Showing posts with label Rotterdam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rotterdam. Show all posts
06 May 2020
09 December 2008
Limerick
Lauren from team 2 wrote limericks for all of us at school. It is the best gift ever
Selma has the wondering view
that’s possessed by so few
She has such a presence
that shows us her essence
Please help create something new
Selma has the wondering view
that’s possessed by so few
She has such a presence
that shows us her essence
Please help create something new
11 November 2008
Communication
3 steps towards good communication
What I discovered this week (whereby 6 people sharing one house all had their noses pointed at different directions and finally figured out that it caused them much frustration and lead to wrong decisions) is that in order to be a group of people with good communication you need to:
1. meet face-to-face and all together on a regular basis. make sure you know what is on people's minds and create a nice environment.
2. discuss important matters before bar stories. be clear about what you think, do and decide. make sure you have everyone's buy in and close the 'formal' part.
3. talk about everything else on your mind, talk bar stories, jokes, sex and being drunk. gossip, fantasize, laugh at and laugh with.
simple. easy. important
What I discovered this week (whereby 6 people sharing one house all had their noses pointed at different directions and finally figured out that it caused them much frustration and lead to wrong decisions) is that in order to be a group of people with good communication you need to:
1. meet face-to-face and all together on a regular basis. make sure you know what is on people's minds and create a nice environment.
2. discuss important matters before bar stories. be clear about what you think, do and decide. make sure you have everyone's buy in and close the 'formal' part.
3. talk about everything else on your mind, talk bar stories, jokes, sex and being drunk. gossip, fantasize, laugh at and laugh with.
simple. easy. important
05 November 2008
good things take time
so, we'r in the middle of a module process design. everything you do or say is subject of the module. that's weird. any topic of a lecture can instantly change into a meta discussion about what is happening now, how it came to be like this, how we feel and think about it etc.
this has been going on for two months now. strange months with hindsight. scattered lectures and assignments, scattered interest from me and my team and a lot of team building related processes.
now, after two months, do i first realize how the module would have been perfect for me. i would have loved to take a bit more time to think about where i am regarding process facilitation. 'what is it that i want to contribute this module?' and 'what is it that i want to learn this module?' could have been guiding questions in this.
from there I would have sought to set the frames for my 'own' exam. who do i want to be my jury? what is it that i want to challenge inside me? how can i have check ups on my progress on the way?
instead the school presented me with their frames, deadlines, requirements and expectations, before they asked me where my passion was. impressed by the thought-through presentation of what-to-do i didn't give it much thought if that was my way to go.
i now realize that it takes me this much time to realize the source of my negative feeling and lack of motivation since September. and that it's fine, that things always take time to crystallize, at least inside me. but that once i'm aware i can act again with passion and vision. that's where i am now. and i know i'm my own best jury.
this has been going on for two months now. strange months with hindsight. scattered lectures and assignments, scattered interest from me and my team and a lot of team building related processes.
now, after two months, do i first realize how the module would have been perfect for me. i would have loved to take a bit more time to think about where i am regarding process facilitation. 'what is it that i want to contribute this module?' and 'what is it that i want to learn this module?' could have been guiding questions in this.
from there I would have sought to set the frames for my 'own' exam. who do i want to be my jury? what is it that i want to challenge inside me? how can i have check ups on my progress on the way?
instead the school presented me with their frames, deadlines, requirements and expectations, before they asked me where my passion was. impressed by the thought-through presentation of what-to-do i didn't give it much thought if that was my way to go.
i now realize that it takes me this much time to realize the source of my negative feeling and lack of motivation since September. and that it's fine, that things always take time to crystallize, at least inside me. but that once i'm aware i can act again with passion and vision. that's where i am now. and i know i'm my own best jury.
22 October 2008
decision making
We are a group of 14 people in one team. We all come from different places. Our histories are different, and our futures will be diverse. We are all different. We think different, act different, and feel different.
Still we choose to be together for three years and walk the same path, sail the same boat. It wasn’t clear what the path would look like, or what the destination would be, only that all of us together would decide upon that.
It’s Tuesday afternoon and we have a team discussion. There are 14 Chairs in a circle, someone writes on the whiteboard, someone writes an sms out of sight. A group of people talks about pending issues, others are quiet, listening. Then there is a voice: - “Sorry but what are we talking about? I thought this was to be quick decision making, I’m not up for this and would rather go and do my own things.”
The group sets a timeframe for the topic and continues tackling the issues. Again there is a voice: - “I’m not sure about you guys, but I feel disconnected to this topic, and I miss passion. It feels lame the way we sit here, can we take a break or do an energizer maybe?”
After a ten minutes smoking break the group picks up on the subject again. Someone throws in a ‘practicality’, someone goes outside to make a phone call and a new facilitator stands up. Then one of the quiet people speaks: - “We agreed to find a solution for the problem. The only thing we have done so far is complaining about it. Could we possibly start to look at solutions?”
