Groundwork: the art of preparing the field for collaboration that matters

Introductory workshop, 9 January 2017, Brisbane, Australia

"Just as every good farmer focuses all his attention on sustaining and enhancing the quality of the soil, every good organisational leader focuses all her attention on sustaining and enhancing the quality of the social field that she is responsible for."
Otto Scharmer
 
How do we prepare and organise for powerful collaboration?

What practices and principles can create the right conditions for collaboration that matters?
 
Collaboration may be in fashion but we are long past the time for just thinking or talking about it. So many issues in our lives demand that actually collaborate, and do it relatively well. While this is clear, the process of organising and collaborating is experienced by many of as difficult, slow and ineffective, particularly if the group is large. So how do we go about changing this?

This introduction to Groundwork looks at the nature of organising and collaborating. It uncovers the foundations of powerful collaboration by exploring a practice through which we cultivate the conditions that support people to self-organise and do their best work together. It all starts from there for as Otto Scharmer says, the quality of the field determines the quality of the yield.
 
The workshop will be hosted by James Ede, Mel Geltch and Penny Hamilton
 
When:         9am-5pm Monday 9 January 2017

Where:       Former NDS Innovation Hub
                     Level 1, Lutwyche Shopping Centre
                     543 Lutwyche Rd, Lutwyche BRISBANE
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Contact:      mel@purposepartners.com.au, tel: 0400 412 498
 
Cost:           From 16 December 2016
                    $350 (+GST) full fee
                    $275 (+GST) for students and others with low income
                    The price includes meals, materials and a digital practice guide.
​                    If the fee is a barrier to your participation, please get in touch.

Discounts are available if you register for the Graphic Facilitation workshop
on 10 January 2017.

• Please fill out the registration form online, or download a printable version
• ​Download the fee structure for all workshops
• Download the full invitation

We invite you to join us in exploring Groundwork and the nature of organisation and collaboration in your own context

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More about Groundwork

The purpose this workshop is to support each other in building our shared capacity to collaborate more effectively and with more powerful results. We will identify some of the elements of Groundwork practice through a framework called the Foundations of Powerful Collaboration. Using this framework we will explore principles, practices and tools that can support us in practising Groundwork more consciously.
 
The practice of Groundwork is about much more than just being well-organised. It can be practiced at the individual, team and organisational level and in all cases, it invites a focus on that which is less visible or that happens underground, below the surface. This includes: 

• the ongoing work of developing the self, the interior condition of each individual and the strengthening of personal and collective leadership.
• a focus on quality of relationships and hosting or tending to the social field.
• holding the bigger perspective while defining and navigating long-term purpose and strategy.

 
The introduction will cover: 

• How to build a solid foundation for powerful collaboration?
• What if we could practice more harmonious ways of organising ourselves, each other and the work that matters?
• How to invite others in a humane, real and artful way?
• How to create inspired and connected teams committed to creating meaningful impact?
• What are good stories of application that can inspire and strengthen our work? 
  
  

This introduction is for people who work with other people - which is most of us. This particular workshop will have a specific focus on working with process, participation and engagement.

Groundwork was first offered as a training in Denmark in May, 2016, after a 4 year exploration by James Ede, Toke Paludan Moeller and Rowan Simonsen. We are inviting a one-day workshop to Australia, the first outside Denmark.

The workshop will be hosted by:
James Ede is a Learning Host and partner in Status Flow, a consultancy offering process design, facilitation and capacity building for organisations within the fields of leadership, learning, communication and collaboration. James’ interest in Groundwork stems from his experience of working with teams and from collaborating to host events, conferences and conversations that matter. James lives with his partner Anne and their daughter in Copenhagen, Denmark.
 
Mel Geltch is a participatory process designer, host and harvester, and partner in Purpose Partners, working for wiser action. Mel is passionate about building the capacity of herself and others to live and work with purpose and authenticity, and supporting the development of sustainable organisations and communities. She loves working in places where everyone is valued, free to learn, take responsibility and have fun. Mel attended the first Groundwork training in Denmark in 2016, and is inspired by the conscious practice of organising for collaboration, impact and sustainability. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.
 
Penny Hamilton is a host and process designer. Her core work is to create and hold spaces for people to have a voice, explore possibilities, build capacity and discover creative ways to do good work together. Penny’s role at UnitingCare sees her coordinating and hosting events and conversations to support organisational transformation. Her interest in Groundwork grows from knowing what it takes to co-create opportunities such as workshops, storytelling symposiums, innovation challenges, learning opportunities and meetings with intention and purpose.  She lives in Brisbane, Australia.