Decision-Making and a workshop activity.

No photo? Why's that? Read on.....

Someone on a forum I belong to was asking for creative resources to help make her decision a clear one. I couldn't resist a proposition like that!

Here’s a creative idea I’ve adapted from an exercise on a Jean Houston workshop spruced up with a Clean Language question. (There's more about Jean Houston in Good Question!) It works well with a speaking partner but you can do it by yourself too.

Go for a walk somewhere in nature -woods, park, beach, garden, wherever. Look around for a natural object of any kind that you can pick up and hold. It doesn’t have to be anything special and you aren’t looking for symbolism in your choice.

Then sit down with this object and look at it closely......

.......Describe it aloud in careful detail, shape, size, colours, patterns, marks etc with the same precision as if you were drawing it. No analysis, reason or judgement just plain description. In fact if it helps you to concentrate you could draw it or write things down.

Then put the object down out of sight and describe your current decision with exactly the same kind of precise dispassionate description. You could take notes.

Now look back at the object and speak about it in terms of any symbols/metaphors you are discovering. You can describe an aspect and ask yourself ‘…..and that’s like what?’ if you are working with someone their job is to keep listening while your thinking unfolds, otherwise you might want to take notes. Keep going, making any and all the connections, comparisons, comments that come up for you until you get what feels like enough ideas and clarity.

If you try it, I’d love to know how you get on so please do drop me an email or add a comment here.

And that's the picture for this blog, the picture you form in your imagination of a natural object that you find.

And if you are thinking something on the lines of 'Hmm, I might do something like that in my workshop".....

please mention who gave you the idea. Imagine how good it would be confidently leading a group in an exercise like this and to create your own activities that are just right for your groups and workshops.

I'm planning more 'How to lead Lively Workshops' weekends where you'd be learning skills and building your confidence in doing exactly that. More details here soon. Do scroll back to the North Wales weekend for more information, and get in touch if you are interested in the next workshop later in the year in Essex, or if you'd like to discuss me leading a workshop in your area.