The Human Terrain of Organizations

This three-part training series invites participants into a deeper exploration of what it means to live, lead, and work relationally within organizations and communities. Rooted in the principles of Relational Landscaping: The Human Terrain of Organizations® and guided by the Circle of Trust® Touchstones®, the series creates reflective, engaging, and experiential spaces where people can strengthen connection and belonging, rediscover meaning and purpose, and cultivate humanity and authenticity in their relationships and work. Through storytelling, dialogue, creative expression, personal reflection, and practical visioning, participants are invited to better understand themselves, deepen their interactions with others, and imagine new ways of contributing to healthier, more compassionate organizational cultures going forward.

Connection & Belonging (click to expand this agenda)

Download Readings Here

Primary Touchstones

Be Present as Fully as Possible
Turn to Wonder
No Fixing or Saving
Trust and Learn from the Silence

Key Concepts

Relational soil and emotional climate
The difference between inclusion and belonging
Trust-building through attention and presence
Emotional intelligence as communal practice
Relational hospitality

Recommended Chapters

Chapter 1: The Human Terrain of Organizations
Chapter 2: Trust as Relational Soil
Chapter 4: Emotional Presence and Relational Awareness
Chapter 6: Belonging and Organizational Culture

PRE-WORK

Participants read key sections from Relational Landscaping before arrival.

Participants watch our 30 minute Touchstones introduction video before arrival.

Participants receive:

Touchstones handout
Reflection question:
“When have you most deeply experienced belonging?”
Bring an object (anything) from home that somehow represents "belonging" to you.

Opening (30 minutes)

Arrival Experience

Warm music
Coffee/tea station
Name tags
Tables intentionally mixed
Visuals around belonging and connection

Opening Circle

Facilitator introduces:

Purpose
Touchstones emphasis
Invitation into relational presence

“Common Ground” activity:
Participants have brought an item from home that represents “belonging” to them

Ask participants to categorize their connection to the object:

This object says something about who I am
This object says something about “my people”
This object says something about one of my gifts or successes
This object… “other”

Participants group according to category. Make smaller groups if needed (4 or 5).

Goal:
Move from surface interaction into human connection quickly.

Whole group share.

Circle 1: Looking at Myself (60 minutes)

Guided Reflection

Prompt:

“What experiences shaped my understanding of belonging?”
“When do I feel most connected?”
“What helps me feel emotionally safe?”

Third Thing Reflection

Brene Brown video

Invitational Prompts:

When is a time I remember when I had to work to “fit in”? What did I do to do that? How did it work out? What did I learn from that experience?
Where in my life do I experience a sense of belonging? What about that setting or place makes me feel like I belong? What do I learn from being in that place?
Which is most prevalent in my work setting, “belonging” or “fitting in”? Why is that?

Triad Listening Exercise

Using Touchstones:

Be Present as Fully as Possible
Turn to Wonder
No Fixing or Saving
Trust and Learn from the Silence

PART 2: Looking at My Interaction with Others (75 minutes)

Activity: Relational Mapping

Participant map HERE

Where connection is strong
Where belonging is weak
Invisible groups
Areas of exclusion

LUNCH

Small Group Discussion

Questions:

What behaviors create belonging?
What unintentionally damages belonging?
What role does power play?

Interactive Activity

“Belonging Builders / Belonging Barriers”
Lists made by groups in discussion, add to these two columns

Simon Sinek Video

Difference between positivity and optimism
Clear vision and values can bind us… without them, we form bonds over other things that divide us

PART 3: Visioning and Going Forward (60 minutes)

Visioning Exercise

Look at PREVAIL

Partnerships – Working with others to achieve common goals.
Respect – Supporting each other while valuing differences.
Excellence – Exceeding expectations.
Visionary – Leadership for the future.
Adaptive – Responding to change with creative solutions.
Integrity – Honesty in word, action and deed.
Learning – Achieving growth and building capacity.

How do I bring back what I’ve learned here?

Which of these values do I see optimistically?

Which do I see as just “positivity”?

How can we be optimistic about where we are going based upon a realistic view of where we are at?