Gregg Potter

This laboratory experience will create space to have conversations and practice slowing down our formal collaborative processes while illuminating opportunities to lead and design more impactful and effective collaborations. The opportunities that we commonly miss due to resources, urgency, and other outliers do not have to be overlooked. We will practice using our muscles so that intentional collaborations happen as smoothly as unintentional collaborations. Additionally, we will examine how our transformational leadership, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills create space that fosters trust, agency, support, and miraculous change beyond the expectations we set. Collaboration is how we create the best environments possible. This lab will be the perfect place to play in the fun and creativity of it all.

We cannot collaborate effectively without relationships built on trust. No matter what we think we can do, a collaboration will be most successful when the actors come to it whole, authentic, and seen. This session will slow down the beginning steps of collaboration and highlight the importance of creating space, celebrating humanity, and establishing trust. When these components are present, the most difficult of collaborations can be successful. Additionally, when properly done, we expand the possibility of who participates in the work with us creating possibilities for larger impacts. The session begins with our "why we show up" to do the work. Collaborations always begin with the individual to connect to other people's why. After we establish common ground, we will participate in the most common collaboration on this planet. From this activity, we build on how we create space, build relationships, and identify tools to create strong meaningful collaborative teams.

We have so many lessons we can learn from what is going on outside of our personal bubbles. In this presentation, Gregg shares lessons he has learned from his extensive travel and working in different communities that have a vast spread of feelings toward the LGBTQ+ community. Participants walk away reconsidering their vantage point and responsibility in their spaces. They also put a mirror up to see how they can be better advocates for themselves and their community.