Supportive Practices
In suggesting these, we are drawing upon practices which have been important in our Collective Leadership work and where we have found that the small amount of time that is invested can lead to quite significant effects. We are also hopeful that creating brief opportunities for colleagues to have different kinds of conversations and experiences at this time may help in making sense and meaning from the things going on around us and offer some alternative routes to achieve the kinds of connections that we may feel are currently lacking.
We will make a range of resources available over the course of our “One Thing at a Time” themed weeks to provide colleagues with simple guidance and information on how to get involved. The practices will include:
Practices
Dialogue Walks
Self-organised
A structured conversation where two individuals take the time for a walk (during their daily exercise, around the house or sitting in a quiet spot) where they commit to the intention to
share and listen deeply for a longer-than-usual amount of time.
What is a Dialogue Walk and how to do it online:
For everyone who is new to Dialogue Walks (and how to do them online), we have written a blog post which gives suggestions on how you can do your Dialogue Walk.
Get our Dialogue Walk Card:
Your companion for when you go on your walk.
Download it for free to your phone or print it out!
Fire Starter Event 'Walking our Landscapes'
Throughout the week of the Fire Starter Festival, participants will be offered a range of embodied, artistic and sensory walking practices to experiment with, as well as the opportunity to be linked with a walking partner – potentially someone you don’t know.
Creative Exercises and Challenges
Self-organised
In lockdown, days can feel a lot more repetitive. Combined with spending a lot more time in front of screens, you may be feeling a lack of motivation or general unease. Taking a few minutes to do something different and creative can help. Using creative approaches can also help us to uncover different possibilities.
Pack of Creative Exercises & Challenges:
Some handy information cards with creative practice ideas that you can try with your team, or by yourself.
Visual Coaching
Self-organised
Take 10! Do you need a breathing space, opportunity to assess where you are at and identify what small step you can take to change your situation? Tap into your creative self and try these practices. It only takes 10 minutes!
10-minute Visual Coaching by Linda Hunter
Watch our colleague Linda Hunter (@LidnaStitt) explore some simple methods for coaching using videos.
10-minute Visual (Self) Coaching by Linda Hunter
If you want to learn more about visual coaching methods to work through any tensions, watch this brief 10 minute video by our colleague Linda Hunter (@LidnaStitt).
Empathic Listening
Facilitated
There are many definitions of empathy and ideas about what it is. Rather than more discussion this webinar is focused on the experience of empathy. Being deeply heard is a powerful experience that can stay with us. In this space of acceptance we find our own inner resources, solutions and move forward.
Slidepack for Empathy: The Magic of Deep Listening
Download the slidepack for Shona Cameron’s online session, held in May, here.
Guided Journaling
Facilitated
You are taken through a series of questions, one at a time, and given a short amount of time to write down whatever comes up for you. Can provide insight into what is going on for you and what is important to focus on at a given time.
Guided Journaling Online Sessions:
We offer free guided journaling sessions online.
Get your pen and notebook ready, and sign up to your session!
Mindfulness Session
Self-organised
Developing a stable or settled mind takes time and practice. A focussed, quiet mind will enable us to see more clearly, be aware of biases and judgments and enable us to make wise
decisions. These short sessions will guide you through a mindfulness practice.
Cultivating a Stable Mind:
As part of our programme ‘One Thing at a Time’, we hosted two weeks under the theme of ‘Stable Mind’, including guided audio practices.
Case Clinics
Facilitated
A tightly structured technique similar to an action learning set, where a participant brings a challenge they are facing and are coached by their colleagues to find a way forward.
What are Case Clinics:
The Presencing Institute offers some resources on Case Clinics, including videos and a downloadable pdf-toolkit. The link will lead you to their online resources.
Come to our Case Clinics:
If you are interested in this offer, please do get in touch with us via the link to the right.
Base Camp Groups
Self-organised
A group that agrees to meet regularly to reflect on the day and what they are learning. Suggested light structures for the group to follow are available.
What are Base Camp Groups?
Are you interested in joining a Base Camp Group?
If so, please do let us know via the link to the right.
Co-Inquiry Groups
Facilitated
As we introduce our Themed weeks the Collective Leadership for Scotland team members have been formulating some inquiry questions for ourselves as we move through this pandemic season. Part of the reason for developing the questions is that we wanted to bring to the fore the role of action inquiry in our work and take some time to engage in the practice of learning in real time for ourselves and as a team in this unique set of circumstances.
Join our Co-Inquiry Group:
If you would be interested in taking part in this co-inquiry, please let Dot know. (Dorothy.mclaughlin@gov.scot)