Members of the Genuine Contact Organization have adopted a holistic approach to leadership and organizational development based on the Genuine Contact Way of Working. Members in the Partner, Ambassador, Steward, and Elder groups (Qualifying Members) sign and agree to adhere to this Quality Commitment as one standard for how they conduct their work. They have developed competence in working with at least three Genuine Contact modules, including Whole Person Process Facilitation, a Genuine Contact method, to assist leaders and organizations in their development.

Qualifying Members, when working with Genuine Contact as leaders, organizational consultants, leadership development consultants, and meeting facilitators, work within the scope of the modules that they have developed competency in.

Depending on the needs of the client, a Qualifying Member can bring larger teams together from amongst members of the GCO, and others whose work is in alignment with our quality commitment, when needed.

Qualifying Members in good standing are listed in the public member directory. While the Genuine Contact Organization cannot remark about the competence of the person, prospective clients or employers can verify that a Quality Commitment has been made. Leaders and organizations seeking to engage Qualifying Members are responsible for doing their own reference checks.

Qualifying Members make the following commitments to ensure the most beneficial results of their work, and recommit to this Quality Commitment annually.

Quality Commitment: Full Text

Working the Genuine Contact Way

At the outset of an assignment or employment, I and my client or employer ensure that we have:

• clarity about the business goal and related development goal of the assignment
• leadership considerations regarding the success of the assignment in the organization
• expectations and deliverables
• who the people are who need to be involved for the assignment to be successful
• the design to achieve the goals, expectations, and deliverables
• how the relationships will be worked out for success
• how the collective intelligence of the organization will be accessed

A schedule of review meetings will be established for course correction as needed in relation to the initial scope of the agreement. I understand the importance of continuous monitoring and adjustment rather than waiting until the final review.

Within the Genuine Contact Way of Working, we work from the following five foundational beliefs. I take care to consider and incorporate these beliefs in my work.

1. We believe that spirit or Spirit matters, that through spirit or Spirit, all of creation is connected, and that people are precious.
2. We believe that every organism (including the organization) has within it the blueprint for its own optimal health and balance.
3. We believe that focusing on genuine contact enables individuals and organizations to achieve the individual and organizational health and balance that is needed for optimal effectiveness. Positive change in the organization is directly linked to positive change in individuals. Both are required for sustainable new ways of working.
4. We believe in keeping it simple. Simple frameworks and processes enable success with complex situations. In keeping it simple, we recognize that any sustainable change must begin from the inside and cannot be externally initiated or driven.
5. We believe that change, with its accompanying loss, grief work, and conflict, is constant. Organizations that develop mastery in working with change can sustain optimal effectiveness. These leaders and organizations recognize that change cannot be managed, that energy spent trying to manage change is wasted energy, and that productive use of individual and organizational energy is achieved by working with change rather than against it.

Meeting Facilitation

When facilitating meetings the Genuine Contact Way, I follow an established protocol which includes preparation meetings, facilitation of the main meeting, facilitation of a debrief meeting, and ensuring a follow-up accountability meeting whenever possible. I use Whole Person Process Facilitation as the participative and creative method for the preparation and debrief meetings and either Whole Person Process Facilitation, Open Space Technology, or another credible participatory method for facilitating the main meeting.

Even when meeting methods are used for the main meeting that are not part of Genuine Contact, they will be conducted within the Whole Person Process Facilitation operating platform when possible.

Upon completion of the meeting, I can provide my client or employer with an evaluation, based upon participant feedback, upon request.

Competence, Capability, and Capacity Development

As a Qualifying Member, I commit to my ongoing personal competence, capability, and capacity development. I attend to my capacity development by setting and completing an annual development goal to strengthen my work with Genuine Contact. 

Some activities that support my capacity development can include:

• Participating in the GCO learning playground to put into practice what I have learned in the modules I have taken and continue to learn about what it means to be in a collaborative environment
• Ongoing participation in the Genuine Contact online discussion groups to reflect my own assumptions and strengthen my genuine contact way of working and living
• Genuine Contact Mentoring Circles (in person and/or online) to reflect on what I have learned and experienced, monitor my current work, and make plans for adjustments in future consulting and facilitation work
• Reading GC Newsletters and Blog to learn about case stories of Genuine Contact in action and strengthen my understanding of the GC Way of Working
• GC Podcasts to learn about other people’s perspectives and experiences with Genuine Contact and be informed and inspired by an international community 
• Participation in a Genuine Contact learning module, annually, either through taking a new module or deepening learning by repeating a familiar module to continue expanding my learning about the Genuine Contact Way of Working
• Focusing for an extended period on working with the Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact, the Four Principles and One Law of Open Space Technology by Harrison Owen, or the Four Fold Way by Dr. Angeles Arrien and how working with these various principles supports your work with Genuine Contact

My annual capacity development goal is monitored by the Genuine Contact Organization to support me in completing my development activities and for accountability purposes.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

I am committed to finding the balance between adhering to the Quality Commitment in my understanding and the culture of the organization and part of the world I am working in. I acknowledge all of us are on a learning journey – learning from each other what works best and what can be improved. 

As a Qualifying Member of the Genuine Contact Organization, I recognize that my work extends beyond individual client relationships to impact broader communities and ecosystems. I commit to practicing environmental stewardship, cultural humility, and social awareness in all aspects of my work, seeking to create positive ripple effects that benefit not only my clients but also their stakeholders and communities. I prioritize inclusivity, belonging, and accessibility in my facilitation practices, ensuring diverse perspectives and experiences are valued and respected. 

I offer my consulting and facilitation services both online and in person, making choices that balance between the needs of the participants and carbon footprint.

I use materials, and techniques that ensure the least possible negative impact on the environment. This includes – whenever possible – but is not limited to recycled (flipchart) paper, water-based markers, reusable and/or refillable products, organic and/or locally sourced food, snacks and drinks, and energy saving technical products. I avoid single use and disposable plastics in facilitation materials and food service and encourage my organization/client to do the same. 

I am committed to developing my self awareness and strengthening my genuine contact with self and others. One way I can do this is by working to understand my own biases and privilege while continuously educating myself on social justice issues relevant to organizational development.

Through my commitment to regenerative practices,  I do my best to contribute to a more harmonious world for current and future generations enabling greater genuine contact with self, others, and the whole.