NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Angles

3/1/2017

46 Comments

 
What’s your angle? We use this expression to check out a perspective, a way of seeing things, of presenting things. The angle itself is designed to convey something as interesting, eye-catching, novel, unique. There’s another way of thinking about ‘angle’ too. A friend commented yesterday that, if we look at a protractor, we see how a slight shift at the centre leads to a significantly different end point at the perimeter. The shift represents a change of direction and trajectory.

So here we are at the start of a New Year. The decisions, the angles, we take, here and now, will influence where we finish in the future. They may seem small and insignificant in the moment yet, each time we change our angle, the direction in which we face, we change our trajectory too. In many aspects of life, the cause-and-effect consequences are not as linear and predictable as lines on a mathematical tool. Nevertheless, it’s as if every choice and decision, in some way, counts.

We can also look at our lives, circumstances, choices and decisions, from different angles. Leaders, coaches, OD and trainers refer to this as ‘reframing’. It could involve, say, looking at ourselves, our relationships and situations through different metaphorical frames or lenses, from different angles or vantage points, from different points in time or stakeholder perspectives etc. This can open up new insights and possibilities that may otherwise lay obscure or hidden to us.

I believe this is where coaching to develop critical reflective practice can be so important, valuable and useful. It can enable us to grow in awareness of our beliefs, values, assumptions and preoccupations – our default angles, if you like. It can enable us to consider fresh options and implications that will guide our focus, attention, behaviour, decisions and actions. It can enable us to live authentic lives and to work with greater insight and freedom. So – what’s your angle?
46 Comments
Wil'fred Leonardo Bastiani
3/1/2017 01:59:51 pm

The right Angle is the ChonioMetric result of the right CheoMetric & ChaoMetric Anger. Referring to Gandhi's quote about the 'Angine's Anger'. Anger as a Singularity implies Angle ζ-ρ (zerho). ~ https://youtu.be/1V2745cW65k

Reply
Nick Wright
3/1/2017 02:01:29 pm

Hi Wil'fred. I didn't understand any of that - but I found your YouTube presentation intriguing!

Reply
Wil'fred Leonardo Bastiani
3/1/2017 02:24:50 pm

It is the implicate order/code of the energy that words have being some energy. Anger works like a combustion engine/angine; driven into an angle and then it egg-plodes .....

Nick Wright
3/1/2017 02:25:43 pm

Thanks Wilfred. That's certainly a very different angle to any I have explored previously.

Ravi Kanadia
3/1/2017 07:41:28 pm

Same here nick.

Nick Wright
6/1/2017 03:06:23 pm

Thanks Ravi. :)

E.G.Sebastian (CPC)
3/1/2017 02:55:38 pm

I knew it, I KNEW IT, Nick! I knew it that you had an angle...! I just didnt' know it was so sneaky :) -- Just kidding - but usually when I hear the word "angle," it conjures a negative connotation in my mind. "What's your angle!?" - probably from movies...

English is my 4th language (or 5th, but who is counting), so less common word usage can have meanings that I picked up from novels or movies :)

Reply
Nick Wright
3/1/2017 02:57:25 pm

Hi E.G. Good point! It made me think about how the angle we take, the angle we default to perhaps, is influenced by language and the personal/cultural connotations it holds for us.

Reply
Ian Henderson
3/1/2017 03:32:13 pm

Thanks Nick - another valuable insight.

Reply
Nick Wright
3/1/2017 03:32:37 pm

Cheers, Ian!

Reply
John Free
3/1/2017 07:36:06 pm

Excellent point, thank you for including visuals that cannot be ignored. I often would use the protractor not for it's intended purpose but for doodling. The angle I am looking at is simplification, in purpose, passion and methods.

Reply
Nick Wright
3/1/2017 07:38:58 pm

Thanks John! Sounds like the angle you're looking at resonates well with 3D's coaching ethos and approach: http://www.3dcoaching.com/

Reply
Kathleen M. Vaughan, MA, ACC
3/1/2017 07:40:01 pm

A great invitation to #goodpracticecoaching.

