Stewardship development - The Art of Hosting2024-03-28T09:34:37Zhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/forum/topics/stewardship-development?commentId=4134568%3AComment%3A7565&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSpring 2014, there was anothe…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2014-05-07:4134568:Comment:929242014-05-07T07:14:31.697ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p>Spring 2014, there was another round of exchange around stewardship on the emaillist: here the basic contributions:</p>
<div><div><strong>From Toke:</strong></div>
<div>The simplest answer I know to be try in my heart is:</div>
<div>You will know when you are called to be stewarding </div>
<div>- and others will know when the stewarding practice has begun for you……..</div>
<div>It is…... </div>
<div>- it is a conscious decision</div>
<div>- a matter of heart </div>
<div>- a matter of…</div>
</div>
<p>Spring 2014, there was another round of exchange around stewardship on the emaillist: here the basic contributions:</p>
<div><div><strong>From Toke:</strong></div>
<div>The simplest answer I know to be try in my heart is:</div>
<div>You will know when you are called to be stewarding </div>
<div>- and others will know when the stewarding practice has begun for you……..</div>
<div>It is…... </div>
<div>- it is a conscious decision</div>
<div>- a matter of heart </div>
<div>- a matter of clarity</div>
<div>- of passion and responsibility</div>
<div>- of inner knowing and willingness to step up to be of deeper service</div>
<div>- detachment helps</div>
<div>It is not</div>
<div>- an application </div>
<div>- a competition </div>
<div>- a degree </div>
<div>- a necessity </div>
<div>- a matter of desire….</div>
<div>-----------------</div>
<div><div><strong>From Kathy Jourdain:</strong></div>
<div>Hi friends,</div>
<div>I have been reflecting on Toke's note here for a little while as it is such an alive question for so many and few are ever fully satisfied with the response – looking for more clarity and more structure, the route to becoming a steward or the criteria. At the moment, one thing I would add to what Toke wrote (which I have copied out below because I think it bears repeating) - that you will know when you are called – and others will know when the stewarding practice has begun for you – is that when this is also a conversation between you who know and others who are witnessing it, about what you feel, about what others are seeing, that conversational process invites some clarity for the person who is emerging into that role. It is an in-precise process, but so too are certification processes that detail all kinds of criteria. The best discernments I know now are in the practice of the work we are in and in the conversations we have with each other. A bow to the centre, to the desire and to the practices we are in. </div>
<div>Kathy</div>
<div>-------------------</div>
<div><div><strong>From Chris Corrigan:</strong></div>
<div>I feel my own practice of stewardship most fully when I am applying the four fold practice to the community of art of hosting practitioners itself. </div>
<div>Am I self hosting my own practice?</div>
<div>Am I participating in the community?</div>
<div>Am I contributing to and hosting the community?</div>
<div>Am I co creating the art of hosting community?</div>
<div>This is how one gets to recognize in oneself and in the eyes of others, ones own stewardship. If the answer is that I am doing this in my own life, then I am a deep practitioner. If I am doing this locally then I am a local steward. If I am doing this globally I am a global steward. </div>
<div>I find myself moving between all these levels. Sometimes more focused on global, sometimes more focused on local. </div>
<div>The only reason to steward is to help because you care what we are all up to. The sincere heart is always welcome. Offer what you can. Ask for what you need. </div>
<div>In short to live out Toke's simple recipe: show up, participate, contribute and co create and soon we will all see you! And you will soon see your own stewarding too. </div>
<div><br/><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-- </span><div>CHRIS</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div> Thanks for starting this conv…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2012-02-17:4134568:Comment:514002012-02-17T03:21:06.698ZAlissa Schwartzhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AlissaSchwartz
<p>Thanks for starting this conversation, Ria! I found it enormously helpful and illuminating, especially the document you referenced in your 9/9/11 post. Tim Merry's video (<a href="http://vimeo.com/33481990">http://vimeo.com/33481990</a>) is also quite brilliant! It helped me get a better sense of where I'm at with AOH (I would venture to say a practitioner in need of more practice and apprenticeship!), what stewards offer, and where I'd like to go.</p>
<p>Thanks for starting this conversation, Ria! I found it enormously helpful and illuminating, especially the document you referenced in your 9/9/11 post. Tim Merry's video (<a href="http://vimeo.com/33481990">http://vimeo.com/33481990</a>) is also quite brilliant! It helped me get a better sense of where I'm at with AOH (I would venture to say a practitioner in need of more practice and apprenticeship!), what stewards offer, and where I'd like to go.</p> I want to offer in this tread…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-09-09:4134568:Comment:363402011-09-09T15:44:01.907ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
I want to offer in this tread also a documented that started to be written by Chris C. and his wife Caitlin, Tenneson and Teresa. I have editted some to make it more readable and it links the concept and practice of stewardship with apprenticing. Enjoy reading and as always: reflections more than welcome!
