Shaping a Vibrant Culture in Our Organization & Broader World:
Reflective Leadership & Communication Tools
Available in person or via Zoom
Description:
“Why are we struggling with our employee engagement strategies?”
“Because culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
- Recent conversation among Catholic healthcare leaders.
It is not uncommon for the staff of organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of the community, especially the lives of the most marginalized, to struggle with compassion fatigue, engagement, and connection with mission. The rise of hyper-polarization and radicalization has led to personal relational breakdowns among families, colleagues, and broader social bonds among diverse groups. For caregivers, these realities can further exacerbate existing feelings of burnout and disengagement.
“Shaping a Vibrant Culture” offers a soulful response. The reflective workshop (1) deepens staff engagement with the organizational mission and (2) equips them with reflective intra-personal and inter-personal skills that make them more effective channels of this understanding and hope. Prior participants report 6 key benefits:
1. Boosts in employee engagement and team resilience. People emerge with a powerful sense of community and connection with one another.
2. Greater meaning & connection to the overall organizational ministry and mission.
3. Enhanced leadership skills.
4. Actionable techniques for navigating conflict and community polarization.
5. Enhanced therapeutic presence and interventions with clients (among physicians, nurses, social workers, and mental health counselors.)
6. Transformations in work relationships. Participants also express gratitude for the breakthroughs in longstanding struggles that they’ve had with families; some share it’s helped them with their marriages and other familial bonds.
The skills are rooted in:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Social Psychology
- Empathy Studies
- Conflict Mediation Research
- Adult Pedagogy
The workshop has received high acclaim from leaders and staff of government departments, nonprofit boards, and healthcare teams.
It is also available for professional continuing education for physicians, mental health counselors, and social workers, and is typically offered over the course of five 2-hour sessions or as two 1-day reflective in-services (separated by weeks or months for integrative purposes). We adapt the content and timeframe according to organizational needs and scheduling rhythms.
Facilitated by Brent Anderson, M.Div., BCC.
Reflections from participants
I gained a lot of insight into my tendencies when reacting to conflict and have taken steps to become a better listener. That has led to deeper connections with people who appreciate being heard instead of being "corrected." I contracted with Healing Divisions to bring this to our braoder leaership team. - Tony Turano, Commissioner of Cattaraugus County Social Services
Everyone in healthcare could benefit from this process. I’ve already shared a number of the tools with my colleagues! - Nursing Leader
This has transformed the way I talk to clients and groups about their emotions. - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
This has really improved my relationship with my spouse. Having the awareness of how our neurological defensive responses can so quickly get activated and prompt us to assume less than noble intentions... this helped us tremendously in breaking out of the "stuckness" of our usual patterns.
The (workshop) was timely...due to the polarization we've experienced in our culture, as we continue in the service and accompaniment of our parish community with their diverse needs... Very practical relational tools for healing divisions.
- Deacon David Lansford, Monterey Diocese, Third Order Franciscan
In a world filled with so much divisiveness and a lack of civility, it is important to hone skills for slowing down, listening, and inviting understanding and dialogue. The openness, sharing, and connection among all the participants helped in understanding and appreciating the skills shared in this retreat. I highly recommend this retreat and look forward to sharing the experience with our staff.
- Sr. Margaret Magee, Congregational Minister (Executive Leader) of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, which has nearly 200 sisters who have founded hospitals, retreat centers, schools, & social service ministries around the world.
Tailored Programs for your Organization
If your organization, department, or church is struggling with discord and ways of relating that are less than ideal, the retreat provides a profound shared experience that builds connection and common ground. It also provides communal tools that groups can immediately apply and intentionally cultivate on an ongoing basis for relating in ways that are more lifegiving, reverential, and positive. If your group is interested in learning more about a tailored retreat offering from Healing Divisions for team building or conflict resolution, please don't hesitate to reach out.