[Ailist] Social Constructionism Request

Mon Apr 6 08:56:03 MDT 2009

>
> Bill,
>
>
There is an activity I use called The Aikido Activity, which really
underscores that our actions emerge unconsciously out of the soupy story we
carry without knowing we have a story that we are using to generate our
experience and our actions.

Here are the basic instructions.  If you have questions, give me a call and
email back.

Aikido

Using a rope or masking tape, create a line down the center of the room.
 The group lines up on either side of the rope--each person facing a partner
on the opposite side of the rope from them.  Have them introduce themselves
and ask if there are any physical health issues they should know
about--especially any neck, back, shoulder, knees, or arm injuries and
weaknesses.  If there are any, they should keep these in mind so as to keep
their partner safe no matter what.

Then ask them to take 3 giant steps back away from the rope and form an even
line with those on their side of the rope.  You then proceed with these
instructions:
1. This is Team A (pointing to one group) and you are Team B (pointing to
the other group).
2.  Team A, let's hear you say, "We're Team A and we're ready!"
3.  Team B, what do you think?  Are they ready?  Let's hear you say, "We're
Team B and we're ready!"
4.  Team A, this time, really let them know you're ready! (They say it
again).
5.  And Team B, your turn! (They say it again).
6.  Okay, now, here are your instructions:
     a.  First team A will take a step forward in unison as a team and as
you step, you say, "we're team A and we're ready!"
     b.  Then team B does the same.
     c.  Each team does this in sequence, until you've taken 3 steps back to
the rope.  Then listen for my instructions.
7.  Let them do this and as soon as Team B completes their final step, you
loudly and emphatically say, "Bring the person you are facing to your side
of the rope, NOW!"

Unless your group is unique, most people will immediately respond and try
and pull their partner to their side of the rope.  A tug of war will ensue
or one person reacts so quickly before anyone has time to think that they
automatically feel like they won!

This leads to a wonderful discussion about winners, losers and why they
acted the way they did.  Most people will not even realize that there are
other options or that their behavior was completely governed by a socially
constructed reality about expected behavior around teams, being ready,
facing off, commands, and ways of speaking.

Here are some questions you can ask afterwards:

   1. What did I do with my words that triggered a mindset or a story, out
   of which you acted (my words tapped imagery and a storyline/paradigm which
   contained a set of rules for how to act, what was ethical, what was valued,
   etc.).
   2. What happened to the idea that this person was your partner?  Why?
    What shifted you from partner to opponent? How difficult was it for that
   shift to be made--simply by the way the facilitator spoke?
   3. What other options were there for achieving the end results?
   4. Could both people achieve the results or could only one?
   5. What would you have to have done to respond differently

This could lead into a wonderful discussion about using language during
negotiations that doesn't trigger old stories--perhaps even encourage them
to generate a shared story before beginning negotiations about how they want
to move forward together.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Cheri
P.S.  You will have folks tell you that you said, "Pull the person to your
side of the rope."  It is very important that you use the word "Bring the
person...".  This is how powerful mindsets can be--they even obscure the
facts--there are usually one or two people who cannot believe they turned
"bring" into "pull" and believe that they actually heard the word.  This can
be a very powerful story-breaker for groups in conflict or trying to find
new ways to go on together.

>
>>  Hello all,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My apologies if this message shows up on the List twice. I tried posting
>>> this message up on the List early yesterday morning, but I haven't seen
>>> it
>>> yet so I thought I'd try again
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm putting together a workshop on appreciative negotiations for a
>>> client. I
>>> want to include a small piece on social constructionism (maybe 30 minutes
>>> in
>>> total). I'd like to provide people with a basic understanding of the
>>> concepts and their application in a negotiations setting.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have materials I need for a short Lecturette. What I'm interested in,
>>> is
>>> whether anyone on the List has a good exercise that they'd be willing to
>>> share - one that helps participants to understand the concepts
>>> experientially. I've checked all the usual places - eg AI Commons,
>>> various
>>> AI books I have on my shelf, etc. I also searched for a short e-clip on
>>> the
>>> subject to no avail.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If anyone has any ideas, I'd greatly appreciate them.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Bill Scott BSW, MBA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Elpis Consulting
>>>
>>> (formerly WJS Consulting)
>>>
>>> Vancouver, B.C., Canada
>>>
>>> wjs.consulting at shaw.ca
>>>
>>> 604-574-1856
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles
>>> School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list
>>> administrator. For subscription information, go to:
>>> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Nancy's latest book, Stories of Positive Change in the Community College:
>> Appreciative Inquiry in Action, is available at
>> http://stores.lulu.com/companyofexperts
>>
>> Nancy E. Stetson, Ed.D.
>> * Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator
>> * Mentor and Assessor, Ph.D. in Education Program
>>        Specializing in Community College Leadership
>>        Walden University
>>
>> Everything is made of energy (quantum theory)
>> Energy can neither be created nor destroyed (first law of thermodynamics)
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles
>> School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list
>> administrator. For subscription information, go to:
>> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist
>>
>> End of Ailist Digest, Vol 73, Issue 5
>> *************************************
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles
> School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list
> administrator. For subscription information, go to:
> http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist
>

-- 
Cheri B. Torres, Ph.D.
Collaborative-by-Design
Asheville, NC
828-225-5088