A Circle is a Different Kind of Process
Circles create an environment where vulnerability and honesty provide a conduit for deeper understanding, improved communication, and greater synergy among the group.
What are Circles?
When people gather in facilitated circles to talk, it allows for a different kind of conversation. Circles are spaces to speak honestly and listen compassionately—where we experience one another as fellow human beings and not as adversaries, titles, or stereotypes.
Bringing people together in Circle tends to:
Shift power dynamics by honoring all voices equally
Promote a different way of listening and being listened to
Build stronger, more trusting groups
Cultivate each participant’s unique talents, knowledge and experiences
Enhance a sense of community and belonging
Circles Create Something Powerful.
By creating more inclusive environments, Circles have been proven to boast foundational, key elements that increase productivity and profitability and ensure your company’s success over time.
A Circle starts with shared agreement to specific guidelines and values. It typically ascribes to consensus-based decision-making, yet remains flexible to group needs throughout Agreements in place, it becomes a protected space where every participant has the opportunity to speak, without interruption, correction, or cross-talk. In a Circle, everyone listens, and everyone who chooses to can speak—one at a time. Every voice is equal.
A circle alters the dynamics of a typical workplace meeting. It isn’t the place for premeditated speeches. Rather, it allows for increased presence and engagement.
Circles allow the development of various skill sets: a way for introverts to practice taking up space and extroverts to notice how much space they usually hold. Due to its pacing, and by design, a Circle lends itself to proactively building community and to repair when conflict arises.
In a multicultural society, Circles provide room for various languages, customs, and whole selves—a space where emotional intelligence can blossom.
Circles create an environment where vulnerability and honesty provide a conduit for deeper understanding, improved communication, and greater synergy among the group.
“As an introvert, I was nervous about joining the Circle group. Anne’s ability to humbly lead and deeply listen created a safe space to promote mindful and respectful dialogue. I am grateful to her for helping me sharpen my voice.”
—Quyen Nguyen Catania, Physical Therapist III, Kennedy Krieger Institute
What Can Circles Offer Your Company?
Graymake’s programs provide valuable tools and a common language for making the workplace safer, more fulfilling, and more productive. We’ve seen how incorporating and facilitating Circle processes makes it easier for management, teams, and employees to:
Talk about the “hard stuff”
Make difficult decisions
Problem-solve, innovate, and ideate
Work through differences
Transform conflict into an opportunity for growth
Restore trust among members
Circles create an environment for employees to express themselves and grow in relation to one another. Those affected by conflict achieve understanding and identify ways to make things right. Everyone moves forward together.