From feedBACK to feedFORWARD. How to Nurture Organizations with Honesty – Paulina Orbitowska-Fernandez

“Feedback is the most powerful tool supporting the learning process.” 
― Miki Kashtan

– Are you struggling with being honest with others and sometimes withdraw from expressing yourself?
– Would you like to learn how to formulate your feedback so it becomes a nurturing part of your team or organization?
– Is feedback awakening your defensive strategies and do you want to learn how to receive it with openness and curiosity?
Our experiences of giving and receiving feedback during our school and professional lives have an important impact on the way we approach it right now. Some of us learnt that it is risky to be honest and in order to belong or feel safe it is better not to speak up. As giving and receiving feedback makes us feel vulnerable, cynicism may be another strategy that some of us use to protect ourselves. 
At the same time, without feedback, it is difficult to learn and to grow. Peter Senge, the author of the “Fifth Discipline. The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization” said:
“Personal mastery is the discipline of continually clarifying and deepening our personal vision, of focusing our energies, of developing patience, and of seeing reality objectively. As such, it is an essential cornerstone of the learning organization—the learning organization’s spiritual foundation.”
For some of us, his words may sound a bit strict, and still, the culture of feedback is the base for learning organizations that consist of people who cultivate respect, curiosity and openness in their professional relationships. 
During this session, you will have an opportunity to:
– practice giving feedback based on Nonviolent Communication,
– understand better WHY you want to give feedback and if the way you want to do it is supporting your intention and connection with another person,
– learn how to receive feedback with openness and curiosity and instead of reacting respond with courage to what you hear from others.

[The workshop is organised in the frame of Time for Empathy 2025] 

When: 9 March 2025 at 11:30-13:00 CET (Berlin time)
How: ONLINE on ZOOM

Recording:
Most workshops during “Time for Empathy” are not recorded, so the only possibility of participating is to join the session. The sessions that will be recorded, we will make available to others if the quality is satisfying. We may also use parts of the recording for marketing and publicity across various media. If you do not wish to be recorded, switch off your camera and microphone for the whole duration of the session.

Language: English
Cost: FREE

Registration: 
To take part in this workshop, register for the “Time for Empathy” event here: https://www.empathiceurope.com/time-for-empathy/
NOTE: Register only ONCE for the whole event and receive access to all “Time for Empathy” workshops organised between 2 and 9 March 2025.

Trainer:
Paulina Orbitowska-Fernandez
 I envision a world enriched by authenticity, empathy, honesty, and meaningful dialogue across private, professional, and social spheres. To bring this vision to life, I work as a Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication and eduScrum, as well as a coach, mediator, Resonant Language Practitioner, MindSonar Analyst and an academic teacher.
I support leaders, teams and organizations in co-creation of more human and nurturing organizational culture. I work in different settings, mainly with: businesses, NGO’s, public institutions, education, healthcare and individuals to foster relationships grounded in empathy, trust, dialogue, and effectiveness. My areas of focus include empathic communication and conflict resolution, diversity and inclusion, intercultural communication, interpersonal neurobiology, educational agility, psychological safety, trust and resilience.
I am a proud part of the Empathic Way Europe team and actively participate in non-profit initiatives such as #WidzęCzłowieka and the Marathon of Empathy.
I work in Polish, English, and Spanish. I find joy and inspiration in Latin American literature, music, and the beauty of nature—especially during my mountain walks, where you’ll often see the spark of passion in my eyes.