Conversare is in process of evolving
Given its core underpinning of ‘bringing conversation to life’ …
Yes, a better world for you and others, through connections made during lively and enjoyable conversing with another person in a Conversare event.
In which participants gain deeper understandings of, even in a fractured world, how much common good there is between people. And then there is the excitement of how, with good conversing, listening to different life experiences draws us together.
With the essence of the particular way of achieving this being:
Participants engaging in conversation among pairs of strangers – people who have not met previously – in public places.
Under the guidance of a skilled facilitator who provides guidelines about the kinds of questions to ask of each other. Starting with ‘what brought you here today’ and ‘who are you?’
All that is asked of participants is that they give of themselves by being curious and interested in the people they encounter.
The beginning of this novel way of socialising ‘just happened’ in a lively café in Hong Kong about a decade ago.
And was warmly welcomed by the initial participants there and many others who heard of it and came to experience for themselves.
One of the ‘pioneers’ commented:
“great concept indeed … think you just hit it right at bull’s eyes … long wished for in the recess of our minds but not quite realized or voiced!”
Velda Kwan, Hong Kong 2009
Since that time such events have been held in many places all around our little planet, 3rd from the sun. Among the numerous comments on their experience perhaps the most poignant is:
“I experienced this as being ‘simple and deep, a spiritual adventure’.”
Firti Rasmita, Indonesia
Recently the idea has dawned about creating a ‘Conversing Community’. One key element of this is that people who have participated in Conversare events and who live in a particular geographical area be encouraged to get together periodically. With a sense that ‘since we have had this ‘wonder full’ experience let’s keep doing this among ourselves’.
How does this come across to you as a lively idea?
In order to enable this to happen – and for it to feature in ongoing Conversare events – how is this for another related idea?
Provide training and associated insight into the social skills of being a competent and confident conversationalist.
To be offered by a friend and colleague re who has substantial experience and associated expertise in doing this for a range of organisations.
These two components are precisely what we have in mind to offer at forthcoming Conversare events.
By this I mean that the starting point will be participants engaging with a stranger.
To be followed after a tea break by the introduction of a short course on the essence of being a more competent and confident conversationalist. To cover, for starters, what is skilled listening and why is this an important component of how we interact with people in everyday life? What about the ability to be aware of the emotion which underpins what people say?
Given that few of us have ever been taught – throughout our whole formal education – these, and related, social skills, how does this component sound to you? Could learning such skills make a substantial difference to your own life and that of others in your orbit?
With this other likely component:
Invite the participants in a particular event to come together a month later to share what they have done and what they have experienced.
Wondering how this way of creating and sustaining this way of bringing conversation to life sounds to you?
Your comments in https://conversare.net/contact-2/would be most welcome.
Looking forward.
Al (formerly Alan) Stewart, PhD
Process Artist
Facilitator/host of conversations that matter and participatory fun
Senior Fulbright Scholar
Blog: www.conversare.net
“We are in this together to treat each other well.”
Al Stewart
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