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Human Interaction Laboratory

JULY 9 - 14, 2023
Montreal, Quebec

Uncover enhanced understanding of yourself and your interactions with others

We all have an array of resources at our fingertips for improving our lives, particularly as it relates to leadership and personal effectiveness. At the core of these, however, is the need to:

  • Deepen self-awareness and understanding. 
  • Expand our abilities to connect and partner with others. 
  • Cultivate an enhanced understanding of how groups function and the role(s) we do and can play in the development and effectiveness of groups. 

And few times have tested these abilities more than during this period of the Coronavirus pandemic. Noted futurist Joel Barker once said, “When paradigms shift, everything goes back to zero.” What does this mean for how we want to be and interact with others as we move forward with our lives? What new skills do we need, and what do we need to re-establish in order to live and interact more effectively in all areas of life?

The Human Interaction Lab is an opportunity to explore these questions and uncover your path to greater personal effectiveness and enhanced understanding of yourself and your interactions.

Overview

Through this lab experience, participants will grow their ability to understand emotions, boundaries and needs (both their own and others’), how those influence behaviors and interactions, and how to apply that knowledge to achieve more effective interactions, collaborations and partnerships.

What is a Human Interaction Lab?

This Human Interaction Lab is a six-day program. Its unique experiential design consists of large group sessions with all participants and small group sessions in Training groups, aka “T-groups” - a semi-structured learning environment. 

The HI Lab will assist you in enhancing your competencies in the following areas:

  • Understanding yourself and others in the context of work/ task-focused interactions.
  • Enhancing your leadership and team member effectiveness. 
  • Increasing personal and task effectiveness in a diverse, multicultural environment.
  • Understanding of group functioning and effectiveness and your role in effective and productive groups
  • Giving and receiving feedback. 
  • Expressing emotions constructively.
  • Addressing and resolving interpersonal conflict. 
  • Gaining a deeper understanding of group dynamics. 
  • Improving listening and opening new paths of communication and personal insight. 
  • Increasing awareness of the impact you have on others and how others impact you.
  • Engaging in reflective practice.

This lab is a great first or continuing step for those who want to increase their understanding of self and self in interactions with others. 

How does a Human Interaction Lab support personal change?

The Human Interaction Lab fosters your personal and professional development through an interactive learning experience working in both small groups and large community learning sessions. In small groups, participants will have an opportunities to experience the impact of their interpersonal communication styles on other participants. Each day will include a combination of small groups, learning pairs, individual reflection, and community sessions for exploring theory and participating in experiential learning exercises. 

Who should attend?

This lab is designed for people who want to better appreciate their unique interaction patterns in order to engage more intentionally in service of self, others, and the wider contexts in which they are imbedded. Learning how best to give and receive feedback to create more effective human partnerships will be part of the journey in this lab. 

Participants will likely come from a broad range of backgrounds and positions in the fields of social services, business, industry, health services, government, education, religious institutions, and the volunteer sector. All participants will be encouraged to identify areas of personal growth and development they wish to pursue in this lab. The lab will offer participants opportunities to increase their understanding of groups and group processes; build on and maximize their competence in working with people; increase their awareness about interpersonal dynamics and communication skills; and increase their effectiveness in giving and receiving feedback. Individuals will need to be open and willing to work on themselves and on the ways in which they relate to others.

What is the schedule?

The HI Lab will begin on Sunday, July 9th at 1:00pm and end at 12:30pm on Friday, July 14th. Most days will start at 9:00am and continue through 6:30pm, with a break for lunch. The daily schedule will consist of 1-2 plenary sessions with the full group to learn concepts together and substantial time in small group sessions.

Some plenary sessions will be jointly held with participants in the Developing the Organizational and Personal Self advanced workshop happening concurrently. This will afford HI Lab participants an opportunity to hear from and interact with a broader group that is also focused on growth and development.

Criteria for participation in this program

This is a foundational-level personal and professional growth program. The following are requirements for people wishing to participate:

  • A desire to learn more about themselves and how they see and organize their interactions with others.
  • The ability and willingness to be in full-time attendance in the program. Should a participant need to miss a day or an activity, it is the responsibility of the participant to inform the facilitators of the reason for the absence.

