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SessionOne008Creating a Caring Culture
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In our organizations, we tend not to do a very good job of caring about and for each other. The result: Projects seriously stressed because of a breakdown in human relations; projects that succeed, but team members don't want to work together again; adversarial relationships between providers and customers; and on and on. So the question for this session: What does it take to create a caring community in the workplace? That is, what is entailed in building a foundation of understanding, trust and respect strong enough to face the inevitable challenges? How can we do better at getting along with each other, amidst the realities of working together: the demanding deadlines, the changing priorities, the unceasing uncertainties, and the confusion and misunderstanding that are inevitable in the workplace? In this session, we will examine these questions with the serious intention of trying to understand the elements of a caring community and what it takes to create one and maintain it. We will work both in small groups and as a full group to explore this issue from various angles. Naomi, Eileen and Esther, as facilitators, will offer their perspectives, but in this session, we will all be students and we will all be teachers. Perhaps we can create our own caring community in the process. Hi gang, Below are the flipchart notes from our session, more or less accurate (I hope). Feel free to amend any of it, or add to it. Naomi What is a caring culture, anyway? How would you know if you had one? - You can feel it - Maybe values-related - Interpretation part and feeling part - You just know - More people feel cared for than don't - Picture a triangle: one side is the expression of caring, one is the interpretation of caring, and one is the feeling of caring - Fall back on standard procedure when and if you don't know what can show or not show - You feel like you have a comfortable level of control over your professional activity and your emotional well-being - Encourages discussion on difficult/sacred subjects. With respect. Not hiding important issues. - Encourages innovation - support for talking about sameness and differences - People feel the channel is open to lead and discuss without criticism - Walking the talk - actions match words - Cultural differences are acknowledged and addressed - Protects the weakened members - Management proactively aware and taking action - Know each other as human beings - Gestalt of first impression: warm feeling, pictures in office, tone of voice, safe place, facial expressions - People engaged in creative problem solving - Collaborative attending HEART H - Hearing and understanding me first - Feel the energy of the place - Color - Air - Place is alive - Satir description of congruence: self, other and context - Sense of belonging - Assume positive intent - Be seen and heard - What is the contrast between person and company (a continuum) - Dynamic - Contextual - Has fair play A couple more notes from later on: Sculpting � Satir � use your body to access a memory � take a stance Keep your attitude open. Sherry, great additions. Using your body stance to access a memory is exactly what we were trying to demonstrate with the sculpting in this session. Even if your brain doesn't consciously recall, your body does! -- EileenStrider Back to NewSessionDescriptions
Updated: Friday, November 30, 2001 |
