 ‘This is a turning point, a real turning point…it breaks my heart.’ (Angela Merkel) If you’ve been watching the world news recently, you may have noticed the AfD (‘Alternative for Germany’) achieved previously-unimaginable electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt state this week. Such an astonishing result has sent shock waves throughout Germany and across wider Europe. With almost 78% voter turnout and nearing 44% of the vote, the AfD is seen by some voters as the cultural salvation of Germany and by others as a total moral-political disaster. This new situation begs the question: How did Germany get here in the first place? Many years ago, whilst working in anti-Nazi youth work in Germany, my mentor reflected astutely that, ‘In the past, the Nazis didn’t seize power – they were voted in. So, the really important question today is: What are the critical conditions in which something like the Nazis could look like a good idea again - and even more so, what can we do to prevent those conditions arising?’ In exit polls, voters placed issues of identity, security, economy and inclusion high on the list. 91% of AfD voters are concerned about foreigners living in Germany – a consequence of Angela Merkel’s open borders decision in 2015. 83% view the central Government as unconcerned with the needs and interests of ordinary people, and 73% of all voters believe the people of former East Germany (which includes Saxony-Anhalt) are often treated as second class citizens. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s a toxic, polarising and explosive mix. Some argue that such views, beliefs and sentiments are manipulated by 'far-right' billionaires on social media, subversive Russian influencers or some other malign force. Others push back with anger, frustration and despair that what they perceive, feel and experience as legitimate concerns are routinely ignored, dismissed or silenced by the State. ‘What are the critical conditions..?’ Scary.
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 ‘The best way to make things hard for people is to make it too easy for them.’ (Frank Sonnenberg)
The first time I worked in community development with a social work team in London, as part of my induction I visited a local day centre for people with physical disabilities. I was chatting with a member of staff when I noticed a young man in a wheelchair struggling to open a door to get into a corridor, and I was very curious that none of the staff stepped in to help him. This was an early exposure in my career to one of the key questions support staff face ethically and practically when working with people: how to support agency – and to avoid functional decline owing to over-assistance or learned dependence. (I’ve incorporated similar questions into my subsequent work with individuals, groups, wider communities and organisations). The staff member explained. ‘The young man is capable of opening the door, although he doesn’t know it yet. It will be a tremendous struggle and yet, if he works out how to do it and actually does it, he will go home this evening with a great sense of personal achievement. Furthermore, he will know how to navigate similar challenges next time he faces them in the future.’ ‘If staff were to step in uninvited or prematurely to help, it would deprive him of those life-giving psychological, emotional and practical benefits.’ I see the converse in the UK when, say, well-meaning family members or carers may, with good intentions, do too much or too soon for elderly relatives – a phenomenon known as (inadvertent) dependence-inducing care. The basic downward spiral is: More assistance → less activity → loss of strength/skill/confidence → greater dependence → even more assistance. We see here a combination of reinforcing factors: (a) learned dependence, where a person becomes accustomed to others doing things for them and as a result stops initiating or attempting tasks they might still be capable of doing; (b) physical deconditioning, where reduced physical activity leads to loss of muscle strength, endurance and functional ability. Then, as a consequence: (c) functional decline, where a person experiences increasing difficulty with daily activities such as dressing, washing, cooking or walking. The loss of ability can become genuinely physiological so what begins as, ‘I'll do that for her because it's easier’ can become, ‘She actually can't do that anymore.’ Sometimes, the best act is to not to act.  ‘When beginning to work in a new way, a golden rule is to go slowly and take small steps.’ (Catherine Widdicombe) This week’s webinar with DevCom students in the Philippines focused on the ‘Non-Directive Approach’, pioneered in the early days of community development by Reg and Madge Batten and adapted subsequently by Catherine Widdicombe and George Lovell, founders of AVEC. We looked at distinctions between directive (doing to/doing for); non-directive (doing with/enabling others to do for themselves) and positive withdrawal (stepping back/not stepping in) as potential intervention strategies, depending on the specific needs or aspirations of individuals or groups. We looked at different scenarios in which students have witnessed or used each approach, including the rationale for choosing them and what the potential pros and cons are, especially if used or over-used as a default (e.g. directive – useful in emergencies or where new knowledge is needed, risk of learned helplessness; non-directive – useful to enhance agency, risk of domination by powerful actors; positive withdrawal – useful to build confidence, risk of feeling abandoned). A key question each begs is ‘what approach would be most beneficial for this individual or group in this situation at this time?’ More complex underlying questions include, ‘who decides what is beneficial?’, ‘who gets to decide which approach is appropriate?’ and ‘how are such decisions reached?’ The answers to such questions are rooted deeply in, for instance, specific contextual cultures, beliefs, values, norms and expectations. This calls for those engaged in development to be aware of their own assumptions if they are to order to avoid unwittingly imposing them on others.  ‘Make better decisions, willingly.’ (Vianzzi) This week’s workshop with grassroots Filipina activists focused on influence – what it is and how to do it. I liked student Vianzzi’s concise summary (above) of the goal of influencing others in the advocacy arena. A key word for me is ‘willingly’, which points towards motivation and choice. When seeking to influence, I’m hoping to evoke something in another person or group – a fresh insight, for instance – that leads to a free change in their own decisions, directions and actions. Student Chrisha highlighted the importance of clarity of intention. For instance, before presenting a case or a call to action, to clarify (not least for myself) in advance: What do I want my audience to know; how do I want them to feel; what do I want them to do? The students also emphasised the cultural-relational importance of valuing their hearers; seeking to understand and respect their interests, hopes and concerns; and modelling personal integrity to build and sustain trust.  ‘Be an inconvenience.’ (Bill Bontigao) I met with some incredibly impressive Filipina students this morning who are studying Development & Communications with a vision to transform their society in the future. I was struck by their depth of understanding of complex social, political and environmental issues and their passion to make a tangible difference in the world. Wow. It provoked me to reflect on my own life at their age, and my own work now. Our conversation was based around Greenpeace founder, Bob Hunter’s, five key principles to influence radical change: Plant a Mind Bomb; Put your Body where your Mouth is; Fear Success; The Revolution will not be Organised; Let the Power go. We discussed what these principles mean and call for in practice; where they have witnessed or experienced them in real life; their validity in the world today; and how to apply them. It begged the important question of how far individual activists can impact societies and beyond. As examples, we looked at Greta Thunberg’s early activism; Jasmin’s role modelling and impact in the Philippines; how God chooses seemingly insignificant people (including John and Jesus Christ) and achieves amazing things through them. Our lives and actions can create ripple effects we could never anticipate or imagine.  ‘Agency is learning to see ourselves not as victims of our circumstance but rather as architects of our own better futures, and to do so even in the face of real obstacles.’ (Ian Rowe) I worked with a group of 25 experienced practice supervisors from a UK charity last week that specialises in providing support for children, young people, families and carers. They had been trained recently in trauma-informed practice and my role as leading and influencing change consultant was to help them think through how to engage wider key stakeholders and embed it in practice. During the course of the day, we explored a range of psychological insights and principles that included: Change happens around us, transition happens within us; the same change can mean different things to different people; people may resist a change if they don’t feel heard and understood; people are more likely to embrace a change if they feel able to exercise a degree of choice, influence or control; ask people, ‘What would this mean for you?’ and ‘What would you need?’ I was particularly struck by the stance of one participant. When I invited the group to take a leap of faith by volunteering for an activity without telling them first what the activity would entail, Hina stepped up immediately. When I asked her why, she said she could still choose to step down if she decided she didn’t want to do whatever I asked of her next. A great role model for personal agency.  ‘See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.’ (Wayne Dyer) Today’s coach training workshop was with participants in and from Colombia and Peru who are working with Tearfund, an international Christian NGO. I noticed immediately their strong sense of awareness and concern for the people of Venezuela in the aftermath of recent devastating earthquakes. I was struck too by the relational warmth in their interactions with one-another and with me during the coaching skills practice sessions. Their language was rich and evocative and felt quite different to more transactional approaches I’ve sometimes encountered in other contexts. One of the participants, for instance, opened their coaching conversation with ‘Thank you for your trust’, followed by ‘What is the search you are sensing within you?’ Another said, ‘Thank you for your willingness to explore this today.’ What beautiful ways to open a conversation. Respectful and honouring. One of the participants used the metaphor of a treasure hunt for coaching conversations. It reflected the idea of seeking and searching – enabling a person to discover hidden treasures by engaging alongside them in their struggle and quest. It reminded me of Jesus’ words: ‘Ask… Seek… Knock…’ and his parable about hidden treasures – truths and realities that lay hidden: except to those who genuinely seek and search and to whom they are revealed. ‘Christianity is not the sacrifice we make but the sacrifice we trust.’ (P.T. Forsyth) Jasmin found the prospect of the poorest children arriving at school, humiliated among their peers for not having even the most basic notepads and pens, absolutely unbearable. This was last week as children in the Philippines prepared for a new semester. Having no discretionary income to provide for what they need and seeing the children’s own families struggling in dire poverty too, Jasmin sold her family’s small motorbike to buy them books, bags and pens. This radical act left me reeling. I thought immediately of my own motorbike, standing here in the garage as a gift from my father and only used for pleasure riding. Jasmin’s actions are rooted in faith in God and a determination to trust Jesus completely. How easily I give away what I don’t need. How easily I rationalise what I tell myself I do need. Giving what I do need to satisfy the needs of another person is where true sacrifice starts. God – deepen my love and trust.  ‘Your individuality is important, but so is belonging.’ (Sol Peralta) Yesterday’s coach training participants were from and based in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras. It was the first time I’d worked with English-Spanish simultaneous interpretation and Ana Duarte, the translator, did a brilliant job. (I don’t think my own brain could cope with that level of intensity and complexity in real time). It felt like witnessing a miracle and reminded me of the first time I trained deaf people with skilful support from British Sign Language interpreters. These course participants are employed in a variety of very different roles in a Christian international non-governmental organisation (INGO) and I was impressed by their high level of interest and engagement. They are keen to think through how to develop a coaching mindset and practice with individuals, and a broader coaching ethic and culture when working with diverse groups, organisations and movements – alongside, and in tangible service of, the poorest of the poor. We’ll have skills practice sessions next week then a follow-up workshop the week after. The participants are especially keen to explore trust-building in Latino cultural contexts and how to navigate a range of relational dynamics that often arise in their countries, e.g. how to retain essential human qualities; and how to manage boundaries between coaching, mentoring and pastoral support. I appreciated their genuine honesty, curiosity and warmth and I'm learning from them too.  ‘Disloyalty is essential for a good, free and honest life.’ (Yasmin Alibhai-Brown) I found Yasmin Alibhai-Brown’s claim (above) in her article in The i Paper this week provocative and intriguing. As a Muslim woman, she argues convincingly (in the context of grooming gangs) that ‘loyalties demanded by families, communities, movements, political parties and nations make us conform and acquiesce. Without dissent, we become slaves or collaborators.’ Yasmin's makes a courageous call to stand up and to speak out against the evil of perpetrators, where silence could be taken as cowardice or collusion. I find myself wondering how often I have stayed silent as a means of self-protection. It takes guts to risk everything – relationships, reputation, credibility or even safety – by taking a public stance for an unpopular person, reality or truth. |
Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! 
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