I want to offer in this tread also a documented that started to be written by Chris C. and his wife Caitlin, Tenneson and Teresa. I have editted some to make it more readable and it links the concept and practice of stewardship with apprenticing. Enjoy reading and as always: reflections more than welcome! Thanks Lisa, will be a great…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-22:4134568:Comment:75652011-02-22T10:14:17.007ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
Thanks Lisa, will be a great contribution here!
Thanks Lisa, will be a great contribution here! Dear Ria:
Thank you for harve…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-22:4134568:Comment:78112011-02-22T08:42:18.205ZAnalesa Rose Berghttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/LisaAbby
<p>Dear Ria:</p>
<p>Thank you for harvesting the nuggets of this thread and weaving them here. Several of us are holding conversations regarding open conference calls we will hold regarding Stewarding. I will be happy to update people and announce the invitations to join the calls here in the coming months. Lisa</p>
<p>Dear Ria:</p>
<p>Thank you for harvesting the nuggets of this thread and weaving them here. Several of us are holding conversations regarding open conference calls we will hold regarding Stewarding. I will be happy to update people and announce the invitations to join the calls here in the coming months. Lisa</p> Thanks Amanda, for your nice…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-03:4134568:Comment:58532011-02-03T08:56:05.000ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p>Thanks Amanda, for your nice words.</p>
<p>I think what is to find in deeper circle practice is the deeper and subtler listening that we all need in this work, and in how we are moving to the next iteration...</p>
<p>Thanks Amanda, for your nice words.</p>
<p>I think what is to find in deeper circle practice is the deeper and subtler listening that we all need in this work, and in how we are moving to the next iteration...</p> Ria - sending you much gratit…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-03:4134568:Comment:58462011-02-03T05:19:01.000ZAmanda Fentonhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
Ria - sending you much gratitude for sharing this tapestry of conversation. I confess that the art of stewardship is still veiled in mystery for me (I haven't yet read all the documents in the link you provided), but as someone in their early steps in the AoH I loved reading this, particularly Nancy's description... I'm doing nearly the same thing by going into deep learning on each practice. And Tenneson's comment about more circle practice... that holds something for me but I'm not quite…
Ria - sending you much gratitude for sharing this tapestry of conversation. I confess that the art of stewardship is still veiled in mystery for me (I haven't yet read all the documents in the link you provided), but as someone in their early steps in the AoH I loved reading this, particularly Nancy's description... I'm doing nearly the same thing by going into deep learning on each practice. And Tenneson's comment about more circle practice... that holds something for me but I'm not quite sure what it is (but I know the wise one in me knows!). More on Circle Practice and t…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-02:4134568:Comment:58422011-02-02T21:34:27.000ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
More on Circle Practice and the power of Communities of Practice from Tenneson:<br />
<blockquote>A few offerings into it...