Reply
Nick Wright
3/1/2017 07:40:32 pm

Thanks Kathleen! :)

Reply
Errol Lawson
5/1/2017 08:57:07 am

Spot on Nick. Growth can only come from a place of reflection where we continually assess and improve our stance. All the while, we need to be looking at our current self through different lenses.

Reply
Nick Wright
5/1/2017 08:59:21 am

Thanks Errol. My sense is that reflection relates to conscious growth rather than growth per se. Stance is a good word and metaphor to use vis a vis angles. I sometimes encourage clients to experiment physically with stance and angles to see what rises into awareness for them when they do it.

Reply
Keith Amoss PhD FCIPD
5/1/2017 09:24:45 pm

Thanks for the short , sharp, post Nick. Could not agree more. Without deep reflection and self analysis it will never be possible to see yourself as others may see you. And without that insight it will be very hard to set yourself in a positive new direction. Happy New Year!

Reply
Nick Wright
5/1/2017 09:27:15 pm

Thanks Keith. That makes me think about how important feedback from others is too - what do they experience when they encounter us and what does that reveal to us about our 'angle' in relation to them? Happy New Year to you too!

Reply
Susan D Willsie
5/1/2017 09:28:41 pm

I like this idea of "default angles". Sometimes we forget that our way of thinking or seeing things is not the only way, just because it is our default. As you write, we want to be aware of our default angles in order to grow and "live authentic lives". Thinking in terms of angles suggests that there are many perspectives and one is not better than the other, it just depends on where you start and the direction you are going.
Great read at this time of year!

Reply
Nick Wright
5/1/2017 09:34:31 pm

Thanks Susan! Yes, to be aware of our own defaults-as-defaults can be humbling, important and useful. I'm not sure if necessarily implies that one is not better than the other...but it does mean we can exercise a greater sense of choice among options. What do you think?

Reply
Patricia (Tricia) Kennedy
5/1/2017 09:36:24 pm

Personally, I follow an evidence-based approach ... not sure if that is an angle, per se ... but I look to Rubin and Bellamy's (2012) description that blends the best evidence available, experience of the professional, and the environment of the situation.

Reply
Nick Wright
5/1/2017 09:37:37 pm

Hi Tricia. I'm not familiar with Rubin & Bellamy's description. Sounds interesting. Can you say more? Do you have an example from experience that could illustrate what it entails in practice? Thanks!

Reply
Patricia (Tricia) Kennedy
7/1/2017 07:56:35 pm

It is a book written by Allen Rubin and Jennifer Bellamy called Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice. It is written for an audience of 'helping professions' (primarily therapy), but the concept of evidence-based practice emerged from medical practice and applies broadly. I am partial to this particular book because it is focused on applying the concept in practice in a reasonable way that combines the best research evidence available with practitioner expertise and the unique characteristics of a certain setting.

Nick Wright
7/1/2017 07:57:06 pm

Thanks Tricia. Sounds like a useful resource for critical reflective practice.

Manuel Mateos
6/1/2017 08:55:01 am

Very interesting question... What I could call "my angle" is striving on doing things differently in similar circumstances or personal situations. However, it is a hard task; our minds can make us to repeat what we did in the past no matter the situations are different. But while doing the effort, sometimes we can learn very important things about ourselves, whether we win or lose.

Reply
Nick Wright
6/1/2017 08:58:04 am

Thanks Manuel. Yes, breaking out of our default perspectives and patterns can be difficult...and rewarding. This is one reason why developing critical reflective practice is so important and useful.

Reply
Choo Huat, Billy Teoh
6/1/2017 08:58:30 am

Strategic metaphor at work.

Reply
Nick Wright
6/1/2017 08:59:04 am

Hi Choo. I'm intrigued. Could you say a bit more..?

Reply
Tariq M Kayes
6/1/2017 03:01:12 pm

Nick, man, you always come up with creative metaphorical insights 💫👍. Beautifully blogged.

Reply
Nick Wright
6/1/2017 03:02:49 pm

Thanks for such encouraging feedback, Tariq. The protractor metaphor came from a conversation with an IT trainer friend, Rob Abbott.

Reply
Andy Kowalski
6/1/2017 03:03:46 pm

More than one way in seeing a situation, angle infographic very apt!

