For Communities

"If you want to change the world - or the culture - all you have to do is change the conversation. In the beginning was the word -- that was how the Bible started. Asking the question of what is true wealth invites people to have a conversation they may never have had before. That itself is a measure of wealth! The value of our coming together can be measured by whether or not we are able to have a conversation we have not had before. A conversation is an action."- Peter Block

Patmos helps diverse stakeholders, citizens and diverse stakeholders address and “have a conversation” around difficult and important community concerns. Patmos has experience serving as a convener – a neutral third party – who can design problem-solving processes and facilitate processes that can lead to new partnerships, alliances, and greater levels of meaning and accountability for individuals.

Patmos aims to build resilient communities by bringing together individuals and groups with diverse perspectives to solve problems of common interest in these major areas:

Strategy Assessment and Planning

Patmos helps businesses and organizations understand the macro dynamics and trends, as well as individual perspectives, in order to plot a course of action and improve the decision making processes. This approach includes services such as: 

• Issue Mapping
• Environmental Scan – information collection and synthesis through research and advisory groups
• Scenario building based upon determined variables
• Strategy development

 Leadership Development

Leadership is not about wielding power and authority; it is about mobilizing people to make progress on the tough, adaptive challenges that make or break organizations and communities alike. It is about being able to see the bigger picture and make decisions while in the thick of things. What is more, leadership is not about charisma and personality, but about presence and creating a setting and a process that results in greater levels of meaning, commitment, and accountability. John Hilley, the principal of Patmos Consulting, is trained in facilitating the Six Conversations approach of Peter Block (Peter Block's work) who is nationally known for his work onempowerment, accountability, and the reconciliation of community.

Activities Include:

•  Presentations and Workshops (such as "Changing the Conversation: Increasing the Levels of Meaning, Commitment and Accountability in the Places that Matter to You”)

The Possibility Conversation is one that focuses on what we want our future to be as opposed to problem solving the past. This is based on an understanding that living systems are really propelled to the force of the future. The possibility conversation frees people to innovate, challenge the status quo, and create new futures that make a difference. In new work environments this conversation has the ability for breaking new ground and in understanding the prevailing culture. – from one of the “Six Conversations”

Succession Planning of Executive Leadership

Community-based Collaborations

Patmos assists clients in identifying the goals and objectives of partnerships and coalitions, working with parties to develop an effective structure, facilitate the strategic planning process and launch the new initiative.

Activities Include:

•  Formation of Community-based Collaborations
• Workshops and Consultations
• Building Resilient Communities to Anticipate and Bounce Back from Disasters