Process Alchemy

1. "The Human Side of Starting Up a Project." What does it mean to start up a new project with new people, build a new community? There's steps and there's the psychology and sociology of new groups? Some points: - Balancing getting to know each other and focusing on the content. - The story is more important than individuals, people come and people go - Support the dream, it's not about pleasing or scrutinizing people. - Define what makes your initiative different. - Start now, so you lead by example. - And how inclusive do you want to be? - Some pitfalls that weaken projects. NB: Floris will share his insights and experiences and invite others to share theirs (if there's time and space for it, if not then invite participants to take the discussion to lunch or dinner to dig in their own experiences and share their biggest insights) 2. "Process Alchemy" How to facilitate group processes? This will be a showcase of different tools and approaches, like process design, rituals, large group interventions. Discover indigenous tools such as campfire talks to talking sticks, the role of opening and closing rituals. Facilitator skills, you may divide among others. We'll mention World Café, Open Space, Theory U, and (if time allows) more. And we'll discuss the natural roles of participants in transitional cultures. The importance of diversity, over everyone agreeing all the time. And how our survival strategies influence our behaviour in groups, making mass agreement often impossible.