A foundation to participatory leadership.
A method to transform meetings where every member shares responsibility and leadership.
A circle is not just a meeting with the chairs rearranged. A circle is a way of doing things differently than we have become accustomed to. The circle is a return to our original form of community as well as a leap forward to create a new form of community. ~ Christina Baldwin, Calling the Circle
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
The Circle Way is a methodology that supports inclusive meetings, groups and conversations that welcome diverse opinions, promote mutual understanding, and discover meaningful and wise solutions.
In this workshop we will demonstrate the components of circle and explore ways to create an environment and container for working together that is productive and intentional in any context.
The experiential design of the workshop will foster our capacity to apply The Circle Way to decision making as well as handling uncertainty, complexity, and conflict. Participants also receive a tailored workbook.
To read more about The Circle Way visit www.thecircleway.net
In this workshop we will demonstrate the components of circle and explore ways to create an environment and container for working together that is productive and intentional in any context.
The experiential design of the workshop will foster our capacity to apply The Circle Way to decision making as well as handling uncertainty, complexity, and conflict. Participants also receive a tailored workbook.
To read more about The Circle Way visit www.thecircleway.net
"Before The Circle Way training, I felt that the work I was doing with the individuals we support and the staff teams lacked focus and time for reflection. The circle way training really taught me how to facilitate and participate in meaningful, focused conversations with individuals. It has helped me to ask better questions, host better meetings, and approach this work we do in a completely different way."
~ Ricky, workshop participant, Service Design Coordinator, Disability Service
~ Ricky, workshop participant, Service Design Coordinator, Disability Service
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
People looking for better ways to meet and collaborate to achieve greater commitment, ownership, joy, sustainable solutions and wise decisions including community leaders, managers, team leaders, team and community members.
This workshop will serve well to either introduce or refresh participants to this powerful way of working. The Circle Way as a transformative meeting approach can be used to create healthy teams and relationships, address conflict and stuck conversations, make difficult decisions, hear each person’s voice and perspective, be bold and creative, build capacity, move beyond a “check-in", work with complexity, embrace diverse viewpoints and heal trauma.
While attending the two day workshop on The Circle Way, I was once again reminded about the value of having a leader in each chair and how collectively each can have a different view and speak in a safe space. It is encouraging to be able to put fear aside and to be able to harness a new way of working collaboratively across a vast range of topics and feelings. This was a great time of collaborative experiential learning to share with others in our circles of life. A particular area I have noticed this has been with team meetings and giving a voice to the person we support. I have also been able to harness what I have learned through this process and use it in meetings for church events and activities this has proven to be a positive and challenging new experience for us all."
Sharon, workshop participant, Lead Practitioner, Disability Service
WHAT WILL WE EXPLORE?

Over this two-day workshop we will explore how circle process can:
- Articulate clear need and purpose at the centre of each meeting
- Increase participation and collaboration in meetings
- Create an atmosphere that welcomes diversity and differences
- Use questions to encourage inquiry and forward action in meeting agendas
- Reconcile difficult dynamics in meetings
- Leverage design to allow space for breakthroughs and creativity
- Work with principles of community to create outcomes that people support
- Apply to a range of settings and situations for hosting meaningful conversations
REGISTRATION
“The Circle Way is a powerful approach for holding space to discern the collective wisdom of a group, where everybody is given a voice and the silences between speaking become fertile ground for emerging personal insight. World renowned facilitators form us in this ancient, yet contemporary, practice that brings: consolation to those naming strong emotions; a way forward for those facing change; deep connection for those seeking belonging; and creative responses for groups feeling stuck, looking for fresh ideas, or wanting to develop a culture of listening attentively to each other’s truth.”
~ Tim Booth, Chaplain, UnitingCare
~ Tim Booth, Chaplain, UnitingCare