The right way up?*

You don’t have to go upside down to see things from different perspectives.

You just need a little curiosity, compassion – and a phone.

Not a pair of hoops looped over a tree branch. It’s a great stretch but I don’t think I could stay there for ever.

Figuratively speaking, I might have to get used to it. Everything is upside down.

My training has moved outside to the park – with less equipment.

My work has moved inside and online – with more equipment.

Weekday streets now feel like Sunday streets.

Peak hour transport looks like public holiday transport.

And a friend taught Italians in lock down how to make pizza!

Things are changing at such a pace it’s hard to know what is the right way up anymore.

Gin distillers are making hand sanitiser.

Burberry is making surgical gowns.

Conservative governments are paying, in effect, a universal wage to people to stave off the economic impact of the pandemic.

It might be too early to talk of silver linings in the current crisis. People are losing their jobs. Their income. Their way of life. Their life.

But this current topsy turvy feeling might help us to recognise that there is rarely one, ‘right’ way of looking at things.

“No perspective is the right one,” as someone said in one of my #Facilitography walkshops. All perspectives are valid.

Mathew Syed paints a compelling case for the value of different perspectives in his book, Rebel Ideas. A bunch of wise people in a room won’t necessarily solve complex problems, even if they, as a group, look diverse. He argues that it’s cognitive diversity that will deliver the collective intelligence needed to grapple with our complex problems.

At the moment, it might feel like we’ve been forced to hang upside down. It’s getting tiring and doesn’t look like we’re going to be the ‘right’ way up again for a while – if ever.

Rather than struggle against it and try to get upright, I wonder what we might notice from this angle. What different perspectives does it offer? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

*thanks to Ben at Queensberry Pourhouse in Carlton, who came up with the title of this blog as he handed me my take away café- at a suitable distance.

I mentioned that a phone can help us see different perspectives. Give it a go with this week’s #Facilitography exercise.

Text or call a few friends or colleagues and get them to join in. Here are your instructions:

?? Take a photo of something that’s different, or new, in your world. A new toy, piece of equipment, a new activity, a new game, a new book, a change….

?? Share it in a What’s App group with your friends.

?? Have a chat about your photos.

What do you see in each other’s photos? Do you recognise it? What difference has this new object or activity made to your work or life?

If you need a little energy, creativity or connection, please get in touch. Now or whenever you're ready. Three gifts below.

?? Creativity: 10 minute photo shoots for teams, groups and communities. See another side of each other and get better at looking, even if you can't leave the house. Say CREATIVE below and I’ll send you the details.

?? Energy: Spark your Thinking – 5 x 20 min spots available in April. No charge. Say ENERGY below and I'll get back to you.

?? Connection: Who’s Zooming who? Connect with me and others over drinks or a cuppa, every Wednesday at 4pm. A chance to connect with people outside of your team, organisation and network. Say CONNECT below and I’ll send you an invite.