This participatory workshop introduces tools, techniques, and practices that equip teams of all sizes. Through practical activities we will demonstrate the power of building openness, understanding and trust among team members, and how these elements can be grown and sustained over time. From simple check-ins through to powerful tools such as non-violent communication and consent-based decision making in forming teams that are effective, empathetic, and empowering. Participants, who do not require any prior knowledge, will leave the session with approaches that they can use immediately in roles as activists, in the workplace, and as citizens participating in wider society.
As experienced workshop facilitators, both online and offline, and with a decade of experience of attending and running sessions at MozFest, we feel we are well-equipped to deal with varying numbers of participants. As part of co-operative networks, we plan to have a number of participants who are already known to us who can help run breakout groups should we have more than 18 participants. If fewer than 3 participants attend the session, we would pivot to more of a facilitated discussion model, helping participants with their specific needs.
What is the goal and/or outcome of your session?:- learn ways to communicate more effectively through active listening and speaking more clearly
- learn to be more confident and comfortable to be able to express your own needs and discover the right course of action
- leaving you with a simple memorable format which can be used to signal a different kind of meeting, and negotiate difficult conversations
- appreciate other people’s needs and the shared needs of the group
This workshop is the first step on a journey, and so while we don’t expect everyone to master every communication instantly (sorry, it doesn’t work that way!), we know from experience that using these techniques has many long term benefits.
We're hoping that many efforts and discussions will continue after Mozfest. Share any ideas you already have for how to continue the work from your session.:We’ve enquired with Chad Sansing, and been given the go-ahead to create a channel in the MozFest Slack channel. That will be a place for participants to come together before, during, and after the session to keep in touch, share ideas, and enquire about next steps. We are currently working to create an alumni community of work in this area which we would like to invite participants interested in discussing this over the longer-term.
We will check both before and during the session about accessibility and inclusion requirements that might affect any decisions we make as a group to keep in touch with one another.
I'm an Open Strategist with a deep background in education and organisational change. In other words, I'm an educator, technologist, researcher, and advocate for openness and transparency.
Abi is an organiser within Outlandish. She focusses her time in improving communication across teams, clients & partners with a view to improving effectiveness, happiness and ability to have an impact.