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Relational LandscapingTHE READER COMPANION

SCOTT SIMPSON & SHARLA STEEVER

Tend the human
terrain of your work.

A working companion for classrooms, staff teams, universities, organizations, and businesses. Find an idea, reflect on it, and choose a practice for your setting.

Begin with
Relational Landscaping: The Human Terrain of Organizations, by Dr. Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever
A companion to The Human Terrain of OrganizationsPurchase the book on Amazon
14 chapter guides28 concepts to explore65 book reflection promptsPractice for your setting

THE IDEAS, WITH ROOM TO GO DEEPER

Explore a concept

Brief introductions lead to deeper exploration,
book references, and a practice to try.

READ ALONG

A path through the book

Cultivate everyday relationships, or explore
restructuring, transitions, mergers, and culture.

MAKE IT CONCRETE

One place to begin

Companion activities adapted from the book’s ideas.
Choose your setting, then a need.

A 30-minute reflective experience

Companion adaptation · Based on Chapters 3, 7 & 9

  1. 0–4 minutes: arrive. Explain the purpose, invite participation, and name the option to pass. Agree how personal stories will be held.
  2. 4–8 minutes: a shared third thing. Read a short selected text twice. Invite a word or phrase that stands out, without requiring explanation.
  3. 8–15 minutes: reflect privately. Write, think, or quietly attend to what the text brings to mind. Offer one open question.
  4. 15–25 minutes: pairs. Give each person equal time. Listen without unsolicited advice; silence is welcome. Sharing remains optional.
  5. 25–30 minutes: return and close. Invite one personal insight or next step. Close the reflective space explicitly before other business.

Use a text appropriate to the group and retain its source and context. This is a reflective adaptation; the Circle of Trust® approach is a specific practice with its own facilitator preparation.

PAUSE. WRITE. LISTEN.

Questions for deeper inquiry

Reflection prompts from the book for private writing
or voluntary conversation.

Original book wording, with spacing and line breaks normalized. Use these questions for private journaling or voluntary discussion. This site does not collect journal responses.

READ TOGETHER. PRACTICE TOGETHER.

A rhythm for your book study

Before you meet

Choose a chapter or concept. Read the named passage in your book and select one reflection prompt. Give participants time to journal privately.

When you gather

Invite a word, question, or insight. Allow passing. Listen without fixing, and leave room for different experiences of the same idea.

Choose an experiment

Open the chapter’s implementation invitation. Choose a manageable practice, decide who will support it, and set a date to revisit what happened.

Return and learn

Ask what changed, whose experience you heard, and what needs adjustment. Use that learning to choose the next chapter or practice.

Companion book-study adaptation. The book’s chapter poems can serve as shared “third things” for inquiry.

KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING

Contact Scott & Sharla

Get in touch about the book, a book study,
or applying Relational Landscaping in your setting.

Dr. Scott Simpson

ssimpson@bhssc.org

Sharla Steever

ssteever@bhssc.org

Write to both authors

Email Scott & Sharla

Opens your email app with both authors included.

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