group worksA Pattern Language for Bringing Life

to Meetings and Other Gatherings

created by the Group Pattern Language Project

2019 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0www.groupworksdeck.org

3rd edition

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Group Works Pattern Categories Following is a list of the categories (with corresponding icons and colours), with a brief description of each category and a list of its cards in alphabetical order. The Keystone pattern—a thematic representative of that category —is in boldface. Keystones are designated on the cards by a black outline around the lower icon leaf.

1. Intention Concentrate on serving the larger purpose for the gathering and how it is enacted. Why are we here? What’s our shared passion? What we are aiming to accomplish? Includes addressing the longer term meaning and consequence of this event or series.

Commitment PurposeInvitation Setting IntentionPriority Focus

2. ContextBe aware of and respect the broader context and circumstances of time, place, and culture. Grounded in this understanding, intentionally create the container for group engagement.

Aesthetics of Space History and ContextCircle Nooks in Space and TimeGaia Power of PlaceGroup Culture Whole System in the Room

3. Relationship Create and maintain quality connections with each other through nurturing rapport and friendship, honouring people’s full selves, and finding ways to be authentic. This sometimes requires working with power relations, or foregrounding emotional needs in the moment rather than task.

Appreciation HostingBreaking Bread Together Power ShiftCelebrate Shared AirtimeGood Faith Assumptions Tend RelationshipsHonour Each Person Transparency

4. FlowGroup events have a rhythm and a flow to them. Both in anticipating an event and in response to emerging circumstances, pay attention to energy and pacing; let this influence your decisions on when to do what, how long and how often.

Balance Process Opening and Welcomeand Content Preparedness

Balance Structure Reflection/Action Cycleand Flexibility Rest

Closing Right Size BiteDivergence and Ritual

Convergence Rhythm Seasoned TimingFollow the Energy Subgroup and Whole GroupIteration Trajectory

5. CreativityApply the wisdom of different processing styles and a variety of expressive modes to open up creative possibilities. Established conventions may need to be challenged or worked with. Ask how this session could be more fun in order to better accomplish its goal.

Challenge Mode ChoiceExpressive Arts PlayfulnessGenerate Possibilities Power of ConstraintsImprovise

6. PerspectiveUnderstand divergent ways of seeing an issue to support the group in openly and thoughtfully exploring options. Be flexible and use your imagination in considering a variety of vantage points. The key is in how you look at something.

Common Ground Time ShiftEmbrace Dissonance Translation

and Difference Unity and DiversityFractal Value the MarginsGo Meta Viewpoint ShiftSeeing the Forest,

Seeing the Trees

7. ModellingCultivate essential skills and responsibilities for both facilitator and participants, to ensure the process goes well and to demonstrate good group practice. Leading by action and example, guide the group toward effective personal and collective self-responsibility.

Appropriate Boundaries MirroringCourageous Modelling Not About YouDischarging Self-AwarenessDwell with Emotions Shared Leadership and RolesGuerrilla Facilitation SimplifyHolding Space Taking ResponsibilityListening Witness with Compassion

8. Inquiry & SynthesisDiscover coherence and shared meaning to move toward convergence. By gathering knowledge and teasing out the threads of common understanding, you can arrive at consensus and clear outcomes.

Deliberate InquiryDistilling Mapping and MeasurementExperts on Tap Moving Toward AlignmentFeedback NamingGo Deeper StoryHarvesting Yes, andInform the Group Mind

9. FaithTrust and accept what happens in a spirit of letting go and letting come. Invite the mystery and complex magic of emergence. This quality is felt as a deep sense of connection not only to those assembled and to the work’s purpose, but to the larger universe as well.

All Grist for the Mill PresenceDive In SilenceEmergence SpiritLetting Go Trust the Wisdom of the GroupMagic

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Group Works Pattern List 1. AestheticsofSpace2. AllGristfortheMill3. Appreciation4. AppropriateBoundaries5. BalanceProcessandContent6. BalanceStructureandFlexibility7. BreakingBreadTogether8. Celebrate9. Challenge10. Circle11. Closing12. Commitment13. CommonGround14. CourageousModelling15. Deliberate16. Discharging17. Distilling18. DiveIn19. DivergenceandConvergenceRhythm20. DwellwithEmotions21. EmbraceDissonanceandDifference22. Emergence23. ExpertsonTap24. ExpressiveArts25. Feedback26. FollowtheEnergy27. Fractal28. Gaia29. GeneratePossibilities30. GoDeeper31. GoMeta32. GoodFaithAssumptions33. GroupCulture34. GuerrillaFacilitation35. Harvesting36. HistoryandContext37. HoldingSpace38. HonourEachPerson39. Hosting40. Improvise41. InformtheGroupMind42. Inquiry43. Invitation44. Iteration45. LettingGo46. Listening