The energy in the room changes and becomes more energetic. More people talk now, not quite orderly. Someone says: - “I have a proposition. Why don’t we make a list and take a vote?” Five other people comment on this: - “No, that wouldn’t work; we tried that before remember last time? I don’t think you can vote on a sensitive topic like this; let’s make it free for everyone to do what he likes; can’t we use the dialogue?” People exchange looks of despair, oh no, not him again with his silly propositions. How can he be so insensitive to the temperature in the room? Without much more consideration a dialogue is started. Again someone speaks: - “ We spent an hour on this now, and I thought we would touch upon other subjects too. Can we just send an email around with the things we discussed and ask everyone who isn’t here for their opinion?”
There is some murmur about us never finishing anything properly. Others look relieved, or even indifferent. The group splits up in little groups chatting about the talk. Outside, one of the smokers confides in another: - “I was so annoyed with the facilitator. The way he really didn’t listen to anything that was said. I had a solution all along, but sharing it? Someone else will probably propose it after the break. I’m going home, sick and tired of this, see you tomorrow.”
Back inside there are only four people left. All other went to mind very urgent businesses that they had. A solution is found in 3 minutes, but no one thinks it is carried in the team. Another email is sent out. Please do reply today.
Still we choose to be together for three years and walk the same path, sail the same boat. It wasn’t clear what the path would look like, or what the destination would be, only that all of us together would decide upon that.
It’s Tuesday afternoon and we have a team discussion. There are 14 Chairs in a circle, someone writes on the whiteboard, someone writes an sms out of sight. A group of people talks about pending issues, others are quiet, listening. Then there is a voice: - “Sorry but what are we talking about? I thought this was to be quick decision making, I’m not up for this and would rather go and do my own things.”
The group sets a timeframe for the topic and continues tackling the issues. Again there is a voice: - “I’m not sure about you guys, but I feel disconnected to this topic, and I miss passion. It feels lame the way we sit here, can we take a break or do an energizer maybe?”
After a ten minutes smoking break the group picks up on the subject again. Someone throws in a ‘practicality’, someone goes outside to make a phone call and a new facilitator stands up. Then one of the quiet people speaks: - “We agreed to find a solution for the problem. The only thing we have done so far is complaining about it. Could we possibly start to look at solutions?”
The energy in the room changes and becomes more energetic. More people talk now, not quite orderly. Someone says: - “I have a proposition. Why don’t we make a list and take a vote?” Five other people comment on this: - “No, that wouldn’t work; we tried that before remember last time? I don’t think you can vote on a sensitive topic like this; let’s make it free for everyone to do what he likes; can’t we use the dialogue?” People exchange looks of despair, oh no, not him again with his silly propositions. How can he be so insensitive to the temperature in the room? Without much more consideration a dialogue is started. Again someone speaks: - “ We spent an hour on this now, and I thought we would touch upon other subjects too. Can we just send an email around with the things we discussed and ask everyone who isn’t here for their opinion?”
There is some murmur about us never finishing anything properly. Others look relieved, or even indifferent. The group splits up in little groups chatting about the talk. Outside, one of the smokers confides in another: - “I was so annoyed with the facilitator. The way he really didn’t listen to anything that was said. I had a solution all along, but sharing it? Someone else will probably propose it after the break. I’m going home, sick and tired of this, see you tomorrow.”
Back inside there are only four people left. All other went to mind very urgent businesses that they had. A solution is found in 3 minutes, but no one thinks it is carried in the team. Another email is sent out. Please do reply today.
01 October 2008
28 September 2008
four levels of being
quick tour of week four
physical state: my whole body is covered with red dots, itching red dots. every time i check myself they have increased in number and itchiness. This combined with my
emotional state: my hormones on a roller coaster, allowing my moods to swing from hallelujah heights to icy depths. the reason being only that it was time for periods. one moment everyone should take an example on me, the next i wish i could be invisible from shame. therefore my
mental state: hasn't been very enlightened either, which lead me to crave for some distraction. I found this in having a house full of friends and consuming lots of...
spirit, dancing non stop till early morning, flirting, laughing, going crazy. so that today my
physical state is as crappy and itchy as it was before if not worse, and my
emotional state is numb. and so is my
mental state. cheers!
physical state: my whole body is covered with red dots, itching red dots. every time i check myself they have increased in number and itchiness. This combined with my
emotional state: my hormones on a roller coaster, allowing my moods to swing from hallelujah heights to icy depths. the reason being only that it was time for periods. one moment everyone should take an example on me, the next i wish i could be invisible from shame. therefore my
mental state: hasn't been very enlightened either, which lead me to crave for some distraction. I found this in having a house full of friends and consuming lots of...
spirit, dancing non stop till early morning, flirting, laughing, going crazy. so that today my
physical state is as crappy and itchy as it was before if not worse, and my
emotional state is numb. and so is my
mental state. cheers!
