Transition Troubleshooting

Burn out and flagging groups

Initiator: Nigel McKean
For the afternoon troubleshooting session my measly notes for burn out & flagging groups are divided into two sections the first section is the challenges we face, the second section is some potential ways to help or avoid these situations. (The dominant theme from each section is listed first, the rest are not necessarily in any order).

Challenges: 
We tend to underestimate the amount of work involved.
 We tend to feel isolated and as if we are failing when effort is expended and response is minimal or non existent.
 Information overload, can get bogged down in the amount of incoming information.
 We don't always agree within our groups where the responsibilities lie.
We can start to lack confidence in the face of the problems, within the group and in the wider world.
Meetings too often can be difficult due to time restraints and meetings too far apart give a sense of not moving forward.
The agendas of some in the groups can be a hindrance.

Some suggested solutions:
 Connecting with other groups to share skills and experiences.
 Meetings with meals that allow us to get to know each other as well as doing the work.
A buddy system. (Rachel, I drifted a bit then and didn't follow up by asking you how that might work, apologies).
 Quiet time away together as a group or with other groups, e.g. a weekend camping. 
Reduce the workload if possible by making use of the tools we already have rather than re-inventing them


Much of this seems to mirror the discussion we had as the support group concerning the difficulties we face, almost repeated in the post-it-notes. 

The question asked was how do we grow from here?

 A possible beginning may be to start to form sub groups as suggested by Matt.

Coincidentally, I went on a transition training around the same time that only had peeps from a very small geographical area, (south east suffolk) a number of us felt that this gave us a common bond (geographical & training) and a feeling that we could be supporting each other across groups. T

his was the reason for asking if we in south-east suffolk could have a sub-group within the transition east portal, initially to share information but maybe developing into something more meaningful.



It appears from the burn out & flagging groups troubleshooting session that this could be a welcome development.

It looks as if the overall results could be disseminated via Rob's blog based on the post today. It might be interesting to get feedback from the wider community.

Transition Troubleshooting Discussion on Group Dynamics

Facilitator: Gary Alexander
Present: Graham Joyce, Kirsten Murray, James Thomas, Tony Barrett, Anna McIvor, Kerry Lane, Sue Hatfield, Elena Judd, Lucinda Smyth, James Lockley, Carol Hunter, Jem Seeley, Viv Manning

We started with a round robin on the kinds of troubles we had been facing. There were a lot of similarities in what people said, with three key themes arising:
1. Difficulties with individuals: Strong personalities, aggressive people, people with their own agendas, Transition sometimes attracts such people.
2. A lack of awareness within the group of the importance of group dynamics, of working through conflicts, coming to agreement, listening to each other.
3. Too much talking, not enough action, apathy, passivity, skepticism about Transition issues.

Some of the comments in the discussion:
• The importance of accepting differences, but the need for a collective vision that spans them.
• The fear of conflict is a mistake. It can and should be creative, leading to new insights and stronger bonds if handled successfully.
• Effective group dynamics is the key work of Transition, building teams that work well together without coercion and hierarchy, that learn the skills of creative conflict resolution. It is the necessary underpinning of the new way of living we are developing.

Some solutions proposed:
• Need for models of the problem solving process
• Improved communication skills: How to listen to and acknowledge each other. Could use established methods like Non-Violent Communications, Process Oriented Psychology, Joanna Macy’s work.
• Slowing down discussions so there is time and attetion to the process. Models such as circling where everyone talks in turn if they wish to, use of a talking stick.
• A time in meetings where people can check-in and express how they are.
• Rules and guidelines for effective communications and group processes.

Actions proposed:
• James will work on gathering a set of resources on Group Dynamics for use by all local initiatives. Gary will help.
• Carol and Sue will work on assembling a list of people who are willing to help groups with issues of group dynamics and conflict resolution.

Transition Troubleshooting:

Facing Difficult Lifestyle Challenges

Initiated, facilitated and written up by Mark Watson

About ten of us were present at the discussion: Glenn, Ivan, Sarah, Madeline, Anne, Robert, Pippa, Leonie and myself. A few more people joined us part way through. Apologies if I've neglected to mention anybody.

Some people were more active in Transition initiatives than others and had been for some time, and some were new to it. There were also different levels of awareness regarding Peak Oil, Climate Change and the Transition movement itself.

