Ralph wrote... > She had me look up at the room's ceiling, where half a >dozen fans turned lazily, circulating air. They were moving in a >clockwise direction. I had been doing my circles counter-clockwise. >
I always walk clockwise in OS. Usually a handful of people ask me when I'm going to give the other direction a chance. I tell them I have a reason that's pretty special to me and ask for their patience until the closing ceremony. I leave one hour for closing and integration. I introduce the characteristics of people who prefer to inhabit the North, East, West, and South directions of the circle (Wheel). After getting some consensus on how one might recognize and manifest these characteristics, I ask the group to select one person for each of the four directions -- people who ARE that direction -- Elk, Eagle, Mouse, Bear. Then I ask the entire group to get up and relocate next to the person they feel most at home with. Very often we get a Elk/Bear-heavy wheel. For a few minutes I get the group into some playful banter by letting the Elks and Mice trade friendly insults. Then I let the Eagles and the Bears have at it. (Sometimes we have turtles -- wisdom -- sitting in the center of the circle with smiles on their faces) Next I show how walking the wheel counter-clockwise can cause problems -- getting the cart before the horse, so to speak. Then I walk and talk it out in a clockwise direction showing how circular motion is the perspective that unifies the entire group -- unifies the seeming dichotomies into a whole. Willingness to come to the edge -- finding the edges -- supporting one another on the edge -- and applying what we learn at the edge. Unsticking oneself is sometimes necessary, and that is accomplished by backing up one-quarter turn counter-clockwise from where you're stuck. Pushing through is as harmful as spinning backwards all the time. For example, if you're stuck on connecting the threads in community, then you need to back up and spend time co-creating, or intensifying a shared dream before moving forward again in the clockwise direction. Take care, John Dicus -- John Dicus | Cornerstone Consulting Associates Teamwork - Systems Thinking - Leadership Open Space - Action Learning - CourseWare http://www.ourfuture.com | mailto:[email protected] 800-773-8017 | 330-725-2728 (2729 fax) 2761 Stiegler Road, Valley City, OH 44280
