Positive deviance to change something in your world
I read Atul Gawande’s book Better: A Surgeon’s Note on Performance a couple of years ago. Today, I came across some scribbled excerpts which still resonate.
Two years on, I remember an easy read full of engaging stories. Mostly I remember that when hand washing stops in hospitals, infection rates rise. He wrote about the importance of collecting evidence, especially when seemingly working against the odds of other people’s response to your theory or view.
My notes are a summary of the book’s Afterword – Suggestions for Becoming a Positive Deviant. The five suggestions are for those times when you ask yourself the questions – how do I really matter ? – how do I make a real difference? Although these were specifically written with the medical profession in mind, there are applications to facilitation in each of these.
1. Ask someone an unscripted question. Something they’re not expecting. Something that will help you learn something about that someone. [And something that will help them learn or rethink something about themselves.]
2. Don’t complain. It’s boring, it wont’ solve anything and it will get you down. [This applies to all of us no matter what we do - not to downplay the usefulness of the occasional polite, appropriate and well placed complaint.]
3. Count something you find interesting. Collect the data. If you count something interesting, you’ll learn something interesting. [Data and evidence can be critical for many groups.]
4. Write something. It need only add some small observation about your world. Don’t underestimate the power of your own contribution, no matter how modest. [Be average - notice what's obvious.]
5. Change. Make yourself an early adopter. Be willing to recognise the inadequacies of what you do and do something different. [Try something new every time you work with a group. Every time.]
“… so find something new to try, something to change. Count how often you succeed and how often you fail. Write about it. Ask people what they think. See if you can keep the conversation going.”
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator – Sydney- business and strategic planning – team conversations
Away with ground rules
I came across a post this morning that proposed a list of ground rules for meetings of a particular network of people. The list was a long one and I felt quite flat by the time I read to the end. They felt very command and control, leaving little room for personal responsibility.
As a facilitator, I have left ground rules behind. Apart from not being too fond of the term, even setting up “agreements for working together” has lost its shine for me. I’d like to get a conversation going – what’s your experience as a participant and/or a facilitator?
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator – Sydney- business and strategic planning – team conversations
Catching my attention
I like the five points by Olivia Mitchell at Speaking About Presenting on avoiding information overload in your presentations. “A presentation is a taster for what you have to share. It can raise awareness of your topic. It can provoke different ways of thinking about an issue. It can inspire and motivate.”
Seth Godin asks us to focus on creating genuine connections, even in the midst of on the job frustration – to quilt not quit.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator, Sydney
On spaces and community
I cut my facilitation teeth years ago on a program that brought communities, designers and artists together to enhance their public spaces. Social Spaces reminds me of those years and the power of bringing people together to explore and create opportunities for their community. Social Spaces’ Idea Cards include this photo of New York’s High Line project, a wonderful example of community and using what you have. Ten years ago, two people wanted to save a disused railway line from demolition. That initiative created a public park and has blossomed into so much more. Thanks to Erin Kreeger for the link to Social Spaces.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator, Sydney
Create your own search story
Thanks to Kay Ballard of New Media Martini for the lead to YouTube’s video creation application. You can integrate web, blog, image, map and other searches into a search story. In this case, I had a play with a marketing story for my facilitation business. There are lots of creative examples to be found in the link above. Here’s my first attempt. Let’s talk about facilitation
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator, Sydney
Missing persons – gaps in genealogical history
Here’s the text of the funeral notice of James Elliott (my great-great grandfather). It’s from the Newcastle Morning Herald dated 29 August 1888. Can you notice what’s missing?
“His funeral to leave Hamilton Commonage for Sandgate Cemetery. John, David, Abraham, James were his sons. James Devereux and John Thompson were his sons-in-law. John Brennan, John Snedden and James Taafe were three friends. He was a member of L.O.L. Number 28. T Hetherington W.M. James Gray”.
For the record, he had a wife whose name was Isabella. They had four daughters: Marion (deceased), Isabella, Violet and Mary Ellen. Sons-in-law and friends rated a mention. Women in the family did not. Thank goodness times have changed.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator, Sydney
Catching my attention
Gillian Martin Mears is in Scotland experimenting with a paper-free workshop and Posterous.
I like this marketing visual from Buzz Canuk. Relationships, relationships, relationships.
It takes such a little to lift people up. Another Improv Everywhere special via Alexander Kjerulf.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator, Sydney
Learning to study customer demand
Ron Donaldson’s blog The ecology of knowledge is well worth a regular read. Drop in to enjoy his posts on knowledge sharing, problem solving and creativity. His latest post features this video with John Seddon, an organisational systems thinker talking about the obsession with targets and costs.
I knew there was a reason that I had an aversion to the customer charter approach years ago. Yet still we live in a world that wants to have league tables (currently a contentious issue for Australian teachers). As Ivan Tyrell introduces this talk of John Seddon’s he talks about ’target obsession disorder’. This will get you thinking about why we have the waste we do, why people in organisations are demoralised because their jobs have been standardised, and why we seem to spend more time complaining to some companies than enjoying their services. Mr Seddon does not hold back.
As Ron Donaldson suggests, “it’s an hour long but trust me, get a pen and make notes then buy the book.” I would add, get yourself a cup of coffee or tea or whatever beverage you choose. It’s worth the time.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator – Sydney- business and strategic planning – team conversations
Do nothing but talk
On Tuesday, I worked with a group who are looking for better ways to meet the needs of the people they exist to serve. Early in the day, they broke into two smaller groups to consider what their clients’ world would look like if there were no barriers. The intention was for them to come together when they had finished to share their thinking.
As I was introducing the session, I found myself saying “for the first half hour, just have the conversations and don’t write anything down”. This was not planned.
After the thirty minutes had passed, the conversations continued until they were ready to put their thoughts to paper. I was struck by the clarity that emerged. One or two seemingly simple ideas from these conversations seemed to light a spark and were built on through the day. The conversations alone had provided the space to see “what is really obvious, but, up until then, unseen.” Less really is more.
Lynn Walsh – workshop and meeting facilitator – Sydney- business and strategic planning – team conversations
