add a primary image (only if there is none)
Image Ideas
rope bridge
plant blowing in the wind (bend but not break)
bridge blowing in strong wind
dance images
contortionists
someone in difficult yoga pose
7 of something more orderly, something more chaotic running through it, like vases, or with a vine
netherlands architect with visually undulating buildings
ballet dancer, stretching
few people talking in front of a printed agenda, not following it
something where bunch of people are doing one thing, then smaller group is doing something different
scissors
snowflake
heaven/hell images with feeding
human arms
meeting room with tables & chairs pushed out of the way
space being changed from row seating to circle
melting snowflake
business-co and hippie together
playing the piano
agenda flipchart with changes marked on it
Heart
Structures, such as a clear agenda, time limits, or raising hands before speaking, can create safety, focus, and a form for the group's energy to pour into. Yet to sustain the life of a group, this must be balanced with a great openness to change, dancing between the two as needed.
Description
structure gives you familiarity, flexibility gives aliveness
when to diverge from agenda, when to stay close to it
consistency both within a meeting and across meetings
how much prep people beforehand for meeting, vs. wait until the moment
people changing chairs
new room layout
too much anxiety and no one can focus
metaphor of cell membrane
which elements to vary, among possibilities: agenda, format, start/stop times, room layout, what process we use, who’s present
how much vary and how much the same
Follow the Energy to see which to do more of
some flex might just be in the moment, in other cases flex to something and like it better and now do it this way - experimentation for capacity-building; catch the learning and concretize it
something with life cycles in groups
check with whole group for well-being on this, not just a few squeaky wheels
be familiar with how this group normally operates, gives you knowledge of what counts as new/flex
Examples
successful political action groups have “nonnegotiable” purpose or guidelines, and clarity about
Related patterns
Balance Structure and Flexibility points primarily to:
How Related
Other patterns Balance Structure and Flexibility also points to (secondarily):
Patterns that point primarily back at Balance Structure and Flexibility
How Related
Other patterns that also point back at Balance Structure and Flexibility (reverse secondaries):
Category and tags
Resources
Bruce Tuckman’s stages of group development
Other
Stage
Personal Stories about Balance Structure and Flexibility
Each card listed here has at least one relevant story. Add your own stories in Anonymous+Personal Stories.
Suggested image: agenda flipchart with item crossed out and new item added with arrow?
--John Abbe.....Wed May 19 08:25:34 -0700 2010
Process structures, such as timed agenda items or requesting raised hands, can help create safety, focus, and order. To maximize meeting group goals, balanced this with an openness to change the level of structure and dance between the two as needed.
--LisaMarie DiVincent.....Sun Nov 21 23:54:39 -0800 2010
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