Talking Circles are a 60- or 90-minute sharing group to strengthen listening skills, empathy, and create psychological safety in your organization. Dr. Peters developed the Human Systems Talking Circle after studying various kinds of sharing groups, including Indigenous Peoples Talking Circles, Quaker meetings, and 12-step programs, and consensus-based discussion models. The principles and guidelines for a Human Systems Talking Circle were created to meet the needs of organizations with paid employees.
Talking Circles can also be used as a powerful organizational assessment tool. We use qualitative research techniques to analyze recordings from Talking Circle sessions; these analyses reveal both challenges and possible pathways to solutions.
Talking Circles are most effective when they are conducted on a regular basis with consistent participation. When you purchase the Human Systems Talking Circles training package, you get:
- 6 or 10 facilitated 60- or 90-minute Talking Circles;
- Training on conducting Talking Circles so you can continue to maintain and improve the health of your organization;
- A customized, editable Talking Circle manual that belongs to your organization (see a HS Talking Circles sample manual);
- (Optional) A report on your organizational strengths and challenges; the report is based on the qualitative analysis of your organization’s recorded Talking Circle sessions.
Positive outcomes from Human Systems Talking Circles are strongly supported by scientific research. Recently, a Doctoral student, Joshua Aceves from Walla Walla University, developed a logic model to show how Talking Circles work and what short-term and long-term outcomes can be expected in an organization that participates in a Talking Circle series. Download a PDF of the logic model to learn more about research-supported Talking Circle outcomes.