Other information to consider:

  • Participants freely and willingly attend the lab; they do not attend out of obligation to an organization or some other entity.  
  • Participants should be sufficiently familiar with the nature of a personal growth learning laboratory in order to make an informed decision about attendance.
  • Participants are aware that laboratory experiences of this nature may be stressful at times. During our history of offering these programs, a very small percentage of participants have experienced significant stress. There is no effective means of predicting such reactions, screening out or otherwise identifying those predisposed to such reactions based on their prior medical history or any present emotional challenges that may have been identified. It is important, therefore, that participants take full responsibility for "self-screening" in this matter. When in doubt, attendance should be discussed with appropriate professionals, including medical doctors or psychotherapists. Responsibility for obtaining this recommendation rests entirely with the participant. 
  • Participants may discontinue the lab at any time and by so doing choose to forego completion of the lab. In instances where individuals miss sessions with reason, it will be up to the facilitators to determine whether the individual has participated sufficiently in the essential processes of the lab to warrant a certificate of completion.

Not sure if this program is for you? 

We are concurrently offering Developing the Organizational and Personal Self, a 5-day advanced-level workshop ideal for those who have previously participated in a multi-day personal and professional growth experience.

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Dates and Fee

DATES:
JULY 9 - 14, 2023

TIMES (tentative schedule):
Sun, July 9 - 1:00pm - 6:30pm
Mon, July 10 - 9:00am - 6:30pm
Tues, July 11 - 9:00am - 6:30pm
Wed, July 12 - 9:00am - 6:30pm
Thurs, July 13 - 9:00am - 6:30pm
Fri, July 14 - 9:00am - 12:30pm

LOCATION:
Concordia University Conference Centre
John Molson School of Business, 9th Floor
1450 Guy Street
Montreal, Quebec H3H 0A1

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Participants are responsible for their own accomodations and their own transportation to and from the venue.

Looking for a hotel? Stay closeby to the venue at SENS Hotel! Our registration page has more information about the special rates available to attendees.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER:
Enrollment is limited.
The deadline to register is June 22, 2023.

Note: CHRCS reserves the right to cancel the program if there is insufficient registration or if there is a situation that is out of CHRCS and Concordia University’s control. In the unlikely event of this happening, attendees will be notified and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.

CHRCS will not refund your travel or lodging expenses, so we suggest you make refundable travel arrangements. If applicable, it is your responsibility to obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance to cover the cost of any potential losses that may arise due to cancellation.

CANCELLATIONS:
The amount paid minus a non-refundable administration fee will be refunded for all cancellations received in writing by June 9, 2023. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received after that time. Please contact chrcs@concordia.ca to cancel your registration.

Covid-19 Discaimer: While we are planning this event for 2023, we can’t say for certain what requirements and measures relating to Covid-19 will be in place for participants. Concordia University monitors Covid-19 response measures and follows the advice of public health agencies. CHRCS must adhere to all provincial, public health and Concordia University directives relating to Covid-19. Once we know we will let you know. If these conditions are unacceptable to you, we will fully refund your money. In the event of cancellation due to directives relating to Covid-19, a full refund will be issued.

PROGRAM FEES

Early Bird (30% discount) Available until April 20, 2023
$2,590 CAD (+ taxes)

Regular Price:
$3,700 CAD (+ taxes)

Concordia Staff & Alumni (30% discount)*: 
$2,590 CAD (+ taxes)

Full Time Students (50% discount) **:
$1,850 CAD (+taxes)

Non-Profit (50% discount)***: 
$1,850 CAD (+ taxes)

*Concordia Staff & Alumni and Student registrations will need to provide proof by emailing chrcs@concordia.ca with either an employee ID or Student ID. A promo code to access the registration rate will then be sent to you.

**Full-time students will need to provide proof of their status by emailing chrcs@concordia.ca with evidence of current enrolment as a full-time student in an academic program. A promo code to access the registration rate will then be sent to you.

***Special rate is available for groups (3 or more) coming from the non-profit sector. Please contact chrcs@concordia.ca for more information.


The program fee includes continental breakfast, lunch (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), coffee breaks and all materials.

