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

Invisible

23/7/2016

66 Comments

 
This is a place where Gestalt and Social Constructionism meet. ‘Ge-what and what?’ Already confused? You could well be. I’ll have a go at explaining it. I discovered these words whilst studying organisational and coaching psychology. They arise out of a background, a field of research, experience and practice where psychology and philosophy dance together to create meaning. They have become words that I love, carrying all kinds of exciting insights, ideas and potential.

Yet my point is that they only hold meaning, evoke a response, against a backdrop. My experience and understanding could be very different to yours and that will influence what we each notice, what sense we make of it and how we feel when we encounter it. So, for instance, if you are feeling irritated now by my use of academic-sounding language, your focus is likely to be on me, on my words, rather than on the personal background and experiences that influence your reaction.

Gestalt describes this phenomenon as ‘Figure’ – for argument’s sake, the thing we notice, that is holding our attention, in the moment, and ‘Ground’ – the background to the ‘Figure’ that we are not noticing. Similarly, Social Constructionism proposes that it’s the hidden subconscious backdrop of our beliefs, values, interests, experiences etc. that create meaning and make sense of that which we notice and focus on. And, for most of the time – the background is completely invisible to us.
​
So here are some ideas: You’re leading a team and people get stuck, fixated on an issue. Why is it so important to them? Check out the invisible backdrop as a way of resolving it. You’re facilitating an organisation through change and things start to feel derailed. Surface underlying cultural constructs and assumptions to enable a shift. You’re coaching a client who presents an issue, a relationship, as if it exists in a vacuum. Explore the invisible context, the ‘what else’, to create a solution.
66 Comments
leila
23/7/2016 02:51:55 pm

Thank you Nick for the article. Very interesting on both the 'academic-sounding language', as well as on the personal perception.

In this article, you have almost invited the concept of the 'Shadow' of C. Jung when you brought Gestalt, and the subconscious of Social Constructionism to the argument.

How we bring out the best in people while inviting them to dive within in an attempt to turn their individual 'Shadow' to gold is the challenge indeed. You have, indeed, suggested a courageous trip to the individual unconscious, not to mention work on a collective level in complex derailed organizations.

Is it possible?
Yes, just like you, I believe so.

To reach meaningful solutions that can be sustainable over time is the real challenge though.
This, I think, is at the core of effective behavioral coaching;
to facilitate the solution, and to ensure its implementation over time.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/7/2016 05:40:22 pm

Hi Leila and thank you for sharing such profound reflections. I'm intrigued by your comments about the 'shadow' (Jung), particularly in terms of turning the shadow into gold. I wonder if the shadow forms the backdrop to the light (and vice versa)..? In other words, does the light exist and hold meaning only against the backdrop of (in this case, in contrast to) the dark - and vice versa too? What do you think? On a related theme, you may be interested in this short piece: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/shadow All the best. Nick

Reply
leila
23/7/2016 06:02:06 pm

Absolutely Nick. Knowledge through its paradox is essential.

What I like about the concept is that Jung looked at the shadow as the deep unconscious part that can be turned into the most enriching side of the 'self'.

Thank you for the link.

Nick Wright
23/7/2016 06:09:09 pm

Hi Leila. Now I'm even more interested to hear more. Do you have any examples of what that could entail in practice? Thanks! All the best. Nick

Michael Will
23/7/2016 06:04:33 pm

After the lack of success with formal, objective, symbolic reasoning, general artificial intelligence research is now turning to subjective, experiential constructionism. I see a lot of parallels between OD and AI.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/7/2016 06:07:27 pm

Hi Michael and thanks for posting such a fascinating response! I haven't heard of that parallel before. Can you say a bit more? Do you have any examples in mind to illustrate what it could look like in practice? All the best. Nick

