We’re Listening – workshop

It is so great to be able to share things and be heard. To feel that you’re truly being listened to. When is that still happening? Don’t we all need that? In private life and working life?

Listening and being heard. It is goes together with opening up on the one side, and not judging or preparing for an answer on the other. In connecting to each other there is an element of sharing, being vulnerable and listening to each other.

Group conversation

In this workshop we start by choosing a question from a deck of questions. These questions are designed to spark the imagination and delve deep into personal stories.

The Jesuits developed a conversation practise to talk about abstract things. A method to slow down as a group and explore personal stories and images, by writing, reading and talking. We use their technique to exchange the things that come up with the chosen question as starting point. From abstract things we go to personal experiences shared together.

Marnix van de Poll

Marnix is a free improvising pianist. After walking from the Netherlands to Portugal via Santiago de Compostela he toured the country to museums with his project I’m Listening. In a specially designed Listening Pavilion he listened to museum visitors one-on-one after which he answered each conversation with a free improvisation. Other museum visitors could listen in through headphones. After more than 130 one-on-one conversations he now facilitates group conversations in the very same Listening Pavilion. First I’m Listening. Now We’re Listening, as a group.

Listening Pavilion

Artist Dre Wapenaar designed and built the Listening Pavilion upon our request. First it was used for the museum performance art project described above. Now we use it to host group conversations. It can be placed anywhere indoors or outdoors. Ideally it is used for multiple days in a row.

Practical information

For any group or business.
Ideal group size: 9.
Duration: 60-70 minutes per workshop.
Number of workshops per day: 5.
Stand-alone, or as part of a programme.

What others say

This is amazing – I really liked the workshop! Your energy and the way you facilitate – Such a powerful way of connecting to each other! – The sharing is very powerful, especially how the questions go from individual experience to connection and resonating with (what) the others (said) – The perfect balance between going deep and not making it too scary.