02. Feedback

20 responses 

What was most valuable about this Session for you?

1. I got a better idea of working toward true empathy as opposed to simply listening to others' thoughts and ideas.

2. Even though I am weak in communication in English, participants tried to empathize me. It is a key in empathy circles.

3. Just getting insights from people of diverse backgrounds

4. Hearing the process described

5. Practicing conflict and disagreement. Interruptions etc.

6. Learning more about facilitating

7. Having a longer session was good.

8. Talking through ideas with other participants and coming to new or more comprehensive understandings

9. the role play allowed the preparation of responses to become initiated ready for future situations

10. The chance to do a circle without being recorded

11. Getting to practice explaining and running empathy circles

12. Seeing facilitating from other points of view and applications

13. the circle

14. The structured form of approach to listening. Clarity of setting down, roles, rules and boundaries.

15. Space to practice different scenarios.

16. Sharing different ideas and challenges about being a facilitator with other participants

17. Loved having more time in breakout sessions, loved getting to pause in real time to discuss facilitation challenges during practice, loved being able to record the breakout sessions, loved getting to set the intensity or the type of challenge when doing our practice facilitation, loved getting to select our own topic; Loved that all the feedback was incorporated and responded to

18. Practical application

19. The importance of sticking to the rules

20. Feeling heard

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

1. I can't think of anything specific. I would say "What can I change about my own participation and mindset to make the session better for me?" (except that sounds a bit precious and attention-seeking).

2. It is quite complete. But I need to try to be proficient in communication and reflecting.

3. Maybe shorten the time in the breakout rooms. I have real trouble fitting these sessions into my schedule; if they were 1/2 hour shorter it would be less stressful.

4. Feeling a greater sense of certainty or definitiveness / directness. More of an energetic shift that feels like I'm being led.

5. Be clear on who is leading. The space feels shaky, is it Lou or Bill or Edwin? I would appreciate timed checkouts so we stay on time. Are we asking questions or checking out? More time was needed for feedback during our time as a facilitator. We could break it up between the 2 days and not rush trying to have everyone have a turn on day 1. I would appreciate the timing all worked out beforehand, not trying to figure it out on the fly and keeping to planned time.

6. I'm not sure

7. nothing comes to mind

8. Nothing comes to mind

9. More role play

10. I understand the thinking around recording sessions, especially the training ones, but I personally find it affects my ability to engage with the process in a relaxed, open and honest way

11. Needed more time in the breakout sessions to debrief (not all participants had a chance to go), ability for participants to record each other's intros to get ideas (permission needed to be requested from the host), Clearer instructions for setting level of challenge when running your own circle, ability to select own topic for practice circle rather than the given topic of how your cultural background affects you as a facilitator, Maybe allow time for journaling/processing before sharing back in the big circle again

12. another 30 minutes longer.

13. not recording

14. At this moment, nothing.

15. No guess work around how much time we're doing something. Just clear direction not figuring out in the moment.

16. Allow space/time for individual writing/reflection to help process/synthesize ideas gained in the training before reflecting as a group.

17. Maybe incorporate some time for journaling/reflection before sharing as a big group

18. A short comfort break

19. Every breakout group should have an experienced trainer

20. pee break

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

1. I'm sure you have all my questions in the "Common Facilitator Challenges". In short, how to handle my own "stage fright"; how to handle a contentious or rude person; how to discern between someone simply being mean and rude and hostile and someone genuinely trying to bring up the deep aspects of controversial issues; how to deal with a situation in which a listener avoiding/skiping over/not reflecting the main content of what a speaker says [perhaps because the listener is uncomfortable with that main content]; ...

2. Is there any other method to build empathy muscles?

3. My biggest question is whether I can do it well. I'm also afraid of dealing with cantankerous or hostile people. (I'm a weenie.)

4. Is there a way to standardize the training like a franchise to ensure the quality of circles is consistent. I'd like to feel confident in referring people to multiple circles hosted by many people around the world.

5. For basic facilitator training is conflict training even necessary? I like it, but it doesn't seem necessary. I like the different levels of conflict.

6. Can I really do it?

7. None - I just know I need to keep doing it.

8. How to help people build up the skills for reflection if they feel mentally exhausted by doing this, or how to support this in participants so the process flows more with ease

9. How do you pose the title of the cafe so as not to be off putting to the target audience. How can I reach out to those who don't want to be part of the solution?

10. The way to offer it, and whom to offer it, locally and globally

11. None come to mind right now since I'm filling this out late!

12. How do I get people who refuse to entertain the idea of sharing and reflecting to be more open to the process

13. how to attract people to participate

14. How do we co-create spaces for multi lingual/cultural diversities? Especially, when we are relying on English as a language.

15. N/A

16. How do you maintain the principles of an empathy circle in a case when a participant uses and distorts those principles to serve a personal agenda? How do you maintain empathic engagement with someone who shuts down or refuses to participate?

17. None come to mind

18. slightly scary

19. None

20. can i do it?

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

1. 1. "Do you have any thoughts about how you might apply the things we've covered/learned in this session?"

   2. What will be your barriers to join another sessions?

   3. Can't think of any right now.

   4. What amount of money would you pay for this training without hesitating?

   5. No

   6. I can't think of any right now

   7. What was the best thing about the session?

   8. What do you know now that you didn't know before (about empathy, empathy circles, being a facilitator, etc.)

   9. Was this session a good way to learn the practice of facilitating a cafe.

   10. can't think of any right now

   11. None come to mind

   12. What would you have done differently

   13. n

   14. None.

   15. Would you like to have an option to donate / pay to support this training?

   16. None come to mind at the moment.

   17. Nothing comes to mind

   18. Did you have any technical issues?

   19. None

   20. nothing comes to mind