Staff

Alan Klein

Alan Klein, Dean

Alan Klein has worked in a variety of public and private settings as a consultant, coach, trainer, facilitator, administrator, and teacher. He specializes in the areas of leadership development, inclusive workplaces, team-building, change management, and communication. He also provides organizations with support and facilitation in the use of large group methodologies such as SimuReal, Future Search, and Open Space Technology. He was elected to membership in the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science in 1998, served two terms on the NTL Board of Directors, and currently serves as Steward of NTL’s Core Programs.

Alan specializes in developing and implementing diversity and inclusion as business enablers. He has directed execution of projects and provided group and individual coaching that resulted in awards for diversity and inclusion programs and achievements for his corporate clients. He uses proven processes to analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to diagnose and evaluate organizational conditions to generate measurable, results-oriented recommendations for improved recruiting, retention, management, development, communications, and cultural programs, practices, and processes. His passion is developing strategic, tactical, and implementation plans for workforce and workplace program, practice, and process effectiveness consistent with organization’s mission and within organization’s capacity for implementation.

Alan co-founded the Deliberate Positive Self-Image Development Project in Ann Arbor Michigan, which focused on developing communications and interpersonal skills among at-risk youth. He co-founded The Highland School, a rural-based educational institution serving Appalachian youth as well as students from around the country. A member of the National Organization Development Network and the Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network, he served two terms on the CBODN Board of Directors as Communications Chair. He has been a staff member of the Fellows Program in Change Management and Applied Behavioral Science at The Johns Hopkins University and is currently an adjunct associate professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in their Masters in Psychotherapy program as well as a Learning Community Facilitator for the MSOD program at American University.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-klein-b05574
 

Rick Huntley

Rick Huntley, Facilitator

Rick Huntley is a highly skilled leadership, organization development and equity and inclusion change consultant, executive coach, facilitator and teacher with demonstrated ability to successfully facilitate organizational learning, skill development and systemwide change using applied behavioral theory, experiential learning and individual growth.

He is the President and Chief Consultant with Rick Huntley Consulting. His firm comes with extensive experience providing midsize to large organizations with a clear snapshot of their current state then developing a strategic organizational roadmap for system-wide equity, inclusion and diversity change, using his "Power, Leadership & Change" framework.

Rick was on the instructional team at the American University, Masters of Organization Development Program, and currently an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Learning, teaching in its

Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; as well as a faculty member with the International Gestalt Organization Leadership and Development Program.

He recently co-authored "Journeys of Race, Color and Culture: From Racial Inequality to Equity and Inclusion".

Rick completed graduate study at Howard University in Washington, DC, and earned post-graduate certificates in Organization and Systems Development from the Gestalt OSD Center in Cleveland and the International Gestalt Organization Leadership and Development Program.

Rick is also a member, and past Chair of the Board, of NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science.
 

fred-miller

Frederick A. Miller, Plenary Facilitator

A past member of the board of directors of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., he currently serves on the boards of Day & Zimmermann (a $3 billion family-owned business), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Automated Technology Systems, and Hudson Partners (a real estate investment trust fund). Fred was the first person to serve on all three boards of the most prestigious organizations in his field—ATD (formerly ASTD), Organization Development Network, and National Training Labs (NTL). He recently completed terms for Pinchot (one of the first graduate schools focused on sustainability), and The Sage Colleges.

Cited as a forerunner of corporate change in The Age of Heretics: A History of the Radical Thinkers Who Reinvented Corporate Management, Fred has been honored as the OD Network’s youngest Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, as one of the 40 Pioneers of Diversity by Profiles in Diversity Journal, and as one of the Legends of Diversity by the International Society of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals.

As CEO and Lead Strategist of The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc.—named one of Consulting magazine’s “Seven Small Jewels” in 2010—Fred specializes in developing workforce utilization strategies that accelerate results to deliver higher individual, team, and organizational performance. A pioneering change agent and thought leader in the field of organization development, he has led transformative change interventions in Fortune 50 corporations, large not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia, including Merck, Allstate, United Airlines, Toyota, EILEEN FISHER, Northeast Utilities, Singapore Telecom, the McArthur Foundation, the City of San Diego, and many others.

Website: www.kjcg.com
Twitter: @kjcginc
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederick-a-miller-9b54805/

 

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