Second In Class Experience. Bridging Polarisation for Inclusive Leadership

Last week we had the chance to once again take part in a university lecture on Inclusive Leadership. The students were exploring the concept of meaningful social change and we jumped in to provide them an experience of navigating a polarised system.

On our path of development as leaders and therefore, followers, we need to foster a deep understanding of the polarities that shape every situation we encounter. The ability to let go of one's firm stands and allow for new perspectives to enter our viewpoint is essential when we want to inspire movements and support emerging concepts.

Often times, words only reach so far... Throughout our process we came to the realisation that the very matter of duality is best understood when it has been experienced on a personal level. We wanted to let the students witness division as a natural process. We perceive reality precisely because it manifests itself in opposing images that could potentially balance each other, if both are accepted. We can use polarities as stepping stones that offer diverse opportunities for connection, rather than testaments for separation and "othering" [the act of treating someone as though they are not part of a group and are different in some way].

As this was our second week of giving classes, we were more confident and secure in our facilitation methods. We provided clearer instructions and had enhanced the exercises in a way that they still offer space for exploration but yet hold a better container of safety and guidance.

We began with our first exercise - Embodied Statement.

The class was divided in 3 groups and each of them was given a prompt that they had to embody and present to the class in the form of a small non-verbal act. The prompts we the following:

• What does Stability look like?

• What does Adaptation look like?

• What does Disruption look like?

The three concepts represent the invariable parts of every system. In that way, the class "embodied" one system with all of it's sides, yet they did not know what exactly the others were showing.

It was very interesting to observe the directions which the discussions took after each performance. At first the acting team was instructed to simply listen to the assumptions of the observers, encountering the sensations of maybe not being fully understood but yet giving space to the others to share their perception of what has been shown.

Interestingly, at each image that was presented, the class made connections with inclusion, equality and fairness, demonstrating their awareness of the dynamics within a system and coming from a place of justice.

Stability

This embodiment exercise allowed the students to form constellations of the concepts they were presenting. By using our body and quite literally stepping into certain roles, we get the chance to truly experience their meaning and observe sensations and even further movements that emerge.

And so we transitioned to our second exercise - Bridge Building.

The 3 teams from the previous exercise were given instructions for building a bridge out of hemp strings. Those instructions were corresponding to the concept they previously had to embody. Team Stability had to make a Tension bridge - all the strings had to be pulled. Team Adaptation was given the opposite task - make a loose bridge. In this way, we aimed to put them in the roles of opposing parties with completely different interests. Lastly, team Disruption represented the Neutral side and the facilitators of the connection between the two extremes.

After 5 minutes we had two bridges and a team of neutrality, yet disruption, that had the task to lead the two bridges into one collective structure that satisfies both parties and what's more - it can hold a book! In this moment the students were challenged on many levels. They had to trust the neutral team and follow their leads without trying to interfere with the process. It was inspiring to observe the teamwork between the students as they were allowing one another to step up and express their view.

Each time these exercises were facilitated, little shifts happened. The body images were never the same and the strings were always being held by different hands, each pulling and releasing in their own unique way. What's more, the discussions that emerged from these seemingly simplistic methods of connection, reached diverse depths of perception and engagement with the topics of polarity and leadership.

We are very grateful to our coach in this Value Creators journey Ilse Roos who has been by our side, supporting us in every step of the way!