Reply
Michael Will
23/7/2016 08:14:08 pm

Two blurbs I've written touch on these subjects, although they don't directly address OD vs AI:

some thoughts on institutional Citizen Science
http://www.scidata.ca/?p=1013

some thoughts on AI
http://www.scidata.ca/?p=1400

Nick Wright
23/7/2016 08:14:40 pm

Thanks Michael! All the best. Nick

Richard John Barr
23/7/2016 08:05:49 pm

Love this nick -I would like to add a little to this if you don't mind - my thoughts are taking me in an interesting direction when I am reading this - as coaches we normally put our ego or IDD to one side and act as the catalyst as I have said before - a simple step I have always used to see the invisible as you call it. is C A R - C = context A= action R = result I have also made a simple poem up to link a few things up in this step - look at a star = Situation - Task - Action -Result put it into CAR- and always be in a BAD mood to do it BAD= Belief-Action - Desire - would love you're feedback on this - Rick

Reply
Nick Wright
23/7/2016 08:12:58 pm

Hi Richard and thanks for sharing some great acronyms! :) I think that elements such as Context, Situation, Belief etc. would certainly help to bring the backdrop into view. Action and Result do too - more subtly so, e.g. 'What would constitute success here?' says something about the beliefs, values, culture etc. of the context. Do you have any examples from experience of using CAR, STAR and/or BAD that you would be happy to share to show what it can look like in practice? All the best. Nick

Reply
Sarah Clark
23/7/2016 09:04:37 pm

Great article Nick.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/7/2016 09:05:59 pm

Thanks Sarah! All the best. Nick

Reply
Cath Norris, MA, BA, Dip Couns
24/7/2016 09:10:31 am

Hi Nick, I love your encouragement to explore context with folks. :)

As coaches we can be picking up on a lot of un-named background material. Our own feelings and insights can be a useful barometer of what folks are leaving unsaid. If we feel exhausted as we listen or angry or have an image of gazelles in flight, being willing to offer that - 'I'm feeling...I wonder if that resonates here' can invite in whatever is in the individual or group field. We become part of that field when we consciously enter it. Bringing forward whatever we are sensing in the background supports the invisible to be made visible. I could write a lot more, I love contextual work.

Reply
Nick Wright
24/7/2016 09:17:04 am

Thanks Cath. I think what you share points to a really interesting use of self in coaching and how that which we experience with the client in the 'field' (another great Gestalt insight!) could point to significant factors in the client context, not simply in the client themselves. (Factor sounds too clinical, but I'm struggling to find a better word). You reminded me of this short piece I wrote a while ago that, I think, resonates with your insights on and approach to this: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/listening-for-a-voice Let me know what that evokes for you? All the best. Nick

Reply
Cath Norris, MA, BA, Dip Couns
24/7/2016 09:53:28 am

Lovely Nick, I love the way you've so clearly identified the voices which we are listening for. It resonates with some of my Process work learning. The 'voice of God' is related to as the 'essence level', where confusion ceases and there is a resounding sense of oneness - which reminds me of the work by David Mearns on relational depth.

Then there's the sentient level

"The Sentient Body is the deep and subtle experience of our physical body, the physical body connected with the Earth through sensory perception. Defined as “endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness", sentience is a direct path to our personal divine nature" Lisa Marks

Defined as “endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness", sentience is a direct path to our personal divine nature, which is not separate from the divine nature of the Earth and the cosmos. The gift of the body is its extraordinary capacity to connect with and process the mass of wiggling, jiggling electrons, the spiritual backdrop to our world of density and matter. Bodies are exquisitely attuned to the vibrations, frequencies and cycles of the intelligence of the cosmos and the Earth.

“'Sentient' is another important word. It refers to the continuous and automatic awareness of subtle, normally marginalized experiences and sensations.”

