Looking back at 2024

We’re at the end of 2024, another year that’s brought me many gifts: of learning, opportunities and connections.

Here’s what stands out for me as I look back at the year:

NVC for organisations: In January, I began a year-long course with Marie Mirashiro, author of the Empathy Factor, to become a certified facilitator of the 3X3 Empathy Factors program. With this course, I’ve been building my skills as a consultant and facilitator, and learnign how to bringing NVC skills to create a culture of empathy in teams for more effective collaboration. It’s been a rich learning journey so far, and I’ve recently started to apply these learnings.

A few weeks ago, I began a pilot engagement with the staff of Neev Academy’s Reading Team based on the 3×3 Empathy Factors program. I’ve been working with the team, in a full group and 1-1 to understand the existing team culture, what their goals are, and supporting them in identifying how they can achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. They’ve been learning the micro-skills, practices and mindsets that will help them create a culture of empathy. Stay tuned and I’ll share more about this as we progress!

Poland International Intensive Training: In March, I was one of the trainers at the Poland International Intensive Training (IIT). The highlight of the trip was the connections I made with fellow trainers and practitioners I met there!

Learning journeys and workshops: One of the ways I know that my workshops have been valuable is when an organisation calls me back for follow-ups and additional sessions. This year, I continued working with leaders and staff of Suchitra Academy, Hyderabad (online), as well the staff of FAME India (offline) on two different learning journeys. Longer learning journeys give us the luxury of time: for me to get to know the participants and the other way round; for trust to build, and for deeper learning and connection to happen!

There were also other one-off sessions, including those for MSN Labs Hyderabad and the Ishk Tolaram Foundation.

Completing NVC365: In 2023, I had set myself a goal: to make a video a day for 365 days in a row. I completed this project earlier this year. This experiment taught me about creative abundance, consistency, mastery and trust. Watch here.

Contributing to the NVC Community and to CNVC: In December this year, I completed a year as an elected member of CNVC’s Programs Resource Circle, a CNVC governing body that supports the continued education of trainers and IITs across the world. I look forward to continuing with this in 2025.

2024 for me has been a year that presented opportunities that invited me out of my comfort zone: inviting me to stretch into unfamiliar places, to experiment even when I notice thoughts that say “What if I fail?”. And I’ve also learned that when I begin to second guess myself, I can always seek support — to remember my own strengths, and work on my growing edges.

Coming up next

In 2025, I’m looking forward to taking this work to more teams and organisations with the 3×3 Empathy Factors program.

I’ll also be on the trainer team of two IITs: The India IIT in Panchgani, February 2025, and the United States IIT in Los Angeles, March 2025.

What was your 2024 like?
What was the highlight of your 2024? What is something you wish were different? Was there something you did that you’re proud of? An accomplishment you’d like to celebrate? If you’d like to share your response to one or more of these questions, please hit reply — I would love to hear from you!

It’s not too late to join the New Year’s Meditation led by Mary Mackenzie, and hosted by the NVC Academy. Sign up here.

Wishing you a very happy new year. See you in 2025!
With warm regards,
Ranjitha