Conflict facilitation with groups, organizations and communities

Process Work's innovative approach to facilitating groups, organizations and communities is based on the concept of "deep democracy." Deep democracy extends usual democratic practices by recognizing that the inherent wisdom and creativity of any group is able to flourish when all the diverse voices and viewpoints have the freedom to express themselves. In today's turbulent world, a simple majority rule--one that marginalizes dissent and minority opposition--is no longer possible. As we well know, such marginalization wreaks havoc upon communities and ultimately upon our world.

Process Work facilitation takes many forms and is applied in various arenas:

• Worldwork and diversity training for groups and communities
• Organizational development
• Open forum and town hall meetings
• Conflict facilitation and mediation for couples, families and groups

Links to books and articles

Worldwork and diversity training for groups and communities

Worldwork is a philosophy, theory and methodology for promoting transformation and social change that focuses on the dynamics of rank and power between individuals and groups. Social change and cultural transformation can only come about through profound changes in awareness. Worldwork methods combine consciousness raising, education and inner work. The method has been applied in multi-cultural setting around the world.

“Rank is a drug. The more you have, the less aware you are of how it effects others negatively.”

Arnold Mindell

Organizational development

Process-oriented facilitation methods are designed to help organizations, business groups and corporations access their inherent collective intelligence and creative potential. Working on conflict and diversity issues within businesses and corporations has been proven effective in helping such groups to realize their deepest visions and meet and surpass their creative, financial and productivity goals.

“For organizations, communities and nations to succeed today and survive tomorrow, they must be deeply democratic—that is, everyone and every feeling must be represented. Deep democracy is awareness of the diversity of people, roles, and feelings and a guesthouse attitude towards whatever comes to the door of one's attention… Changes… do not work for long if we ignore our deepest feelings about the issues… Future governments can only succeed with awareness of feelings and dreams…”

Arnold Mindell

Open Forum and Town Hall meetings

Open Forum is a structured and facilitated space and time for part of (or the whole of) an organization or community to meet, with the intention to resolve conflicts and create community. It differs from standard "town hall meetings." In addition to being a linear, rational, problem-solving format, it includes and even encourages the expression of strong emotions such as anger, revenge, grief, love, despair and hope. Open Forum can happen in any type of business, organization or group. In a corporate environment, Open Forum might resemble a structured, mediated dialogue whereas in a political or social activist group, Open Forum might have more non-linear and emotional features. Open forum provides an opportunity for a group to get to know itself, including the diversity, ideas and feelings of its members. It is a form of preventative medicine--an opportunity to uncover disturbances before they become intractable, full-fledged problems.

“History is the story of the struggle between difference and sameness, diversity and oneness. Most of us are not aware enough of diversity in consensus reality or sufficiently lucid of our common Dreaming.”

Arnold MIndell

Conflict facilitation and mediation for couples families and groups

Process oriented facilitation offers a powerful and effective set of tools that can help create real understanding, even in the midst of seemingly intractable problems. While many conflict resolution procedures encourage rational calm discussion, this method supports and encourages the expression of strong emotions. We learn that by staying with the heat of intense emotion we can transform conflict and make our opponents into allies.

“I myself am… into blame and revenge; also I've found that self-righteousness is very comforting. But Jesus is quite clear on this point. He does not mince words. He says you even have to love the whiners, the bullies, and the people who think they're better than you…”

Anne Lamott