Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space Quotes

“Adults are the same way — we often need a little time to adjust to the invitation. But too frequently we give adults only one shot. We think, “Well, I made the invitation and he didn’t take it. I tried. It’s his choice and I’m done.” Instead we need to give them time to respond in their own way. Gracious Space encourages us to make multiple invitations over time.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“What changes that we can control will make this space more gracious?” The group can then reshape the room to suit their needs. At the Center office, we previously had one long table in the conference room bolted to the floor. It offered no flexibility so we removed this table and replaced it with three square tables. They can be configured into one large board table, a medium sized conference table or three smaller tables. We scale the size of the table to the number of participants in the meeting so everyone feels more intimately connected.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“We started with no tables in the room, only chairs. This was intended to keep the tables from being a barrier and to create an openness that could lead to different possibilities. We met in a semi-circle where we could easily break into pairs for story telling. There was enough space to set up side tables for work groups to sketch out ideas. We used the walls around the semi-circle to post their ideas about trust and the work could be easily seen by everyone.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“For example, many times by the end of a meeting, a group finally arrives at the discussion that matters most, but they are out of time to adequately address it. We need to anticipate the time needed to warm up a group to be ready for the important discussions, and then to provide a sufficient space for the conversation to occur.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“The spirit we create together in a group. Whenever people come together they create a field of energy that is the combination of their individual spirits and intentions. This field can be shaped purposefully or left to form on its own. Too often groups make the mistake of assuming that getting down to business is the most effective way of using their time together. They fail to intentionally create a positive learning environment.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“Freedom is the pause between stimulus and action. In the moment after something occurs and before we react, we are free to choose how we will show up. What will you choose?”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“Sometimes when we anticipate meeting with someone who is difficult to work with, a tape starts playing in our heads. “Why do I have to have another meeting with this person? I’ll just try to get through it.” These kinds of thoughts will likely lead to a self fulfilling prophecy of an unproductive and painful experience.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“In the book Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman suggests that “a mood can spread through a group with great rapidity.” How we show up is contagious; the mood “infects” others and spreads throughout the group. If the energy is negative, negativity will spread. If the energy is positive, creativity and optimism will spread.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“When we speak of spirit, we mean intentionally building a supportive atmosphere or holding environment for the work.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“Today’s collaborative efforts often are negotiations rather than new creations born out of what has most heart and most meaning. To practice courageous collaboration is to commit ourselves to something that is worthy of our whole selves. And, we invite others to show up in the same way. From that new place different possibilities emerge.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation

“In every organization, community or group of people, there are times when our happiness or security feel threatened, and our natural reaction is to run the other way. But sooner or later we find the threats returning and compounding. Effective leaders realize that survival, success and safety come from going toward the place where the fear seems to originate, and having the courage to confront threats. In his book, The World Behind the World, Michael Meade reflects on this folk tale and what it means for people seeking a meaningful path through life. “Those who seek security in a rapidly changing world run right into the teeth of one dilemma or another,” Meade writes. “It might be better to run toward the roar and learn what it means to live in a time of many endings.”
― Patricia Hughes, Courageous Collaboration with Gracious Space: From Small Openings to Profound Transformation