23 September 2008
33333333333333
The third week went by so fast that I can hardly remember what I learned there.
One talk with Martin I do remember: of which the outcome was that indeed a process will always be a process and that you will always dive deeper into something as a team, and always see things more clearly, and get to a better communication, and more efficient work etc. From that perspective its impossible to waste time, or do a process wrong because there is no definite outcome of anything 'processie'
At the same time I see that our team could do with a bit less belly-button focus, and a more outward look, so that we don't take every input from our lecturers to start questioning our own personal and team status. The argument that: "we can't focus on lectures because we have to fix things in our team process before we can do anything else" gives me an allergic reaction. Team process is ongoing, the chance to focus on lectures is once.
Otherwise I like this learning blog, it makes me more aware.
One talk with Martin I do remember: of which the outcome was that indeed a process will always be a process and that you will always dive deeper into something as a team, and always see things more clearly, and get to a better communication, and more efficient work etc. From that perspective its impossible to waste time, or do a process wrong because there is no definite outcome of anything 'processie'
At the same time I see that our team could do with a bit less belly-button focus, and a more outward look, so that we don't take every input from our lecturers to start questioning our own personal and team status. The argument that: "we can't focus on lectures because we have to fix things in our team process before we can do anything else" gives me an allergic reaction. Team process is ongoing, the chance to focus on lectures is once.
Otherwise I like this learning blog, it makes me more aware.
14 September 2008
once upon a time in week two
Once upon a time we had our first week of process design. First came Kirstin from Arhus to teach us the basics of process. What it is, where we want to take it personally. Then came Charley from Brixton to teach us all about storytelling. As always, our learnings were mixed. While trying to focus on a model or tool, we came across a lot of things that needed to be discussed within our own team.
Through a story telling tool that we learned and applied to our team, I learned to phrase my reason for being at school. "Acquiring the balls to do what am here for." Simple as that!
And then I learned that in order to do a proper process, it needs a bit more preparation than i gave it this week, and that i need to give people time to think, feel and close their eyes.
On Friday we took time to 'meet' each other again. Some things needed to be said or asked amongst ourselves in order to go on. We sat, held hands and talked one on one until all heaviness was cleared. I realized that my team is the basis for my work and that it needs attention in the same way you care for your home. It has to be proper, tidy, organized, warm and comfortable in order to feel really at home. I had been running after my own needs outside of my home, and it was high time to dedicate energy to all individuals and the team as a whole. The assignment of meeting each other came at the very right time therefore. Many people still feel that they don't really know me, and the same goes the other way around. How a whole year can pass by without meeting someone for who he is!
Am learning to bargain about my wages for a new job that I'm going to do at Ordina. It's exciting, scary, and about time that I start doing it.
We ended the week with a party to welcome team 2. I never saw so many lunatics together in one room... Is that a learning too?
05 September 2008
learnings in the first week
The first week back at school was a mix of different influences and emotions running through it. First of all the fact that I had just come back from Tanzania so that my soul was still on its way while my body was already doing a check in. I was again reminded of the fact how different the challenges are in both countries, and how different the levels of communication and work moral. I like both, but I hate the transition when you see the gap so clearly. Time will heal these wounds.
Another recurrent thing this week was group discussions. We had to bring an end to last year's frustrations. Over the summer Christian, Maja and Morten had decided to quit and this too needed some attention from the team. Group talks are usually not my favorite thing. I get quite upset, either keep my mouth shut or talk with a lot of emotion and go home unsatisfied. I admire the people who manage to keep away from these frustrations and manage to see beyond what is being said and add things that change the perspective or bring back the focus. From the three group talks that we had, I felt that at least I managed to contribute some new insights in the topics that were discussed, and more than before did I see every body's role in the talk. I learned that it is possible for a group to facilitate itself when everyone has a high awareness of what is at stake and recognizes his or her role. I too learned about the importance of a dialogue rather than a debate or discussion, and how all parties are responsible to create that dialogue.
In any group talk, the challenge is to say the right thing at the right time. If you don't, you might find somebody else saying exactly the same thing and everybody agree but 20 minutes later. Part of this is not to deal with too many (sub) topics at once and not to introduce something new when the previous hasn't been concluded.
On Tuesday, during the training at the HvA, I learned how important it is to adapt to your clients, and meet them in their needs. We didn't do this enough and missed a chance to appeal to many candidates for our program.
