Ep 39 - The Waikato Wellbeing Project with Harvey Brookes
Introducing Harvey Brookes
Harvey is the lead agitator and coordinator working behind the scenes on the Waikato Wellbeing Project - a collective effort to improve wellbeing in one region of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Setting up a project of this type is a learning exercise in and of itself. Harvey and his team have been generous in sharing their lessons learned along the way - openly and honestly.
One of the many things I enjoyed about this conversation is how Harvey epitomises the journey that a lot of facilitators seem to go on.
Often we begin this work believing we need to have all the answers figured out. We go searching for the “right solution” or the “evidence-based approach” or the “clear plan”.
But over time we learn to instead approach this work with curiosity and a desire to connect with people, to experiment and to learn.
You can read all the articles, you can listen to all the podcasts, you can use all the right language… but sometimes the conditions aren't right in your own life to be able to apply the theory or you haven't yet had the kind of experience that allows you to put your insight into practice.
If you're in a situation where you are wanting to work more collaboratively, more systemically, more relationally, then you're going to love hearing from Harvey as we go behind the scenes of setting up the Waikato Wellbeing Project.
In today’s episode you’ll learn:
How structure, relationships, permission and skills are all needed for people to work together effectively.
Why listening to the voices and expertise of people with lived experience is crucial.
That failure is okay and that it’s part of the process to solutions emerging.
That facilitation is a supportive role and we don’t need to know all the answers.
Resources mentioned in this episode
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Contact us to learn more about our Virtually Productive workshops
Harvey’s LinkedIn profile
The Waikato Wellbeing Project website
Ep 40 - The Southern Initiative and The Power of Community-Led, with Gael Surgenor
Ep 31 - When Your Cross-Sector Collaboration Needs A Refresh, with Henry Pavey
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