Your Empathy Buddy Call: How it Works

The biggest challenge with scheduling your Buddy Call can be finding a time that works for both of your schedules. Different time zones can complicate scheduling. 

Each week we will pair you with a different participant. Reach out to your Buddy as soon as you receive your assignments. If schedules don't allow for you to connect, no need to stress. Just do your best.  You may not be able to connect every week due to scheduling conflicts. 

You will have a 30-minute mutual support call on Zoom, FaceTime etc.  Feel free to do a longer call if each of you have the time and inclination.

Person 1 gets 15 minutes to talk about their experience in the training while Person 2 empathically listens (reflects back what the speaker is saying). Then switch roles and Person 2 talks for 15 minutes and Person 1 empathically listens.

Possible topics: What is your experience so far in the training? What are your concerns or expectations? Or just talk about whatever is on your mind. Report back in your next session your experience of the call.

There are Multiple Benefits to Buddy Calls

We all need support in our lives. This helps ground us, helps with thinking more clearly, helps with releasing pent-up frustrations, etc.  These calls can be structured in different ways, for example:

• • Two facilitators meet for an hour, each person get 30 minutes to share and get empathically heard.

  • Two facilitators meet for an hour, and one facilitator gets heard for the full hour. Then in the next meeting, the other facilitator gets heard for an hour.

  • The calls can be structured in a way that works for everyone.

Your Buddy Calls Can Support You in the Learning Process 

Pre-Circle Support: Facilitation can be stressful. You can have a pre-circle or post-circle to be empathically heard.  You can share concerns you have, which can be grounding. You get a bit of an empathy bath.  When we set up the Empathy Tent out in public, for example, we start with the tent team having an Empathy Circle for a quick check in and grounding.

Co-Facilitation Support: You may want to co-facilitate with another facilitator. This can take off some of the pressure of having all the responsibility for the circle. It's helpful to have a pool of facilitators you can reach out to that may co-facilitate a circle with you.

Post-Circle Support: After an Empathy Circle, Empathy Cafe, Restorative Empathy Circle,  where there were multiple breakout circles with facilitators in each one, the facilitators meet and debrief the call. They share their experiences, challenges, questions, learnings and discuss.

Facebook Empathy Circle Facilitator Support Group: This is a private Facebook Group for individuals that are in the process or have done the facilitator training. Click on the link to join the group.