Creating CONTINUITY Between Symposiums

(so that one leads to another... and another... and another)

Written by Jonathan Hughes

The three key points that I shared from the front of the room (each went with a mental image)

PURPOSE... PEBBLES... & RIPPLES

(1) PURPOSE: Within each symposium you could say there is a 'sub-purpose' for that particular audience... in that particular place... at that particular time.

With every new symposium, it's always smart to get a sense, early on, of what that might be...

(2) PEBBLES: Imagine a timeline represented by a line of pebbles - each to mark a different event... a big pebble = a symposium

What emerged in my Open Space was the idea of holding smaller events (smaller pebbles) before and/or after

For a business community, it might be a short 'preview' taster presentation a few weeks before

For a local community of family and friends, it could be a music & wine event a few weeks after

And each of those events could be swapped - a follow-up event with local businesses - a social & fun taster event for friends

The key thing is to see the 'big pebble' symposium in the context of a line of events - that create continuity in that community

(3) RIPPLES: In the same way... rather than thinking of each symposium as an end in itself...

Think of the intention in a different way... as a series of expansive rings... the initial intention being:

To create a community (with your fellow facilitators)...

That delivers symposiums...

That create community...

That delivers symposiums...

That create community...

One final thought - the words 'continuity' and 'community' are very closely linked... and through their heart runs the idea of sustainability in the broadest sense...

As a community we need to make ourselves sustainable... and to do that, we need to be smart with our energy... directing it to places where it pays to invest our time and energy... that lends itself to, and will reward, continued effort & input...a place where we can draw on the strengths of others... and unearth hidden local strengths... and tap local passions & longings... show the untapped community spirit that already exists yet (pre-symposium) remains unconnected... and see a series of symposiums (or like-minded initiatives) gathering momentum...

By applying continuous energy to a place, or to a certain gathering of groups & individuals, we will facilitate the emergence of the community that already exists... the hidden community all around us that is craving to be made manifest and brought into being...