Last month, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of law students who were seeking alternative ways to resolve disputes—a group committed to transformation. This wasn’t just a conversation about law; it was about how we, as human beings, engage with one another when times get tough, how we bridge divides, and how we find connection when the world seems divided.
The students, ranging from first-year to third-year law students, came with a shared desire to be part of something that transcends traditional, often rigid, systems of conflict resolution. There was even a law graduate who showed up to the session because, like many of us, she longed for something deeper—something that spoke to the heart of human connection.
I co-presented with my colleague, Aaron Leakey, who has a keen interest in political polarization and citizen engagement. I shared with him my admiration for Circles for Reconciliation, a grassroots organization out of Winnipeg that uses the circle format to facilitate healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Each circle is composed of ten people, half settler and half indigenous, with two trained circle keepers. Each Circle meets for 90 minutes, once a week for ten weeks with the goal of “creating and maintaining mutually respectful relationships.”
I had met the co-founder years ago at a Conference we were both presenting at, and I was immediately drawn to Raymond Currie and the organization he co-founded.
When talking with Aaron, I shared the model and wondered if those kind of circles could be a way to bridge the political divides that are so prevalent in today’s society. This idea resonated deeply with Aaron as well, and soon enough, he began researching the intersection of political polarization and citizen engagement.
Fast forward to our session with the law students. Aaron presented research on polarization and citizen engagement for the first hour. Then, with a smaller group of about eight students, I led them in a circle conversation about bridging divides. What followed was nothing short of magical. One participant said, “This was the therapy I needed.”
The act of simply sitting in a circle, sharing our hearts and experiences one by one, created a sense of healing that felt both powerful and necessary.
This experience reinforced for me just how transformational circles can be. As collaborative and heart-centered leaders, we are in the perfect position to recognize the power of this practice, and to use it in our teams, organizations, and communities. Circles aren’t just about resolving conflict—they’re about creating a space where every voice is heard, where the community can come together, and where we can begin to heal divisions.
Bill Ury, the esteemed mediator and anthropologist, writes in his book The Third Side that circles are a fundamental feature in peace-oriented cultures around the world—from the San tribe in South Africa to the Semai community in Malaysia. Indigenous communities and matriarchal socieities, too, have long used circles as a tool for decision-making and communal dialogue. Ury tells us that the secret to creating cultures of peace lies in the active, vigilant, and constructive involvement of the community – talking circles. The beauty of circles lies in their simplicity: everyone has equal time to speak, and every voice is valued.
What I find most moving about this practice is that it forces us to shift from our heads to our hearts. It encourages us to be vulnerable, to listen deeply, and to connect with one another not just as colleagues or peers, but as fellow human beings. And let me tell you—as leaders, when we embrace this kind of dialogue, we create a culture of empathy, respect, and mutual trust that can change everything.
It is not common for most modern cultures to sit in circle, yet, we still see vestiges of it: circle time for children, construction workers on a site standing around in a circle, campfire configurations, and so on.
Talking in circle is an counter-culture and deeply democratic act. In my own work and personal life, circles have been a grounding force that continually remind me of the power of listening, the strength of connection, and the profound impact of fostering understanding. I’ve had the honour of facilitating circles with some incredible people, including my dear colleagues Gordon White and Jane Morley, and each experience has left me with a deep sense of purpose.
One of the things I’ve done over the years is adapt my own version of a handout that explains how to host a circle. I’ve shared this with everyone from students to colleagues, and now, I’m sharing it with you.
If you’d like to bring this transformative practice into your own space, I invite you to grab your own copy on How to Host a Circle here.
I’d love to hear from you—whether you’ve hosted a circle, experienced one, or are curious about how to begin. Real change starts when we create spaces where people feel safe enough to speak honestly—and generous enough to really listen.
Warmly,
