Not to be overly dramatic but September 30, 2009 might just be notable in the constellation world. On that date 5 of us used the web based "go to meetings" software to conduct two constellations online. Perhaps a first. The process worked nearly as well, as if we had all been in a room together. This blog will discuss one of the constellations and offer some lessons learned about conducting a constellation online. One huge advantage, of course, is not having to invest time and money in traveling to get to a meeting facility. Log into the gotomeeting website at the designated time, welcome the other participants who connect by phone or headset on their PC's, and begin the constellation. The participants all share the same screen that the meeting facilitator has on his or her PC. As the facilitator for the meeting on the 30th I used a Word document with triangle figures arranged on the document to represent the different people or parts of the question posed by the client. As the representatives reported out I move them by mouse on the screen or made new ones to include. A picture of the document at the end of the constellation, somewhat mangled when I downloaded it for this blog, is in the lower left. The consultant, whom we'll call Fred, had a client he was starting to work with again with after a lapse of several months because of unrelated business issues. Right before he finished his first round of work with his client, a team leader in a large organization, he was confided in by the team leader's boss about his dissatisfaction with the working relation he, the boss, had with the team leader. Fred wanted to take some action on this issue but did not have the opportunity. Now that he was back with the same group he was sure nothing had changed. Yet, what was he going to do about the issue? He believed his client, the team leader. whom he felt loyal to, would feel betrayed and blindsided if he raised the issue unilaterally. Yet not to deal with the issue would not be in her or anyone's best interest. How could he resolve this delimma? The constellation was started with just two representatives, the consultant and the team leader. Fred, the consultant, indicated to the facilitator where to put the two rectangles in relationship to each other. Two participants online were designated just as would be done in any constellation to be Fred and the team leader. After a few moments to settle in they were asked to report their sensations and feelings. Both participants said they got a better connection with the person they were representing by standing up. One placed her laptop flat on the floor and stood where the figures indicated. The other picked an object in the room to represent the other person. The initial report out of a knot in her stomach and wanting to move back on the part of the team leader and feeling like his hands were tied on the part of the consultant were affirmed as accurate by Fred. When the boss was brought in the team leader moved further back and turned to face in the other direction. She felt better when she was looking away from the boss. The boss felt frustrated with the lack of contact and was impatent to have the issue resolved. Fred felt even more under the pressure of a no-win situation. The contract was brought in to more clearly define Fred's role in providing coaching and feedback to the team leader. The team the leader supervised was also included. The team leader appreciated both elements, but not enough to want to turn around and face the boss or the team more directly. The purpose of the organization/team was included. The team leader expressed the sentiment that, finally, here was something she understood. When the purpose was placed in the center of the group she had to turn and face in that direction which she did not like doing. She did not understand the team or the boss so she did not want to deal with them. This attitude shifted when Fred offered to help improve her understanding of others if she would agree to his coaching and feedback as defined in a new contract. Through his coaching and facilitation he would help her engage with her team and align with her boss to accomplish their purpose.
The final picture for the challenge provided by a business consultant is shown on the right:
The team and the team leader are focused on the
purpose of the organziaton and the boss, consultant
and the contract are all playing a supportive role.
Fred's task requires that he has the agreement and committment of the team leader and her boss to help them improve their communication. By keeping his focus on what the overall system needs to be whole he can keep from being co-opted by a misguided loyalty to the team leader that would reduce his effectiveness in helping her. Fred appreciated the insights he gained from the process. We spent a few minutes discussing the two constellations that were conducted online. The total time for the two sessions was about two hours.
The process may have moved a little slower because
we could not see each others faces. But it also help our connection to the process to wait more for people to speak and try not to all speak at the same time. Given the right group and an a few short breaks there is no reason the online sessions could not run longer. The session was taped, but for confidentality purposes it won't be put on line. Hopefully, a future session can by made public and a link put on my website, teambuildingassociates.com so others can experience working online and see how well it works.
