Shura Workshop


WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND LESS TIME IN MEETINGS
AND STILL TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT NEEDS DOING?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO BEGIN TO
RESOLVE DIVISIVE ISSUES IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

WOULD YOU LIKE THE AFFAIRS OF THE MOSQUE TO
 RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS THOSE OF YOUR BUSINESS?

WOULD YOU LIKE OTHERS TO LISTEN MORE TO YOU?


SHURA WORKSHOP
A weekend workshop for Muslims actively engaged in developing Islam
in the United States. Whether you moderate meetings, serve on
planning committees, or simply work to optimize your interactions
with others; this workshop is designed to increase your skills at
Win-Win outcomes.

Investigations by Dar al Islam and others indicate a dual dilemma
among Muslims who sincerely want to work towards the betterment of
their communities and the community at large. Many individuals find
our organizations ineffective, while many of those working hard in
these organizations feel the community is not supportive enough.
We believe that increasing our knowledge of effective techniques
for working together along with increasing our skills in defining
and achieving common goals and objectives can help us meet a wide
variety of challenges.

This workshop does not deal with crisis intervention or mediation
techniques. It focuses on understanding the process of building a
consensus and on improving skills in facilitating the achievement
of consensus outcomes.

FACILITATORS

The workshop is conducted by Dr. Herman Matthews or Dar al Islam
staff. Dr. Matthews background is in Physics and Education, and
from 1962-1978 he served on the faculty of four major universities.
He has designed and facilitated several hundred workshops and
seminars for a wide variety of corporations. Dr. Matthews, along
with Anas Coburn and Hakim Archuletta of Dar al Islam, are using
techniques and procedures familiar to the business world to develop
the topic in an Islamic context, tailored for Muslims of America
and the particular challenges they face.


WORKSHOP OUTCOMES

You will participate in the Shura Building process and other
relevant activities.

o COMMUNICATION PATHS - You will learn two diverging communication paths, the 
                        basic choice points and the implications of each path.

o INTERNAL LISTENING - You will become aware of (observe and
                       understand) your own process communicating with 
                       yourself.

o ACTIVE LISTENING - You will become aware of (observe and understand) the 
                     other's processes - listening to others.

o DIALOGUE AND METALOQUE - We will explore how sharing assumptions can 	build a common ground and language - communicating with others.

o DELIBERATION AND CONSENSUS OUTCOME - We will explore how to use the common 
                                       ground for productive deliberation 
                                       about an issue leading to a true 
                                       consensus Outcome - a Win/Win situation.

You will learn a systematic Shura Building Model with tools
and techniques to facilitate processes.


WORKSHOP TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

We will use significant learning situations and tools:

You will identify your own learning style and what that means.

You will learn how to understand other's learning styles and how
this understanding can be utilized as a resource.

We will both experience the process and learn the tools and
techniques:

You will learn all relevant definitions and the importance of the
use of words - words to use and avoid.

You will learn and use the systematic steps of the Shura Building
Model to arrive at Consensus Outcomes.

We will break up behavior patterns (pattern interrupt) to facilitate
our learning.