Nick Wright
24/7/2016 09:57:55 am

Thanks Cath. I think the notions of body and sentience you describe here resonate very well with Gestalt notions of sensation and field. Do you have any examples from experience where you have drawn on this kind of insight to raise awareness and insight into the client's wider context? All the best. Nick

Cheryl Hudgins
24/7/2016 09:24:23 am

Socratic questioning

Reply
Nick Wright
24/7/2016 09:26:52 am

Thanks Sarah. What kind of Socratic questions might you pose to enable the client to explore that which - until now - lays invisible in the client's subconscious and wider cultural context? All the best. Nick

Reply
Aldo Delli Paoli
24/7/2016 11:13:19 am

Very enjoyable and well-written article.

Reply
Nick Wright
24/7/2016 11:14:12 am

Hi Aldo and thank you for your kind and encouraging feedback. All the best. Nick

Reply
Cath Norris, MA, BA, Dip Couns
24/7/2016 11:20:21 am

Yes Nick, working with a young guy who felt disconnected from his feelings, I noticed that when he did talk from his feelings there was a disconnect, a kind of sideways jump occurring around his heart as he brought them to the surface. I had a distinct, visceral sense of this in my own body but couldn't have clearly named the physical cues, they were very subtle, it was more of an internal energetic shift that I was noticing in my own body. I fed it back and it brought up the moment and circumstances of his disconnection which he was able to acknowledge and move through.

Reply
Nick Wright
24/7/2016 11:27:19 am

Thanks Cath. I can see that as an example of intrapersonal awareness and shift for the client. It makes me wonder what 'disconnected from feelings' could also reveal about the client's situation, e.g. a cultural environment (e.g. family, work) where emotion (or expression of it) is not valued or is discouraged or frowned upon. This is of interest to me as an OD practitioner and coach because, where patterns in such experiences become apparent, it can point to something in a wider team or organisational culture that could be worth paying attention to too. All the best. Nick

Reply
Cath Norris, MA, BA, Dip Couns
24/7/2016 12:53:14 pm

Yes Nick, exactly. In this instance the client was addressing issues on an intra-personal level but transpose this to a group setting and the underlying themes take on a much broader context - isolated parenting and it's impact on children, the cultural social field and dominant paradigms informing this belief system, the collective implications...

Fabio Polese
24/7/2016 12:54:48 pm

Nice Nick. in my work two things proved to be effective over and over again in the situations you described: context and assumptions. challenging the latter is something you already mentioned. as for the former, taking a step back to look at the bigger picture always helps, at least in clarifying the importance of an activity towards reaching the end goal.

Reply
Nick Wright
24/7/2016 01:01:23 pm

Thanks Fabio. Yes, paying attention to the bigger picture can be useful and informative. One of the interesting challenges is knowing - if that is possible - what the bigger picture is. We select certain information as significant and important and create a narrative around it to provide a sense of coherence. The inherent issue in this is that we select on the basis of presuppositions we already hold. I think this is where insights from social constructionism can be so important. Is the bigger picture something that is intrinsically 'there' - in which case our endeavour is to discover it - or it it something we create and construe - in which case our endeavour is to create one that works for us. What do you think? All the best. Nick

Reply
Thea Khama
24/7/2016 05:53:09 pm

It is the experienced intention of listening for your clientele's listening, in other words, their bigger perspective... Or perspective or feeling prompting what they are saying.

As a budding coach and long term mentor, I tend to allow the client to unpack this for me whether in a group scenario or in an individual setting. I suggest that, "Just to clarify, maybe you could tell me why you feel it is so important we focus on this..." Then they stop -reflect -and usually hand deliver their true perspective. I then confirm this with them ( reconstructing what I see from what they've shared) and they either clarify or confirm in even more detail. In the process sometimes they have an insight that the issue they thought was pivotal is not really the issue at all! 😊 from here we see if creation is appropriate ( which it usually is - especially if things are stuck or not working) . I would love to hear how others hear the invisible...

