The Magician/the Organisational Change
Consultant – a theatrical exploration
The Magician is perhaps the most potent of the
archetypes. It has the power to transform and transcend reality. Magicians are
known as shamans, witches, healers, psychics, doctors, therapists and priests and
of course organisational change consultants. In this one day workshop
Claire Schrader and Fiona Coffey will be inviting you to explore Tiresias, the
old blind seer of Greek Mythology who lived for seven generations and knew the
will of the gods: his advice often ignored inevitably lead to dire
consequences. It will be an opportunity
to ask what it is to be a magician/change consultant, to explore its challenges
through creative means using the techniques of dramatherapy and to consider
also how these techniques can provide extra tools for the new intermediarist.
Date :
Venue : Questors Theatre
Reflections on the day by PH
“When I booked to this event,
I was attracted by the word 'magic'.
Magic was in the air at Claire's workshop in many ways
We introduced ourselves using the tibetan chimes Claire had brought
along. It was quite amusing seeing each of us trying to make them
sound. And when Claire noted that she'd introduced an instrument of
chaos into the group she wasn't far wrong. But it was also interesting
how we all approached the task. Some were trying to get it right,
some were determined to do their own thing.. we all did it our way.. and what
do you expect with a bunch of trainers and consultants in one room!!! Did
those of you who were there notice how many people had learned the art the
second time round!!
It was very special to be privy to people's dreams and innermost thoughts
. As we went round the room I thought how different we all are yet how
similar we are too.
And what alchemical interactions we had
Our first piece of theatre, performed in groups of 3 around the myth of
Tiresies and the truth telling was outrageously fantastic. What a
variety of interpretation all of which resulted in loads of laughs and oodles
of positive energy filling the room.
I'm a very kinaesthetic
person myself and have always found it difficult to sit still in traditional
training courses. When I was first introduced to accelerated learning I
realised that what was missing in many courses was the kinaesthetic element...
Lots of visual lots of auditory and not much activity... Claire showed us how
kinaesthetic activities and drama can facilitate amazing openings out in people
and bring forth delicious hidden talents...
Thanks to all my fellow magicians for helping to create a wonderful day which I
thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from... =================
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF THE DAY.
The entire day was positive for me. I'm very kinaesthetic and love acting
and drama so it was not challenging in that I'd be doing something I feel
uncomfortable with. I was fascinated with the group sessions where we had to
discuss and 'plan' our theatre. For me it was an interesting
experience reaffirming that I know what I want, but I'm relatively laid
back.
If I were to project this onto a group of people from an organisation I would
suspect the following
Some people would feel uncomfortable at letting go and shedding the mask of the
gray suit and the formal behaviour of work.
Some would find themselves enacting the same challenges at work, not being
heard, wanting to be in charge and if they were in a management role, it might
be interesting to have to face the chaos of the group where no one is in
charge.
Some people would find themselves attracted to certain types of people and the
opposite with others. It might be useful for them to realise as I did that I'm
always a bit judgemenal of certain types of people and they always turn out to
be the ones who are just like me!!!
Types who love organisation and knowing how it's going to happen and paying
attention to detail would find it uncomfortable having to adlib a part.
Of course there would be those for whom being on show would be a big challenge.
All these things of course are part of the process of self realisation... The
theatre and the group planning and the uncertainty and lack of distinct
direction are all part of the learning process.
HOW WOULD I DESCRIBE THIS APPROACH
Not an easy question. I'd describe it as self awareness, loosening up in
a context outside the box of chalk and talk training courses. It's highly
kinaesthetic and in that way differs from the visual/auditory tack of most
corporate trainings...
I think companies are getting more used to this 'touchy feely' way of doing
things... with national newspapers running mind/body sections and people like
the Barefoot doctor popularising stuff that a few years ago would have provoked
a garlic necklace, making the sign of the cross reaction in many, the corporate
world can't ignore these things.
ORGANISATIONS RECEPTIVE?
I think that there may be many
organisations who go for this and whom you'd not expect to. When my friend
introduced her Oddball keyboard training into places like Coopers and DeLoite
and made the suits dance around and do silly things to learn to type, I
realised that people are more open than we might think they
are. It depends on who's in charge of buying the
training… they often have a lot of influence don't they... I was once asked to
do a flirting lunchtime thing for a company of accountants and their clients..
bankers and the stuffy like.. I was surprised but it went down a treat...Most
people secretly want to have some fun… So I think you'd find openings all over
the place.
Reflection on the day by JW
I noticed how 'little' you appeared to do and didn't
come and help us when we were planning/stuck which gave us more freedom and
responsibility. I would love to know how many ideas you had and how much you
had to let go of because time ran out. You gave us such a sense of purpose
without knowing what it was! And an enormous personal freedom to respond and
create whatever we wished.
Personally I learned the fantastic value in making
group statues which I had done several times before and enjoyed, but never
developed it to discover the endless complexity of responses we all offered.
That was utterly fascinating to me. What we saw, what we felt, how it changed,
how we could gain so many organisational and personal insights from it. That
for me is a huge development tool that addresses so many issues.
My passion/learning being
communication/relationships, I found the small group exercises especially the
myth, the most challenging. How we began to address what we were told to do,
and how to involve everyone and get our ideas together for performance in such
a short space of time. Years ago I would have been terrified and hated it, but
was so pleased to be able to stay with the chaos and for it to work. That was a
great learning. I am used now to staying with my own chaos, but not alongside
others at the same time whilst they are also with theirs. I would love to see
some 'command and control' senior guys getting together to play with a myth. I feel
these are excellent tools for teaching listening, sharing, cooperation,
flexibility, self-expression etc. through creativity.
Reflections on the day by TP
Positives
Everyone so involved
How creative the
presentations were - stunning and moving - all of them
(I particularly remember the joyful liberating feeling when the puppets
had their strings cut!)
An in-the-moment, sensing,
feeling, connected inside and outside experience
Empathic facilitation -
guiding us and validating/nicely summarising our plays
Keeping reintroducing the
magician theme throughout the day
Lots of changes of
group/partner - working with everyone in the end
How would you describe to
potential clients?
Releasing creativity in
everyone - produces incredible response
Strong bonding effect in the
group - great to build a team
A kick start day to inspire a
journey of transformation
What kind of organisations?
An organisation that wants to
become creative, and/or develop a team while having fun, and/or transform
itself.
All in all I was challenged,
supported, moved, released, and filled with good vibes!
Claire Schrader
020 8762 0197
mobile 07799 033965