The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair (BK Business) [Paperback]

Christina Baldwin (Author), Ann Linnea (Author), Margaret Wheatley (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1605092568 | ISBN-13: 978-1605092560 | Publication Date: March 12, 2010 | Edition: 1

All modern group processes that are open to collaboration or to flattening the hierarchy are based in some way on circle practices. As organizations of all kinds move increasingly toward shared and rotating leadership, they are calling on the circle model to form sustainable teams and adopt circle-driven group processes such as World Café, Open Space, and Art of Hosting. Meetings in the round have become the preferred tool for moving individual commitment into group action.

This book lays out the structure of circle conversation, based on the original work of the co-authors who have studied and standardized the essential elements that constitute circle practice. It takes readers through a circle visual (the Components of Circle) and presents both structure and story so that readers understand how these elements come into play and how they interrelate and interact.  It also embeds circle process experience in stories and examples drawing on the authors’ 15 years of experience as global thought leaders and originators of this form, and it presents detailed instructions and suggestions for getting started, setting goals, and solving conflicts.
 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A perfect travel guide for all who are committed to making the world a better place. The circle deserves to become an independent field of study, and this book gets that going. Read it.’
—Peter Block, author of Stewardship, Flawless Consulting, and Community

“This superb book, put into practice, can transform the way you work and live.”

—Parker J. Palmer, founder, Center for Courage & Renewal, and author of A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, and The Courage to Teach

Book Description

This book lays out the structure of circle conversation, based on the original work of the co-authors who have studied and standardized the essential elements that constitute circle practice. It takes readers through a circle visual (the Components of Circle) and presents both structure and story so that readers understand how these elements come into play and how they interrelate and interact.  It also embeds circle process experience in stories and examples drawing on the authors’ 15 years of experience as global thought leaders and originators of this form, and it presents detailed instructions and suggestions for getting started, setting goals, and solving conflicts. Meetings in the round have become the preferred tool for moving individual commitment into group action.
 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1 edition (March 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605092568
• ISBN-13: 978-1605092560
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone Needs This Book!!, March 11, 2010

By 

Sarah N. MacDougall Ed.D. (Taylors Falls, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair (BK Business) (Paperback)

The Circle Way is an easy read, full of stories about how circle has transformed individual lives and organizational culture. There are many methods used to help people communicate more effectively. The circle process as beautifully described and documented in this book brings ancient knowledge back into today's world and provides the means to be more fully human with one another. As we search for ways to have meaningful conversations in all areas of life, using the invaluable and detailed information in this book can only enhance our efforts. I highly recommend this book to every human on the planet!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding addition to a leader's library, April 4, 2010

By 

P. J. Sampel "GOTN" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair (BK Business) (Paperback)

Baldwin and Linnea have created a masterpiece in detailing and explaining how to use "The Circle Way" as a means of collaborative decision-making, structure and process. Any business leader, HR professional, or individual working to bring diverse groups of people together to work collaboratively should have multiple copies of this book to use/refer to/give away. The Circle Way provides the reader with real-life examples and stories of how this deceptively simple, yet very successful process and structure works to bring people together to create and build healthy organizations and communities of all types. An outstanding choice for your own library.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reading for All Change-Makers, April 6, 2010

By 

Marilyn J. Morgan (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair (BK Business) (Paperback)

The Circle Way is a profound description of the components of creating circles that enable deep listening, and building respectful structures for resolution of problem areas in all communications....business and personal. The work that the authors have done over the past 20 years has clearly been distilled into the wisdom about caring for ourselves and our earth. All people interested in working to change any structure that is unproductive will welcome this information. If you are serious about loving the Earth and envisioning a healthier place to live, this book contains maps to achieve these visions. I highly recommend this book to professional and non professional alike. The stories offered within the book will touch a wide range of people and emotions. It is a great read and you will be armed with new tools for handling communication.