In this issue of HUE News:

• Message from HueLife Team
• Pro Tip: How to "harvest" the wisdom within a group
• People Making a Difference: Amanda Crosbie & Emily Larson - City of Bloomington
• Promo: HUE Conversation
• Upcoming Courses
• Partner in Action: Northspan
• Mission Update: YouLEAD 2023

Message From HueLife Team

Cool, crisp mornings and football suggest the time has come for the harvesting of crops. What about harvesting wisdom? This essential leadership skill is needed in every season to solve a problem, find an answer, or make a decision. The wise leader knows they must access the collective wisdom of the team, organization, or community to have the best results. This is especially true when participants sharing their wisdom are also called to action to do the work or support the initiative.

Harvesting wisdom is more than just asking: "What do you think and/or know?" Facilitating the process is an art - a skill used to create safety and provide the structure to reap the benefits of working collectively. This process is inclusive and engaging but requires a unique ‘with-it-ness’ from facilitators to manage the collective energy, sensitive timing, and shared understanding of this process. You, too, can harvest the wisdom of participants regarding any topic!

"What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action."

Pro Tip

Harvesting Wisdom

When facilitating an exercise that involves harvesting the wisdom of the group, use clarity, freedom, diversity, and de-centralization for a powerful impact:

• Clarity: Send an invitation to contribute with an agenda that clearly outlines the reason for the gathering and the expectations.
• Freedom: At the meeting(s), everyone must be openly invited to contribute without fear of ridicule or intimidation.
• Diversity: The many are smarter than the few, especially when diverse perspectives and skills exist. Be inquisitive and lean into minority opinions for more nuanced and robust decision-making.
• De-centralization: The flow of information and data should be open and unfiltered or processed.

Reference: James Surowiecki, “The Wisdom of Crowds” 2000.

The World Café method is a fantastic way to tap into and combine all of these skills to facilitate the process of harvesting wisdom. This can be done in person and even virtually. We will discuss this and share tips and experiences at our upcoming monthly Community of Practice next Wednesday, September 20, at 1:00 pm CT on Zoom. Click on the link below to RSVP and get the Zoom link emailed directly to you.

People Who Are Making A Difference

Using Our Tools

Amanda Crombie & Emily Larson

Amanda and Emily work together at the City of Bloomington (Minnesota) on the Community Outreach and Engagement team. After completing training in 2016, Amanda and Emily have paired ToP Facilitation Methods with Public Participation (P2) principles and frameworks to design processes that capture the perspective of the community in a meaningful way. This work centers on the belief that those who are impacted by a decision have a right to be involved. Each year the pair coordinates the Bloomington Leadership Program (BLP) by leaning on various facilitation tools to build community capacity for civic engagement and intentional avenues for harvesting the wisdom of the community in ways that extend beyond the breadth of the program.

For example, Amanda and Emily have used facilitation methods to enhance the program by:

• Engaging BLP program alumni in the selection of the incoming cohort
• Facilitating intentional relationship-building among BLP cohort members and City leaders
• Reflecting on key learnings throughout the BLP program
• Co-creating the key components of the BLP alumni program
• Training community members on the value of focused conversations
• and more!

"By investing in the community through the leadership program, we have intentionally created pathways for Bloomington leaders to engage and share their perspective on issues and opportunities that impact them. Facilitation methods help us ensure that these engagement opportunities are purposeful, participatory, and contribute to sustainable decision-making at the City." – Emily Larson

To date, over 75 residents have completed the Bloomington Leadership Program and joined the Alumni Network. Putting their leadership skills into practice, BLP alumni have provided valuable input into key City policies and projects, and served on City advisory boards, City Council, School Board, local nonprofit boards, and other leadership roles throughout the community.

“Facilitation and a human-centered approach in design are vital in public participation because they empower people, amplify their voices, and ensure that the solutions we create truly reflect the needs, aspirations, and diversity of our communities. People are full of knowledge. As trained facilitators, our job is to create a safe space for participation, listen and harvest that wisdom.” – Amanda Crombie

Both Amanda and Emily have completed the Mastering ToP training. They also serve on the City of Bloomington's facilitation network to promote participatory methods across the organization.

Suggested HueLife Program

HUE™ Conversation Method

In one day, learn how to apply an inclusive framework for engagement, collaboration, and discovery resulting in a shared appreciation and understanding that drives teams to better informed decisions and actions.

HUE™ Conversations is a workshop that teaches participants a way to engage all thinking styles. Although we all have the ability to think in many ways, most of us find it easiest and most comfortable to approach situations from our own perspective.  

Challenge your own thought process and develop a greater awareness of the way others think. Learn how to implement our framework for inclusive conversations that encourages participation from every group member and naturally moves the collective from inquiry to informed action.  

In this course participants will learn not only the natural way the brain processes information, but also an understanding how individual personality traits can influence thinking.  

You'll Learn:

• The structure of purposeful questions and cohesive conversations
• Key principles to understand and facilitate group dynamics
• Professional strategies for authentic and inclusive participation
• Skills to guide meaningful conversations that lead to desired outcomes
• Process for efficient meetings that don’t waste your time 

Examples of Application:

• Host community input sessions to gather unique perspectives for municipal research
• Facilitate conversations that honor the voice of employees to inform company culture change
• Design engaging project management meetings to monitor progress, motivation, and creativity
• Guide efficient meetings that ultimately save organizational resources

Fall 2023 HUE Conversation Courses

October 2 • VIRTUAL

December 1 • VIRTUAL

October 25 • Carmel, IN

November 7 • Geneva, IL

November 14 • Dallas, TX

December 13 • Twin Cities, MN

Refresh Your Facilitation Skills at our Upcoming Courses

Partners in Action Toward the Greater Good

The Northspan Group

Northspan is a private non-profit consulting firm based in Duluth, Minnesota whose mission is to be expert navigators, turning ideas into accomplishments. It was founded in 1985 when northeast Minnesota faced unprecedented unemployment and economic disruption, and while it remains rooted in this region, it operates over the entire Upper Midwest.

Northspan uses ToP methods as the foundation of its facilitation work. They conduct strategic planning processes of all shapes and sizes for clients ranging from small nonprofits to units of government to larger regional institutions. They also employ ToP facilitation methods in a variety of other client work that seeks to gather community or stakeholder input, and practice what they preach and use ToP Methods for their own strategic planning and internal discussions.

"ToP Methods allow us to bring out an incredible range of opinions in our clients and frame discussions in positive and insightful ways, always building toward the consensus they need to confidently move forward." 

Northspan manages programming that addresses pressing regional issues and provides consulting services in community, business, and organizational development. Its professional staff of nine gives it the capacity to provide a wide range of expertise that helps to engage and elevate clients in all their work. 

Mission Update

YouLEAD 2023

Our five-week of YouLEAD program is coming to an end. Students are preparing to bring closure to their journey and say good-bye to host families and new friends! ToP Action planning process was used to plan a Farewell Party that will take place on September 16th at Old Stewart venue, where Ukrainian music, food, and performances by the students will take place in celebration of new friendships and connections to Minnesota!

In Case You Missed It

Have you seen what's new with HueLife? In case you missed it, check out our latest Newsletter below and be updated with what's happening!

• Tools For Change Pro Tip
• Facilitation Graphics Back For Good
• YouLead 2023
• Join HueLife Community

ToP Facilitation Methods and ToP Strategic Planning are eligible for 14 CEHs from the following boards:

BOSA, PMI, APA, AICP, CHES-MCHES, NAICS

CEUs are also offered from Normandale Community College for any ToP course offered at their university.

HueLife | www.hue.life | 651.204.0441 | info@hue.life