In the previous part we were just designing for ourselves when we come to design with other people we are presented with a different set of opportunities.
When it is ourselves and other people as clients we have the added dimensions of being both client and designer, and in relationship with the other clients.
One way is to have all of the anchor points out on pieces of paper, and allow people to move freely between them, writing their thoughts. You can use visual props and cards to help people to navigate their way through the process. These separate experiences can then be collated at the end and brought together, identifying themes and actions.
You could also deal with each anchor point together using tools from the previous chapters. For example, think and listens are powerful ways to hear people’s reflections.
It is unlikely to all be covered in one session, and the papers could be left accessible to everyone to add to whenever they want. It is good policy to end each session with an agreement over when the next session is.
There are movements for each anchor point, which help to embody the learning. These are useful and effective for introducing the design web to a group quickly. They also help to convey the idea of the design process as travelling along a pathway.
Vision – rise up on to tiptoes as you bring your arms up above your head, and spread them out with palms upwards, look up to the sky. Feel expansive and growing. What is the bigger picture you see?
Helps – jump up, like you have springs on your feet. What is going to help on your journey?
Limits – crouch down small. What is blocking your growth? What needs to be moved out of the way?
Patterns – walk around in a spiral. What patterns can inform your design?
Ideas – imagine you are plucking ideas and inspiration from the air. What ideas can you bring?
Principles – hold up an imaginary magnifying glass, and look through the lens of the principles. What do the problem and the solution look like through this?
Integration – Wave your hands around as if drawing in strands, gradually bring your hands together. Imagine you are holding all of your observations, ideas, vision and resources, and can see the needs of the design and different ways of fulfilling them.
Action – run fast. What can you do to get moving? What are the steps to make?
Momentum – rock back and forth as if on a swing. How can you keep going?
Appreciation – place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly, maybe rub your belly! What yields can you appreciate?
Reflection – walk forwards and then look back at your footsteps. What has the journey been like?
Pause – sit quietly for a moment and take deep breaths, feeling the energy flowing in your body.
This design focuses on how in Britain the Permaculture Association1 staff work together as a team. The parameters for this design are just within the staff group, although it also links in with other designs for the overall strategies of the organisation, trustees and working groups.
The aim is to have an effective, communicating, functioning team which can be efficient with its time. The team also wants to be supportive and caring towards its members.
The group is working towards a wider vision of being able to serve the network and make positive change in the world. This bigger vision is displayed in the office to keep everyone focused on the aims of the Association, and stop tangents and dead ends being followed. It helps to keep the daily tasks linked with the bigger picture.
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The team has the following resources:
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There is a large whiteboard in the main office where all staff write down when they plan to be in the office in the next four weeks. This enables meetings to be arranged, helps tell enquirers when they can phone back, and keeps everyone in touch with others.
Stand-up meetings were introduced once the staff team had expanded to eight members. These take place on Tuesday afternoons. Everyone has to stand up (which makes the meeting much shorter than if sitting down) and follows the format of everyone who is there saying briefly what they will be doing during the forthcoming week. This keeps everyone in touch with others, enables co-operative working, and can often eliminate duplication of tasks. For example, the LAND3 team has organised a number of events, and can therefore assist in organising a Diploma event.
What we have learned: two members of staff only work seven hours a week - if 45 minutes is spent in a meeting, their working day is reduced. It has recently been agreed that the Stand-ups will happen on the first Tuesday of the month. On other Tuesdays there will be a five+ rule: if five or more members of staff are in the office, there will be a very quick go-round.
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Every quarter, all the staff come in for a planning meeting (staff who work one day/week are paid extra for this). There is a timeline on the wall where each quarter everyone's tasks are written down. At the meetings, everyone has time to say what they have done, and what they plan to do for the following quarter. This is useful in prioritising tasks. It also aids co-operative working and patterns of work emerge.
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All staff have a regular one-to-one meeting which is a mix of their reflections on their own self-guided management, supervision and action planning. Targets are set for the forthcoming period, and previous tasks reviewed. This is also a chance to voice any feelings.
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Before the one-to-one meetings each person takes time to reflect on their own work and what they would like to spend time talking through; the emphasis is on taking personal responsibility and adapting work plans accordingly rather than them being imposed from the top down.
The Permaculture Association staff has expanded from four part-time workers to ten part-time workers in the space of less than three years, and grown from one office to two. During this time it has been appropriate to review how the team functions and to keep responding and adapting.
There are connections with outside work, such as gardening help, local permaculture groups, teaching together and working on a local community-supported agriculture scheme.
Amongst the many yields we gain from working with the Association are friendship, purpose, skill development and participation in working for a positive change in the world.
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Every Tuesday we bring lunch to share. We also have a social secretary, who arranges a trip to the cinema, curry or outing every few months. The team has a lot in common (as well as a love of permaculture) and very different, very busy lives. We feel it is important for us to keep in touch with each other.
The Association does not employ anyone for more than four days a week.
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The needs for design that have emerged are:
These are currently met with the following systems:
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Some of the ideas that we could take forward are to involve more people in the design, spending dedicated time on how we function as a group. Peer reviews, team and trust-building activities. We could share non-permaculture related skills to give a sense of our wider selves. Create a forum for people to share how we feel as a whole group.
Move office to somewhere more accessible and with separate areas for quiet work space, creative and social space, meeting and training room, outdoor demonstration space and volunteer accommodation.
Have more time for reflection, training and group communication. To share with the whole group lessons learnt on courses. Have time to work more effectively with a slightly bigger team and be better paid. We could have more biscuits and flowers in the office!
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We appreciate being part of genuine, diverse team which has a shared understanding of permaculture and a long-term commitment to each other, the work and making things function smoothly. We like the challenges that give opportunities for personal growth and reflection, and the pragmatic way of working. We enjoy the fun and friendly banter and the sharing of skills on a daily basis especially with gardening, and that people give time to answer questions. We like the fluidity of roles and the openness for asking and receiving help from other members of staff. We feel it's a safe space to be expressive and enjoy the balance of fun and professionalism.
We like working with people who bring lots of stimulating ideas into their lives. We appreciate the opportunity to serve such an exciting and inspiring network and working with people committed to bringing about positive change in the world.