Reply
Nick Wight
24/7/2016 06:07:53 pm

Many thanks, Thea. I think, 'Why you think it is so important we focus on this' is a great question. A slight rephrasing could be something like: 'What could the fact you are raising this here and now tell us about the wider context you are operating in at the moment?' For example, a supervision client once approached me to ask if I would help them to write a strategy document for their organisation. I responded that, yes, I could do it. However, I also inquired into why the client was bringing it to me rather than, say, to their own leader. At first they looked surprised...then they explained that they were struggling badly in their relationship with the leader. I asked, therefore, whether they would like us to focus on the strategy or on their relationship with their leader. They responded, 'My relationship with my leader'. It was as if the relationship with the leader provided the invisible backdrop to what they were bringing to me. This simple inquiry made the invisible visible. In Gestalt language, the 'Ground' now became 'Figure' and shifted the entire focus of our work together and what it enabled as a result. All the best. Nick

Reply
Janelle Davidson
25/7/2016 08:23:34 am

A timely article when our new organisation is experiencing change at every turn. Thank you penning and sharing this.

Reply
Nick Wright
25/7/2016 08:31:56 am

Thanks Janelle. :)

The images and analogies that came to mind as I read your note were: what do patterns in reported incidents at a hospital accident and emergency department say about 'invisible' culture and conditions in the wider community; what does a disaster on the international scene reveal about the 'invisible' conditions in which it occurred (e.g. risk/vulnerability/resilience).

Given that you are facing so many changes, I wonder if you've come across Rosabeth Moss Kanter's wise guidance in this area? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/change-leadership-principles Let me know if any of this resonates (or not!)

All the best. Nick

Reply
Michael G. Sheppard
25/7/2016 05:29:03 pm

That is truly the biggest challenge teachers face today. There are a multitude of problems going in our students' lives. In order to overcome them, educators need to see the invisible wall, or gap, that is preventing them from reaching that level of excellence.

Reply
Nick Wright
25/7/2016 05:35:17 pm

Thanks Michael. I think the challenge you mention poses really interesting and important questions for educators and educational establishments, e.g. 'What are we here to do?', 'What is our role in relation to the student?', 'What is influencing students' abilities to achieve their potential?', 'Where are the boundaries for us as educators?', 'What other agencies do we need to work with to ensure student support, challenge and success?' etc. Some of these questions relate to specific individual student circumstances; some to the wider systems of which students, educators and institutions are a part. All the best. Nick

Reply
Joaquim Saramago
26/7/2016 08:10:21 pm

Portanto o todo é a soma das partes..maybe one new model social..Geo-social. Invisible in one context at resolution at conflicts.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/7/2016 08:10:52 pm

Thanks Joaquim. 'The whole is the sum of the parts'. I think that's a great way of thinking about interdependencies in human systems. All the best. Nick

Reply
ANIL SAINI ( PhD.MBA.PGDM.DIS.DME.NCVT)
26/7/2016 08:12:03 pm

Wondrful.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/7/2016 08:12:38 pm

Thank you, Anil. All the best. Nick

Reply
Alubba Fenix
27/7/2016 10:21:57 am

Nice post Nick. There is a great quote that I feel encapsulates a lot of the thinking in this area - "Everyone interprets everything in terms of his own experience. If you say anything which does not touch a precisely similar spot in another man's brain, he either misunderstands you, or doesn't understand you at all."

Reply
Nick Wright
27/7/2016 10:27:33 am

Thanks Alubba. There are interesting parallels in NLP, e.g. vis a vis mental maps. When I did my theological studies, I remember Peter Cotterell, the Principal, talking about 'presuppositional pools'. The idea is that what we hear, notice, interpret, understand etc. is always influenced and filtered by what we already believe. Different people and groups have different presuppositional pools - hence the risk of not undestanding or misunderstanding, even if a common language is used. It's one reason why e.g. humour is sometimes difficult to use cross-culturally. All the best. Nick

Reply
Dr. Brent Oberholtzer
27/7/2016 10:29:17 am

Sometimes the answer is both and which throws off a lot of consultants in their practice. When we are asked for or only looking for the response we miss the point of " both, and".

