The Zen of Groups: The Handbook for People Meeting with a Purpose

The Zen of Groups: The Handbook for People Meeting with a Purpose
Authors: Dale Hunter, Anne Bailey, Bill Taylor

I picked up this book on impulse. I was browsing my favorite Seattle bookstore, Elliott Bay Books, and I found this book on a table full of self-improvement titles – and nowhere near the business book section, which I thought was weird.

The title caught my eye for two reasons. First, the phrase “people meeting with a purpose” in the subtitle told me that this book was written from the belief that this distinction is important – and so do I. The second reason it appealed to me is that I am always interested in seeing Zen concepts applied to stuff. Well functioning groups have a special quality that I can see is very Zen-like.

The reason that this book was on the self-help table and not the business book table is that this book is written for any group member (all of us) and can be applied to any group (work, clubs, families). As such, is has a kinder and gentler language – it’s not your bottom line focused, result oriented, cut to the chase kind of book.

The book has two parts – The first 90 or so pages offer a good primer on how groups operate (purpose, roles, phases of team development, and meeting models). They offer a pretty good primer on group facilitation, too.

One of the distinctions the authors return to again and again is the importance of how we relate to baggage – ours and other people’s. I love this simple quote from page 7, “Baggage is not right or wrong, it just is.” I can relate to that! The authors talk about baggage a lot because its mismanagement is the cause of a lot of group dysfunction. I like this distinction (I call it Mucky Muck, but it’s still baggage) and think they use it in helpful ways.

So what does this all have to do with Zen? In a word, synergy. Here’s where the notion of the Zen of Groups comes together:

Synergy in groups is about you and everyone else being present to yourselves and to the other group members, and acting moment by moment in a kind of verbal dance which guides your group towards fulfilling its purpose.

This is the Zen of Groups

We are not saying it is easy to create group synergy or that it happens without working on it. Rather, it is like training a herd of wild horses and developing them into a successful team.

A group includes each individual with all his or her baggage. Operating synergistically means working together without tripping over your own or other people’s baggage.

My favorite chapter in the book is Chapter 7, which is all about synergy. Here’s a nice quote from this chapter:

Synergy is about tapping into group energy so that the group members are able to accomplish more than they thought possible.

And further in this same chapter:

Synergy is not the result of following rules, formulas, or even sticking closely to guidelines. It is more subtle than that. Synergy is something to value and generate. It cannot be forced or struggled for. Force will produce the opposite of synergy – separateness and the rigid taking and defending of positions.

Synergy is Zen.

The second half of the book contains 92 exercises that help groups develop and improve synergy. It might be worth it to try one exercise at the beginning of each group meeting and see what happens.

Overall: The Zen of Groups is a unique book. It has a lot of the practical stuff you might find in a book about groups, but it is presented through and interesting filter – of Zen – and this is what makes it intriguing, I think. It is worth buying the book to explore the notion of synergy and group energy. This book would make a great group read – give each group member a copy and meet every two weeks to discuss a chapter or to try an exercise.

The very nature of Zen and synergy makes this beg to be a group read. It would be a big mistake to buy the book and then seek to “fix” your group using the authors’ suggestions. Group facilitators who read this book will get many useful tips and suggestions for how to improve group process and synergy.

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Lisa Haneberg is a group facilitator, consultant, and author of business books and blogs, including the Two Weeks to a Breakthrough and Management Craft blogs.

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Lisa for an impulse buy, this was a good one. As a sometime group facilitator, this resonates well and sounds like there is more to be gleaned from within the covers.

I agree that reading the book won't provide any "silver bullets". One of the faciliation keys is for the leader to be 'ego less', this example helps to off load some of the baggage from others in the room. If this doesn't happen, then the baggage will ultimately get in the way of the group results.

Thanks for stopping by the shelf and letting the moment enable taking the book with you.

[Blaine Collins]

Lisa, I was intrigued by the title of this book and your review confirmed it. This is a book for me!

I especially like your advice to make this a group read.

I'm curious about the exercises in the latter part of the book. Did they seem like useful tools?

[Lisa Haneberg]

Blaine - I think there are several interesting exercises. Seasoned facilitators will not be surprised by most of them, but we can use the book to bring new energy to the conversations.

[tim]

Thank you for this review Lisa. I am finding that leadership through teamwork is a growing trend. Top-down models are moving to the background and not nearly as effective.

I have also seen that most synergistic groups achieve their highest level of compatibility and cohesiveness when they are able to work in and through conflicts that eventually arise.

How do the Zen masters advise one in addressing conflict in order to achieve synergistic results?

[Dwayne Melancon]

Thanks for the review, Lisa - interesting topic. If you're into the "Zen" thing, you might also check out "Thick Face, Black Heart" (actually more about "face" than Zen, but the overtones are interesting).

And, of course, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair" could be entertaining - especially for you ;)

[Lisa Haneberg]

Tim - Several of the 92 exercises would be helpful in addressing conflict - they involve facilitating conversations that clarify, deepen, and appreciate diverse thoughts and approaches.

Dwayne - thanks for the recommendation for Thick Face, Black Heart. Yes, I have - and love - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

[Chris Owen]

Ah Lisa Why do I SO relate to the concept of an impulse purchase of a book! Perhaps because all my loved ones know I can't go passed a book shop and can't leave one without a purchase!! Yes I DO have a little problem!
This was one of the reviews I was looking forward to as, like you, I was caught by the title.
Like Steve I seem to be a sometime facilitator who flies by the seat of my pants and finds the ride a bit bumpy so this seems like a perfect read for me.
BTW Great review and any book that acknowledges baggage (and I LOVE the term Mucky Muck) needs to be read.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Chris: My only saving grace is that most of the books I buy are tax deductible.....