Responsibility

WHO	Group
WHERE	Group-room
MATERIAL	Pen, paper, computer
FACILITATOR	Host

Intention

The intention of this task is to practice perceiving our relation to any situation, the part we play in it, so that it becomes easier for us to see what we can influence, see what our opportunities are for taking responsibility.

Desired outcome Increased awareness of when and to what extent we are taking responsibility for the part we play in situations. Increased ability to take responsibility in any situation or group, to tackle difficult problems, and to have impact. Introduction:

What is responsibility? Oftentimes, it is equated with formal duties, things that are under our control and management, and also what people may be blamed for. Here, we approach responsibility as an active practice. This means that being responsible and acting from a place of responsibility is something that we can choose in any situation, and that we can get better at. This practice can support us in seeing possibilities for acting and having impact no matter our formal role in the situation, in taking leadership in a broader variety of situations, and for staying engaged in solving problems that are complex, that involve uncertainties and very different people. Inspiration for this task comes from the work of Adam Kahane, researcher and facilitator of processes around complex global problems. He argues that for addressing complex issues, we should adopt the mindset: If you are not a part of the problem, you cannot be a part of the solution. By understanding our relation to a situation, we will be better able to find ways to have impact and direct its course.

How:

1	Solo (20min): Think of a collaborative project or initiative (at home, school, work or community) that you are involved in and that seems stuck. Write descriptions of what is going on from two different perspectives: 1. As if you are observing or directing the situation from the outside. Describe what other people are doing that is contributing to the situation being as it is now, and what they need to do differently to enable the situation to get unstuck and move forward. 2. As if you are participating in and co-creating this situation from the inside. Describe what you are doing that is contributing to the situation being as it is now, and what you need to do differently to enable the situation to get unstuck and move forward.
2	Share with your buddy (20min): Share your insights from the reflection.
3	Group discussion (20min): Discuss insights with the rest of the group. Guiding questions: What difference did the two descriptions make? Was this useful? When is it useful to practice perceiving situations from the inside, and ourselves as their co-creators? Is there any situation in this room or at the gatherings that this is relevant for?
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Resources

Are you taking 100% responsibility? a video describing how a practice of taking responsibility decreases blaming in teams, and increases well-being and effectiveness LINK