Setting creates what follows
There's a great story in the book about negotiations that were going well when in neutral territory. And then, there was a shift in venue that put the negotiating parties into a space that "belonged" to one side. The space was embued with the culture of one side which brought up all of the behaviors that were associated with that culture. Now rather than the negotiation between equals, the power difference reared its head. Parker calls it the Chateau Principle, because that was the final venue.
It was a choice of convenience at the time, however, no one thought about what message and climate the shift might create. Before reading The Art of Gathering, I wouldn't have either.
I think about the venues that I inhabit. Most of the time, I consider the environment to be fixed. It's rows of seats all pointed to the front, or round tables that often to me seem too large or a long conference table or tables in a U.
This chapter (still Close Doors) brought up two questions:
- What spatial features invite what the gathering would like to happen?
2. What do I feel is in my control to adjust the space if it doesn't seem right?
What questions come up for you?
Leadership and Team Development Program Designer, Facilitator and Professional Coach
6 年Kate, thanks for the post and sharing this book. ?As a facilitator I have often been troubled by conventional room set-ups. Now I have two go-to questions I can use to create greater meaning at my events.