47. Magic48. MappingandMeasurement49. Mirroring50. ModeChoice51. MovingTowardAlignment52. Naming53. NooksinSpaceandTime54. NotAboutYou55. OpeningandWelcome56. Playfulness57. PowerofConstraints58. PowerofPlace59. PowerShift60. Preparedness61. Presence62. PriorityFocus63. Purpose64. Reflection/ActionCycle65. Rest66. RightSizeBite67. Ritual68. SeasonedTiming69. SeeingtheForest,SeeingtheTrees70. Self-Awareness71. SettingIntention72. SharedAirtime73. SharedLeadershipandRoles74. Silence75. Simplify76. Spirit77. Story78. SubgroupandWholeGroup79. TakeResponsibility80. TendRelationships81. TimeShift82. Trajectory83. Translation84. Transparency85. TrusttheWisdomoftheGroup86. UnityandDiversity87. ValuetheMargins88. ViewpointShift89. WholeSystemintheRoom90. WitnesswithCompassion91. Yes,and

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Key to the Cards

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“ale

gri”

related: Appropriate Boundaries ~ Balance Process and Content ~ Dwell with

Emotions ~ Embrace Dissonance and Difference ~ Opening and Welcome

~ Presence ~ Priority Focus

Be fully present, aware of what’s happening in the whole gathering right now—physically, energetically, emotionally, and intellectually. Open and hold the psychological and spiritual space to provide a steady centre and container. Calmly maintain trust, safety, and focus.

Holding SpacePattern Title: An evocative name to express the concept.

Pattern Image: A visual depiction either literal or metaphorical.

Photo Credit: Who took (or owns the rights to) the picture.

Pattern “Heart”: Up to 50 words of text expressing the core of that pattern, mainly the What and Why of it.

Category Icon: A symbol and colour designating which of nine categories this pattern has been primarily assigned to. Note: if outlined in black, designates representative Keystone pattern from that category.

Related Patterns: Up to seven other patterns that are most closely related to or most useful to consult when considering how to enact this pattern. Part of the web that makes this whole thing a pattern language.

Number: In alphabetical order by Title.

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IntroductionTheGroup Works carddeckisdesignedtosupportyourprocessasagroupconvenor,planner,facilitator,orparticipant.Thepeoplewhodevelopedthisdeckspentseveralyearspoolingourknowledgeofthebestgroupeventswehadeverwitnessed.Welookedatmeetings,conferences,retreats,townhalls,andothersessionsthatgiveorganizationslife,solvealongstandingdilemma,getstuckrelationshipsflowing,resultincleardecisionswithwidesupport,andmakealastingdifference.Wealsolookedatroutine,well-runmeetingsthatsimplybringpeopletogetherandgetlotsofstuffdone.Weaimheretonamethecorewisdomofwhatmakesdeliberativegroupworksuccessful.

Whyarewedoingthis?Ourworldis,toaveryrealextent,basedondialogue.Everyactiontakenthatinvolvesmorethanonepersonarisesfromconversationthatgenerates,coordinates,andreflectsthoseactions.Thoseactionshaveimpact.Ifourhumanworldisbasedonconversations,thentheworkofcreatingandsupportingthoseconversationsiscentraltoshapingaworldthatworks.Designingandconductingmeetingsandothergroupsessionswellisvitaltodeterminingourcommonfuture.Thisprojectgrewaroundasharedunderstandingthatinanurgentway,oursurvivaldependsonourabilitytoworkandplaywelltogether,andondiscoveringandcreatinggroupprocesseswhichareatthesametimeeffectiveandlife-affirming.Becausethisiseasiersaidthandone,wewantedtodeepenandspreadtheinsights,skills,andcapacitytomakethatpromisereal.

The following core beliefs guide our work:

Seeingaworldinfluxanddeepneed,webelievetheworkoffacilitators,bothformalandinformal,canmakeasignificantdifferencetothequalityandoutcomesofessentialconversations.Thusweacceptaresponsibility,asfacilitatorsandparticipantsingroupprocess,toactforthecommongood.

Weexpectconvenorsofgroupprocesstoactwithfulltransparencyregardingthemotivesandexpectedresultsofthesessionsweorganizeandrun.Withhonestyandhumility,westrivetocontinuouslyimprovethecalibreofourwork.

