Going Meta is the primary way of reflecting on the group's dynamics and process. -- Tom
Going Meta is usually an effort to better understand a group's process or interactions. Somewhere a long the line it is very helpful to summarize what is being learned, so it can be appreciated as lessons for the group to apply later. (There is also a sense in which Naming, which triggers Going Meta, is a distillation of a group dynamic.) -- Tom
Given the level of challenge that relates to "going meta", successfully doing it requires an ability to tolerate dissonance. -- Tom
Going Meta is a feedback loop. --Tree
Once someone makes a meta comment, there is discernment needed as to whether the group has energy to continue going meta or not. --Tree
Going Meta is a way of going deeper. --Tree
A group culture can be friendly or unfriendly to "Going Meta" -- especially when it both offers useful insight for improving the group AND takes time away from progress on other matters. -- Tom
Since there are so many ways to "Go Meta", and most of us are usually blind to most of what's happening at any given moment at the "meta level", a group can be helped by inviting its participants to point out or inquire into meta-dynamics whenever they see them. -- Tom
Going meta provides insights about the group's process for the group. -- Tom
Almost always Going Meta begins with either a question or a Naming or both. -- Tom
Almost always Going Meta begins with either a question or a Naming or both. -- Tom
Bringing full presence makes it much more likely to notice meta and know when is the right time to comment on it. --Tree
Similarly to Purpose. Does going meta help us accomplish our current goal or not? --Tree
Too much Going Meta on too many levels too fast can be a disorienting experience. Proceed in chunks that are appropriate size for the Going-Meta capacities of the participants. -- Tom
When the group is moving rapidly in useful directions, it may not be time to Go Meta. When they slow down or get stuck, when their process is not working, there is likely a form of Going Meta that would help that they'd be ripe for. -- Tom
Inviting a group to go meta around power dynamics -- or welcoming it when they do -- is a powerful way to ensure transparency. -- Tom
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