Reply
Nick Wright
27/7/2016 10:38:55 am

Thanks Brent. Interestingly, in Gestalt psychology, it is very difficult to see both 'figure' and 'ground' at the same time because each is a question of perception and, in effect, exists in the context of or in contrast to the other. This is where images such as the famous 'Is it a duck or a rabbit?' can be a useful illustration. We can switch our focus, our interpretation, to see one or the other but it can be very hard to see both at the same time. Social constructionism adds an interesting dimension to this by adding that the image of 'duck' or 'rabbit' that we perceive is socially and culturally constructed. That is, people from a different culture that had no awareness or experience of 'duck' or 'rabbit' may see something completely different in the same image. So a valuable 'both, and' approach can be (a) to find ways to shift our focus between figure and ground and (b) to consider what that which we perceive says about our existing personal and cultural beliefs and assumptions - and that could be open to useful exploration challenge. Does that make sense? All the best. Nick

Reply
Ravi Vyas
27/7/2016 01:21:06 pm

Awesome. While I have no background in psychology, I can sure appreciate the way you explain the concept. In my cryptic way, I visualize this as peeling the onion. Only the coach cannot peel it, but has to get the client to do so for himself / herself.

Reply
Nick Wright
27/7/2016 01:27:17 pm

Many thanks Ravi. The onion is a really interesting metaphor. From a Gestalt perspective, you could ask, perhaps: 'As we focus on the onion, what are we not noticing that that could explain why the onion is the focus of our attention? ' From a social constructionist perspective, we could ask, say: 'What does the meaning and value we attribute to the onion reveal to us about this cultural context?' Does that make sense? All the best. Nick

Reply
Biodun Naomi Bamgboye
27/7/2016 09:52:23 pm

Understanding the invisible and learning how to manage it can make the difference between success and collapse of an organisation. There is so much hidden value that organisations and companies don't recognise and therefore don't manage and use, and these include experiences, education, networks, beliefs, interests, culture etc. Combining the practise of organisational development with an understanding of Intellectual/Intangible capital management gives one into a deeper insight and understanding into what you describe here so aptly.

Reply
Nick Wright
27/7/2016 09:57:50 pm

Hi Biodun and thanks for the note. Yes, if people in an organisation can be enabled to notice what they are noticing, paying attention to, prioritising etc. and, conversely, what they are not noticing - including cultural dynammics, untapped potential etc - it can make a very big difference. A challenge can be to do this well as people and organisations sometimes choose, albeit subconsciously, to not-see or find themselves so fixated on conventional ways of seeing things that they struggle to see outside of them. Does that make sense? All the best. Nick

Reply
Biodun Naomi Bamgboye
28/7/2016 11:15:37 am

Certainly makes sense Nick, it is a challenge for the OD consultant first to train our eyes to recognise the value of those intangibles and then to challenge the organisation/business to see them as well by using their own experiences and stories that reflect this which many times they have subconsciously blocked out.

Miranda Whitamore
28/7/2016 10:47:12 am

In a similar situation, I heard someone ask "How is it the sideshow is taking over the main event?". Rather blunt, but it surfaced the issues and refocused the discussion.
A more gentle approach might be to notice it, and refer to it as background , background noise, context, previous, or history and then explore with the individual or group whether the beliefs attached to this person or event are facts, assumptions or relevant to this instance. Nancy Kline's "Time to Think", and "More Time to Think" suggests a respectful and effective model.

Reply
Nick Wright
28/7/2016 11:08:19 am

Thanks Miranda. I really like that 'sideshow vs main event' question. It raises so many other interesting questions that could usefully be explored further. Here are some examples:

What beliefs and values are implied in the metaphor - e.g. the value of 'sideshow' vs the value of 'main event'?

Who decides what is 'sideshow' and what is 'main event' and what does that represent in terms of culture, power etc?

How does the 'sideshow' add value to the 'main event' and vice versa - and both to the event/experience as a whole?

What does the notion of 'taking over' evoke psychologically and emotionally, including in the person's wider system?

