Capacity Circles provide a space for people to build personal and relational capacity, develop emotional intelligence, build resilience and explore a specific topic. Circles establish a safe, non-hierarchical place in which all present have the opportunity to speak without interruptions. Experienced facilitators who have learned the process lead Circles with participatory practice methods which hold the Capacity Circles fundamentals and tap into the collective wisdom. In this case of leading small groups through a particular practice such as healing racialized trauma or similar topic, facilitation leaders emerge from participants who have learned the practice of the protocols. The group is open to new and drop in members. This not only brings in new energy and new ideas, it also creates a sustainable group over time.

Circles provide ever evolving methods of supporting increasing constructive emotional resilience for individuals, organizations and communities to influence the creation of a sustainable and healthy society.

Capacity Circles Fundamentals.

• The power of being held and witnessed
• Storytelling as a modality
• Circle work
• Systems Centered Groups
• Building capacity
• Building resilience
• Practicing/Developing emotional intelligence
• Learning through relational engagement with a topic.

Capacity Circles support people in cultivating personal wellbeing through sharing stories, challenges and setbacks as well as joys and successes through receiving support, and nurturing of a facilitated group process in circle. 

Objectives.

• Provide support 
• Connect people through topics that are of importance to the group
• Providing “the container” (literal and psychological space) to hold authentic conversations supporting the journey
• Empowering participants to live their lives with new capacities
• Create a rippling effect as a natural phenomena carrying the message across other social circles

Possible Choices.

• Equipping participants with coaching, tools, and practices to manage stress and avoid burnout
• Empowering participants to live their lives with new skills
• The rippling effect becomes a natural phenomena carrying the message across other social circles
• Provide support for people experiencing high stress and/or burnout
• Connect people around the topics of personal wellbeing, personal resilience and self-care (physically, emotionally and mentally)

Format

Formation: Circle of chairs or other format for constructing a circle (There is a circle process that works well with online groups and hybrid groups.)

Time: 1-2 hours (The more time allotted, the deeper the work potential)

Participants: 2-12 persons + facilitator(s) (If more people are added, more time is needed)

Facilitator establishes the ground rules and intention for the day/topic

Ground Rules

1. Listen from the heart with respect and kindness. “Listen with attention and speak with intention.”

2. Each person gets a chance to talk from their heart with respect and kindness. 

3. One person talks at a time from their own experience from personal stories without interruptions. 

4. Speak with “I” statements based on somatic information in the moment instead of examples or philosophies.

5. Hold disagreements with the intent to integrate. Reactions are held until an appropriate time and response has arisen. We are here to witness and be witnessed.

6. Hold the intent to speak concisely from within the present moment.

7. You may pass, but please share what you feel is appropriate for you and the group.

8. Stay on topic.

9. This is not a discussion group. Resonating and responding to others’ statements is different than intellectualizing what is shared.

Process

1. Opening comments by facilitator – The facilitator welcomes the group and presents the ground rules and the intention for the focus of the discussion for the day. There may or may not be use of a talking piece.
2. Grounding meditation
3. First round – Introductions 
4. Second round – First question or reflection 
5. Third round – Deepening the conversation or share takeaways
6. Fourth round – Closure/Check out 
7. Closing and thanks (Request feedback) 

NOTE: More rounds can be added if time allows. 

The primary approach is based on a tested set of methods tapping into the collective intelligence of the group and mobilizes the process of an emerging outcome, rather than previously determined results. The creation of a responsibly held safe space radically assists people to open up and move through a transformative process yielding measurable outcomes as well as an improved sense of wellbeing.

Role of Facilitator

The facilitator holds the space. It is not the role of the facilitator to coach, train, guide or influence the participants. The facilitator makes sure that the ground rules are followed and safety for everyone maintained. The facilitator also gathers the information and relates it back to the group to create the next round. Aside from possibly the first question, questions are not planned ahead. The facilitator must feel comfortable to work with emergent content. 

Format based on:

People will gather to share stories, challenges, and successes in a format led by an experienced facilitator. That format follows the expertise of the facilitator to pose topics and inquiries to focus the discussion which will be maintained within the given time frame so that each person has equal time to share, support and be supported. Each participant will be engaged to share personal perspectives within the topic, be respectful in all behavior, and develop non-judgmental deep listening.

It is assumed that there is a healing power in being held and witnessed and that utilizing storytelling as a modality speaks to a deep human way of being in community. The circle work is loosely based on an indigenous practice known as a talking circle. Yet the work goes beyond the ritual of a talking circle and frames the interaction through psychological paradigms such as Yvonne Agazarian’s systems centered group work that postulates that living human systems survive, develop, and transform from simple to complex through discriminating and integrating information while in relationship with others.

Emotional Intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. (google) 7 Jan 2020)) It includes:

• Self-Awareness.
• Self-Regulation.
• Motivation.
• Empathy.
• Social Skills.

Emotional Intelligence provides the internal monitoring necessary to be able to adapt to social situations and maintain emotional health.