Working with Larger Systems
Dr Sally Denham-Vaughan
Dr Leila Davis
Dr Lynda Osborne
www.relationalchange.org
A Relational Framework Anchors
our Work
Self
Other
Situation
2
Theoretical Concepts that Inform our
Work in Organisations
Phenomenology
Resilience
Positive Psychology
Embodiment
Self
Dialogic Relating
Deep Democracy
Other
Presence
Situation
Field Relational
Systems Theory
Complexity
Storytelling
3
An Organisational Self
One Map.
• Id : Less visible internal dynamics of an
organisation. Usually less in awareness and not
articulated. The ‘sensing’ function
• Ego: Most visible part - what the organisation
says it does – or does. What is supported?
• Personality: Sedimented ways of being which
are linked to the prevailing narrative and culturethese sustain the organisation.
The Relational Movement
• Intrinsic/decentralised Vs Extrinsic
organising strategy : TRC/RM/RC
• Community Action Networks- CANs
• Communities of Practice- COPs
(Shared Situated Relational
Leadership - Jean Lave and Etienne
Wenger).
• Relational Public Narrative: SOS
Exploring our wider Community
• The centre of room represents the heart
and soul of the Gestalt Community
• Position yourself at a point in the room
where you feel in relation to that
• If the space is empty….experiment with
framing it as a ‘Liminal Space’ that has no
pressure to fill.
Exploring our wider Community
• Speak from your position so we hear
voices from the margins and from the
centre…represent all voices
• These voices are the ‘form’ of this
Situation/Gestalt Community right now
Exploring our wider Community
• Form groups of ‘X’ from people nearest to
you with a facilitator
• Question 1 :What was most vivid for you?
(Brief answers…not discussion)
Exploring our wider Community
• Question 2:
• “What is my personal contribution/(leadership)
that I bring to this community?
• “What would catalyse me to take up greater
leadership in this Community?”.
• “What could this small group bring to nourish the
Gestalt Community: these are the leadership
gifts we have to share”
Exploring our wider Community
• Create a group statement: Brief
• Small groups share: Facilitator reads out
to the larger community.
Exploring our wider Community
• Experiment with making the moves you just talked about
in your small group within the large group-where do you
stand now?
• How does the community change as leadership,
(decisions, risks, responsibilities), is shared?
(Shared NOT ‘equalised/rotated’…we all have unique
strengths and contributions).
• What different movements/actions do you as a shared
leadership community now feel called to make: what
might you do if this new form were in existence ?
Exploring our wider Community
“Thought for the Day”: in pairs
• What actions am I willing to commit to in
order to sustain the gestalt community and
protect the community’s future?
Hear from some couples.
References
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Chidiac, M.A. and Denham-Vaughan, S. “The Process of Presence”. British
Gestalt Journal, (2007), 16, (1), 9-19.
Denham-Vaughan, S. “Will and Grace: The Integrative Dialectic in Gestalt
Psychotherapy Theory and Practice”. British Gestalt Journal, (2005a), 14,
(1), 5-14.
Denham-Vaughan, S. “The Liminal Space and Twelve Action Practices for
Gracious Living”, British Gestalt Journal, (2010d), 19, (2), 34-45
Denham-Vaughan, S. & Chidiac, M-A. (2010) ‘Dialogue Goes to Work:
Relational Organisational Gestalt’, in Hycner, R. and Jacobs, L. (Eds).
Relational Approaches in Gestalt Therapy, Gestalt Press, Cambridge, MA.
Denham-Vaughan, S. and Chidiac, M-A. “SOS: A relational orientation
towards social inclusion”. (2013), Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 17,
(2), 100-107
Clark, M. Denham-Vaughan, S and Chidiac, M-A. “A relational perspective
on public sector leadership and management”. (2014), International Journal
of Public Sector Leadership, 10, (1), 4-16