Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Visualizing Circles of Cairns

A SoL Consultants Convergence was held in August in Manchester, New Hampshire on August 10 and 11. During the first day’s Capacity Lab, Carol Mase of Cairn Consultants demonstrated her “Circle of Cairns” tool. Stated very briefly, a 3-circle venn diagram is drawn on a piece of paper, and in the center triangle is placed a word representing the issue to be worked with. Next, three additional words are chosen as drivers of the issue in the center, and each is placed in one of the three circles. The person (or group) is then asked to choose a word that fits the overlap between any pair of circles.

The next step is to derive a word that describes the combination of each pair of circles and their overlap. The three emerging “outer words” are then considered in pairs along with the two overlap terms between them and the original issue. These final three words may represent key themes or insights, but there is a dialogue with the resulting graphic to see just where the most powerful combinations emerge. A copy of one of these, on legal paper, is shown here.

As we discussed these in our groups, it was hard for me to hold so many words together. (It reminded me of ordering at a drive-thru for a car full of people.) I started thinking pictures might work better for me, and I just happened to have a set of Visual Explorer (VE) cards with me. I then found a willing subject, whom I’ll call “M.”

We began by laying all of the VE images on the floor, and I asked her to pick the one that spoke to her at this time. We placed it in the center of an easel sheet, and I asked her to describe for me what was in the picture, in terms of its raw data; I then asked her to describe how it connected with her. I knew immediately I was on to something when her description of the data differed considerably from mine. Next, I asked her to select three images that represent drivers for the issue that had emerged in the first image. We placed those on the sheet around the first photo, and she described all three as she had the first one. From there, we proceeded with the rest of the process as Carol had originally presented it, and the resulting graphic is shown here.

As we were completing it, Carol walked over and joined us. As M was about to explain what was represented, Carol stopped her, and asked me to use the graphic to tell to M the story we had created together. The confidence with which I could do it astonished me.

It was a totally engaging experience. I watched M and listened in total fascination, wanting to “participate” in her thinking and creating but remembering that my role was to be just the guide. There were tears, and hugs. I’ve never done or been trained in any way for peer coaching, but if this is what it can be like I want to start now!!!!

What else might follow? This is a wonderful “system of insight” that Carol has developed, and I’m thinking that graphic images might just electrify it if we continue to explore that avenue. How about you?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

International Forum of Visual Practitioners Conference 2008 - Last Call

After everything was packed up and put away, Brandy invited us over to her backyard to celebrate the completion of this really strong conference. Most would know this backyard as Milennium Park, and we spread blankets and goodies on the lawn in Frank Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion as the orchestra opened with Grieg's Piano Concerto and the sun fell like a curtain on our week's performance.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

International Forum of Visual Practitioners Conference 2008 - Day 1

This year's conference is in the Windy City, right on Michigan Avenue. As is always the case, we have a good mix of seasoned hands and new talent in development. In such an atmosphere there's often something that emerges that's just begging for attention.

For me, that issue arose in a question posed in a post-session discussion: where are we internally when we are recording and fully locked in? It didn't quite fit the agenda so it went into the parking lot, but for me it's the meat of the matter. Why? Because if we understand how we arrive in such a present moment, we can learn to help those we serve do the same.

Here are some snapshots from the first day of this year's conference.

Monday, August 4, 2008

ZZ Top Meets Visual Process

I have a 3-block walk to work, and I listen to music that I think I "need" for starting the day. One day last week it was ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man, etc. I was pretty surprised at how it infected me so quickly.

I came in to draw up a poster for a meeting, and started with a sketch in my notebook. When it came time to put it on large paper on the wall the earplugs went in again. It became impossible to draw without juking to the music, and rather quickly the sketch went out the proverbial window as another idea emerged altogether. I had a ball!!!!

I'm not sure how all that looks when a 54-year old guy is doing it, but who cares? Powerful stuff.