Leading & Facilitating in Complexity

A 3-day intensive with Diane Musho Hamilton, Jennifer Berman & Lisa Gibson

September 26-29, 2024 at the Wasatch Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

In a world of increasing uncertainty and polarization, the ability to effectively lead and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics is essential for those of us leading change. Join us for a deep dive, designed to equip you with the mindsets, tools, skills, and strategies necessary to thrive amidst uncertainty, ambiguity, and rapid change.  

We will explore adaptive leadership practices, support you in engaging with and navigating interpersonal dynamics, facilitate difficult conversations, and work with group energetics—honing the facilitation skills essential for guiding teams, organizations, and networks toward new possibilities and futures.  

This in-person session is designed for leaders, coaches, and facilitators who are:

  • Guiding complex change in various settings — in multi-stakeholder initiatives, government, philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, or corporate environments

  • Eager to build their capacity to work in personal, interpersonal, and spiritual realms of systems change

  • Willing to challenge their own perspectives and worldviews

  • Seeking a transformative learning container and community of peers with whom they can learn and grow.

Facilitation:  This course is offered in partnership with Real Life Programs. For more information about the course and how to register, please click here.

Stillness Activism: The Inner Work of Outer Change

New dates coming soon!

Description: We live in a complex time, overwhelmed by intractable social issues and climate crises. And, if you are working on the frontlines of changemaking, the stakes are big and only getting bigger. For many leaders, activists, organizers and frontline workers, the work itself can lead to overwhelm, burnout, and disillusionment. The magnitude of grief, heartbreak, and uncertainty is vast, and the possibility of change seems bleak. There is little time to stop with so many things to do. There is little if any time for rest, reflection and getting still. But…

  • What if tending to our inner landscapes was an inseparable part of creating more meaningful impact in the world?

  • What if we could source our work from a boundless well of support? 

  • What if we could create more equanimity in the face of tremendous uncertainty, grief and overwhelm?

  • What if our activism was not only fueled by getting still, but what if getting still was activism itself?

Stillness Activism is an online mindfulness course to cultivate the inner capacities required to create meaningful impact in the world. 

Participants in this course will leave with a greater understanding of:

  • How to practice mindfulness in stillness and in movement, and why it is critical to our wellbeing and thriving

  • The neurobiology of mindfulness and how we can work with the nervous system in healthy and supportive ways

  • Our shadows, or those parts of ourselves we keep hidden and out of view

  • How to extend mindfulness to how we witness injustice and suffering

Facilitation:  This course will be facilitated by Lisa Gibson and Jennifer Berman

What’s included:  

  • 7 90-minute Zoom calls

  • Audio recording of the weekly teaching

  • Practices to integrate mindfulness into your daily life

  • Resources (readings, poems, videos) to bring the teachings alive

Cost:

  • Individual = $300 USD

  • Non-profit organizations with annual budget less than $1 million = $400 USD

  • Corporate and foundations with annual budget over $1 million = $500 USD

Please complete the form below to indicate your interest in 2023 courses.

Introduction to Systems and Complexity

November 2, 3 & 4, 2022
9:00am - 12:00pm PT / 12:00 - 3:00pm ET 

Description:  In this short, experiential workshop, we will define the core concepts of a systems approach, learn about how change happens in complex, adaptive systems, and explore the mindsets and skills needed to thrive in complexity.  

This workshop is for those who have limited background in systems change or complexity and who are curious to learn how to apply these ideas to their change work. 

Participants in this course will leave with a greater understanding of:

  • The difference between simple, complicated and complex systems

  • How change happens in complex, adaptive systems

  • The role worldviews play in determining how you approach change efforts

  • Practices that will help you navigate emergence and uncertainty

Facilitation:  This course will be facilitated by Jennifer Berman and Lisa Gibson 

What’s included:  

  • 9 hours of live teaching via zoom

  • Access to video and audio recordings of each session

  • A curated list of readings and resources, designed to support your on-going growth and learning as a systems leader

  • Opportunity to learn with a group of committed and curious peers

Cost:  

  • Individual = $500 USD

  • Non-profit organizations with annual budget less than $1 million = $600 USD

  • Corporate and foundations with annual budget over $1 million = $700 USD

Registration for this course is now closed. Check back for 2023 dates soon!