<br />
Teresa and I just finished hosting in Boston. As closing reflections I offered something I've been sharing for about a year now. Intended as invitation for people to deepen in, go further. I've been pointing them to circle (yes to PeerSpirit). An "if you like what is here and want to improve your ability, get circle. Get the silence. Get the listening. Get the energetic…</blockquote>
More on Circle Practice and the power of Communities of Practice from Tenneson:<br />
<blockquote>
A few offerings into it...<br />
<br />
Teresa and I just finished hosting in Boston. As closing reflections I offered something I've been sharing for about a year now. Intended as invitation for people to deepen in, go further. I've been pointing them to circle (yes to PeerSpirit). An "if you like what is here and want to improve your ability, get circle. Get the silence. Get the listening. Get the energetic tending. Get the experience of creating a center through which inspiration can arrive." Something like that.<br />
<br />
Whenever I host in OS sessions, I follow the pattern of welcoming, checking in, sharing, harvesting, checking out, closing. Such a good rhythm. I still see aha's from people when they participate. "Oh wait, I get it. You're hosting a circle in this OS learning group. Cool." Fun to see the lights go on.<br />
<br />
Nancy and the NY gang have been big inspirations for me on going from AoH into deeper dives with any of the methods. Yea. Thanks. Over the years, I feel like you've lived and invited CoP that is rich in shared learning. I particularly like how some of you have gone out to learn on behalf of the whole, and then bring it back to share.<br />
<br />
In my local CoP I stewarded a lot and offered four workshops in 2010. These were half-day trainings. Circle. Cafe. Open Space. 12 Principles for Healthy Community Change. And, we began meeting monthly in a Practitioners Circle. The date is always the same -- 3rd Thursday of each month. We have two criteria for meeting. One to meet in circle (welcome, checkin, topic dialogue, harvest, checkout). Two, it must be for applied use (one person's project per month). This is a model I've shared in AoH that Chris, Teresa, Caitlin and I have done the last eight months or so to kick off or strengthen local CoPs in Edmonton, Ottawa, Calgary, Boston -- cool to see it being helpful as one choice to get started. Have been sharing basic invitations, formats, etc. that people can start with and then riff from.<br />
<br />
My energy personally is far more in working the long term change with people, be it in a region for open-enrollment AoH or with a client system. Exploring from the start, 1-2 year plans/choices with them for what we hope is broader skill, capacity, commitment to learning, friendship, and shared work. I'm also finding that my energy is shifting into other aspects of AoH that I'm committing time to learning and experiencing well. One for me is intuitive knowing or intuitive intelligence. Another is consciousness shifting from some of the physics world.<br />
<br />
Wanting to share some of this out, the sparks from this thread. And a bit of a voice from the circle into the center on the excitement here, as well as some of the ideas of possibility.<br />
<br />
Tenneson<br />
</blockquote>
<strong><br />
and a nice overview on Communities of Practice by Teresa:</strong><br />
<blockquote>I think this is a very interesting thread. I do think within our communities of practice we are looking well beyond the initial AoH into several things:
<strong>1) Deeping individual “methods/models” training or experience within a community of Practice.</strong> Looking for a year to 18-month plan for an AoH community that grows skills/practice opportunities and knowledge. It’s not just in “apprenticing on AoHs” that we get that skill/training. Some communities of practice have these skills within, others are needing to go on “out” to find them. What if we are offering 1-2 day sessions on individual processes to help support people getting deeper? What if we’re encouraging local communities of practice to bring in the gifted folks in their own community to help with learning. (Like in Chicago there is a long AI tradition with Imagine Chicago, and great OS talent).<br />
<br />
<strong>2) Strategically using AoH as part of larger change efforts:</strong> seeing where we can be applying these skills in our local context to create change. If this is in an Org Context then growing the team to take those on together. We’re building this capacity in March with the National Park Service and Lauri Prest has done this within Providence care as part of the change leadership capacity. (among other examples)<br />
<br />
<strong>3) Working wiser as a NETWORK</strong> – leaning into the skills/wisdom here. I do think more COPs like the Healthcare one will help us move things within a network and connect the learning. Other constellations are also necessary. I was thinking of some of “domain” expertise each of us has and how we use that. For example talking locally with Domestic Violence shelter and knowing I’d want to have Tuesday as a thinking partner for the “dialogs around prevention.” And Monica Puhlmann around some of the sustainability work, and Chris this last year on fisheries. We’re also connecting around “kids and families” and reducing childhood trauma. It looks so far like Washington, Illinois, and perhaps NY. The domains are very compelling to me as we become “trans-local communities of practice” – and need each others case-stories to drive change. We also need to be making this type of strategic connection.<br />
<br />
YES to intentionally growing COPs at a local level, Yes to individual learning journeys deep into the tools and models, YES to naming the local strategic work and using our web to connect it translocally and make our work more powerful.<br />
<br />
That’s really exciting to me and it really is the “go in” story as we are founding local COPs these days. Just this weekend Massachusetts and Vermont started their COPs. We’ll be working with them in alignment with this framework.<br />
<br />
Love Teresa</blockquote> Hunger for the next - more of…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-02:4134568:Comment:58312011-02-02T18:46:37.000ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<strong>Hunger for the next - more of Circle Practice</strong> - the message from Tenneson:<br />
<blockquote>The hunger for that next is strong in me also. It shows up in many of the beginnings now. As intention. As need. Similar to Nancy has spoken, my experience has been to recommend more circle practice. I feel that if people can get that, the stillness, the deliberateness, the conditions for life to flow through -- then it is easier to take other practices to a deeper level.
