Catalytic thinking training
Change how you listen for, question and imagine the future
Catalytic thinking helps groups break out of fear and a focus on “problems” to imagine the future they want, and think systemically with others about what it would take to create it.
Prism Co and LEAD are excited to host Hildy Gottlieb, co-founder of Creating the Future (USA) and creator of the Catalytic Thinking method to share her approach with change makers in Aotearoa NZ and Australia.
Catalytic Thinking is a powerful yet simple method to be radically inclusive, focus on people, embrace collective enoughness and find new possibilities to create transformative change. It was shaped by lessons from social change efforts and informed by neuroscience – focused on how to create connection and unlock collective creativity.
Catalytic thinking helps groups break out of fear and a focus on “problems” to imagine the future they want and think systemically with others about what it would take to create it. You can read more about the background in Hildy’s Stanford Social Innovation Review article Creating a Better World Means Asking Better Questions.
The opposite of “reactive” is not proactive. Proactive is simply attempting to stave off current problems, preventing today’s problems from continuing into tomorrow.
The opposite of reactive is instead creative
(note that those 2 words are anagrams!). Rather than reacting to what is wrong, creative approaches
create what is possible.
Our power to create powerful results lies in our power to create favorable conditions towards our dreams”
- Hildy Gottlieb
what?
If you ever feel stuck – in your own thinking, with your team or groups you are working with – and want to discover more possibilities, catalytic thinking could be the practice you need to create new movement and momentum.
In this training, you’ll:
Learn about the deep foundations of the method in social change history and neuroscience
Explore and consider how to apply the practice of radical inclusion
Get to practice and apply Catalytic Listening, to create a foundation of strengths, values and outcomes to orient a discussion
Understand and practice the Catalytic Thinking questions – applying them to work or life
Learn about the process of facilitating catalytic thinking and consider the conditions for using it in your context
Connect with and learn from a group of experienced social change leaders and facilitators
where, when and how?
Sydney - 12th November
Full day training - 9:30am - 4:30pm
Venue TBC
Lunch provided.
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland - 24th November
Full day training - 9am - 5pm
Manukau Cruising Club - 2 Orpheus Drive, Onehunga
Lunch provided.
Whakatū / Nelson - 1st December
Half day training - 9am - 1.30pm
Fairfield House, 48 Van Diemen Street, Nelson South.
Lunch provided
The workshops are pay what you can to maximise equitable access to the training. We hope that you or your organisation will contribute to enabling us to support Hildy’s trip to NZ and diverse participation.
Suggested contributions:
Organisations with budgets/revenue over $1m pa, Government, Private Sector: suggested $750-900NZD full day / $400 half day
Community or voluntary organisations or small not for profits, solo operators: suggested $300 NZD / $150-200 NZD half day.