What are all the things you think about and take care of when you invite people for a little party? Lots of decisions and many invisible actions are happening beforehand. In the English language there is a nice word that captures this all: hosting. But you cannot only host parties, also conversations and collective learning processes benefit from good hosting. And it is not the same as ‘facilitating the meeting’. Can you image you would facilitate a dinner with friends or family? Hosting is different, it goes deeper and is beyond facilitation. The term Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations That Matter contains many elements: the convening, inviting, holding and guiding the conversations. This hosting practice and methodology is also known as the art of participatory leadership.In participatory leadership we want, just as in a successful party, that everyone can join in, feels safe and OK. Art of Hosting is crucial in the future of work, in a world where we no longer separate thinking from doing, in a world where everyone’s voice matters. Whether it is in your community, an Agile transformation or teams doing BAU.

1. ACB Conference - 8 Feb 2018
johan@ilean.be

2. We meet in circle, one of the most ancient forms of meeting that has gathered human beings into
respectful conversations for thousands of years. The circle is an organizational structure that has
rotating leadership located around the rim. Another principle is shared responsibility and the center
holds our commitment to a higher purpose.
The practice of the circle is: Speak with intention and Listen with Attention

3. As a quick check-in we use the 35 process around this
question.

4. In AoH we ‘Design for Harvest’: a (process of) method(s) is chosen based on the outcomes we want.
This exercise aimed to uncover and order the questions alive within this group.
Questions rose around: the role of management, a continuous learning culture, Agile as a mindset
and top-down alignment around Agility.

10. We can build a different kind of relationship with each other when we
move from a reactive to a generative stance. Trust grows when we
inquire our differences and seek a broader understanding of our realities.
Culture is formed through the understanding of one another.
Real intelligence is the ability to hold opposite points of view without
judgement. P. Senge

11. We pair up and start an inquiry around this question.

13. Next, we tap into the collective wisdom available in the room
and bring some key attributes to the surface.

15. The key attributes we collected from our conversation give us some first insights on what is
essential in thriving teams and organizations.

17. A few visuals on some aspects of the Art of Hosting
conversations that matter.

22. Johan Decoster
Art of Hosting practitioner and training host
Agility coach and trainer
www.iLean.be/training
for courses and free workshops on Scrum, Lean and Agile!
johan@ilean.be
@ johan_decoster