Honoring the natural rhythm of humans for great results

A number of years ago, I was at a multi-day learning event. It was the last day and I was with one of the participants waiting for a session to start. He was a manager at a large company and had been at this event for curiosity. For five days we had learned about Leadership in times of change and it was lead using a method called Whole Person Process Facilitation (WPPF). WPPF meetings are designed to honor the varied learning needs of adult learner honoring our intellectual, physical, emotional, and creative drives. During such meetings it feels like there is always lots of time.

During this particular meeting a rhythm emerged where, regardless of what the agenda said, things would start when it felt right. Sometimes that was at the time indicated, sometimes a little earlier or a little later. While we had lunch breaks and dinner breaks and knew more or less what the topics were, the agenda felt organic. We took more time for some things, less for others, following where people’s energy went at any given time instead of following a strict time schedule.

People at the event were encouraged to “manage” their own energy. This meant that some people would leave to take naps or walks creating a subtle movement in the room. They would be respectful of others, and soon it became part of the “vibe” of the days, as people found…