Using the "Circle Way" conversation method in practice

How to use "The Circle Way" conversation method in practice

Circle work exists in all cultures. It can be transferred to organizations and societies with great effect. The Communication Guides' Learning Map No. 9 contains everything you need to know to apply the PeerSpirit - The Circle Way conversation method in your daily practice.

Even our ancestors sat in a circle around a campfire and shared their knowledge, experiences and stories. Over the centuries, the circle has become a place where people listen, think and express their creativity together.
In this tradition, the participants in "The Circle Way" sit together - decelerated and held together by the circle, which as a social container creates space for meaningful conversations.
20 years ago, the writer and seminar leader Christina Baldwin and the naturalist and environmental education teacher Ann Linnea met in a professional writing seminar. When they invited participants to sit in a circle, something unexpected happened: passive individuals became an active group in the blink of an eye.
This experience motivated Baldwin and Linnea to bring the circle into modern language and application: Today, "PeerSpirit - The Circle Way" is the basis for a growing number of methods, all of which are based on the circle form: "World Café", "Open Space", "Art of Hosting", "Dialogue according to David Bohm" and many more.

The circle as the original form of group processes

When people form a circle from chairs, they activate a primal form, an archetype. Archetypes are universal mystical symbols that have a deep meaning. This archetype is the special power of "The Circle Way" as a conversation approach. The Circle Way uses three different principles and practices.

The 3 principles of the Circle Way

• Sharing leadership
  Each person makes a contribution by taking on the role of leading the discussion, taking the minutes or acting as a "process guardian" at certain stages.
• Sharing responsibility
  Each person is responsible both for the results and for the success of the process.
• Seeking wholeness
  When the desire to achieve the common goal is greater than the desire for personal success, the group develops wisdom, creativity and new possibilities.

The 3 practices

• Listen attentively
  Participants consciously focus on what someone is saying. This connects thinking and empathy - the mind tries to understand and the heart tries to connect.
• Intentional speaking
  Conversations focus on stories and information that have heart and meaning. Intentional speaking means: avoid lecturing and judgment.
• Contributing to the wellbeing of the group
  All participants are invited to use a mental checklist before contributing to the conversation.
  • Is this the right moment to contribute?
  • Am I speaking with an attitude that signals a willingness to collaborate?
  • What is my body telling me?
  • How do I articulate my truth in neutral language?
  • Can I speak with integrity without violating the integrity of the group?
  • How should the group benefit from my contribution at this moment?

The center

Similar to a bicycle, where the spokes are aligned with the hub, each person directs their opinion towards the center. In this way, others can agree or disagree with something and still continue to listen. The center can be a symbolic object such as a mission statement, a candle or a photo.

The 3 roles

• Host
  The host ensures that all participants know why they have come together: What is the topic? What is the main focus? Who is participating and why? During the discussion, the host helps to keep the agreements and the topic in focus. He pays attention to emerging topics, invites active participation and reminds the group that everyone is jointly responsible for achieving the goal. The host does not moderate the process and does not take on an expert role.
• Process guardian
  The process guardian keeps an eye on the energy, time and focus of the circle. For example, they signal when breaks are necessary. The process guardian can interrupt the process to slow down a conversation or to (re)focus on the intention. During a pause, the process guardian explains why they have taken a break without assigning blame. "I remind you of our topic" is neutral language. "You're way off topic," is assigning blame.
• Writer
  Depending on the intention of a circle, it can be useful for someone to document the main ideas of a discussion in words or pictures. This can be done on a flipchart, with an iPad or on a notepad.

The "Circle Way" process