A Venn Diagram is described by Will Kenton in Investopedia as “an illustration that makes use of circles to point out the relationships amongst issues or finite teams of issues. Circles that overlap have a commonality whereas circles that don’t overlap don’t share these traits.”
It may appear odd to give attention to the idea of Venn Diagrams in an article about teaching. However, consider it or not, it’s a great illustration for a foundational side of the teaching course of. Once we work with a shopper, we encourage their curiosity about what they’re experiencing and work to “keep within the second” to assist them totally discover their state of affairs, challenges, and alternatives whereas we additionally invite them to see the patterns they discover as they discover their ideas and emotions.
These patterns fluctuate. Some could be phrases which might be usually repeated. Or they could be a smile every time they talk about a sure concept or particular person. They may also be after they uncover that the various viewpoints of others may very well have shared commonalities not beforehand thought of. Having the ability to discover and recognize patterns is foundational to studying and growth.
In a latest session, a shopper was describing a significant occasion occurring for his or her firm. In some circumstances, the various viewpoints on decision of the difficulty have been diametrically opposed to one another. A crew that was beforehand cohesive and aligned was struggling to share views with out exploding into argument. My shopper was involved, largely as a result of their excessive regard and respect for each member of their crew.
I requested the shopper in the event that they noticed a sample in what they have been describing.
“What’s it that every member of your crew identifies as the difficulty?”
“Each crew member has a unique perspective,” the shopper answered. “One sees the difficulty as monetary. One other thinks it’s associated to human assets. And one more sees exterior influences at play.”
I paused and took one other tack. I invited the shopper to shut their eyes – to think about every member of the crew as a circle. Then I invited this angle:
“Take a step again in your thoughts and envision the place these circles overlap. Please inform me what you see.”
There was an extended pause and I waited. Then the shopper opened their eyes and spoke:
“Properly, the primary overlap is that this: Each member of the crew feels answerable for the success of the corporate.
“The rest?” I requested.
The second overlap is: “Every particular person needs the present disaster to be addressed.
And Third: Everyone seems to be feeling stress.”
The shopper paused once more and seemed considerate. The idea of the overlaps – the “Venn Diagram” had registered. They went on:
“Sure, there are commonalities and if I step again I can see the overlap. I simply had to have a look at it a bit in another way.”
From there the shopper was in a position to uncover that the crew had factors in widespread and that their “system” had areas that have been nicely developed. From there, the crew might make selections so as to add vary and to strive completely different approaches based mostly on the patterns they noticed.
In Gestalt Teaching, we search for such patterns and invite the shopper or the system to see them. Once they do, they will turn into interested in what the crew can add to their capabilities and the way every particular person, together with the chief, will help them transfer in the direction of it.
