I’ve been noticing how distracted (my assessment) so many folks are by cell phones, Ipods and other communication devices. Isn’t it interesting that these devices are purposed for communication and yet, in many ways they inhibit connection. This image speaks to me about how the devices that are intended to connect us in many ways “wall us off”.
Have you been out to lunch with a friend or colleague whose smart phone is on the table and one eye (if not both) constantly on the screen? All of a sudden it lights up and s/he either quickly hits ignore or offers an excuse to take the call? It makes me wonder whether our time together or the caller or email author take priority.
How about the times when you are at a meeting and at least half the attendees focus is directed toward their lap. While texting is quick and efficient and makes connections, at times it interferes with connections.
On a scale of 1-10, how fully engaged in the topic at hand can you be while texting a reply or responding to an email? Being fully present to me means the person in your presence is the focus … not someone at the office or at home or across the world. And, I recognize that there are times when our devices quickly connect us to emergencies, etc.
So I ask you, what bars are blocking your connections? I have a concern that folks will lack connection while communicating. I am really interested to hear your thoughts.
An educator asked to share how this image reflected how coaching skills would change how she teaches, responded that the image would be a reminder to be open to ALL students and what they bring to her classroom. She wants to constantly remember that she is the facilitator of learning and that being open will allow her offer her best self each day.
User's Intuition...
Another educator when asked how this image reflected how coaching would influence his work differently, responded that it was a reminder that in every prickly situation there is beauty … in a prickly student (or parent) there is beauty. His desire is to focus on the beauty rather than the prickly!
An educator shared that this image had no message for her and how coaching would impact teaching differently. She acknowledged that the bars said “bleak” and what was outside was also “bleak”. Using the image question, “what is blocking you from living your fullest?”, she realized that she lacked sleep, was tired at the time so was only able to see “bleak”. She made a commitment to take care & get the rest she needed. Rejuvenation would likely change her view.
In a graduate course, my colleague teaches coaching skills to educators at a local university. She invited me share my coaching expertise with the group as a guest speaker. I asked each person to blindly choose an image, reflect and respond to this question: “How does this image reflect how you will do your work (in education) differently now that you have an awareness of and have begun to build your coaching skills?”
Transformational Testimonial...
Creativity In Action...
Here is a very enthusiastic group of new image users who attended a class I, Jane Kerschner, taught in Chautauqua, NY entitled, “ Exploring Image with Groups: A Window into the Soul”. We used the images to get to know each other, to discover more about our own selves, and to find very practical ways to use them in the work that each does in the world. Participants left with confidence that they had an engaging tool that would enhance their work in the classroom, the church search committee, the college sorority, the family reunion, and the medical conference.
I’ve been noticing how distracted (my assessment) so many folks are by cell phones, Ipods and other communication devices. Isn’t it interesting that these devices are purposed for communication and yet, in many ways they inhibit connection. This image speaks to me about how the devices that are intended to connect us in many ways “wall us off”.
