The future is humanistic: Infusing compassion in the systems thinking world—Circles, dialogue and RoundTables as levers for individual and community emancipation

Abstract

In this age of isolation, exacerbated by an increased number of natural disasters and their associated impact, we are faced with a deepening poverty of social connections and a high degree of polarisation on multiple counts. Designed for contexts ranging from workplaces to spiritual discourse, more and more instances of intentional conversations are surfacing across the world. It is only when we are able to appreciate the view of ‘another’, that we are truly able to step beyond the boundary of the self. In this paper, we explore a practitioner's perspective on three formats of gathering that are currently practiced at the International Society for the Systems Sciences. Using social and humanistic values, we outline how these three simple yet powerful techniques embody inclusivity, with the intention of inspiring its readers to consider hosting alternate forms of meetings in academic and organisational settings, thus creating grounds for compassionate understanding.

The art and science of the impossible: The human experience

“…If we can sit together and talk about what's important to us, we begin to come alive’. (Wheatley, 2002, p. 3 in Jacobs et al, 2022).…”