<br />
I have also given…</blockquote>
<strong>Hunger for the next - more of Circle Practice</strong> - the message from Tenneson:<br />
<blockquote>The hunger for that next is strong in me also. It shows up in many of the beginnings now. As intention. As need.
Similar to Nancy has spoken, my experience has been to recommend more circle practice. I feel that if people can get that, the stillness, the deliberateness, the conditions for life to flow through -- then it is easier to take other practices to a deeper level.<br />
<br />
I have also given much attention to CoP in the last year. To get a rhythm of meeting that is focused on one project per time. That has worked well to deepen relationship in service to specific projects.<br />
<br />
All simple. All learned and strengthened with support from many of the mates here.<br />
<br />
Tenneson</blockquote>
<br />
And I know that it is getting kind of long, but this is information that is really at play, and gives a sense of what is living right now in the community.<br />
So, next one is Lina, offering a <strong>practical proposal</strong>, sending her message from Argentina, but...<br />
<blockquote>Speaking for Chicago / Illinois, we are very interested in deepening our practice here to respond to demand and to expand our reach. We are eager to build our CoP and learn with others.
As our respective CoPs grow across the globe, I propose that we take advantage of the World Cafe's Virtual Cafe capacity - via Maestro. I believe it would be a very effective way for us to meet, be in the same inquiry and deepen our respective & collective understanding and practice.<br />
<br />
Abrazos del sur<br />
Lina</blockquote>
<br />
More on the Community of Practice, by Jerry:<br />
<blockquote>Hello Stephen and mates,
Thank you to all for this thread of exploration opened by Stephen. Much has been offered and the sharing has been helpful as we explore similar questions here in Minnesota. We are developing a CoP associated with an initiative called InCommons. 34 people participated in an AoH in January (co-hosted by Toke, Tuesday and me) and 30 more will participate in April (to be co-hosted by Toke, Monica, Tuesday and me). All participants are committed to engaging their communities in dialogues on issues of local concern. We expect this community of hosts to grow in the coming years. It is hoped that over time how conversations take place in Minnesota will shift – much like Columbus - Ohio. To help sustain the effort and maintain a degree of integrity a small group of stewards is emerging. This group is exploring what it means to be a steward, how they can be of service to the larger InCommons initiative and to the hosting practitioners. They are also exploring ways to support and deepen the co-learning of the practitioners from the AoH trainings by holding webinars, conference calls, and one-day trainings that explore at a deeper level specific practices like circle or Theory U or others.<br />
<br />
In addition, another 40+ people in Minnesota have participated in AoH/AoPL (Art of Participatory Leadership) trainings and 30+ in South Dakota. It is possible another 39+ will participate in an AoH this year in South Dakota. So, our community is growing. Which also brings in questions of how we can connect these various practicing and learning groups into a regional CoP. We are also working with participants in AoPL training that Chris, Ginny and I are doing in Minnesota to support and strengthen their use of practices at the local level by offering shorter one or two-day trainings to introduce AoH to local colleagues. We have several of these scheduled.<br />
<br />
Finally we are committed to building the capacity in our little region of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to be able to co-host AoH trainings ourselves. At the January AoH that Toke, Tuesday and I co-hosted we had 5 apprentice hosts. In April Toke, Monica, Tuesday and I will work with four of those apprentice hosts and 2-4 more. These apprentice hosts will be invited to continue there learning as hosts at the one-day introduction activities mentioned above.<br />
<br />
