Posted on | June 15, 2014 | No Comments
I walk in two worlds though neither is home.
Janus, an Eye on the Past and Future
Google Images, 2014
My work and education are based in and on human systems and psychology. I’m drawn to both for a sense and deeper understanding about when, how, and if people connect. The energy from groups has been a positive reinforcement for me that people co-create and deliver a collective goal while empowering themselves and others. Airplanes fly, bridges get built, and communities mend themselves. No man, or woman, is an island.
The psychological aspect of my focus seeks knowledge about who connects well or not, and what the mutual impact of individuals and groups have on each other. The “camera” zooms in, a short internalized video is taken, and my reflection on the individual begins. Often, without pathologizing people in a disrespectful way, we begin to form opinions of our coworkers, community members, and family. Our view is a noetic snapshot based on a physical presentation and no two people share that same exact view. That belief is where collaboration and insight into human development gets interesting for me.
There are beautiful descriptions regarding the impact of unique contributions by individuals in Organizational Development literature. Psychology literature deals both with contributing in a meaningful way and overcoming social relationship obstacles. Passing from one pile of books to another I am struck by the heavy focus of one mindset over the other. Why do we click? Does “clicking” improve the success of a group undertaking?
My Psychology friends and colleagues tell me I’m too systems oriented to be properly respectful of the individual and my Systems friends roll their eyes. I never know when I’ve said too much about either concept to the wrong people. This walking on thin ice seems to be a pretty good place to observe the world.
Shawn M. Nichols
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