The Art of Convening
Lead Meetings, Gatherings and Conversations That Build Trust, Inspire Engagement, and Move People Forward.
You bring people together,
but Something is Missing…
Your meetings and gatherings lack engagement.
People show up distracted.
Important voices stay quiet.
The energy fizzles before real action happens.
You are not alone…
We are living in an era of disconnection, burnout,
polarization and surface-level leadership.
Meetings get rushed.
Conversations stay shallow.
Real connection feels rare, even though people crave it.
The cost of continuing as is…
Teams lose trust.
Communities fracture.
Leaders carry the exhausting weight of holding it all together.
You sense there's another way to lead — one that builds trust and creates momentum. But better agendas won't fix the challenges you face. There has to be better way to lead…
The future of leadership is here
and it is called The Art of Convening.
At The Center for Purposeful Leadership we know leadership isn’t about control or putting on a show.
It’s about showing up fully, listening deeply, and creating spaces where others can do their best work.
When we change how we gather, we change what’s possible:
Trust replaces tension.
Quiet voices find their courage.
Groups stop talking in
circles and start taking
aligned action.
What is The Art of Convening?
The Art of Convening® is a leadership practice built on presence, trust, and genuine engagement.
With The Convening Wheel as your guide,
you will learn to…
Clarify what really matters and help everyone align on shared intentions
Build containers where every voice gets heard
Guide groups to engage in productive discussion and commit to action
Craft invitations that make people want to participate authentically
The Convening Wheel
A Practice Rooted in Wisdom
The Art of Convening® was created by Craig and Patricia Neal and a community of inspired conveners.
It has grown from decades of experience guiding transformational conversations across sectors and settings.
At its heart is a simple truth:
How we gather shapes what we can do — and who we can become!
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Rooted in the acclaimed 2011 book The Art of Convening and proven across industries worldwide.
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You can start using these ideas right away, while the deeper practices develop over time.
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Develops you as a leader, not just your facilitation skills.
AoC in The World:
Across Sectors and Settings
AoC works for anyone who gathers people and wants those moments to matter:
Leaders and facilitators
Educators and faith leaders
Change agents and community builders
Whether you’re running a team meeting, leading a classroom, shepherding a congregation, or organizing your community AoC helps you lead from a place of presence and get people moving in the same direction.
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Help leadership at all levels lead meetings that people want to attend. Meetings where every attendee can openly share their concerns, ideas, analysis, and recommendations for action.
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AoC helps mission-driven organizations shift from burnout and disconnected silos to trusting teams, aligned work, and meaningful engagement—so your mission can move forward.
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Convene with courage. build trust. build an abundant community. For civic leaders, organizers, and dialogue facilitators, AoC offers tools to foster trust and momentum across differences—leading to real outcomes.
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Lead Meetings People Want to Attend. Build Trust. Create Consensus and align with specific action plans for the group and each participant.
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People are drawn to faith and spiritual communities in search of relationship, meaning, and agency. AoC speaks directly to these longings by cultivating intentional space for transformation, connection, and shared wisdom.
Ready to Lead Differently?
Here are three powerful ways to begin or continue your journey with the Art of Convening.
