The Body Ho'ohana

Have you ever played the game OPERATION?

You know, the game where you play as a surgeon trying to remove various parts of the body from a laid-out patient using a pair of tweezers. To win the game, OPERATION requires players to take very purposeful actions. However, the best part of the game is the fun and passion generated among the players when a hand slips causing the red nose to light up and emit a loud BUZZZZZ!

You get the message. The game of OPERATION requires Ho'ohana:  Action with purpose and (playful) passion.

As we approach the end our our first round of posting on JJLN, I bring up the game of OPERATION to illustrate another point about the Ho'ohana Community. The community, like other teams and groups, can be likened to the human body, with various body parts that all need purposeful, passionate attention.

Imagine ourselves as a human body; the Body Ho'ohana. The following questions can help us recognize and consider the various body parts.

Eyes - What vision(s) do we have for JJLN? Is a single vision necessary, or can we each have slightly different visions and still create something meaningful? How do we see our current strengths and weaknesses, and how do we envision improving over time?

Ears - How will JJLN listen to each member of the Community? What might block our ability to hear? What tools and strategies can help us to listen and hear better as we go?

Voice - How well do our spoken/written messages align with our vision?  How can we best speak with clarity and develop a common language so that our communication is most effective?  What methods or tools of communication could help develop even stronger relationships?

Hands - How will we let our actions demonstrate our commitments?  What actions will be needed to keep the community functioning?  How can we best help each other to achieve common and individual goals?

Feet - We have all come from different places; how and when can we best clarify where are we going together?  What actions or structures can we establish to ensure that we move forward effectively?

Brain - How will we think through decisions and actions? What are some decisions that the community should think through together and what decisions should individual members make on their own?

Heart - What is at the heart of the community? How will we demonstrate caring for one another? How will the community celebrate its achievements? 

Head - How does the community view its leadership needs?  How can a community full of leaders best support having everyone act as a leader? 

Some members may wish to consider answers privately, others may write about and discuss answers publicly, and still others may ask entirely new questions. We have already begun to explore answers to some of these questions through previous discussions, such as those about powerful partnerships, the heart/head dilemma, and what I don't know.

Some questions may not lend themselves to definitive answers, but rather to points of view and ways of thinking, speaking and writing. Yet questions about the Body Ho'ohana will undoubtedly lead to learning, and that will make all the difference.

I envision the day (perhaps it is already here) when the Body Ho'ohana sees its path and place with our eyes; hears the words of support with our ears; speaks a message of learning with many voices; takes purposeful action with our hands; moves toward its destiny with our feet; thinks through keen strategies with our brains; feels caring and joy for one another with our hearts; and leads a community of leaders with our heads.   

As others have said before, I look forward - honestly, I'm stoked - to taking this voyage together!  I look forward to JJLN being ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DO. 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

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Blaine Collins is the author of the Stronger Teams Blog, a collection of thoughts about teams, teamwork, collaboration, and team leadership.

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

oh my, the Body Ho'ohana... a new image to play with and plenty of questions to think about, some of which were already in the mixer.

Playing in dirt, playing doctor, are we going back to our younger days? At least in terms of our approach to learning, we have the chance (having learned what we have) to go back to our childhood approach to learning (and look with eager big eyes).

I am game!

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

Rather than talk about my vision for my involvement here at JJLN I want to talk about my 'dream' for JJLN. This may not be particularly 'community' oriented but does represent my personal dreams and agenda.

Rather than try to heard the 'cats' around a specific 'vision' that we instead come to agreement on a set of 'values' - those things that we consider important and beneficial to the JJLN community.

I would hope that JJLN could remain inclusive as opposed to exclusive. Therefore, my hope is that the JJLN maintain an element of 'structured randomness' while allowing individuals to rally around specific 'projects' as they feel inclined.

I think that as people get involved in 'projects', it will provide the structure we need to feel connected to one another while allowing individuals to contribute to the community.

I would be willing to facilitate a call (which we can podcast) to discuss values.

P.S. I am still trying to figure out what 'project' I should do, perhaps I just discovered it!? lol

[Rosa Say]

Hana hou Blaine! You know that I love this!

As you might imagine, people often ask me to help them discover their ho‘ohana, and even the Bzzzt! Part of your Operations Game analogy appeals to me in keeping them on track versus somewhere in malpractice land!

Managers and leaders in malpractice? Nah… that never happens …

[Blaine Collins]

The game is afoot, my dear Sherlock! Let's have some fun along the way. Hana hou, indeed, and once more after that!

Greg, I believe your vision IS in the spirit of community. With inclusiveness as the first articulated value, we start by speaking the language of openness. And I hear from your mentions of 'projects' that anticipation is growing.

I sense people rolling up their sleeves, I hear pencils being sharpened, hands flexing, feet shuffling. It is nearing the time to throw off the bowlines and set sail.

[tim]

Pencils being sharpened?! I like that analogy/metaphor...someone should write a post about that..ha ha.

Blaine, the body analogy is perfect. The body has many parts but works together (in partnership!). We move cohesively toward a common destination.

I just hope no one ever considers me the armpit of the group :)

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Excellent analogy Blaine. I wonder what part I represent? I look forward to learning how we ALL fit in together in this amazing body we share.

[Blaine Collins]

Tim, I hoped you would catch the message. Your post about sharpening pencils is so full of wisdom, I encourage everyone to take a look at it. http://studentlinc.typepad.com/studentlinc/2006/10/sharpen_your_li.html

Phil, My first thought about you would have been the "heart". But watching how you cover so much ground, I'm thinking you have a lot of "feet" in you, too.