Social Interaction Styles

You know, it doesn't matter how often I either sit through or facilitate a session on social interaction styles, I always walk away reminded of things that I tend to forget - both about myself and those that I work with. And family. I wasn't surprised at all when someone mentioned how this relates to their interactions with spouses (ex or otherwise) - it is very easy to see how this maps to our personal lives.

I also have to realize as a teacher, that just because I might provide, "a," "b," and "c" for my students as activities/structures/job aides that there's always that one kid/student that needs "d" too. I think the biggest takeaway for me from Monday's class was a reminder that when I get frustrated with others, I should consider their interaction style as a lens by which to reframe that frustration in a more positive light. Doing so allows me to respond in a better manner that helps build the relationship instead of potentially harming it.

I'm also reminded how impossible it would be to do anything (nevermind how boring life would be) without the strengths and talents of everyone. So here's to all the analysts, drivers, amiables, and expressives out there - thanks for being you!

Creating a common vision

As we begin to engage in our collaborative projects, I am reminded the extent to which ongoing communication is important. I am continually surprised in design projects when everyone’s interpretation of what can and should occur differs from everyone else’s. Even when you’ve talked through something, often the end results are different than expected. I see design - any design - as an iterative process. A constant flow of sharing one’s vision, listening to your partner’s vision and trying to work to make sure they overlap as much as possible.

In high school, I was very active in stage crew work. Even in set design and building, it would take multiple conversations and iterations to come up with the set that the director imagined, largely because I couldn’t crawl into her head and see it. :) Drawings, sketches, initial builds were all important steps in bringing our visions together. Even with all of that, there usually was “something missing” that needed to be addressed only after the set was complete. Some tangible that was unknown until we got to that stage. So, despite all the pre-work, inevitably there was a need for flexibility at the end of the process.

That’s why I think the collaborate form of consulting is better than pair-of-hands or expert when possible. It allows for the vision to be co-created, revisited, re-created, and fully realized in a way that collaboration alone allows.