The Venn diagram is written as Will Kenton of Investopedia “A diagram that uses circles to show relationships between things or finite groups of things. Overlapping circles have something in common, while non-overlapping circles do not.”
It may seem odd to focus on the concept of a Venn diagram in an article about coaching. But believe it or not, it’s a great example of a foundational aspect of the coaching process. When we work with our clients, we encourage curiosity about what they are experiencing and strive to “stay in the moment” so they can fully explore their own situations, challenges, and opportunities while at the same time encouraging them to make sense of their own situations, challenges, and opportunities. pattern They become aware as they explore their thoughts and feelings.
These patterns can be anything. They could be a commonly repeated phrase. Or the smile we give when talking about a particular idea or person. Or they can emerge when we notice previously unsuspected commonalities in other people’s different perspectives. Noticing and being able to recognize patterns is fundamental to learning and development.
In a recent session, a client was describing some big events happening at their company. In some cases, different perspectives on resolving the issues were diametrically opposed to each other. A team that had previously been cohesive and united was struggling to share perspectives without escalating into arguments. The client was concerned because he valued and respected every member of the team.
I asked my clients if they saw a pattern in what they were describing.
What does each member of your team perceive as a problem?
““Each team member has a different perspective,” the client responded. “Some see the problem as a financial issue. Others see it as an HR issue. Still others see outside influences at play.”
I paused and tried a different approach: I asked my client to close their eyes and imagine each member of their team as a circle. I then offered the following perspective:
“Step back in your mind and visualize where those circles overlap. Tell me what you see.”
There was a long silence and I waited, then my client opened his eyes and said:
“Well, the first commonality is that every member of the team feels responsible for the success of the company.
“Is there anything else?” I asked.
The second overlap is, “We want each individual to address the current crisis.
And thirdly, everyone is stressed.”
The client paused again and seemed to think deeply. The concept of overlap, or “Venn Diagram,” made sense to them. They continued.
“Yes, there are commonalities and if you take a step back you can see the overlaps. You just have to look at it a little differently.”
From there, the client was able to discover that the teams had common ground and that there were areas of their “system” that were well developed. From there, the teams could make choices to add scope and try different approaches based on the patterns they observed.
Gestalt Coaching looks for such patterns and encourages the client or system to become aware of them so that they become interested in what they can add to the team’s capabilities and how each person, including the leader, can help make this happen.
