In the context of facilitation — especially when navigating hard conversations — grace is not about being passive or overly polite. It is a powerful, intentional, internal stance. It’s how we hold ourselves and others when things get hot, vulnerable, or complex. Grace is the quiet force that allows us to lead with integrity, humility, and presence even when under extraordinary pressure.
Fifteen years after writing Standing in the Fire, Larry Dressler will share how his thinking about inner capacities and practices that enable facilitators to bring grace to the most difficult conversations. During this session you will have the opportunity to identify the ways in which you can bring more steadiness and resourcefulness to “high-heat” facilitation moments.
For more than 30 years, Larry Dressler has helped organizations weave authentic engagement and skillful collaboration into the fabric of their daily work. He defines his purpose as creating openings for high-stakes conversations that nudge the world toward more justice, love, and sustainability. His company, Blue Wing Consulting has worked in diverse settings ranging from corporate board rooms to a solar-powered chocolate factory in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
He has consulted with global brands like Nike and Starbucks, private foundations, nonprofits, government agencies, and mission-driven companies navigating complexity and change. While a practitioner at heart, Larry has written two books: Consensus Through Conversation: How to Build High-Commitment Decisions, and Standing in the Fire: Leading High-Heat Meetings with Clarity, Calm, and Courage, which have been published in the USA, Brazil, China, Japan, and Taiwan.