Back from facilitating the workshop in Sydney! What inspiring and diverse participants – eight in total: director of education in a tertiary institution; two innovation specialists, three senior strategists, two of whom are also executive coaches; a researcher and writer and a logistics expert. Five of the eight had made career changes: a former airforce officer; a former anaesthetist cum university professor, a former chemist, a former barrister, a community activist.

When invited to say what attracted them to the workshop they offered the following shared themes:

• To gain greater understanding of AI and how I can integrate this into various aspects of my work with individuals and groups.
• Learn how to do it right so that the outcomes for people and organisations (and me!) are realised.
• Looking for practical examples.
• Understand the process of moving through an AI
  “discovery” with the others in the room as well as gaining insight into
  the facilitation process itself.

• Feel comfortable about integrating AI methods/approach in my coaching and facilitation.

What stood out as highlights and common themes following the discovery interviews of a high point in their work:

• creating environments where people can act in a positive way, facilitating challenge, using skills, creating something, making a difference, discovery of skills and unlocking potential, awakening, contribution to something value, creating value for others.

And what they valued about the experience of the discovery interview:

• having my story validated by others, encouragement;
• prompt that reflection on past success should be done more often to feed future growth and success;
• I valued the opportunity to remember my story and to get in touch with how significant it was in my own growth and awakening. It was also uplifting to hear my colleague’s story and to recognise another person’s amazing growth and discovery…
• Time to reflect … the interview was an opportunity to learn about my own experience and then the value is real as it was what had happened. No need to justify or to prove the research….it was re living something real; real listening and appreciation of the story;
• Just a chance to take some time and space; to be able to slow down;
• Sort of acknowledgement, validation as well as delight in the fact that the important bits were successfully communicated and understood. Being present when people are experiencing positive emotion seems to itself create the atmosphere of creativity and potential;
• Sense of one’s self at a higher place.
• Reinforced the worth of my work, realisation that I can make a difference, am positive about the next stage;
• I was happy to find that that someone else could see the value in the story I was telling. I was also moved by the story that was narrated to me because it had simpatico vibes for me;
• Opportunity to get closer to a new friend;
• I felt uplifted, positive, a sense of something greater than myself, encouraged;
• The simple sharing of stories and having a conversation of personal experiences.

This caring group of eight individual professionals identified their positive core as

• not leaving their heart at the gate, shared endeavour, valuing and encouraging people, passion, sense of purpose; collectively working in a relationship of trust and creating an environment where people can learn.

The wishes expressed to realise the dream workplace in 10 years time included:

• Happy place;
• Positively focused collaboration;
• Flexibility, trust, fulfillment;
• I wish for people to have the time and space to appreciate their fellows, share understanding and grow together;
• Camaraderie, energy and meaningful work;
• New directions by collaborative design and sharing leadership;
• Work which is in line with my deeper purpose.

Here are some responses to the question: What do feelings of joy bring out in you, as you work, play and relate to others? Where do you feel joy in your body?

• Song in the heart literally!
• Lightness of body and mind, easing and reduced tension of muscles.
• I feel joy in my face and in my core – feel light and happy – almost floating.
• A satisfaction and tiredness with the inner glow.
• A lightness and warmth in the gut.
• More ideas, alive and invincible.
• Overall heightened sense of well being.
• Relaxation, ease.
• Feeling joy – lightness, feel it in your chest/heart – breathe deeper, feelings of warmth, connected.
• Heightened connectivity of ideas and concepts firing at a faster rate.
• Relieved; stress makes you smile and be animated. Feel it in your face, feel warm.
• Jumping for joy – literally I feel like expressing myself physically – like a child jumping up and down with glee.

The collaborative software platform we use facilitates the capturing, sharing and sense making of all participants’ ideas in a generative way.

What becomes clearer to me each time is how valuable the technolgy is, not only to capture participants own words and feelings throughout the workshop as shared above, but especially when it comes time to do the operational, more linear tasks as well, such as creating provocative propositions, making the topic selection and creating the interview protocol.

As an example of the latter, the task was: (1)Take your selected topic; (2) create a “lead-in” statement and (3) write two affirming questions to elicit “high peak” experiences related to the topic and the lead-in statement just created. The tool truly facilitates this process elegantly.

Teams worked on these three steps and in a very short time produced three excellent interview protocols. Using the technology provides a focussed energy augmenting teamwork, the co-creative process and the desire to share and contribute.

At the end of our two-day workshop, when invited to express how they will introduce AI into their work and personal life these views were recorded.

• Hope as the lead-in.
• AI frame will help my work with groups facing challenges.
• Taking a refreshed / fresh perspective and positive approach.
• Make a real difference, new approach that may engage people.
• Satisfaction to add (not deficient thinking).
• Discovering and deploying strengths, both active and dormant.
• Growth and benefit to all concerned a real positive experience of life through a new way of seeing and being.
• An approach that I can draw upon to help move groups forward in a positive, generative way.