in each group to gather all the insights. And/or the small groups
can work on a specific part of a virtual board to brainstorm, plan,
share ideas etc. Then the whole group can go round and visit what each
other has been working on.
* One of our most gratifying practices is to invite people into
shared google doc (or other shared space for jotting notes) where they
can think aloud in real (or real-ish) time. That way we get what
otherwise might be silent thoughts. We pause every now and then in a
meeting to let people write their insights, reflections, or ongoing
questions into the document. Then we reflect all together on what
strikes us about these notes and reflections. You get a much richer
array of perspectives that way.
* We don't start from an assumption that people are there to "share
info and experience" or even "to communicate with each other". We
assume (and monitor) why people are there... it's often because they
want to problem solve, plan, advocate, feel like they are with other
like-minded people, test out an idea etc ... Then we design activities
where people can do just that.
I wrote a post recently "Creating community online [1]". It is about
a workshop, but it's also gives an idea of how we organize community
meetings. Just in case it sparks some new ideas!
Bev
Links:
------
[1]
[2] /g/f4c-response/message/806
[3] /mt/74543472/4405661
[4] /g/f4c-response/post
[5] /g/f4c-response/editsub/4405661
[6] /g/f4c-response/leave/defanged
--
Leilani Raashida Henry
"We are All Antarctica" book launch- January 2021
Creatively Optimizing Purpose and Performance:
www.beingandliving.com
www.brainjewells.com
|
Hello, Helen, thank you so much for that amplification, it is deeply appreciated. And thanks to all the great sharing and reflections on this thread, the insights are super helpful in continuing to improve these practices. peace gunner On 5/31/20 9:32 AM, BEVAN, Helen (NHS ENGLAND & NHS IMPROVEMENT - X24) via groups.io wrote: Hi everyone,
I hope you are having a good weekend.
?
I thought this resource by Evelyn at Aspiration was fantastic so I
tweeted the link from my @HelenBevan account yesterday giving
attribution to @aspirationtech of course. So far, 5,800 people have
engaged with the content and there have been a lot of wonderful comments
for Evelyn. Thank you for making this available.
?
Helen
?
?
?
?
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Allen
Gunn
Sent: 29 May 2020 04:46
To: [email protected]
Subject: [f4c-response] Power dynamics and inclusion in virtual meetings
?
Hello friends,
?
Thanks for all the excellent sharing on this list, I've enjoyed lurking
and learning for quite a while now.
?
I wanted to contribute a link to the mix, published earlier today by our
Program Director, Evelyn Arellano:
?
?
It's a set of observations, reflections and learnings captured as we
have worked to strengthen our practices in the virtual meeting realm
over the past few months.
?
We welcome feedback and tough love, as this is a living document and
one? we hope to improve and keep up-to-date as we move forward.
?
peace,
gunner
?
--
?
Allen Gunn
Executive Director, Aspiration
www.aspirationtech.org <>
?
Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World"
?
Read our Manifesto:
?
Twitter:? www.twitter.com/aspirationtech
<>
?
?
?
*
This message may contain confidential information. If you are not the
intended recipient please inform the
sender that you have received the message in error before deleting it.
Please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or
take any action in relation to its contents. To do so is strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful. Thank you for your co-operation.
NHSmail is the secure email and directory service available for all NHS
staff in England and Scotland. NHSmail is approved for exchanging
patient data and other sensitive information with NHSmail and other
accredited email services.
For more information and to find out how you can switch,
-- Allen Gunn Executive Director, Aspiration www.aspirationtech.org Aspiration: "Better Tools for a Better World" Read our Manifesto: Twitter: www.twitter.com/aspirationtech
|
Sara Huang
Paul Nunesdea
Bev Wenger-Trayner
BEVAN, Helen
Leilani Henry