Holding Space: Navigating conflict with a generous approach
This two-hour online training is about how to hold space for challenging conversations, problematic comments, ignorance, bias, and divisiveness.
It’s for anyone who leads groups: facilitators, teachers, coaches, and participatory leaders of all kinds
October 4th, 11am-1pm ET
$199 (financial support & group discounts available)
Registration includes: recording, private podcast, and copious follow-up resources
"I learned critical mindset shifts as well as skills that I never would have figured out on my own. I genuinely feel my skillset as a facilitator has been leveled up."
WHAT THIS WORKSHOP IS ABOUT
How can we navigate conflict in a way that honors the harm, doesn’t isolate anyone, and allows the group to move forward in a productive way?
The answer to this question is at the heart of this workshop.
Leading a group through moments of conflict can be deeply challenging because:
Most of us have never seen conflict be well facilitated in a group environment (so we don’t know what good looks like)
We don’t have specific strategies that can work across multiple scenarios, so instead we are constantly looking for the “right thing to say” (which doesn’t exist)
Many of us grew up in cultures or households where conflict was never productive and therefore our main strategy has always been to avoid it at all costs (which...doesn't work)
We also know that conflict is an inevitable part of people working together. When we create spaces where people are participating, sharing their ideas, and actively investing in the outcome, we are also creating spaces where conflict is going to happen.
Holding Space is about the specific tangible strategies you can use no matter what type of session you’re leading to help navigate conflict in a productive way.
THIS SESSION WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND
the mental frameworks that trap us and make it impossible to successfully navigate hot-button moments
how to cultivate mindsets that create a productive foundation for conflict
how to create opportunities for exploration and connection even with personal and political divisiveness
the three-step order of operations for responding to divisive, conflict-activating, or problematic shares
There are no one-size-fits-all-super-secret-code-response to navigating these situations. But there are mindsets and approaches that set us and the group up for success in those moments.
After attending Holding Space, you will be able to respond to challenging conflict in productive, generous, and effective ways that don’t compromise your values or lessen anyone’s humanity in the process.
"This session was so enlightening. As someone who facilitates meetings and always deals with multiple different personalities and feedback types, it was nice to be able to learn some different reframing techniques and ways to connect and find empathy for others."
WHO’S LEADING THE SESSION
Meg Bolger! An expert facilitator, social justice educator, and participatory educator.
Meg has been facilitating for over a decade and is currently the head of Facilitator Cards and POP Facilitation. Meg co-founded numerous projects and businesses including The Safe Zone Project, FacilitatingXYZ, Unlocking the Magic of Facilitation, and Facilitator Cards and spent much of the last decade training trainers from around the country (and world) on the art of facilitation.
Meg’s foundations in facilitation came from her work in social justice education and gender and sexuality workshops. She believes that facilitation is one of the key skills of educators, leaders, organizers, and facilitators who are trying to bring about meaningful change in the world. Her work in social justice spaces also gave her years of navigating hot topics, challenging conversations, and loaded disagreements in group settings.
Meg is passionate about the subtleties of what helps groups work, learn, collaborate, and connect with each other. She loves to break down the art of facilitation into skills that people can use to help humans collaborate, communicate, and connect better together.
Meg believes that as leaders, educators, trainers, and facilitators, we can make our spaces places that people feel good and want to be in. Her mission is to share everything she knows about facilitation to support everyone who is doing meaningful change work in the world.
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?
This workshop is a highly participatory session. In the first half we will be using live polling, breakout rooms, and reflection questions to get everyone engaged and participating.
The second half of the session (after a short mid-point break) will involve a fishbowl, scenario work, large-group discussion, and some time for anonymous Q&A before we wrap up.
This session is limited to 100 participants. We cap at 100 so that we can still do pair-breakout rooms (Zoom limits to 50 breakout rooms) and have lots of meaningful small-group conversations.
The workshop will start right at the hour and we will close the door to the workshop after 10 minutes to ensure that the group has a cohesive learning experience.
"Practical, useful, fun, connective!"
WHO IT’S FOR
Facilitators – Whether you’re in an organization or an outside facilitator, if you work with groups, this is for you!
Coaches – Who want to get better at how to navigate conflict both within a 1:1 coaching capacity and in group settings
Trainers & Consultants - Anyone who is brought in to help groups connect, learn, share, and work better together
Educators & Teachers - If you help people learn in participatory and interactive ways
Leaders & Managers - Who feels stumped by what to do when someone says something that causes a negative chain reaction in the group and want to address it without making it worse
WHEN YOU SIGN UP YOU’LL RECEIVE
After signing up for Holding Space here you’ll receive an email with a link to add it to your calendar and details reminding you about what you can expect in the session.
EXPECTATIONS OF THE SESSION
Be ready to participate! This session is participatory throughout starting off by using the chat and live polling, then two short breakout rooms, as well as journaling and the opportunity to share in the large group.
No late arrivals. Because this is a participatory session that builds on itself quickly after 10 minutes the doors will be shut and those who have not joined yet will not be allowed in.
The session will be recorded and shared. The recording will be focused in the main room, no breakout conversations will be recorded.
After the session you will also receive access to a resource hub that will contain:
A recording of the event that you can access anytime, carefully chaptered to help you jump to key parts
A curated resource of additional material to explore the key concepts and topics (for all types of learners—podcasts, articles, videos, and more!)
A follow-up Q&A video to get to questions we didn’t address during the session (also available to listen to as a private podcast)
You will receive all of these resources regardless if you attend the live session, so if you can’t make the time but want all the things, sign up!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The cost of Holding Space is $199.
INDIVIDUAL ACCESS DISCOUNTS
If you cannot afford the price of the training, we do not want that to be a barrier to accessing the material.
Discounts are available to those who need financial assistance in order to join the training.
TO PAY A DISCOUNTED RATE
Drop us an email (hello@facilitator.cards) and let us know whether you need a 50%, 75% or full scholarship.
GRITTY DETAILS
No refunds after October 1st.
Each registration is for one person only, if there are multiple people at your organization who would like to attend please contact us for group rates, special discounts, or exceptions.
You will receive the follow-up resources, recording, etc. regardless of whether you attend the training and are welcome to sign up specifically for the recording and resources.
STILL NOT SURE IF IT’S FOR YOU?
Feeling a bit wishy-washy? Sign up for our email list to be in touch!
FAQ
Can I come late?
Not really. We close the doors after 10 minutes (so in that sense you can be up to 10 minutes late!) to ensure that the group has a cohesive learning experience.
We get it, life happens, which is why we make each session available via recording as quickly as possible for those who have unexpected delays/hindrances day of.