So, I welcome joining in this exploration and hope our experiences and learnings here on the prairies can contribute in some small way and that we can co-learn from all of you as we travel this journey. As we explore this thread, one area I am interested in and writing about is the Art of Hosting worldview. I am interested in deepening our understanding beyond the living systems (natural sciences) to include human sciences (postmodernism). Many people that are familiar with the dialogic practices that I introduce to Art of Hosting tell me that what really makes a difference for them is the wholeness of AoH and that it brings together the practices into a way of being, seeing and practicing in the world.<br />
<br />
Thank you Nancy for sharing your journey and to all for reminding us of the importance of deepening our own learning. Your journey is much like mine. I too, after years of practicing World Café and then participating in a weeklong Otto Sharmer workshop, sought to deepen my practice. That led me to my first AoH in Gold Lake in 2006, to a 3-day OST training with Lisa Heft, a 4-day Appreciative Inquiry training, the Circle Practicum with Christina and Ann and now a deep exploration into Compassionate Listening.<br />
<br />
In peace,<br />
jerry - <a href="http://www.meadowlarkinstitute.org" target="_blank">www.meadowlarkinstitute.org</a></blockquote>
(still not finished!) Still from the same date, and…tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-02-02:4134568:Comment:58302011-02-02T18:29:57.000ZRia Baeckhttps://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
Still from the same date, and now relating to one of the first documents written in this AoH community:<br />
<blockquote>Hello Nancy, I really appreciate your wanting to go deeply into the different methodologies - respecting the deeper patterns and assumptions behind each of them.
Knowing the basics well is probably a prerequsite to "improvisation".<br />
<br />
I think that we defined some principles in the Stewards Gathering at the Shire in 2005 - this was one of them. (to be found on…</blockquote>
Still from the same date, and now relating to one of the first documents written in this AoH community:<br />
<blockquote>Hello Nancy,
I really appreciate your wanting to go deeply into the different methodologies - respecting the deeper patterns and assumptions behind each of them.<br />
Knowing the basics well is probably a prerequsite to "improvisation".<br />
<br />
I think that we defined some principles in the Stewards Gathering at the Shire in 2005 - this was one of them. (to be found on <a href="http://artofhosting.ning.com/page/history-and-governance-of-art" target="_self">this page</a>)<br />
<br />
Nurturing stewardship and being a community that learns is for me the most attractive way of stewarding the quality and integrity of AoH. (It appels to me more than systems, definitions & rules etc.)<br />
<br />
So thanks Stephen for starting this thread and thanks for everyone's contributions!<br />
<br />
Monica</blockquote>
<br />
And one more voice to stress the importance of ongoing practice in relation to stewardship - by Toke:<br />
<blockquote>Thank you Nancy and Stephen for your sincere and sustained efforts and ongoing practice for your self and others.
It is - I find too - indeed an ever deepening journey of practice, connecting, understanding, trying it out and falling in love with the inner flow and the basics of the methods and tools... working it all in the fire of real work, for real people and our beautiful planet at this time.<br />
<br />
Loving life within and in all makes it so come alive...</blockquote>
<br />
Other voices who supported this inquiry, and then Nancy again, replying to Monica:<br />
<blockquote>Hi Monica, Yes, I do think that knowing the basics is a pre-requisite to "improvisation." And I do chose "improvisation" and AoH over any single process. And I do wonder what would have been different if there was a local community of practice in place to learn with at the beginning of my journey. And I loved the journey we took. Our community has evolved. I love that about AoH. And the rules and structures don't matter - except if you don't understand that there were rules and structures, you are not appreciating the story and the nuance of a particular practice or methodology.
I love that we are a learning community - experimenting with the edges - filled with purpose and intention -- inviting what wants to come and acting on what we are being called to do at this time in the world. It is about love.<br />
Thank you again Stephen.<br />
Take care.<br />
Nancy</blockquote>
<br />
(a few more!)