It was wonderful exploring this yesterday with Lekshmy Parameswaran and Laszlo Herczeg at the Compassion Revolutionmasterclass. A thought provoking session about taboos and certainly got us thinking about how to navigate, challenge, shift and give voice to those things that are hard to confront, acknowledge and advocate to change.
Often in my work, I am called in for ‘teambuilding’ as an organisation has a whole herd of elephants that are tramping down the hallways and people are not able to address them.
Yet just like in the elephant in the room metaphor and framework that was presented yesterday, there is a need to safely explore and confront what is hard to digest.
In my world we use symbolism and interactive engagement to explore some things that may be difficult to address otherwise.
For instance, how would you describe your team and organisation in a scene?
Is it a train that has come off its tracks?
A bridge that is falling down?
Shark infested waters with a crows nest that no idea what’s happening on the ships deck
or a house on fire?
Can you relate to these real life examples?
We then explored how to move forward, and how to individually and collectively take steps to shift perspectives, behaviours and actions.
It is not about blame, but the power in bringing attention to the barriers and roadblocks that will not move until they are aired, acknowledged and processed safely.
And also there doesn’t have to be anything wrong to do an exploration like this – the blooming garden, strong oak tree, fun circus or party are just as valid scenes that have been created. It about celebration (that can be forgotten too) and what needs to be amplified moving forward.
…more