Open Space Coaching and Facilitation
About Michael Wood
I support teams, groups, organisations, and individuals to cocreate spirited spaces to do the things they care deeply about. My approach is shaped by the following principles:
* Working collaboratively with clients and partners.
* Trusting that insight and creativity is something that emerges from healthy
relationships and the fostering of safe spaces for respectful conversation.
* Recognizing that conflict in inevitable in groups and that this can be a source of
creatively and growth when handled well.
* Creating conditions for self-organisation leads to enjoyable workplaces and high
performance in complex systems (which is just about everything these days).
* Time, deep listening, and patient waiting for the emergence of wisdom is never
wasted.
My preference for the co-creative process of working with people rather than doing things to them or for them, is implicitly theologically shaped and informed by expertise in a range of dialogic frameworks and processes including Leadership Coaching, Appreciative Inquiry, Listening Circles, Open Space Technology, and Restorative Practice Conferencing. I have facilitated hundreds of meetings for groups ranging in size from 6 - 450 people, in tertiary education, private companies, public health, churches, NFP and NGOs.
After early careers in the shipping and banking industries, I now work in both churches, and nonchurch contexts as a priest, leadership coach, and professional facilitator.
I am married and father to two adult daughters. My first book, "Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action" was published in 2022 (shortlisted in the Australian Christian Book of the Year Awards, 2023).
* Professional Member Resolution Institute
* Member Australian Association for Restorative Justice
* ICF Professional Certified Coach (current)
* Bachelor of Divinity (Murdoch University)
* Bachelor of Business (Victoria University)
* Diploma Applied Science (Australian Maritime College).