What is behind the "dance" of nonviolent communication?

Nonviolent communication is an agreement process making it possible to conciliate your own needs with those of other people in an appreciable manner. On the one hand this will then work, if we learn how to direct our energy and attention to things that are important for us and others,  instead of insisting on the mistakes of us or others. On the other hand its about learning a language that helps us to get into confidential contact with our fellow men. A language that increases a willingness to cooperate together and to support each other. A big deal of the problems between executives and employees, parents and children, couples or neighbors could often be solved with a simple change....with an empathetic and appreciable language.

Who is the "father" to the thought?

The American psychologist Dr. Marshall Rosenberg developed the model of nonviolent communication in the 70s, building upon the insights of the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers. The original motivation were profound personal experiences especially during the racial riots in the 60s in the USA. The basic question he asked himself was: What makes people give from their hearts and what prevents them from doing so?

1984 he founded the non-commercial organization "Center for Nonviolent Communication" (CNVC). Its designation is to  demonstrate people a possibility of becoming connected to each other in an appreciating and constructive way by using the support of nonviolent communication. Today, CNVC is a global network with hundreds of trainers and volunteers in many countries that train groups of all social ranges worldwide in nonviolent communication. Executives and employees of companies belong to them as well as parents, teachers, policemen, families, couples, military members, peace activists, etc.. International projects of the network support conflict resolution and encourage cooperation in companies, families, schools, health institutions and in jails. This is for instance how ten thousand school students were trained by a CNVC-team in Serbia after having been invited by the UNESCO.

What are the (dancing)-steps that you will learn in our introduction course?

• Barriers in communication: turning classifying and destructive language patterns into an appreciable and constructive language.
• The power of empathy: learning to recognize the humanity and motives of others in their undesirable words and actions.
• Living and acting authentically: learning to powerfully stand up to your own values, to better take care for your own needs.
• Association with the own emotional world: constructively dealing with strong emotions, expressing anger completely and simultaneously in a nonviolent manner.
• The art of requesting: Increasing the probability that others are ready to fulfill our wishes.
• The internal team: Recognizing internal contradictions and constructively dealing with the own internal diversity.

What are the (dancing)-steps good for in daily life?

The seminar offers a reliable framework to deal with your own values and with the question: " How do I want to meet other people"? You can learn ...

• to develop even more appreciation for yourself and for others.
• to stand up to your aims with more self consciousness and coolness.
• to become more certain in communication with "challenging" people.
• not to perceive critics and attacks personally anymore.
• to better understand other people's motives for apparently "incomprehensible" behavior.  
 
• to support a climate of cooperation and appreciation.
• to respond to conflicts and solve them constructively.
• to constructively communicate in difficult conversations

How do we work in the seminar?

We work participant and process orientated: This means that we consider the personal experiences of the participants on the one hand and simultaneously always pay attention to what might be important at the moment for a certain person or for the whole group on the other hand. Furthermore we put great emphasis on interactivity and close practice exercises. We are anxious to meet your individual needs and learning styles as participants by offering you a healthy mixture out of role playing games, short presentations, conversations, partner- and teamwork as well as the usage of different media.

Further information for nonviolent communication:

1. www.cnvc.org/de
2. www.gewaltfrei.de/
3. www.youtube.com/viewplaylist?p=742A2A7E3497CA0A
4. www.nvctraining.com/

Literature: Rosenberg, Marshall B. (2004): Nonviolent Communication, A language of Life.

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