Recently, we held our first offerings of Genuine Contact workshop modules online. The Path to Organizational Health and Balance was facilitated by Dalar International Consultancy Associates Laura Bolton and David Bolton, and this week, Achieving Organizational Health and Balance was facilitated by Dalar team members Laura Bolton, Rachel Assuncao, and myself. The Path is a great workshop for those interested in an orientation to a holistic approach to organizational success and the resulting benefits from such an approach. It allows participants to determine if they discern benefit in adopting a holistic approach for their organizations. And of course it provides some simple, easily duplicable tools. Achieving Organizational Health and Balance allows participants to explore the current state of health of an organization and in developing a plan for achieving and maintaining a healthy organization in these rapidly changing times.
After much debate about whether genuine contact could be achieved in an online workshop environment, we have come to believe that it can. In March, we as a team had our first go at leading an online workshop when we led Strategic Planning the Genuine Contact way. I discovered that I, who had been against online workshops, loved facilitating in this environment with people from around the world who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to be together. And again three weeks ago, we led a learning intensive for fellow Genuine Contact professionals meeting together for three full days in an online Summer Academy. The reports of a lot of learning and a wonderful experience were expressed by most of the sixteen participants. Over the days, participants developed different techniques to spend so much time in an online experience of deep listening with one another. Some used a Bluetooth connection, allowing them to walk around; others lounged on sofas or in easy chairs, or bounced on exercise balls. There were plenty of tea breaks, and a one-hour lunch break daily that was intended to be completely computer free, preferably out in nature doing some form of exercise. One participant who really does not like computer time spent his lunch hours swimming to get ready for the second session of the day. People basically did a good job of managing their personal energy.
And so, as we go forward into future online Genuine Contact program workshops, we anticipate a lot of learning, great conversations, personal energy management, and great benefit to all involved. We are committed to this medium for offering accessible learning opportunities.