Wechoosetoassumethebestofpeople.Webelievepeopleflourishwhenentrustedwiththeopportunitytoauthenticallyself-manage,collaborate,andmakedecisionscollectively,astruerespectedequals.Becausethemostcriticalissuesfacingusintheworldandinourorganizationsarecomplexandinterconnected,weneedeachothertodothis—thechallengeswefacearebeyondsolvingbyleadersorexpertsinisolation.Webelieveinsharingpower,thatwearewiserwhenweworktogether.

Webelievethateffectivegroupprocessesareclearlydrivenbythepurposeforwhichtheyarecalled.Werespectparticipants’lifeenergybyinvokingprocessesthatproductivelyusetheirtime,resultingincooperativesessionsthatmeetahighstandardinengagement,achievementandconnection.Wedrawonexperienceandknowledgetocreateelegantdesignswithgreatcare,yetremainflexibleandopentochangeasthecircumstances,willofparticipantsandflowofeventsmaydictate.

Goodprocessbuildsstrongcommunities.Ourworkisanactofloveinservicetotheworld.

WewereinspiredbyChristopherAlexanderandtheotherco-authorsofA Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction,whoin1977publishedaseminalworkonhowtocreatebuiltspacesthatnourishpeople’ssouls.Theywereseekersafterwholeness,grace,“thequalitythathasnoname,”whichtheyassertedwasbothdeeplysubjectiveandempiricallyverifiable.Theirbookwasbeautifulinform,accessibletothelayperson,andaimedtodemocratizetheirfield.Ittookthearcaneknowledgeofhowtodesignthebestpossiblehuman-scalearchitectureandcrystallizeditinto253principlesthathaveinfluencedagenerationofbuilders.Theirbookwasalsodeeplyinterconnected,listingwhichpatternsconnecttoeachotherandhow,longbeforetheadventoftheWorldWideWebmadesuchthinkingcommonplace.Ourprojectaimstoapplythesameapproachtodeliberativegroupprocess,andtakesadvantageoftools(suchaswikis)thatweren’tavailableinthe1970s.

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Therearealreadyplentyofgoodbooksandmodelsouttheretohelppeoplerungoodmeetings,andwedonotwanttoreplicatethem.TheGroup Works cardsexpresssharedwisdomunderlyingsuccessfulapproachesthatismorespecificthangeneralvaluesandlessspecificthantoolsandtechniques.Inordertodistinguishwhetherornotaparticularideawasapattern,weaskedourselvesquestionslike:

· Doesthisdescribeafeaturethatshowsupoverandoveragainingroupprocessesthatfulfillthepurposeforwhichtheywerecalled?

· Doesithappenacrossmanydifferentmethods?

· Canittakeavarietyofforms?

· Doesitshowupatmorethanonescale(forexample:balancingtheemphasisonprocessandoncontenthappensbothwithinonesessionataconferenceandwithintheconferenceasawhole).

· Doesitdescribeanactionthatcanbeconsciouslyundertakenbyconvenorsand/orparticipants?

· Doesmygutrespondtothiswithasenseofrecognition?

Becauseofspacelimitations,eachcardaimsonlytonametheessentialWhatandWhyofthatparticularelement.Inordertoactuallyusethepatterns,you’llneedtocomeupwiththeHow.AlotofHowsaresuppliedonourwebsite,whereyouwillfindagrowingpoolofinformationaboutthepatternsrepresentedinthisdeck.Somecardshaveplentyofresourcesalreadyonthewebsite,whileothersremaintobefleshedout.Overfiftypeoplewereinvolvedinthecreationofthiscarddeck,andwe’dbedelightedforyoutojointhecirclebyhelpingdescribehowtoapplythepatterns—seemoreonthisbelow.

Thepeoplewhoputthistogetherengagedinamulti-year,collaborativeprocessalternatingbetweenin-personmeetingsandworkonline,learningaswewent.Weareacross-sectionofNorthAmericansfromavarietyoforganizationalbackgroundsincluding:highereducation,softwaredevelopment,communalliving,corporatefinance,youthgroups,indigenoustribes,politicalactivism,nonprofitmanagement,governmentagencies,faithgroups,andmore.

Note on Spellings:AsamixedgroupofvolunteerslocatednorthandsouthoftheUS/Canadianborder,aftersomedeliberationwechosetogowithuniformCanadianspellings.

Pattern CategoriesBecausetryingtolearnthefullsetofpatternscanfeeloverwhelmingatfirst,wehavedividedupthepatternsintoasetofninecategories.Eachcategoryrepresentsagroupneedaddressedbythatsetofpatterns.Onecouldmakethecaseforincludingsomepatternsintwooreventhreecategories;however,forthepurposeofsimplifyingtheoveralldeck,wehavedeterminedoneprimarycategoryforeachpatternhere.Thecategoriesarelistedonthe“5-panel”insertintheorderinwhichtheymightnaturallybeconsideredineventdesign;ofcourserealityisabitmorecomplex.Asofthe2ndedition(2014),9categorycardswereadded.

Activities & Suggested UsesAswithmostnewpractices,thereisanaturallearningcurveassociatedwithbringingGroup Worksintoyourprocess.Thesecardsareyours,ofcourse,touseinwhateverwaysmakesenseandworkforyouinthesettingsyouengagein.Whilemuchusecanbemadeofthemsolo,wehavefoundthatthemostexpansivepossibilitiesarisewhenthedeckisintegratedintotheongoinglifeofagroup,becomingpartofthesharedculture.Whenenoughpeoplearefamiliarwiththeconceptsandpatterns,thepatternscanbeusedasacommonvocabularyorshorthandtorefertowhatyounoticeordesire,aswellasaframeworkforexplainingnewprocesses.

Sincepublicationin2011,thecardshavebeenusedinnumerousways,themostpopularofwhicharelistedheretogiveyouideastogetstarted.Ifanactivityfeelsoverwhelmingatfirst,tryusingonlyasubsetinsteadofthewholedeck.(YoursubsetmightconsistoftheCategorycards,ortheKeystones,orarandomlydrawnpile.)IfyoudevelopotherwaysofusingGroup Worksthatproveappealingtoyouandyourcolleagues,wehopeyouwillcontactusand/orpostthemtothewebsite.

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1. Sample group activitiesA. IcebreakerSpreadcardsoutfaceup.Inviteeachparticipanttoselectacardthatresonatesforthem,thenuseittointroducethemselvestoothers.

B. Self-assessment & sharing Spreadcardsoutfaceup.Inviteeachparticipanttoselecttwocards:onerepresentingapatterntheyarestrongin,andasecondtheywishtheywerebetterat.Formtriogroupsforaquicksharinganddiscussionofcardschosen.

C. Group assessmentAsconvenororplanningteam,choosearelevantsubsetofcardsahead.Laythemoutalongalongtable(s).Groupmembersslowlywalkbyviewingeachcard.Ifsomeonethinksthegroupdoesthatpatternwell,theymovethecarduponeinch(or3cm).Iftheythinkthegrouphandlesthatpatternpoorly,moveitdown.Onceallgroupmembershavewalkedby,everyoneviewthetableagain(withoutmovingcards)andnoticetheresults.Youmighttakethefewtopcardsasideandtalkaboutthem,andthenthetakethelowestrankedcardsanddiscussasagrouphowtomakethingsbetter.

2. Personal assessment and learningA. Card of the weekChooseacardoftheday/week/monthtostudy,consider,andholdinyourattention.

B. Self-developmentLayoutsomeorallofthecards.Identifywhichpatternsyoufeelmostcompetentat,andwhichyouwouldliketobecomebetterat.Forthelatter,chooseoneorafewpatternsthatareyourtoppriority,andmakeaplanforimprovement.Considerwhoyouralliesareinmakingthishappen,andhowtomoveforward.

3. Four options for a team preparing for an eventA. Choose priority patternsSelect1-5cardsthatrepresentthemostimportantgoalsorneedsofyourevent.Ateachplanningmeeting,askyourselves,“Areweontracktofulfillthese,andifnot,whatdoweneedtodo?”

B. Use with clients or co-facilitatorsForexample,highlightthemostimportantpatternsoftheengagement,oruseittoexplainyourdistinctiveapproach.

C. Sequence planningSelectasequenceofcards(perhaps3-12)representinghowyouexpecttheeventyouareplanningwillunfold.Forexample,thesequenceforatypicalmeetingmightbe:OpeningandWelcome;SettingIntention;Inquiry;GeneratePossibilities;SharedAirtime;MovingTowardAlignment;TakingResponsibility;Closing.Thenconsiderhoweachofthosepatternswillbesuccessfullyenactedatyoursession.

D. Planning phases by categoryPlacealargedisplayboardatthefrontoftheroom.Intherows,listthe9categories;inthecolumns,listtimestages,e.g.“earlyplanning,”“finalprep,”“duringevent,”“follow-up.”Sortthecardsbycategory,andhandeachcategorystacktoanindividualorgroupontheteam.Someonedescribetheupcomingeventaloud.Inviteteammemberstoselectpatternsintheircategorythatcouldbeusedateachstage,andpostthecorrespondingcardintheappropriaterowandcolumn(usingnon-permanentadhesive),thusfillingouttheboard.Oncecomplete,reviewthearrangementanddiscussasagroupwhetheritpresentsanappropriatestrategy.

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4. Group guidance in the sessionA. Each one steward oneAspeoplearriveandsettlein,haveeachpersonselectonepattern(canbeatrandom)whichtheytakeresponsibilityforbringingintothegroupsessionasneeded.

B. Launch guidanceAspartoftheopeningofthemeeting,invitesomeonefromthegrouptoselectarandomcardforthegrouptokeepinmindfortheduration.

C. When the group is stuckThedeckcanbeusedforgettingunstuckinseveralways:

• drawingan“oracle”card(asdescribedin#5,below);

• noticingwhichpatternsreflectthepositiveintentionofeachofseveralpeoplewhoaretalkingatodds;

• havingthegroupreflectonpatternsthatmightbehelpful(perhapshandingoutthecardsand/ordisplayingthefulllistofpatterns);

• guerrillafacilitationbysomeoneinthegroupdescribingan“escapepattern”andthenleadingthegrouptoinvokeit.

5. For intuitive guidance—cards as oracleUsethecardspersonallyorasagrouptodivineyourcurrentsituation,futurefortune,orwhattodonext.Focusonthesituationyouareseekingguidancefor,turningitoverinyourmind.Drawacardtogiveyouinspirationforhowtoproceed;orchooseatableautoapply.Forexample,5cardsmightrepresent:(a)thecontext/pastsituation,(b)currentinfluences,(c)thechallengeyouface,(d)unexpectedfutureinfluences,and(e)outcome/resolution.(Searchingonlineunder“tarotspreads”yieldscopiousoptionsforthisactivity.)Letyourmindsandimaginationsandthegroupconversationguideyoutowhatitallmeans,andhavefun!

6. Options for post-event reflection and evaluationA. One card eachWithallthecardsvisiblylaidout,inviteeveryonetochooseonecardeachthatrepresentssomethingoftheirexperienceattheevent.Forexample,apatternthatwasdonewell,oronetheywishhadbeendonebetter,orsomethingtheylearned.Taketurnssharingaloudinago-round,orasmanyastimepermits.

B. Storytelling Layoutthecardssoeveryonecanseethem.Tellthestoryoftherecentevent.Asyoudo,identifywhichpatternswereinvokedwellandwhichmighthavebeeninvokedmoreeffectively.

C. Revisit planning patternsIfyouusedthecardsorcategoriesinplanning,returntothosesamepatternsforthedebrief,consideringhowyoufulfilledeachorhowitcouldhavebeenbetter.

D. Random choiceChooseafewpatternsatrandomandconsideryoureventinlightofthem.

E. “Cardography” feedbackOnceyouaresufficientlyfamiliarwiththedeck,attendorwatchafacilitatedsession.Asyoulisten,whenyounoticeapatternbeingeffectivelyinvoked,placethatcardinfrontofyou,movingfromlefttorightasthesessionproceeds,leavinggapstodenotebreaks.Whenyounoticeasituationwhereapatterncouldhavebeenusedtomakethesessiongobetter,placethatcardupsidedown.Takeaphotoofyourmapand/orpresentittothefacilitatorfordiscussion.Youcanalsouse“cardography”feedback(soloorasateam)justtopracticerecognizingeffectiveandineffectivefacilitation.

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7. Dilemma-sharing for peer support Asimpleandpowerfulexercise—takesaboutanhour.Inagroupof4-7people,dealout6or7randomcardstoeachplayer,andgivefolksafewminutestoreadandbecomefamiliarwiththeircards.Player#1(the“prompter”)describesachallengingscenario,ideallyareallifesituationtheyarecurrentlywrestlingwith.Eachlistenerpicksoutonecardfromtheirhandtheythinkwouldbemosthelpful,andoffersittotheprompterwithabriefexplanation.Theprompterlaysoutthecards(oftenpeopleliketotakeapictureattheendtoremembertheguidance);forthegamifiedversion,theprompterselectsacardasthebestfitandthatplayerreceives1point.Eachplayerdrawsanewcardtoreplacetheonethatwasoffered,andplayturnstothenextpersontoofferuptheirscenario,untilallwhowantaturnhavegone.

8. Story sharingA. Pick 3 cards and tell a storyWithallthecardslaidoutonatable,inviteeachpersontothinkofastorytosharebasedonthethemeofyoursession.Eachpersonthenpicks3cardstohelpillustrateandtellthestory.

