The Minnesota Liberating Structures Immersion is happening in two weeks – and I am so looking forward to meeting all of our participants! We have folks coming in from across the country and globe (hello Germany!) to join us in our exploration of Liberating Structures in St. Paul February 24th and 25th. We have just one week to go for registration – make sure you sign up by February 17th! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minnesota-liberating-structures-immersion-tickets-85104725525
As we prepare I’d like to introduce you to our hosting team! This dynamic group has a wide range of experience and we are putting together a comprehensive two day dive into Liberating Structures. (Also, shout out to Fariba Fuller, who began the planning with us but can’t make it to this engagement – we’ll catch her next time!).
Breanna Trygg – Trygg Consulting
What do you do for work? Where?
I am a process and organizational change consultant. I facilitate multi-stakeholder and internal groups, and teach professional skills that help leaders and teams work through sticky workplace dynamics, communicate with transparency, and collaborate effectively.
I am based in Olympia, Washington, and work predominately in the Puget Sound region. Sometimes I get a chance to travel to exotic locales like the Twin Cities. 😉
What's your favorite vacation spot?
I love to be near water – two favorites are the San Juan Islands in Washington State or Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota.
What is your personal practice to stay energized and grounded (these might be two different ones!)?
It’s important for me to have time outside, every day. I can always tell when I haven’t had a chance to be outdoors as much as I’d like (like the 31 days of rain we just had in Olympia).
How did you first come across Liberating Structures, and what was interesting about them at first glance?
A friend of mine in grad school kept talking about Liberating Structures, and she brought Keith (one of the founders) to share a bit about LS one evening after a full day of class. I was expecting a lecture but we dove in immediately with a structure. I was so energized after our long day – and hooked!
What's your favorite Liberating Structure to use? Why?
Honestly, it’s one of the most simple – 1-2-4-All. I use this in EVERY situation, working with 8-year olds talking about grief, at big conferences talking to 200 adults, in small team meetings where we’re building strategic plans. The energy shifts and creativity spikes…and everyone is engaged.
What has changed for the way you work since you found Liberating Structures?
My ability to plan an engagement is much stronger after working with and seeing LS in action. I can have a conversation with a client and immediately see in my head the way specific LS structures can address the needs they are describing. I have so much fun experimenting with different strings or combining LS with other tools to ensure the work is relevant to every person in the room.
Anything else to share?
One of my passions is creating community to support people experiencing grief and loss. I’m a co-founder of an organization called Wild Grief that provides peer support for grieving teens, families and adults through backpacking and hikes. Liberating Structures is part of every board meeting I design and part of how we lead the grief groups. When you use LS everyone is seen and heard – and it’s powerful.
Daniel Pesut – University of Minnesota School of Nursing
What do you do for work? Where?
I am a Professor of Nursing and Director of the Katharine J Densford Leadership Center at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
My wife and I own a condo in Amelia Island Florida and we love to walk the beach and enjoy the sunshine there.
What is your personal practice to stay energized and grounded (these might be two different ones!)?
Sitting quietly in a wooded area and listening to nature always energizes me. I am also an introvert (INTP) so just need to take time by myself to recharge my batteries.
How did you first come across Liberating Structures, and what was interesting about them at first glance?
I was on the Board of Trustees of the Plexus Institute with Henri and Keith and watched with wonder and amazement the development of Liberating Structures over time... what is interesting at first glance is their simple elegance and powerful impact.
What's your favorite Liberating Structure to use? Why?
I love TRIZ and am also partial to 25/10 Crowdsourcing as you can get so many great actionable ideas in a very short period of time.
What has changed for the way you work since you found Liberating Structures?
I have come to appreciate the wisdom of crowds and the value of emergence over control.
Anything else to share?
Liberating structures support creative thinking and innovation --- and they are fun to use...
Jen Mein – Jen Mein Consulting
What do you do for work? Where?
I am a collaborative solopreneur offering participatory leadership consulting, facilitation, and graphic recording services. Most of my work is in the Twin Cities and greater MN, though I do travel on occasion. My clients tend to be higher education institutions, advocacy organizations and networks, and public agencies.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
Any place that has water (river, lake, ocean) and vast landscapes - Canadian Rockies, North Shore of MN, Door County in WI.
What is your personal practice to stay energized and grounded (these might be two different ones!)?
Being in generative conversations with others energizes me. Making preparations and taking deep breaths help me feel grounded.
How did you first come across Liberating Structures, and what was interesting about them at first glance?
Maybe 6 years ago, a fellow Art of Hosting practitioner shared them with our community of practice at the University of Minnesota after learning about them from Daniel Pesut. I really appreciated the open source feel. By that I mean, there was so much freely available and wonderful examples of the Liberating Structures being used in a variety of contexts. I also liked the tips for adaptations and stringing different structures together.
What's your favorite Liberating Structure to use? Why?
Ecocycle Planning. I have a living systems view of the world so it resonates. I also appreciate that it can help groups identify where they need additional resources or focus to bring something into being and also where they might need to let things go.
What has changed for the way you work since you found Liberating Structures?
I feel as though my facilitation practice has more breadth and depth. I draw upon a variety of methods and feel myself going deeper within myself and with groups. I do not hold too tightly to one way of doing my work, rather I continue to learn, adapt and weave different approaches together so I can more fully meet the needs and deliver the results my clients are looking for.
Anything else to share?
I am looking forward to our time together!
Don’t forget to register by February 17th! Let me know if you have any questions – see you soon.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minnesota-liberating-structures-immersion-tickets-85104725525