A new thing to think about
Sometimes I find out about something new and really like it.
I like it when people show me different ways to think about things.
Since I have been in Sync, this is happened a few times. I really like Johari’s window and the nine-box model.
This week I’d like to show you another way of thinking that I like.
This idea is about how people fit into organisations. Its about what happens to some people if they find things difficult, how they react and what they do.
See if it makes sense to you.
The plains and the caves
Mark Wright, our expert on leaders, came up with this way of thinking. Its based on thinking about a landscape with different areas.
Imagine a wild landscape
There are the plains – open and bare, with rain, sun and wind and wild animals!
And pockets of shelter - bits of lower ground or groups of trees to hide behind.
There are also caves – deep in the ground, where you can escape from the weather; and where other people looking for safety can be found.
On the plains
As a leader, being on the plains means you are out in all weather and must watch out for hungry lions!
But its good here - you can see what’s coming.
It may be uncomfortable sometimes, but you have a good view of everything around you - you can see things coming.
It’s hard work on the plains. If you don’t quite fit into the ‘system’ around you it can be unpleasant, but by staying on the plains you are facing the difficult things and working on them.
Taking shelter
We can all get very tired on the plains.
Sometimes we need shelter and rest - and thats good to know.
But if we take shelter it does mean we can't see things so well. Things can creep up on us and take us by surprise.
As a leader, we can become out of touch if we take shelter for too long, and we can miss seeing the bigger picture.
In the caves
Sometimes we can go into the caves.
Here we are safe – no wind, sun or rain. Animals can’t get us; we can relax.
The problem is we can’t see anything – so we lose touch with what’s going on outside.
We can find other people in the caves too
They usually think the same as us, so we can all have a good moan about how awful it is up on the plains, and how there is little or nothing we can do to change it. Having others around us who think the same can make it really comfortable – but also stop us from moving forward.
As leaders, it’s quite dangerous down in the caves where we can't see what is happening, but we might not see the danger as it feels so safe.
Where are you?
I love the idea of the plains and the caves it makes sense to me.
I can spot my times on the plains – feeling the fear and also the excitement of being out in all weathers, fighting lions!
I can also think of when I have been ‘down in the caves’ – when I found myself with people who moan the same moans as me, and stopped thinking about what I am really trying to do.
So how do we get out of the caves? Its hard work – the others in the cave are often very good at telling us its a good place to be.
We can’t just jump straight out onto the plains - its too much; the sun is too bright for one thing! We have to go slowly.
Some people can help us with ramps or ladders that encourage us to move on up. We can help make these for others too and help everyone move out of the caves.
I know I can't be good at everything on the plain - but I can work hard on being good at some things and find other people who are good at other things. If I build a group of people I can work with - my tribe we can all work together to stay on the plains for longer.
Where do you think you are? On the plains, taking shelter or in the caves?
Jo Verrent
Sync Project Manager
