Johan Rinman
Country of origin: Sweden
YIP Weekly theme: Nonviolent Communication
Biography
Johan began his career working with children and youth in various settings; schools, youth centers and youth camps. For many years his focus lied on team building and supporting the emergence of youth leaders in Sweden. In 2005 he met Marshall B. Rosenberg, creator of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and found the awareness and practicality of NVC to have a huge impact on his personal as well as professional life. After having completed several NVC trainings the same year Johan gave his first workshops in India at “Communication for Change 2006 – An experiment in Social Change”. Since then he has gradually increased this work and is today working full time sharing communication skills.
Most recently the main focus has been his work with teenagers and inmates. He currently travels throughout Sweden giving classes in “Life Skills” at high schools and is leading the course “Creative Dialogue” at a female prison outside of Stockholm. Johan has shared communication skills with social workers, teachers, peace activists, principals, youth leaders, etc. in Sweden and abroad (Holland, Germany, Denmark, Finland among others). Johan’s other passions include jazz piano, zen-meditation and juggling.
- 150+ days of training in Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
- Former Staff Member of NVC Academy, largest online NVC Community
- Assistant, Communication and Leadership Program, Sweden’s largest NVC Education Program
- Assistant, Friare Liv’s One-Year Program, an in-depth program for people wanting to integrate NVC in all areas of life
- BA Education, University of Stockholm
Workshop: Speaking Peace in a World of Conflict
Do you want to make a change in the world but get caught up in endless debates along the way? Inspired by Nonviolent Communication (NVC) this week will help you transform any opposition into connection. The goal of this week is to learn communication skills that support you in interacting with a compassionate and creative attitude.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Our language itself contains seeds of opposition. Johan will demonstrate how to create connection by translating static language into a language of feelings and needs. Also, create positive change by asking for what you do want rather than what you don’t want. As a consequence, you will have greater power with people than power over people along the path of social change.
- How to be honest without judging people
- How to feel OK when people are angry or upset with me
- How to give support to others when they are sad or angry
- How to ask for what you want, rather than what you do not want
- How to communicate with people “in power” to create the change you want to see
- Learn to respond compassionately in “challenging” situations
- Learn to find a way to nurture yourself with gratitude
- How to transform enemy-images in a way that helps you connect with people with different standpoints than you
- How to make mistakes without losing self-respect
Bibliography
Introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Nonviolent Communication: Language of Life 2nd Ed, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PuddleDancer Press, 2003
Social Change
The heart of social change, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PuddleDancer Press, 2004
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PuddleDancer Press, 2005
Spiritual Foundation
Practical Spirituality, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PuddleDancer Press, 2005
Relationship Skills
Being Me, Loving You, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PuddleDancer Press, 2005