What potential opportunities does 'sideshow taking over the main event' represent and for whom?

What if one person's 'sideshow' is another person's 'main event'?

Lots to think about - and thank you for sharing! All the best. Nick

Reply
Eric Lynn
28/7/2016 12:44:36 pm

Paradoxical Questioning ...

Reply
Nick Wright
28/7/2016 12:46:27 pm

Thanks Eric. When I read your note, Buddhist koans came to mind. Do you have any examples of 'paradoxical questions' you could share? How might it be to share them without sharing them? ;) All the best. Nick

Reply
Eric Lynn
28/7/2016 02:57:54 pm

Ah koans ... the ultimate in subtlety! A couple of immediate thoughts: (1) Which Question am I afraid of asking? Why? (2) The classical happy hippos in the mud metaphor ... What do I/we need to do to ensure that nothing changes?

Nick Wright
28/7/2016 02:58:25 pm

Thanks Eric. Great questions! :) All the best. Nick

Teri Johnson
31/7/2016 12:36:13 pm

One question I ask to get under the surface: "What is important to you about that?"

Reply
Nick Wright
31/7/2016 12:39:56 pm

Thanks Teri. I often pose a similar question: 'What matters most to you in this?' We can extend that to wider culture and context by following that line of exploration further, e.g. 'What makes this so important to you?', 'What does it reveal about your personal and cultural values?', 'Why this, why now?' etc. All the best. Nick

All the best. Nick

Reply
Teri Johnson
31/7/2016 08:32:00 pm

These kinds of conversations have made me much less interested in small talk - the people who are willing to really look at themselves and go deep are much more interesting to me these days. Thanks for posing the question.

leila
1/8/2016 12:40:30 pm

i see that we're back full circle to the first ideas thrown into this interesting exchange of ideas Nick.

Thank you Eric and Nick for touching upon the koans here. Yes, a topic close to my heart through my research as well as my work.

You are right Terri, once reflecting on the koans, we break away from normal thinking into 'paradoxical' insights that are truly enriching.

This blog is timely as i prepare myself to go back to my work. It has reminded me how diving within brings out the 'shadow' to the surface through the paradoxical questions when facing the self.

Self or Organizations; it is an invitation for the specific to dive into the collective.

Reply
Nick Wright
1/8/2016 03:18:35 pm

Thanks Leila. Yes, it was you who introduced me to koans! I'm intrigued by your comment: 'Self or Organizations; it is an invitation for the specific to dive into the collective.' Can you say a bit more about what you mean, perhaps with an example to illustrate what it could look like in practice? All the best. Nick

Reply
Katherine Hyslop
1/8/2016 02:50:17 pm

Sociology ! Sociological thinking! Yes - very interesting to see ideas migrate and have useful application in other areas of thought. Coaching principally focuses on the individual of course however context and social construct has deep significant meaning for the way an individual behaves responds ; values beliefs etc
Interesting thanks, Katherine

Reply
Nick Wright
1/8/2016 03:02:30 pm

Hi Katherine. Yes, there are clear parallels and insights between fields such as sociology and organisation development. My sense is that conventional ideas in both fields are being challenged by social constructionism which is, in my view, a very good thing! I agree that coaching tends to focus on the individual - although I'm noticing a more recent shift towards team coaching too - and yet an exploration of wider influences can be so beneficial. As an example of a coaching case study that starts to shift focus from intrapersonal issues to wider contextual issues, you may find this short piece interesting..? http://www.nick-wright.com/what-is-really-going-on-here.html All the best. Nick

Reply
Katherine Hyslop
1/8/2016 03:31:14 pm

Yes Nick thanks All very relevant. Dare I venture to suggest that deeper sociological thinking would strain the very notion of how we predominantly ''think' / '' process'' eg ''problem-solving''. We may think we are sufficiently adaptable as to eg embrace other ''models''. Humans are unable to be for example: truly value free. 2 plus 2 = 4 yes but if we pick up the themes in your article clearly our ''value free'' state is severely challenged. The very thought path ways we tread eg ''team building '' and ''values and beliefs'' etc are themselves social constructs emanating from within a wider construction which is social; and all that such entails but yes - I think it is useful to cross pollinate and etc.,; thanks for sharing!! I do believe that Sociological thinking has much to contribute / challenge Thanks K R Katherine.