Reply
Nick Wright
6/1/2017 03:04:54 pm

Thanks Andy. I like the notion of 'trajectory' that the protractor image and metaphor conveys too.

Reply
Nese Kerimoglu
10/1/2017 08:52:30 am

Thanks a lot Nick.. I thought if we could maintain the state of not having an angle at all in our coaching practice.. Just pure, unconditioned child curiosity. Although it may seem too difficult to achieve.

Reply
Nick Wright
10/1/2017 08:52:50 am

Thanks Nese. I think that's a really interesting question about how far it is possible and desirable to be angle-free. I wonder if childlike curiosity can enable us to grow in awareness of our angles, along with childlike playfulness that can enable us to experiment with alternatives?

Reply
Nese Kerimoglu
10/1/2017 08:53:28 am

I suggest to try to achieve this state during getting to know a new client and also whenever a newer situation arises with an existing client. It may enable us to question, understand and reflect back more effectively...rather than playfulness I refer to curiosity in relation with children.

Nick Wright
10/1/2017 08:54:14 am

Thanks Nese.

Angela McCracken
10/1/2017 09:02:16 am

I encourage my clients to find their MOJO. This is quality that attracts people to you, a charisma which comes from within. I explains all this and how to get it in my new book - How to Get Back your Mojo - which is a self awareness adventure covering lifestyle and life skills and your own secret ingredient (everyone is different). this harnesses confidence and creates resilience.

Reply
Nick Wright
10/1/2017 09:04:12 am

Hi Angela. 'Comes from within'. I wonder how much 'mojo' comes from culture and context too..?

Reply
Marion Duff registered MBACP
10/1/2017 11:05:32 am

I like this truth, put well. We are all turning on our own axle, seeing our selves anew as we turn. Time allows this development, and is the moving image of Eternity. Positives can become negatives, good can become bad in politics, with friends, with family, in fact everywhere. We are turning, tuning in, learning slowly about the bigger picture, and perhaps getting a little closer together as our understanding grows.

Reply
Nick Wright
10/1/2017 11:07:15 am

Thanks Marion. I like the image of the axle turning. Yes, it is interesting to see how a person's perspective changes with time and different experiences.

Reply
Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD
10/1/2017 11:15:14 pm

Notice how attentive and nurturing that Nick is being, while cultivating this discussion? Imagine if each originator of a discussion was like that :-)

Several months ago, I was going through some old personal files and I found a big drawing of an eye and an ear that I had drawn years ago. I couldn't remember it at all, until I looked at the back and saw "PTSD 1983". Back then, I was diagnosed and in therapy for several months. Whenever I would have an episode, the therapist would say "What are you seeing or hearing?" as a way to help me see the "reality" of my situation -- so I had drawn that picture back then.

My recent "angle" is to have that picture on my wall, so when I have a gut feeling or an intuition about a client, I ask myself (as Patricia alluded to, above), "What is the evidence? What am I seeing or hearing about the client?", and that has helped my coaching -- and my teaching of coaches -- a great deal. (Nick, thank you for the gift of this discussion!)

Reply
Nick Wright
10/1/2017 11:18:03 pm

Thanks for your warm encouragement, Carter, and for sharing such a vivid and personal example of 'seeing and hearing'. I add 'sensing' to the mix of what I'm noticing, what I'm aware of, at an intuitive level.

Reply
Hoana Walters
11/1/2017 10:24:17 am

Hi Nick

Enjoyed reading your post!
Thank you

Kind regards
Hoana

Reply
Nick Wright
11/1/2017 10:24:43 am

Thanks Hoana!

Reply
Jemma Barton
16/1/2017 02:19:54 pm

This resonates so much with me at the moment. As a new coach forming my practice creating programmes and offerings for the first time. The slight adjustments to focus and delivery have a great potential to diverge...

Reply
Nick Wright
16/1/2017 02:20:45 pm

Thanks for your affirming feedback, Jemma!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Africa
    Agency
    Agile
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Career
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Freud
    Fun
    Future
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    Gestalt
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Hope
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Journey
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learning
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Morality
    Motivation
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rights
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Sin
    Skills
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Teenage
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Vallues
    Value
    Values
    Violence
    Visibility
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    War
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact