Welcome to The Art of Hosting

"The Art of Hosting and harvesting conversations that matter is a new practice of democracy that we really need in the world now."  
- Phil Cass, CEO, Columbus Medical Association and Foundation, Ohio, USA

"Hosting is an emerging set of practices
 for facilitating group conversations of all sizes,
supported by principles that:
maximize collective intelligence;
welcome and listen to diverse viewpoints;
maximize participation and civility;
and transform conflict
 into creative cooperation.”
- The core team of practitioners, Upper Arlington, Columbus Ohio

"The art of hosting is a practice that heals the broken relationships between people."- EU Commission official

Art of Hosting is a global community of practitioners using integrated participative change processes, methods, maps, and planning tools to engage groups and teams in meaningful conversation, deliberate collaboration, and group-supported action for the common good. - Collaborative definition by several Art of Hosting stewards

What if the art of hosting and harvesting is how to be with complexity in a simple way?

Michelle, participant Art of Hosting training

You are invited to watch some videos with snippets of Art of Hosting trainings.

"Art of Hosting is not a method, even though it uses state-of-the-art (post)-modern social technologies that make a lot of sense and help turn that sense into effective action - if that is what the participants wish.

Art of Hosting is also not a group dynamic process, even though it touches upon and at times celebrates the wonderful feeling of community that any group using authentic human interactions will experience.

Artof Hosting most of all is the expression of a way of being, a way of life, a way of being with others and situations as they unfold. Hosting reality as the host in Rumi's poem "The Guest House" does, welcoming each person, feeling, concept and situation as it wishes to appear. And more - not only welcoming but actively and appreciatively inquiring into whatever seems to be important to one." - Mushin Shilling

The Art of Hosting and Convening Conversations that matter is a powerful leadership practicum as well as a daily pattern and practice for many individuals, communities, families, businesses and organizations.

It is a practice retreat for all who aspire to learn and find new ways for working with others to create innovative and comprehensive solutions. We are a growing community of practitioners, supporting each other to explore and accomplish what we most care about.

We - the hosts of the Art of Hosting - invite leaders, CEOs, managers, teachers - pioneers from all walks of life - who want to see and act wisely from a different perspective and practice of leadership where other people's courage, creativity, intelligence and wisdom is set free.

Leaders who want to learn to lead without being possessive, to be helpful without taking credit and who are ready to let go in order to achieve more for the common good.

We invite you to explore the practise of hosting conversations that matter with us, to enhance your own practices of inviting, designing, opening and holding inspired and meaningful spaces in new places in your work, communities and life.

The Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversations explores hosting as an individual and collective leadership practice.

The challenges of these times call for collective intelligence. We must co-create the solutions we seek. The Art of Hosting pattern and practice is based on our assumptions that it is common sense to bring stakeholders together in conversation when you seek new solutions for the common good. We believe that when human beings are invited to work together on what truely matters to them, they will take ownership and responsibility for moving their issues and ideas into wiser actions that lasts.