Art of Hosting

The Art of Hosting a highly effective way of harnessing the collective wisdom and self-organising capacity of groups of any size, blends a suite of powerful conversational processes to invite people to step in and take charge of the challenges facing them.

Groups and organisations using the Art of Hosting as a working practice report better decision-making, more efficient and effective capacity building and greater ability to quickly respond to opportunity, challenge and change.

The Art of Hosting offers a blend of some of the most powerful methods to create open and meaningful conversation that leads to commitment and good results.  Working with a range of collaborative methods – like Circle, World Café, Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space Technology, ProAction Café, storytelling and more – practitioners can tailor the approach to their context and purpose.

An art that takes practice and care

But this is more than a suite of methods – it is also a practice.  We call it The Art of Hosting, because it is an art to become skillful at helping ourselves and others work well together, especially in these times of increasing complexity.  We talk about hosting, because what is offered here is not a typical facilitation or moderated session.  It gives attention and care to all aspects of people’s work together, intending to host them in being successful

The Art of Harvesting conversations that matter

Anyone who plants a garden is planning for results.  Whether the result is a fruit or a flower, a gardener is planning for a harvest. In the same way, anyone who plans to host a meeting also wants to get a good result from their efforts.  In this case, the harvest might be in the form of a project plan, or an agreement to action or a better relationship or a shared vision board

In the Art of Hosting community, we plan our conversation design around the harvest we want to produce.  The results we are seeking help to determine what methods we use and how.

No formal organisational structure

The Art of Hosting network is rapidly spreading and growing all over the world, as organisations, communities, and people from every walk of life take part in this new way of working that blends the best of what we all know about the power of conversation.  We are rediscovering it, together.

The Art of Hosting network has no formal, legal structure, no appointed leader, no accreditation program and no controlling body.  It is based on a practitioner network, with local communities of practice; it is committed to learning and generous with its sharing and support.

If this resonates with you, as an individual practitioner or as an organisation, contact us for a bespoke programme.