Connective Dynamics: Attracting and framing the ‘It’ [Purpose]

 The I-We-It dynamic helps access the energy of collective intelligence through our connection to one another and to our purpose/topic.

The ‘it’, the topic of importance or purpose, carries energy, vibration and power. When we are in the process of clarifying the ‘it’ in our connective dynamics, we might ask ourselves these questions:

·      What vision do we hold about our purpose, our desire?

·      What do we want more of?

·      What can we align on?

·      What is capturing our hearts?

And/or we can look more specifically at these areas:

           

STAKES AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

A topic of importance has high stakes--a high need for resolution; usually, time is of 

the essence.

Where there are high stakes, there’s also an emotional connection. The right topics 

compel us forward.  Topics need to not only have collective desire at the center but 

also to be expressed in a way that creates possibilities, anticipation, and investment 

rather than pessimism and blame throwing.

Ask yourself and others:

·      Is the solution highly desired?

·      How am I/are we connected to this topic?

·      How does this matter to me?

STAKEHOLDERS

A topic of importance creates the glue of common purpose. Everyone involved has a 

stake in it; everyone can relate to and contribute to it. Because we fall in love with and 

move in the direction of what we continually focus on, choosing, framing, and 

presenting the topic for collective dialogue is a key determinant of the outcome.

Ask ourselves:

·      Do I have a stake in the outcomes of this group’s work, really?

·      Who else will be impacted by what we think together?

·      Who else do we need to connect with? Are all the stakeholders here?  If not, how will 

     we reach them, connect to them, represent them?

CALL TO INNOVATE AND IMAGE OF THE FUTURE

Compelling topics form at the nexus of two questions:

·      What are we most curious about?

·      What do we most want to see increase in this group, organization or community?

If just stating the topic begins to create an image of a workable solution, a compelling 

future, it is probably on track. 

·    What images come up for you when you think about a topic you are being asked 

    to dialogue about?

·    Does this topic energize and mobilize movement toward a desired future?

·    Can you begin to see that desired future?

In these group experiences, people have access to a kind of knowing that's bigger than what we normally experience with each other.  You feel the presence of the sacred, and you sense that everybody else in the group is also feeling that. There's a sense of openness and awareness of something larger than yourself. Your ability to communicate seems broader. What is astounding to people is how much creativity comes forth in a setting like that. You have a sense that the whole group is creating together, and you don't quite exactly know how.

Carol Frenier, as quoted in Craig Hamilton’s Come Together in WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT? Magazine, May—June 2004