In case you aren’t sure whether to read this or not… I have been dealing with an issue of cooperation in my team. I happened to be at a workshop on Problem Solving, in which I was able to use the method of Intervision to find several ways I could ensure better cooperation. Read on to find out how!

I know that “getting people on board” is the way to accomplish a joint goal. Because as a former sailor, I know that if you leave people behind, while you are the one sailing, they will just be watching from the sidelines and may or may not even know how much fun you are having as you enjoy the cool breeze, the lapping of the waves and the occasional little salty spray that brings a smile to your face as you negotiate your course up the river, across the sea, or even just tacking around the lake.

If they knew what fun I was having on my virtual boat, they’d really want to join in. And I wouldn’t want them to be jealous when there is definitely room for more on this vessel. If they were afraid to get seasick – I’d offer dramamine and life jackets, and a promise to return to the dock as soon they aren’t comfy.  You never know how much fun it is to sail together until you’ve given it a try, so why not jump aboard?

My problem

My team at work isn’t sure they like sailing at all. Or if they like it, they don’t have time to sail, don’t want to learn how to sail, or would prefer to do other things on their long to-do lists. And yes, if I were sailing a small boat on a lake on a summer’s day, this wouldn’t be a problem. I’d just enjoy myself and stop when I was done. I’d still have fun, sailing by myself.
But in this case, it’s more like I’m crossing the Atlantic ocean on a biggish yacht, where I need to also take off some time for sleep and we have to get to New York by a certain date, when our new passengers will join us. And if I’m sailing, trimming sails, navigating, then who will cook meals, and check my calculations and also take over some of the watches? I can’t do it all – it’s not a summer’s day ‘job’.

Synchronicity

Yesterday, I pulled myself out of sick leave, (just got over a mega stomach bug), and was at an Adlerian event – “National Courage Day” (one of the main principles of Adlerian psychology is ‘Encouragement.’ ), where I had chosen to join the workshop “Samen problemen oplossen” [Together solving problems], led by the very experienced Theo Joosten. Secretly, I hoped to find a way to solve some of my own problems, but at the very least, to learn something new that I could use to help others solve their problems.

Intervision*(see definition below)

Continue reading “Getting my team onboard”