B. Storyboarding a case studyOnaboardorflipchart,createablankStoryboardwithdatesand/ortimesshownacrossthetop.Tellthestoryofwhathappenedchronologically,writingkeyeventsontheStoryboard.Asyoudo,postthecardforeachpatternthatwasusedatthatkeypoint(usingnon-permanentadhesive).

C. Story feedbackDealoutsomeorallofthecardsrandomly,sothateachpersonisholdingaportionofthedeck.Havesomeoneread,tell,orinventastoryaboutaneventthathappened.Ifit’sastoryofawell-facilitatedevent,inviteparticipantstoofferpatternsfromtheirhandtheyheardusedinthestory.Ifit’sastoryofapoorlyfacilitatedevent,participantssharepatternsthatwouldhavemadeitbetter.

9. Method mappingIfyouareanexperiencedpractitionerofaprocessmethod(e.g.OpenSpaceTechnology,AppreciativeInquiry,FutureSearch,etc.),youcanusethecardstomapthatmethod.Choose5-12cardsthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthattellthestoryofhowthatmethodworks.Thenfromthatset,choose1-3cardstoputattheverycentre,thepatternsthatexpressthevitalcoreofthatmethod.Usethistoexplainthemethodtoothers,amongyourcolleaguesoronourwebsite.

10. Acknowledging facilitators’ work· Whenyouwitnesssomeonedoinganoutstandingfacilitationjob,takeaphotoofthecardforoneofthepatterns

yousawthemdowell,thensendthema“thankyou”email,withphotoattached.(Orusethephoneappwhichincorporatesthisfunction.)

· Whentrainingnewfacilitators,giveadecktoeachparticipant(costcanbeincludedintheenrolmentfeeifneeded).

· Giftadecktoyourfavouritefacilitator.

Apps & E-VersionsElectronicversionsofthedeckallowforeasyprojectionduringgroupsessionsandkeepGroup Worksreadilyaccessibleonadeviceyoualreadycarry.OurwebsiteincludeslinkstoPDFandappversions.

TranslationsAtthetimeofthiswriting,autonomousteamshavepublishedtranslationsintoSpanish,French,andGerman,andlinkstothoseversionsareavailablefromourwebsite.PleasecontactusifyouareinterestedintranslatingGroup Worksintoadditionallanguages.

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Your Part of the Pattern Language DevelopmentThecreatorsofGroup Worksviewitnotasafinishedproduct,butasnapshotintimeofanevolvinglanguage.Thepatternlanguageforgroupprocesscomestolifethroughthepeoplewhohavedevelopedittogether,andnowthroughyouaswell.Asyouusethesecardstodeepenyourunderstandingandpracticeofgrouplife,youmaydiscovernewpatterns.Inserviceofthis,we’veincludedafewblankcardssothatasyouidentifymorepatternsyoucanaddthemtoyourdeck.Belowareafewotherspecificwaysweimagineyoumightcontributetothefurthergrowthofthislanguage.

Contribute Your Knowledge and WisdomEachpatterninthedeckhasalotmoreinformationpotentiallyavailableonourwebsite.Insomecasestherearealreadywrite-upscompletewithinstructionsforhowtoapplythatpattern,thingstowatchoutfor,resources(books,workshops,etc.),examples,andmore.Inothercasestherearemerelyafewhaphazardnotes.Themoreknowledgeiscontributedbyyouandothers,themoreusefulthepatternlanguageforgroupprocessbecomes.Youprobablyknowoftrainings,articles,orotherresourcesthathavehelpedyoutomanifestthesepatterns,andwhichmaybehelpfultoothers.There’sapageontheprojectwebsiteforeachpatternwhereyoucanofferyourresources.Ifyoucomeupwithnewpatternsorjustgenerallywanttoparticipateinthefurtherdevelopmentofthislanguage,pleasecontribute!

Join a Learning CommunityOurwebsiteservesashomebaseforalearningcommunitythatconnectsviatheinternetandoccasionallyface-to-face.Joinouremaillisttoshareyourdiscoveriesandhearwhatothersareupto.Gettogetherwithpeopleinyourareatosharethecards,createnewactivities,andconnectmoredeeply.Thewebsitehasmorewaysyoucanparticipate,andspaceforyoutoaddmore.

AcknowledgementsAnyprojectofthisnaturerestsonthegenerosityofatremendouscommunityofsupport.Wearegratefultothemanyvolunteersandfacilitatorswhocontributedtothiscollectivework.Withoutlistingeverythingeveryonedid,wewantedtotakespaceheretotellabitofthatstory.We’resuretohavemissedafewpeoplesoweapologizeinadvancetoanyonewe’veleftout.