Nick Wright
1/8/2016 03:37:19 pm

Thanks Katherine. I think you expressed social constructionism very well! If I was being playful, I would challenge '2 plus 2 equals 4' as a socially-constructed idea that holds true in mathematics but not necessarily in other areas. :) Are you familiar with Kenneth Gergen's and Vivien Burr's work in this area? I find them so incredibly insightful, challenging and inspiring. All the best. Nick

Yosara Geerlings
2/8/2016 01:28:56 pm

I find that Clean Questions (Clean Language) work well to find out about the invisible experience of anything ..

Reply
Nick Wright
2/8/2016 01:30:28 pm

Thanks for the note, Yosara. Do you have any examples from experience that you would be willing to share with us to illustrate what the clean questions approach could look like in practice - particularly in terms of surfacing the 'invisible'? Thanks! All the best. Nick

Reply
Eric Lynn
2/8/2016 02:05:10 pm

Yosara: What exactly do you mean by "Clean Questions"? I've never heard the term before.

Reply
Mark Molitor
3/8/2016 10:53:17 am

Thanks for sharing this clear and practical explanation of the theory Nick. Learning (and as a coach, teaching) mindfulness practices certainly assists with recognising that there's background in play and then helps in openly exploring that too.

Reply
Nick Wright
3/8/2016 11:03:44 am

Hi Mark and thanks for the note. Do you have any practical examples of using mindfulness to illuminate the background that you would be happy to share? I'd love to hear more.

I had an interesting conversation with a leader yesterday who spoke about a team meeting that had become suddenly and inexplicably 'chaotic'. In its own terms, it was surprising and didn't seem to make any sense.

Instead of focusing on team relationship and dynamics (in Gestalt, the 'figure'), we decided to explore the backdrop to the meeting (the 'ground') instead.

It turns out the team had met that day to explore new, radical and innovative ways to 'disrupt the market'. Against that backdrop, the team found itself coping with its own 'disruptive' behaviour.

This shifted the focus of our conversation from repairing team relationships to looking at how to handle 'disruptive' interventions in a team healthily - seeing the opportunity in it rather than trying to resolve or dissipate it.

Does that make sense?

All the best. Nick

Reply
Yosara Geerlings
8/8/2016 10:06:56 am

Hi, I have been on a holiday, there for this belated reply. Clean Language is a technique that explores what happens in the unconscious thinking through asking about metaphors. It is a technique that keeps the experience of a client in tact or clean. A question like: "what is most important" assumes that there must be something most important. Clean Questions are clean of any kind of assumptions. For example: and when ....(their words) what is that like? or: and what happens when ... (their words) or: and is there any thing else about ...(their words). A book: Metaphors in Mind by Penny Tompkins and James Lawley. And I do organize online training for coaches that would like to add Clean Language to their coaching pallet.

Reply
Nick Wright
8/8/2016 10:17:54 am

Thanks Yosara - and welcome back! Hope you had a good holiday. :) I feel drawn to the clean questions idea...although I'm not entirely convinced that any language or intervention is ever entirely 'clean' or assumption-free - but I'm open to be challenged (in a clean way) on that!

It is also making me think about an approach I was invited to think about when working as a coach tutor with 3D Coaching in the UK: about matching language for rapport and mismatching for change.

The idea is that posing a question from a different angle or perspective - e.g. using different language or metaphor to that of the client - can sometimes create a useful shift in awareness, insight or ideas that would be unlikely to occur without the mismatch.

I'm ordering a copy of the Tompkins and Lawley book now! :) All the best. Nick

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