Character shoes
“It’s really fun to put yourself into a character – into shoes you wouldn’t normally be in,”
Billie Eilish
I’m thinking of using Billie’s phrase with a group I’m working with.
I wonder if they can bear to take off their own shoes and try on someone else’s.
Will shoes slip off easily?
Or will zips get stuck and laces stay stubbornly knotted?
Now I think about it, it’s a nice metaphor for the many different groups I work with.
One decision. 50 different community perspectives – and that’s just in the room. What about their neighbours, local businesses and children growing up who’ll live with our decision for years to come?
One organisation. One strategy. 10 different ways of looking at how to get there.
One company. 15 locations. 15 different points of view.
One team. 7 ways of looking at the workload.
How many different points of view are there about the direction to take?
What is the potential for agreement, consensus or ‘I can live with it’?
The latter may not always agree with the final decision, but a transparent, well-facilitated process should leave them accepting the process that got us there.
I love shoes. So much that I bought two pairs in between lockdown #1 and #2 here in Melbourne. I think I’ve only worn them twice.
If you had to wear school uniforms when you were a kid, you might remember that your shoes were about the only part of it that you could express a little difference and personality.
I might manage - just - to get the next group I’m working with to try on another pair, for size, especially if they know it’s temporary.
Carl Jung put it perfectly. “The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.”
My next public gig
Join me at the Never Been Done Before Facilitation Festival. It’s a 24 hour facilitation festival that moves around the globe with the ☀.
No (yawn) 'session streams' - follow the 👟 👢 👠 🦶. The sessions tagged by comfort level:
High-heels: extreme, challenging // Sport shoes: fast and demanding // Sneakers: comfortable and relaxed // Classics: evergreen // Dance shoes: fun and playful // Barefooted: being over doing // Socks: introspection and reflection
Hundreds of facilitators collaborating and sharing their best-kept secrets.
I can't believe I'm going to be part of it. Playing with perspective, connection and meaning with Show what matters™, a flip of my Facilitography walkshops.
Join at any time. It's #neverbeendonebefore
Save the date: November 20 – starts at 12am UTC!!. I’m on at 2pm. Love to see a few friendly faces there if you can make it. Will you join us?
Guess what shoes I’ll be wearing? First to reply with the right answer gets a complimentary 1:1 Ask Me Anything session.
Work with me to make your next workshop hum. I can help in three ways:
I can help in three ways:
Teach you how to design a workshop that delivers. Tip: no icebreakers 😉!
Guide you as you design your own workshops. Sense check your workshop plan, brainstorm ideas for activities, de-brief after or in the middle if things are going pear-shaped.
Facilitate for you: I work with you to design, deliver and evaluate an engaging and creative session that delivers the outcomes you need.
Book a 15-minute meeting with me to get the ball rolling.
Image credit: Jacinta Cubis