Thisprojecthasbeenstewardedtocompletionbyacoreteamwhoheldavisionandcommittedtoseeingitthrough.Thesethreepeoplemadesubstantialspaceintheirlivestodevotetothisprojectforthebetterpartofthreeyears,meetingregularlyinpersonandoverthephoneandexchangingcountlessemails.Theycreatedasteadycenterintowhichotherscouldbringtheirgiftsinturn.

Tree Bressenprovidedtheinitialcatalysttomakeithappen—callinginacircleofeveryonesheknew(andsomeshedidn’t)tohelp.Shewelcomedeachnewcomerandheldtheprojectspacewithconsummateskill,keepingtaskalignedwithpurpose.Sheeditedeverydraftanddocument,andmanagedtheworktokeeptheentireprojectmovingforward.

Dave Pollardprovidedavoicefrommainstreambusinesstobalanceouridealism.Sacrificingmanyhoursofmorningsleep,hepioneeredmostpartsofthework,fromfindingimages,tocreatingthecategorychart,towritingourcorebeliefs,todrawingupthefirstbudget.Hetooknotesoncoreteamcalls,graciouslyhostedusathisbeautifulhome,andfundedtravelandaccommodationsforwhoeverneededitalongwithotherprojectexpenses.

Sue Woehrlintenaciouslyheldthisprojectamidatangleofothercommitments,bringingherinsight,passionandcaretoeverymeetingandphonecall.Shefacilitatedmanygroupsessions,participatedinpolishingeveryhearttext,consideredeverypossiblerelatedpattern,andsharedherloveofdoingdishes.

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Overthecourseofthreeyears,thefollowingpeoplehadsignificantinvolvementtofurtherthisproject.Inadditiontoonlinework,theyparticipatedinmultiple2–3dayworksessions,spendinglonghoursdeliberatingoverpatterns,findingthewordsandimagestoexpressthem,andmanyiterationsofrefining.

Tom Atleesupportedourambitionwithbothvisionandon-the-groundlabour,includingsubstantialworkonrelatedpatternsandpatternwriting,aswellasnetworkcontactsandout-of-the-boxideas.

Daniel Lindenbergerbroughtathoughtfulsensibilitytodeckandactivitydevelopment,thephoneapp,thehearttexts,thewebsite,andmore,bothbeforeand(amazingly)afterthebirthofhissonEllison;thankstohispartnerAimee Lindenbergertooforcomingalongandsupportingtheseefforts,includingsuggestingthenameGroup Works.

Ted Ernst Sarvatavigourouslysupportedourimagesearchincontent,form,andprocess,helpingmovethevisualsfromgoodideatoconcretereality,aswellashostingseveralmeetingsathiscommunity.

Dan Dohertyputusontrackfordoingcardsinsteadofabook,doingmuchoftheworkofproducingthefirstmock-updeck.

Jim Newcomerbroughtaneditor’spenalongwithawillingnesstojumpinwhereneeded,nottomentionhisabilitytocookatrulysuperlativeomelette.

Kathy McGreneragaveherhearttodevelopinghearttexts,sharedherupbeatattitudeatworksessions,andgotustostopworkinglongenoughtoeat!

John AbbewasourleadprogrammerinWagn(thesoftwareweusedtodevelopthis),techexpertoncall,andcheerleaderforopeneverything,inadditiontoparticipatinginmultipleworksessions.Ethan McCutchen(withLewis Hoffman)developedWagnandofferedusassistanceaboveandbeyondthecallofdutyinusingit.Vine Acornperformedmultipleprogrammingtasksontightdeadlinesandabunchofgruntsecretariallabour,allwithexceedinggoodcheer.Jeremy Lightsmithshoweduptooneworksessiontogettoknowus,wenthomeandwroteaprototypeforthephoneapp,laterupdatedbyAlexander von Below.Janet Hagerdidthegraphicdesign,withrevisionstolatereditionsbyJanelle Frazier.

Thesepeoplecontributedearlyideas,encouragement,andotherformsofsupport:

Rosa Zubizarretaofferedtheveryearliestfunding,andhergiftofnurturingbabyshootsofcreativeofferingstotheworld.

Chris Corrigantolduspeoplehadbeentalkingaboutdoingthisprojectforoveradecadeandthatweweretheonestopullitoff,andgotustoformacorestewardshipteam.

