Reflection Point partnered with a global NGO in multiple sessions to deepen social connection and build inclusive collaboration. The cross-functional groups met virtually for facilitated discussions of short stories, one story per session.
Insights and Reactions shared by the Participants
In 15 surveys and 12 interviews, the group openly shared their experience with the program. They found that shared stories challenged them to question their thinking about values, racial disparities and gender in order to see beyond their own world views. And several participants spoke to the experience’s power to help them deepen their interpersonal connections and offer a new lens on work and work-related issues.
Specifically, they commented:
“The group was good at recognizing different perspectives, and I felt safe in that environment.”
“You're seeing a whole diverse audience when you're in Reflection Point - different ages, different backgrounds. To see that in a comfortable, conversational way, really expands things."
“Our conversations touched on perspectives and thoughts on the texts that I had not thought of.”
“I was influenced by the different perspectives, and I realized that nothing is black and white.”
“Reflection Point adds a lot to the working relationship and to working better together. By knowing the person, productivity will improve, just by being more friendly and understanding.”
“Every month, we were able to relate the story back to our organization. There's always something in the story that we could relate back to our own work lives.”
“What each person said has stuck with me, and that'll impact the way that I interact with them in the future.”
“The program allows for critical thinking and robust discussion with peers.”
“The conversations had an impact outside the session and not just between the people in the group, but also in the way I approach things when I'm in discussions with people not in the group."
“It felt like a very safe environment where I could speak my feelings on topics and others were encouraged to do the same. It was a very different feeling from being in a meeting with people where you are focused on the task at hand and you can sometimes be concerned about speaking out for fear of feeling stupid with your questions and concerns. This was an open forum where we were encouraged to explore our thoughts on what I see as relevant, current subjects without fear of any repercussions."
“[One story] caused us to have some great discussions about what it means to be on the receiving end of philanthropy. How it can cause people to feel like they need to be eternally grateful, and how many people, including our organization, can be insensitive at times about allowing the recipients of our service to not be put in a position where they are made into a spectacle for the benefit of publicity.”
