‘If the world is complex, then acting congruently with that complexity can be simpler than trying to control a machine that does not exist.’ (Jean Boulton) At the start of an Action Learning set meeting, I invited the presenter (that is, the person thinking through an issue with support from peers) to say a bit more about the issue she is facing. As she did so, it sounded like the issue was complex and multi-faceted, with lots of inter-related dimensions. I asked if she had a sense of which dimension she’s find most useful to think through with the group. She responded, ‘Yes, A’. Then she went on to introduce further dimensions, B and C. Curious, I asked whether she’d prefer to work on A, B or C. ‘C’, she replied, then elaborated to include D, E and F. Another participant asked which of those additional dimensions, or of the original A, B or C, could form a useful focus for her, on which to receive questions for critical reflection. ‘Let’s focus on B’ she replied. A peer reflected back to the presenter, insightfully, ‘Perhaps a struggle to find a way in, to get clarity on which dimension to address to move things forward, is the issue?’ It was a great example and application of double-loop learning, of stepping back from the immediate presenting issues to notice a potential meta-problem that could lay at the heart of the dilemma. As the Action Learning round progressed, it became apparent that the dynamic complexity of the presenter’s organisational context had left her feeling completely bewildered and lacking in agency. Her attempts to address each issue independently of the others had felt like whack-a-mole. Noticing how it felt like whack-a-mole in the Action Learning set too gave a glimpse into a parallel process. ‘Is there something in what we’re experiencing here, that could give insight into and help make sense of what you are experiencing in your scenario?’ I invited each person to share, ‘If I were in the presenter’s situation, a question I might have in mind is…’ Different parts of the system emerged implicitly and vicariously into view. The action step flowed naturally from that place.
12 Comments
Jean Darnell
2/4/2023 10:14:26 am
Whac-a-mole. What a great metaphor for working with complex systems!! :)
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Nick Wright
2/4/2023 10:35:08 am
Thanks Jean. Yes, I thought so too! :)
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Bob Rogers
2/4/2023 10:15:18 am
Thanks for sharing Nick. I'd heard of double loop learning but now I know what it means.
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Nick Wright
2/4/2023 10:36:44 am
Hi Bob. You're welcome. In case of interest, here's another short piece on that theme: https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/deconstructing-the-box
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Chris Anderson
2/4/2023 10:16:57 am
Great article, Nick. I always look for focus when working with coaching clients. You've reminded me that sometimes it's better to zoom out.
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Nick Wright
2/4/2023 10:41:03 am
Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Chris. Yes, there are benefits to zooming in and corresponding benefits to zooming out. Here are a couple of short related pieces that may be of interest?
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Corinne Walsh
2/4/2023 10:19:18 am
The presenter was trying to find a way through an impossible situation. Wouldn't it be better to help her acknowledge that reality and learn to accept it or take steps to leave it?
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Nick Wright
2/4/2023 10:24:13 am
Hi Corrine. Thanks for posing an interesting challenge. The presenter's situation certainly sounded complex and difficult to resolve. I don't know if it was impossible. That would be for the presenter to determine, of perhaps if it was untenable - e.g. if it would take more effort and resource than it was worth.
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John Watson
2/4/2023 08:43:52 pm
Hello Nick. I think we increasingly find leaders who feel "bewildered and lacking in agency". Covid brought this to the forefront. The war in Ukraine has made it clear Covid wasn't a blip. The world feels out of control. I like your quotation from Jean Boulton. It's a reality check. How do you think asking questions helped this presenter rather than offering her guidance? I'm interested to learn more.
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Nick Wright
2/4/2023 08:53:03 pm
Thanks John. I agree. I've noticed that trend in my own work with leaders and leadership teams too. It's where I find the BANI framework resonates (Brittleness, Anxiety, Non-Linearity, Incomprehensible). See: https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/dazed-and-confused
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Corinne Walsh
2/4/2023 08:55:54 pm
Interesting answer to John, Nick. If the others could see a solution that could help her, wouldn't it have been simpler to tell her?
Nick Wright
2/4/2023 09:01:15 pm
Hi Corinne. That's a good question too. If there was a single definitive and 'correct' solution, and if a peer held that answer and the presenter didn't, Action Learning wouldn't have been the best way to address it. In that case, yes, it would have been simpler to tell her. Leave a Reply. |
Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
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