We’re delighted to share this article from Pham Hai Nam, Bui Mai Phuong, and Tran Thi Mai Ly as they unfold the stories of connection, growth, and transformation in Viet Nam’s circle community of practice.

3 Lessons Learned from Co-creating a Community of Practice: Stories from The Circle Way Viet Nam’s Practitioners

EMERGING STORIES

In 2022, with the generous support from The Circle Way grant, and Healing Circle Global stewards & community, Tron Lanh Network was founded with the mission to provide our communities of teachers, educators, human development professionals, as well as managers with the tools they need to nurture change within their own lives as well as their community by learning The Circle Way process.

Within a year, we were able to conduct 7 training programs (four The Circle Way Essentials training programs and three How to host a Healing Circle training programs) for 150 participants—30% educators, 40% human development professionals, 20% organizational staff, and 10% from other domains.

65% of participants integrated circle practices in their own community. Starting with three founders, we have expanded into an eight-member core team, fostering a community of 200 circle practitioners and a Facebook group of 3000 followers who expressed interest in circle experiences.

EMERGING VOICES FROM THE FIELD

What we have learned so far is that regular circle practices have a notable impact on people’s internal transformation, which further trickles down on further change in their communication with other people.  

“I participated in the community circles from Tron Lanh Network every Saturday night. I realize that I receive a lot of benefits from these circle spaces. I have a place to express myself, where I am listened to without judgment, and I get to hear other people’s stories, which unexpectedly helped me find the answers to my own issues.” Phuong Hieu, Human resource specialist

These signals of internal transformations have led people to trust the circle process to be a safe space for communities to come together and provide mutual mental support. We have a consistent group of volunteer circle hosts who have helped to maintain almost weekly community circles, online and onsite in 6 different cities/provinces so far. 

The consistency of community gatherings and capacity-building opportunities are crucial to spread the values of The Circle Way process and Circle practice to different fields. We have also noticed creative applications from the circle process in families, schools, coaching contexts and project teams.  

“I was involved in some circles before but didn't grasp the overall concept and logic behind circle practices. The Circle Way Essential training program has made me feel more confident, assured, and much more solid in my journey of facilitating circles because it has helped me understand the comprehensive and profound framework of circle practice.” Ngan Ha, Nonviolent communication facilitator

“The Circle Way Essential training program has taken me from one surprise to another. From building consensus in the Circle, to understanding the forms to choose the right approach at the right time and in the right context. I felt a breakthrough when I realized the flexibility, knowing when to choose what. Even in the course, by daring to ask what I needed, I was healed by the circle within the classroom, returning to nurture the space where I work. It was so beneficial that it made me cheer for the practical aspect of this program.” Hanh Tam, medical staff

HERE ARE THE THREE BIG LESSONS WE LEARNED

Co-creating a community of practice is a long-term journey. Even though what we have had in VietNam is still young, we noticed three significant patterns that might help to support building communities of practice in other places. 

1. Connection and trust-building goes a long way: 

   We focus on providing regular opportunities for seasoned and new practitioners to gather and connect. Instead of only talking about how to apply the circle process and the challenges we face, we focus on immersing ourselves in the circle process through community spaces for intimate storytelling, generative listening and co-dreaming. We realize that deep practice with the circle process builds trust and open-mindedness among our practitioners, which paves the way for even deeper conversations and collaborations in the field. 

   In short, nurture the relationships, let people talk with each other, their personal stories and get to know each other deeply, collaboration is the inevitable outcome!  

2. Explore shared interest and learn together: 

We have had people come together in circles to learn about community-building, generative organizational structures, happiness habits and even to grieve together. With a lot of opportunities for connection, we have explored the multiple ways circle practices can weave us together in the things we care about. And when people are called to sit in conversations that matter to them, they are elated, learn and contribute a lot. These days, whenever we end a circle with questions, we jokingly encourage each other: “That’s a great question! Why don’t we call the next circle on that!”

In short, circles are questions that live on! Find questions and circles will naturally follow. Then, people learn! 

3. Harvest the flowers, the fruits, all the surprises and everything in between:

Once we have meaningful learning from a circle, we promise each other not to forget the harvests for our community. We don’t keep valuable lessons from the community but learn to share them in different forms: sometimes a visual harvest (an example below), sometimes a Facebook post, sometimes a poem, sometimes a video! (We remind each other not to overdo the harvests but make them light and fun). By doing so, we are creating a collective history and nurturing a shared sense of identity. Furthermore, when we look back on our shared harvests, we notice unanswered questions and are able to initiate new circles on these questions. In this way, the circles and harvests foster community growth, deepen social learning and drive new actions in the community. 

To conclude, as we reflect on these lessons, we are filled with gratitude for the vibrant community that has flourished around The Circle Way in Vietnam. Our story is one of continuous learning, mutual support, and shared growth, illustrating the transformative power of communal practices. We move forward with renewed enthusiasm, eager to deepen our engagement, explore new horizons, and continue co-creating a rich tapestry of shared experiences and learning in our ever-evolving circle of practitioners.

Mai Ly Tran, as a co-founder of the Tron Lanh Network in Vietnam, she spearheaded initiatives aimed at fostering the way in which empathy and connection are at the heart of conversation within diverse communities. Her responsibilities encompass designing, facilitating from workshops to programs to introduce The Circle Way Methodology, and also a program called train the trainer to equip a set of skills for the community leaders, which can be flexibly applied in their own communities . She collaborates closely with healthcare professionals, educators, and other stakeholders to ensure our programs are impactful and accessible. 

By 2022, She and 2 partners founded the Tron Lanh Network, which within a year expanded to eight core members and nearly 200 circle practitioners, impacting over 3,000 individuals across 5 Vietnamese provinces, emphasizing the power of dialogue and community in driving change.

Pham Hai Nam designs processes that assist change on both a collective and individual level. He facilitates dialogues that embody participatory decision-making and co-creative leadership. His core method is The Circle Way process and his passion is about nurturing a community of dedicated The Circle Way practitioners in Viet Nam. He also coaches individuals who need support with important transitions that require a complex level of emotional growth. Nam is the co-founder of Healing Circles Vietnam Network, a certified Master Practitioner with the Centre for Holding Space and currently partnering as an assistant teacher/facilitator for the Holding Space Foundation Program.

Learn more about the Tron Lanh Network and their core team including Pham Hai Nam, Bui Mai Phuong, and Tran Thi Mai Ly on their website here.