Help! I Can't Bring People Together!

“There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, spirit of togetherness, and strength.” Pat Riley

Today’s Kickstarter challenge came from a school administrator who shared that the administration and teachers are trying to lean towards a more equitable learning environment, but the political world often gets in the way. After learning a little more about the context, the Kickstarters group used the flipping technique to arrive at the following…

Positive Frame

Name it: Administrators and teachers cannot have civil conversations.

Flip it: We can have civil conversations.

Frame it: We have a deep desire for practical and tangible togetherness, meaning everyone matters.

Other Suggested Frames

• Right and wrong would be something of the past.
• Conversations that include both listening and speaking on all sides of the issue.
• We collaborate around the vision of our organization.
• Winning would be inconsequential.
• People would lean into the complexity of these issues.
• We work towards what is best for the children.
• Finding coming ground would be the foundation on which we build.
• We have psychological safety where everyone can speak without fear of being put down.

Generative Questions  

When we reflected on what questions would help the administrators and teachers engage in a fruitful conversation that would move them towards a collective desired outcomes,  the insightful Kickstarters group came up with the following:

• How would we need to respond to each other to create the sense of togetherness?
• What would the end of the conversation/session feel like?
• What does everyone “need” to be true/real? Meaning what really matters to each and every one, thus to make it real?
• When was a time when you felt like you and your opinions mattered on this issue? What made you feel that way?
• If our children are interviewed about the way we’ve approached working together, what do we want to hear them describe about us?
• Can we translate “civil” into needs or desires?
• What would a safe environment look like to have these types of conversations?
• What does tangible togetherness look like?
• What do you most want to include in the conversation?
• Where are we already in agreement?
• What’s working in/on that issue?
• What’s been a high point experience of working together?
• When have you seen administrators, teachers and parents having these conversations? What made them successful?
• Who do you most want to include in the conversation?
• What role would the facilitator play?
• What are your primary concerns?

Cool Tip

When determining the frame, it helps to look a little deeper for what is possible, as demonstrated by today’s choice, “We have a deep desire for practical and tangible togetherness, meaning everyone matters.”