Starting in Tanzania, and continuing in this week, I learned that transparency will take you further. There is no need from my point of view to hide things from team 2. Rather I hope to create a type of communication in our own team that can be overheard by everyone, and can be inspiring for everyone. I know our staff strives to do this too, and I have only recently learned how difficult this is in political situations. Still I strongly believe this to be the only way if you want everyone to take ownership over the problem and thereby invite them to contribute with their ideas and actions.
As a last point I was reminded of looking for the strenghts of the people around us at school and beyond school and learn from them what I need, instead of focusing on what they lack as a person. For me to remain my trust in the school I need an inspiring environment with lots of challenging people, lectures and projects going on that attract me to stay at school and not run off looking for something more fun.
Learning is everywhere!
Another recurrent thing this week was group discussions. We had to bring an end to last year's frustrations. Over the summer Christian, Maja and Morten had decided to quit and this too needed some attention from the team. Group talks are usually not my favorite thing. I get quite upset, either keep my mouth shut or talk with a lot of emotion and go home unsatisfied. I admire the people who manage to keep away from these frustrations and manage to see beyond what is being said and add things that change the perspective or bring back the focus. From the three group talks that we had, I felt that at least I managed to contribute some new insights in the topics that were discussed, and more than before did I see every body's role in the talk. I learned that it is possible for a group to facilitate itself when everyone has a high awareness of what is at stake and recognizes his or her role. I too learned about the importance of a dialogue rather than a debate or discussion, and how all parties are responsible to create that dialogue.
In any group talk, the challenge is to say the right thing at the right time. If you don't, you might find somebody else saying exactly the same thing and everybody agree but 20 minutes later. Part of this is not to deal with too many (sub) topics at once and not to introduce something new when the previous hasn't been concluded.
On Tuesday, during the training at the HvA, I learned how important it is to adapt to your clients, and meet them in their needs. We didn't do this enough and missed a chance to appeal to many candidates for our program.
Starting in Tanzania, and continuing in this week, I learned that transparency will take you further. There is no need from my point of view to hide things from team 2. Rather I hope to create a type of communication in our own team that can be overheard by everyone, and can be inspiring for everyone. I know our staff strives to do this too, and I have only recently learned how difficult this is in political situations. Still I strongly believe this to be the only way if you want everyone to take ownership over the problem and thereby invite them to contribute with their ideas and actions.
As a last point I was reminded of looking for the strenghts of the people around us at school and beyond school and learn from them what I need, instead of focusing on what they lack as a person. For me to remain my trust in the school I need an inspiring environment with lots of challenging people, lectures and projects going on that attract me to stay at school and not run off looking for something more fun.
Learning is everywhere!
21 April 2008
20 April 2008
26th of April - meet the pilots
Maja, Inga and I have been busy thinking of how to design next Saturday into an exciting day for possible new applicants. After an early morning brainstorm we instruct everyone on what to prepare. All people in the team get a station to host, and lighthearted KP things to organize for all visitors.
Marketing for team 2
Dennis, our intern, makes us lay on the floor and smile up at his camera almost every afternoon. it seems that he uses the pics for making films, or storyboards, or whatever, but in any case, this is what it takes to find new applicants apparently. very cosy, very funny...
07 March 2008
KunstBeleg
Joris and I during our presentation for Business Design. Carianne couldn't make it to join but was our great admirerer. I had been so busy the days before that the presentation went practically like this:
Joris saying a lot of sensible things
Joris: and now Selma will explain how we will do this and that
Selma: 1 minute on the topic
Joris saying a lot of sensible things again
Selma falling asleep
Joris: and now Selma will explain...
etc
etc
We had miraculous positive feedback from the springboard afterwards
26 February 2008
Dreams
Just now we had this typical KaosPilots Rotterdam moment. A guy walks in, 'just to ask what we do'. He was young once, lives around the corner, worked in different fabrics and now raises his children, dreaming of his own enterprise. Anything that can bring bread on the table and take the trouble away.
School and dreams go very much together. There is not a single night that I don't wake up thinking I'm in another world, with all my team members around me, tackling attacks and though situations that happen around us. I always wake up before knowing if we survived or not.
Today started with Kung Fu. Using the strength of your legs and the balance of your body to stop others from attacking. hu! ha! It involves a lot of painful arms, and I scare myself when I hurt others. There is much to improve on my balance, and I admire the others as they twist around as born kung fu masters while sitting on the floor, looking.
Tonight in my dreams I will spin too...
School and dreams go very much together. There is not a single night that I don't wake up thinking I'm in another world, with all my team members around me, tackling attacks and though situations that happen around us. I always wake up before knowing if we survived or not.
Today started with Kung Fu. Using the strength of your legs and the balance of your body to stop others from attacking. hu! ha! It involves a lot of painful arms, and I scare myself when I hurt others. There is much to improve on my balance, and I admire the others as they twist around as born kung fu masters while sitting on the floor, looking.
Tonight in my dreams I will spin too...
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