4. Guided Journaling
At a glance
Guided Journaling.©GIZJournaling is a practice for reflection. Participants are given time for individual reflection on a specific set of questions, taking a notebook/paper and a pen.
Purpose
Guided journaling leads participants through a process of self-reflection that follows the U-process, reflecting on their current situation in life and work and increasing awareness of future possibilities.
Outcome
A higher level of self-knowing, deeper understanding of who they are as a leader. Overview of questions they are holding and a list of concrete action steps.
Set-up
·Ask participants to take pen and paper and sit comfortably, in silence.
·If participants are sitting very close to one another they can find another place in the room if they prefer (as long as they can hear the questions).
Process
·Ask participants not to write down the question itself but just to start writing their response withoutthinking too much about it.
·Read out the first reflective question and give 2 minutes for writing.
·Move to the next question when you sense that most of the group are ready. Don’t give participants too much time. It is important for them to get into a flow and not think too much.
·Give a moment for people to read through their answers at the end, and to highlight the words/sentences that give them energy.
·Ask for some plenary reflections.
·Distribute a print-out of the questions if needed or desirable.
·The impact of this practice increases when followed by a dialogue walk, an empathic conversation and/or a moment of silence.
Principles
·The journaling should be done in silence and in a quiet, safe space, without distractions from outside.
·The journaling is personal, participants do not need to share/show their answers unless they want to.
·Journaling is not a mental practice; it is best to avoid rational questions that require analytical thinking.
Resources and References
https://www.presencing.org/#/resource/tools/guided-journaling-desc
5. Dialogue walk
At a Glance
Participants go outdoors, in pairs or groups of maximum 3, preferably in nature, for a 30 to 60-minute walk.
Each participant gets the opportunity to extensively “sense into” and speak to a reflective question that was given by the facilitators, without being interrupted by the other(s).
Purpose
A dialogue walk is a tool to engage in listening, inquiry and generative conversation.
Uses and Outcome
Can be used at any moment during the whole program when there is a need for listening, inquiry and generative conversation, or simply for a moment outside of the meeting room.
Set-up
Present a reflective question, for example:
- “What is the threshold situation you are facing in your life and work right now?”
- “Share 2-3 defining moments or people that shaped you as a leader.”
- “What are 3 challenges/opportunities in your life and work that require you to change?”
·Explain the process and principles (see below).
·Explain where people can go for a walk and tell them the time to be back in the room.
Process
·Participants find a partner they don't know yet or haven’t engaged much with so far.
·Pairs/triads go outside and note the time at which the dialogue walk starts.
·The first person talks for 15-20 minutes.
·First briefly share some background information (where he/she grew up, some essential elements of her/his life story).
·Then speak to the question.
·Then they switch.
·After both/all three people have spoken, they can reflect on how the process was for each of them.
·Facilitator asks for some plenary reflection and insights when everyone is back in the room.
Principles
·Practice deep listening: one of the most effective interventions in dialogue is to not interrupt and be present.
·Suspend opinions and judgment: listen in order to look at the situation through the eyes of the other(s)
·Practice generative conversation: don't interrupt with rational questions, opinions or references to yourself.
·Allow moments of silence.
·Ask only questions that invite the other to go deeper into his/her story and its potential.