05. Feedback

24 responses

What was most valuable about this Session for you?

  1. Smaller group size allowed for more opps to practice also built trust faster and as result able to explore issues

  2. More deeply

  3. hearing a variety of facilitator styles

  4. live practice of facilitation, seeing the recording and learning from that

  5. Getting used to the procedure and the plus: meeting humans sharing.

  6. Reflecting on the values to call to mind the roots oof the practice.

  7. Experiential learning - practicing intro delivery and receiving feedback

  8. A reminder to self, "not to get too caught up in coaching if I become a facilitator. Don't repeat same thing too many times. Be direct and concise. Give quick, effective, meaningful tips. Allow maximum time for all speakers and listeners to practice first-hand."

  9. Observing once again, what sometimes happens with me in the Empathy cicles, I get lost in the "Spagetti Dialog". I loved the metaphor of the "landscape" that emerges and the possibility to just contemplate it. Take the time within my 5 minutes to just do that, without forcing myself to formulate something, that is not really mature.

  10. practicing and asking questions

  11. Practice introducing and facilitating a circle

  12. Getting comfortable with the group

  13. the sharing of experiences,

  14. gaining more experience of the process and learning new things about the process

  15. dealing with challenges and observing others doing same

  16. Facilitation practice: time keeping and introductions. The feedback was appreciated also.

  17. Learning common challenges and practicing resolution

  18. Exploring the question about the Culture of Empathy and sensing what it was like for others to practice it on the street.

  19. reinforced all of the facilitation skills to date on the training

  20. To see my own spontaneous input to the circle, that was encouraging for me, in a sense, that I had not planned the Topic for the Empathy Circle that I would facilitate, and it turned out so inspiring. That I have a sense of integration with my previous activities.

  21. inclusive and empowering, immediate sense of belonging and mutual respect with a deep bond forming early in the group

  22. Interpersonal interactions in the breakout and imaginings of a culture of empathy, which is a huge mood booster!

  23. Opportunity to experience the empathy circle model in order to build comfort and ease with participation, facilitation, and leading

  24. Opportunity to try it on and receive feedback




What would you change about the Session to make it better for you?

  1. nothing

  2. Not sure how I felt about audible alarm - understand reason for use but still felt more intrusive.

  3. Also and I know this is in the works would be helpful to have syllabus describing activities covered during each session.

  4. more practise but not enough time

  5. it met my needs, it was great

  6. Does not come to my mind anything

  7. Not much?

  8. Not a thing

  9. Nothing. I learned a lot from both things that went well, and the things that were not optimal.

  10. To stay more focussed the topic of the Values, it would have helped me to have them on a sheet of paper at my side. Is there any problem in sending them in advance to the participants?

  11. incorporate stated shareback or question time within the breakout pods

  12. We did this a bit spontaneously, but I think making the topic "empathy circle practices: what you like/find difficult/what you have learned so far/what you hope to learn" or something along those lines could be very beneficial and give the first session a bit more content

  13. a little tighter structure and a bio break

  14. I almost think we'd need to make it longer?

    1. the session was perfect!

  15. it might be an interesting resource to have role plays of common challenge scenarios recorded and added to the portal:)

  16. During the integration, focus on the takeaways for 1) the question 2) the process to get more direct responses and learnings from all participants

  17. felt like strong momentum in the group forming and sadly has come to an end, would be very interesting to keep that going and deepen maybe through a cohort group on Facebook or in a portal. I'm deeply grateful for such a magical chance to take the training:)

  18. no idea

  19. it's already meeting my training needs so I don't feel a strong need for any changes to the format, maybe a shared space where everyone in group can add a short bio to make it easier to get to know each other

  20. I would reduce the length of the breakout by half an hour and even though it's familiar ground to participants, I would go over the basics of empathetic communication and values that a facilitator would have to introduce should they be working with people unfamiliar with NVC — mostly a breakdown of how to best frame it well and simply — so as to make sure to include what's needed for an operational understanding while keeping it clear, and as short as possible. [The how and what to go over when explaining how a circle functions could wait for the second session, as that's the beginning of the 'Facilitation Training' section.]

  21. No comments at this time

  22. The time offered. I am usually transitioning from one work meeting to this meeting.


What questions are in your mind right now about facilitating Empathy Circles?

  1. Plans for train the trainer?

  2. What does it look like when conflict introduced? How will I know how much of it my circle can support?

  3. how to work with challenging participants

  4. keen to build skills on conflict scenarios and skillful responses

  5. will I be able to keep my attention fully focussed? to keep oñn track

  6. How can we offer similar practices in more accessible time commitments

  7. Most Circle participants active listen well but some have shown poorer quality listening (made judgment/inferences). How can I gently correct active listening without criticizing?

  8. How best to get people together specifically within a community where participants know each other. Where there is a history.

  9. Maybe the facilitator can ask the participants to pause a minute in silence, when he finds it appropriate? Or more actively set this possibility in the mind of the participants.

  10. how and when to use them, how to introduce to new people

  11. what it's like in conflict situations

  12. How to balance keeping the process going with giving some directions/dealing with people not following the guidelines

  13. stay in a state of presence

  14. ensuring I'm well prepared

  15. facilitators have some knowledge of recognizing trauma/mental health

  16. When is a good time to step in and try to redirect the reflection process; how to add instructions/input without dominating the session?

  17. simply feel the need to do more practice

  18. 1) how to explain the outcomes, purpose and value of the Empathy Cafe to others 2) how to show people how they can practice directly in life when the container isn't set up

  19. practice + building confidence

  20. When are you ready? I mean I found the Self Evaluation check list .. I think I just need more Practice,

  21. mostly need build up practice and confidence

  22. The skills needed for compassionate communication are a subset of the "meta-cognition" skills needed for compassionate facilitating. I'd love to have them enumerated and described as well as learning concrete tips and methods for improving and for self-evaluation.

  23. How have they worked in open settings when people did not have 1or 2 hours to participate? What was the feedback?

  24. Wanting to apply the model as intended by those who have designed it.


Write a question you think we could add to this post-session survey?

  1. N/a

  2. N/A...session # is correct, date is November 10

  3. share any ideas you might have on how empathy circles could benefit your community

  4. I like to ask questions leading to describing concrete experiences so I can imagine them more vividly

  5. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  6. How will you apply learning from this session in future facilitation?

  7. What was your experience like as an Active Speaker, Active Listener, etc.

  8. Which is the core value that most "speaks" to you and which one is the most difficult for you to relate?

  9. Did you feel safe in sharing during the breakout sessions?

  10. I can't think of one

  11. What were your expectations going into the training/were your expectations fulfilled?

  12. What if somebody is listened in his turn by more than one person?

  13. are we addressing/preempting any concerns you may have about facilitating a circle yourself and if not how do you suggest we can?

  14. ?

  15. Maybe: What do you find challenging about facilitation? -- but you kind of cover that in the question above.

  16. write some suggestions of how empathy circles could be of benefit in your local community

  17. Do you have any feedback for your specific circle facilitator?

  18. share any ideas for ways you can take empathy circles into the world

  19. no idea

  20. have you noticed any empathy-related improvements in your daily life since the last training that you would like to share?

    1. Not sure whether to add it to this survey or a later one...


  21. Do you think the current structure of four 2.5 hours sessions works? If not, how would you plan it? [Given the scale, change might not be possible quickly, but feedback could shape future trainings.]

  22. How would you rate your comfort in leading or facilitating an empathy circle at this point in the training? (provide a Likert scale, so you can track and the person can track their comfort level over time, can also be used for breakout session, teamikng etc.)

  23. Nothing at this time