+ What is “Convening”?

Craig Neal, Originator and Lead Author of The Art of Convening book, believes Convening is different from facilitation. By definition, facilitation is “the process of making things easy or easier.” Conveners invite participants to co-create the highest possible outcome for a meeting or gathering.

This program offers exciting updates from life and professional experiences over the past 10 years since publication of the book in 2011, and 17 years since founding the Art of Convening trainings.

+ What are the outcomes?

• Deepen your knowledge: You will gain a solid foundation in Convening principles & practices required to become a confident Convener both virtually and in-person.
• Strengthen your practice: You will have a clear understanding of how to apply the nine Aspects of the Convening Wheel as a practical pathway to bring authentic engagement to the meetings, gatherings, and conversations you lead.
• Integrate: you will have a greater sense of how to integrate your inner journey with
• Grow your leadership capacity: Leadership is an inside game. Learn the foundations of great leadership.
• Influence: You will increase your capacity to step out into the world in a more powerful way to inspire maximum creativity and innovation. Build new “muscles” of listening, collaboration, leadership.
• Join our leadership community: You will become part of a collaborative learning community of other professionals dedicated to supporting your work in the world sharing best practices and practical learnings.

+ Syllabus

Each session will engage multiple intelligences and surface deeper wisdom: intellectual, emotional, conversational. Each session includes: interactive breakout sessions and reflective exercises, as well as corresponding videos, convening exercises & journaling questions from the Art of Convening book, polling and assessment.

Session 1

Introduction to the Convening Wheel: At the Heart of the Matter Design of the Training: An Overview

Session 2

Convening Wheel Aspects: Clarifying Intent & Invitation The purpose Napkin Test

Session 3

Convening Wheel Aspects: Setting Context & Creating the Container Principles of Conversation Assessment, Your Case Study, Creating Safe Spaces

Session 4

Convening Wheel Aspect: Hearing All The Voices Your Purpose in Action: Case Study Presentations

Session 5

Convening Wheel Aspect: Essential Conversation Your Purpose in Action, Case Study presentations

Session 6

Convening Wheel Aspect: Creation
Your Purpose in Action, Case Study presentations

Session 7

Convening Wheel Aspect: Commitment to Action Your Purpose in Action: Case Study presentations Synthesis, Principles of Conversation Assessment, Completion

+ What are the training features?

• Pre and Post Assessments- A thorough survey of skills and desired outcomes that measures growth and potential (Core)
• Participant Toolkit:
  • Training syllabus and teaching materials
  • The Art of Convening book or e-version
• Online learning platform
• Curriculum: overview of the AoC Book, course readings, journaling combined with an exploration of the practices, principles, challenges and successes of convening
• Interactive exercises designed to maximize collaborative learning and application-
• Applied learning: Each training incorporates a "Case Study" and Council Process reflective inquiry as a tool and metric with which you will be able to design a specific convening opportunity in your life and/or work
• Learn & practice peer coaching and the 9 Steps to Collaboration in a highly interactive learning environment.
• 1:1 coaching with CPL/AoC Certified Leader
• A frameable course completion certificate
• ICF CCEs: students who participate fully and complete their program requirements (either in-person or virtually) will be able to receive Continuing Coach Education credits [additional fee]

+ Who can attend?

Whether you lead from the front or from within, the AoC Leadership Journey will equip you with tools to make a difference in any meeting or conversation.

Poking fun at meetings is the stuff of Dilbert cartoons—we can all joke about how soul-sucking and painful they are. But that pain has real consequences for teams and organizations.Do you feel that meetings are a waste of time, boring, people don’t mean what they say, or you think “am I really needed”? A loss of time, momentum and productivity?

If so, the AoC training is for you. If you want to be truly effective & engaged, inspired with high expectation to produce outrageous outcomes. You know in your heart that collaborating with others could be more productive, even fun and have lasting results, but don’t know how to get started. Then the AoC Training is for you.

+ How much does it cost?

The early adapter rate is $1199 through September 1, 2021: a 33% discount off of our regular rate of $1599.