INTRO

"It is hard to know this magic carpet exists and that one will no longer fly on it."  Jean Cocteau after giving up opium, which he’d been addicted to for years.

I introduced the session by saying this subject came out of both the Troubleshooting research and my own experience in several Transition groups and initiatives, as well as the first-hand experience of downshifting (both willing and unwilling). One of the main difficulties we have is facing the realities of our lifestyle and the consequences it has for the environment, other people, and the animals and plants we share the planet with.

PERSONAL CHALLENGES

Then we spoke about some of the difficulties/challenges/fears actually experienced by those of us at the table in the face of climate change/peak oil/economic crisis. These included:

Travel: Doing everything possible to live a low-carbon life but having a spiritual practice which involves flying to India at times.

- Visiting family who do not live close by

 - Being laughed at for suggesting the use of IT for a meeting instead of flying to

Frankfurt.

Owning land in another country: living primitively when there but flying to get there

Economic downturn: Being unemployed, 'do I reject a good job if I have to travel 50 miles by car to work?'

- Lack of money and infrastructure to support the people working within Transition.

Attachment to comfort: “I need my comforts. I wouldn't be able to reduce my energy use at home that much.”

Time and work pressures: How can I do more of this (Transition)?

- People have no idea what a farmer's life entails. “If you provide for individual buyers they can be very difficult and fussy and that takes up a lot of time and energy.”

FACING REALITY

This was perhaps the main theme. Everything ‘out there’ seems to distract and prevent us from seeing and confronting reality directly (e.g. the entertainment industry, internet etc.). There are also those personal comfort zones. Some felt that people would only get focused “when oil costs $300 a barrel and they literally can't afford to drive to where they want to get to anymore.”

"Do we fuss over the stitching on the deck chairs or do we face the Titanic?" asked Ivan. "The energy prices are rising. When catastrophe comes who will be equipped to take action?"

SOCIAL PRESSURES (including FAMILY, FRIENDS, PEERS, CONSUMER SOCIETY as a whole and the ADVERTISING INDUSTRY)

Some of us struggled with the lack of awareness, indifference and denial in peers, work colleagues and friends when approaching the issues of climate change and peak oil and the downshift in lifestyle these imply. Sometimes it is even physically difficult to open one’s mouth and speak about them.

On the way to the meeting that morning Nick told me his teenage daughter thinks her father and his involvement in sustainability and Transition are distinctly uncool.

“Every day we are force-fed about our (artificial/consumer) rights. Because we have been changed from citizens into consumers, we've lost track of our responsibilities as the former,” said Sarah.

We spoke of the enormous pressures on people to conform (making money, schooling). The overwhelming bombardments of the advertising industry. “We need to be able to talk about these pressures, how they make us feel.”

Pippa felt it was “important to distinguish between what is one's own and what’s others. No one makes you feel anything. We choose what we feel.” She added, “We in the West have granted ourselves the privilege of the right not to know” (about the effect our lifestyle has on others).

POSSIBLE RESPONSES

We looked at how we could face the issues of climate change, peak oil, economic failure, environmental destruction and social injustice and inequality square on, and then respond creatively with other people.

Someone suggested that as some people are further ahead on the (Transition) journey than others it might be useful to know where each other are and people can help each other out. Someone else felt the need for a space to talk about the conflicts we feel.

“Transition needs to be more ‘sexy’ and joyful, to get more people involved,” said Madeline.

I said conversely, the more people who look squarely at the situation we’re in and come awake to the fact we are in it together, the more joy will be possible in the task ahead. Also, we need to be in contact with our own experience. Those of us who have already faced our own downturns will have much to offer in the process.

“Adversity and the experience of being poor has made me join in with others. When I was wealthier I could afford to keep myself apart.” I said.

Others added key insights ranging from the fact that although people keep talking about right and wrong, we have to change from within, and we need community energy solutions.

Leonie spoke about harnessing the enormous energy of disenfranchised young people in towns and cities. “Getting them to be creative and a positive force. She added, “What will happen when we can ignite each other with our extraordinary talents and put them into use? If we work together creatively with the stories right here at this table (making videos about them, for example), we could come up with ‘an even groovier carpet to ride’.”