Restorative Practice
Rebuilding relationships, strengthening community.
Restorative Practice is rooted in an ancient way of being—one that honours the whole person, nurtures relationships, and sees conflict not as a failure, but as an opportunity to heal and grow.
At The Circular Leader, restorative practice is more than a methodology—it’s a way of walking in the world. It underpins how we lead, how we listen, and how we help others move forward—especially in moments of tension, change, or opportunity.
Why restorative practice matters
Today’s organizations face more than strategic or operational challenges. They’re navigating grief, burnout, disconnection, and histories of harm. Traditional leadership models—what we call Linear Leadership—often bypass these deeper human realities, focusing only on goals, deadlines, and efficiency.
Circular Leadership, by contrast, acknowledges that people bring more than skills to their work. They bring stories, emotions, spirit, and lived experience. When these are dismissed, potential is stifled and energy drains from the system. But when they are heard and held with care, organizations flourish.
This is where Restorative Practice becomes indispensable.
What it looks like in practice
We bring restorative principles into our client work in two ways:
• Implicitly, by building trust, fostering psychological safety, and creating space for authentic leadership. These principles are woven into the fabric of our Circular Leadership approach.
• Explicitly, by designing and facilitating Circles that support teams and communities. These Circles may:
- Resolve interpersonal or organizational conflict
- Help a group process collective grief or trauma
- Support a Nation or organization through strategic change or growth
- Celebrate successes and deepen relational bonds
Every Circle is grounded in listening, respect, and shared accountability. They are carefully crafted for the people present and the story they carry.
A word to Indigenous leaders
Restorative practices—while increasingly used in Western settings—are not new. They draw on principles long held in Indigenous communities around the world. As a middle-aged settler and white man, I approach this work with humility, not authority.
I serve as a lead facilitator and the President of the Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society, where we work in partnership with First Nations and community leaders. I’ve been honoured to sit in Circle with Elders, families and front-line workers. Each time, I am reminded that the deepest wisdom often comes from the quietest voices, and that reconciliation begins with relationship.
If you are a leader considering whether to work with us, please know this: we do not bring a formula. We bring open ears, an experienced hand, and a commitment to co-creating something that fits your community, your values and your goals.
"This changed our lives."