Welcome to the monthly Fearless Conversations newsletter - inspiration and tools to help us create a world in which fearless conversations are common in our workplaces, communities, families and friendships.

Enjoy!
Shyrl

In Gratitude for Peace Activists

Are you ever amazed at all of the really good work that is being done in this world? in our cities? in our communities? in our families? Have you ever thought about people who do this good work as peace activists?

Yes - peace activists! I am prompted by James O'Dea who says: "Peace can no longer be reduced to flags, Conceptual peace and cultural diversity symbol of multiracial hands making a circle together on blue sky and green grass background.

Conceptual peace and cultural diversity symbol of multiracial hands making a circle together on blue sky and green grass background.

banners, and protest movements. Peace is the source of health, well-being, skillful mediation, dialogue, conflict resolution, fruitful and productive relationships, empathy, compassion, social justice, genuine freedom, cultural diversity, true democracy, an enlightened local and global governance . . . Today's peace movement has a new imperative: to mirror the change it is looking for in the world and not to wait for others to deliver it."

Peace activism, as we typically think of it, has not changed the fact that we still live in a world that is relentlessly and dangerously polarized. It is not healthy for us to let the state of our world be the measure of our peace-making activity. Outside of the glare of our news media, we have an abundance of stories of peace activists, i.e. people creating peace in our families and relationships, workplaces and communities. Social Body Mind Soul Spirit Word Cloud Concept in red caps with great terms such as harmony life sleep fit and more.

Body Mind Soul Spirit Word Cloud Concept in red caps with great terms such as harmony life sleep fit and more.

media is full of these stories. We have our own stories; wherever we are enjoying peace in our lives, most likely someone has had a hand in its creation: a family member, friend, colleague; someone in a volunteer, professional or mentor role.

From where I stand, Fearless Conversations clients inspire me to think of peace-making activity in educational institutions, service agencies and community organizations. Some examples of their missions are:

~ to create a compassionate and diverse environment

where students develop their voice to prepare for

success in an ever-changing world and be of service

to the local and global community

~ to collaborate for greater impact in delivering high-

quality programming for girls so that they have

access to health education, leadership training and

leadership activities

~ to end hunger and malnutrition by educating and

involving the community; to create a healthy

community where no one goes hungry or has their

life opportunities limited by malnutrition

~ to partner with parents to provide students with the

foundations for life-long learning, a longing for justice

and truth, critical thinking

Children of different races hugging the planet Earth. Picture created with watercolors .

and a desire to serve others

~ to develop students who

become adults whose

knowledge, skills, self-

discipline and sense of

justice are of service to the

world in which they live

~ to develop students who

are fair-minded and reflective

critical thinkers who practice intellectual courage,

humility, empathy, integrity and perseverance

~ to end the causes and cycles of homelessness - one

family at a time; to help homeless families develop

the skills and attitudes necessary to move on to

stable housing and improved personal and economic

self-sufficiency.

Most of the people behind these missions do not think of themselves as "conversational leaders", but I do. They certainly fit the description. They

~ create a climate for discovery

~ evoke and honor diverse perspectives

~ ask powerful questions

~ suspend premature judgment

~ explore assumptions and beliefs

~ embrace ambiguity and not-knowing

~ listen for connections between ideas

~ capture key insights and articulate shared

understanding.

Portrait of confident business people interacting in the office

These are the skills of conversational leadership -

the kind of skills that are typically called "soft skills"

and some-times thought of as less essential to creating and growing successful enterprises. But these skills take intention and practice to develop; they take determination and courage to use. In Fearless Conversations I am honored and grateful to work with people who are developing and using these skills to "mirror the change they are looking for in this world and not waiting for others to deliver it."

Fearless Conversations Retreats

The practice of giving and receiving empathy is central to a Fearless Conversations Retreat. In most workplaces and organizations where I facilitate processes and meetings, people are doing their best to do their jobs, participate in numerous meetings, and interface with their public - all while living the rest of their lives, as well. They tolerate and manage stress coming at them from many directions. It is a gift to take some time away from work to support one another, to give and receive empathy. In a Fearless Conversations Retreat participants learn and practice skills to create openness, trust, enjoyment, ease, kindness and fun together.

Click here for more information.

Thank you for connecting Fearless Conversations with non-profit service organizations, schools, faith communities, small-to-mid-size businesses. Typically, I contract for design and facilitation of visioning or team-building retreats, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, transition planning, design and facilitation of decision-making processes.