Ward Cunninghamtoldusthatthesoftwarewewanteddidnotyetexistandnottowaitforit,juststart.

Peggy Holmangavehonestfeedbackandassistanceatcriticaljunctures.

Amy Lenzo,Nancy White,andRia Baeck,inadditiontootherassistanceandreinforcement,providedaccesstotheirextensivephotoarchives.OursincerethankstoSara Dentandalltheotherphotographersandillustratorsforeachoftheimages.ThebulkofimagesweretakenfromFlickrbysearchingforpicturesavailableforcommercialuseunderCreativeCommonslicense.Fulllicensinginformationisavailableforeachpictureonlineatourwebsite.

Sincepublication,werecognizeseveralpeoplenotyetmentionedwhohavesteppedforwardinsignificantambassadorroles,sharingthedeckextensively:Kym Chi,Raines Cohen,Looby Macnamara,Delvin Solkinson,andKeala Young.AndwegivegratitudetothedevelopersofSpanish,French,andGermanversions.

Wealsooffergratefulappreciationto:Bill Aal,Margo Adair,Maggie Moore Alexander,Theodor Arnason,Don Benson,Tim Bonnemann,Juanita Brown,brush,Richard Burg,Paxus Calta,Rabea Chaudhary,Paul Cienfuegos,Jay Cross,Benjamin Aaron Degenhart,Lareina DePompeo,Mark Dilley,LisaMarie DiVincent,Dorit Fromm,Ken Gillgren,Nancy Glock-Grueneich,Elly Gross,Kaliya Hamlin,Karen Hixson,Ken Homer,Rebecca Hyman,Nuriya Janss,Lindsey Kerr,Christy Lee-Engel,Jenny Leis,John Kelly,Carol MacKinnon,DeAnna Martin,Iris McGinnis,Betsy Morris,Pennie O’Grady,Paloma Pavel,Larry Pennings,Lise Rein & Dan Parker,Charley Quinton,Caitlin Robertson,Anita Rosasco,Nick Routledge,Doug Schuler,Dawn Smith,Helen Spector,Mark Stiffler,Lynne Swift,Marc Tobin,Brandon WilliamsCraig,Michael Wolf,andalsoFellowship for Intentional CommunityandNational Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation.

The6authorsofAPatternLanguage—Christopher Alexander,Sara Ishikawa,Murray Silverstein,Max Jacobson,Ingrid Fiksdahl-King,andShlomo Angel—createdamasterworkofenduringinspiration;andmidwaythroughourdevelopment,themiddlefourofthemspokeatanarchitectureconferenceabouttheirrelationshipwiththatworkinwayswefoundenormouslyhelpful.

Finally,wethankthecommunityofpractitionersandenthusiastswhorespondedtoourpreliminarydeckinworkshops,conferencesandmeetingswhilethedeckwasbeingdevelopedandtested,andnotleast,you,asyoutakethiscreationoutintotheworld.

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Who Are These People?Tree Bressenhasbeenblessedformorethantwodecadeswithacallingtohelpgroupsfunctionwell.Buildingonskillsoriginallylearnedinthe“graduateschoolofcommunalliving,”she’sworkedwith200+organizationsofeverysort.Treeholdsspaceforemergentpossibilities,andhelpsguidepeoplethroughchallengestogettheretogether,mainlybydesigningandrunningsessionsthatarelively,productive,andconnecting.Herwebsitewww.treegroup.infooffersahostoffreearticlesandresourcesforeffectivecollaboration.

Untilheretiredin2010,Dave Pollard spent40yearsadvisingentrepreneursaboutstartingandrunningabusiness,innovation,research,sustainability,copingwithcomplexity,andtheeffectiveuseofknowledgeandsocialmedia.HewritesablogaboutlivingandworkingmoreeffectivelycalledHow to Save the World,andistheauthorofFinding the Sweet Spot: A Natural Entrepreneur’s Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work.Davehasfacilitatedhundredsofbusinessmeetings,andwitnessedsomeoftheworst,andbest,groupprocesswork.

AsfacultyatAntiochUniversitySeattle,Sue Woehrlinhasspentthepast37yearssupportingadultlearnerspursuingindividualizeddegreesinleadership,organizationalchangeandsocialactivism.Sheteachesthedesignandfacilitationofparticipatorygroupprocessesthatamplifyvoicesatthemargins,engagethewholesystem,welcomeuncertaintyandthemessinessofemergence,andtapthepowerofstoriestoheal,inform,inspireandtransformgroups.Suebelievesworkplacesandcommunitiesneedeffectivecollaborativegroupsnowmorethanever.