1. Climbing Mountains Without A Rope Attachment Adversity Attainment Lisa Gardiner and Mazz Hall ACWA Conference 2006

2. The pace of life in our culture requires that working people rush from one activity, task or place to another. Many people experience this pace as a habitual state of working and living. However, frenzied rushing and multitasking can create a lack of focus that decreases productivity and effectiveness rather than helping to get more done.

3. At times I feel…

4. despair hopelessness vulnerable angry anxious

5. The AAAAH Factor –Attachment –Adversity –Attainment –Acceptance –Happiness AAAAH Factor – Gardiner & Hall 2006

6. AttachmentAdversityAttainment Acceptance Happiness ConnectionMovementHope InterconnectednessChaos & ComplexityIncremental Achievements AAAAH Factor – Gardiner & Hall 2006

7. Attachment Connection Connection Interconnectedness Interconnectedness Relationship Relationship Mindfulness – attentive gazing Mindfulness – attentive gazing

8. Attachment 3 types of adult attachment: Secure Avoidant Anxious/ambivalent Hazan & Shaver (1987)

9. Attachment lack of awareness and understanding of these attachment issues: Avoidant Avoidant Anxious/ambivalent Anxious/ambivalent can lead to confusion and a lack of compassion for the person and the expressed behaviour

10. Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena Relationship between infant and mother Winnicott 1967 Relationship between infant and mother Winnicott 1967 Relationship between group member and group leader Relationship between group member and group leader Ashbach & Schermer 1987 Relationship between self and the manager/ Relationship between self and the manager/ management management Gardiner 2006 Relationship between self and the job Relationship between self and the job Gardiner 2006 Mother Childillusion worker manager co-workers

11. What I am not mindful about I find it difficult to stay focused on whats happening in the present. I find it difficult to stay focused on whats happening in the present. I snack without paying much attention to what Im eating. I snack without paying much attention to what Im eating. It seems Im running on automatic without much awareness of what Im doing. It seems Im running on automatic without much awareness of what Im doing. I rush through activities without being really attentive to them. I rush through activities without being really attentive to them. I tend to walk quickly to get where Im going without paying attention to what I experience along the way. I tend to walk quickly to get where Im going without paying attention to what I experience along the way. I find myself listening to someone with one ear and doing something else at the same time. I find myself listening to someone with one ear and doing something else at the same time. I tend not to notice physical tension or discomfort until they really grab my attention. I tend not to notice physical tension or discomfort until they really grab my attention. excerpt from Questionnaire developed at the University of Rochester

12. Adversity The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem. Theodore Rubin

13. Adversity Sometimes the littlest things in life are the hardest to take. You can sit on a mountain more comfortably than on a tack. Sometimes the littlest things in life are the hardest to take. You can sit on a mountain more comfortably than on a tack. Author Unknown

14. …and the view from the mountain gives us a broader perspective

15. Adversity Avoid Avoid Denial Denial Submitting to a negative dominant story of suffering Submitting to a negative dominant story of suffering Wrapping oneself in the cloak of adversity Wrapping oneself in the cloak of adversity Include Inquire Embrace Integrate Gardiner & Hall 2006 evolves to

16. Jack Beal (American, b. 1931) Frogs and Toad, 1971 Lithograph 18" x 24" Observe these four pictures what can you see?

17. Attentiveness In the last slide what did you see? In the last slide what did you see? Frogs are natures environmental testers is you have frogs in your garden then the health of garden is positive Frogs are natures environmental testers is you have frogs in your garden then the health of garden is positive Being aware of your environment is about you being connected Being aware of your environment is about you being connected

18. Appreciative Inquiry The 4-D model: Discoverpeople talk to one another, often via structured interviews, to discover the times when the organisation is at its best. These stories are told as richly as possible. Discoverpeople talk to one another, often via structured interviews, to discover the times when the organisation is at its best. These stories are told as richly as possible. Dreamthe dream phase is often run as a large group conference where people are encouraged to envision the organisation as if the peak moments discovered in the discover phase were the norm rather than exceptional. Dreamthe dream phase is often run as a large group conference where people are encouraged to envision the organisation as if the peak moments discovered in the discover phase were the norm rather than exceptional. Designa small team is empowered to go away and design ways of creating the organisation dreamed in the conference(s). Designa small team is empowered to go away and design ways of creating the organisation dreamed in the conference(s). Deliver (or create) the final phase is to implement the changes. Deliver (or create) the final phase is to implement the changes. A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry David L. Cooperrider Case Western Reserve University and Diana Whitney The Taos Institute

19. Working with Negativity Engage and support the individual Work with the environment and the space in between Support positivity Accept that negativity exists and is helpful Apply a yin and yang approach Gardiner & Hall 2006 Individuals become clearer when we observe the space in between

20. Yin and Yang are opposites are interdependent can be further subdivided into yin and yang consume and support each other can transform into one another Part of yin is in yang and part of yang is in yin

21. Why Should I Bother With Negative Space? Negative space is a term that has been generally used by artists. If we are hoping to uncover or create positivity, optimism and wellbeing in an organisation it is important to stop, look around then focus on the problem – not the necessarily the individual. Most people focus on the individual causing the problem. When looking at negativity we may want to confront the individual or avoid the individual. In organisations, groups, families and the broader community the effect of this action usually leads to increasing negativity as opposed to the initial aim of reducing the negativity. Reflecting on the actual situation gives us an opportunity to look at the situation in a new way. Often we tend to approach what we consider to be the same problem in the same way and because of this we are inclined to use our memory as our first method to solve the problem. Seeing each situation as new provides each issue with a fresh solution. Gardiner 2006

22. Attainment Attainment is an action of presence Attainment is an action of presence Cultivates hope this leads to optimism and openness to possibilities Cultivates hope this leads to optimism and openness to possibilities Adopt a daily approach - not future driven Adopt a daily approach - not future driven Support the modest aim – each step is worthwhile Support the modest aim – each step is worthwhile Gardiner & Hall 2006

23. Walking towards attaining your goal…

24. … step by step

25. www.caughtatwork.net/.../images/acceptance.jpg

26. Acceptance "We must have strong minds ready to accept facts as they are; rather than how we would like them to be." Harry S. Truman

27. Would having these values in the workplace be helpful? Playfulness Playfulness Love – warmth, compassion, attentiveness Love – warmth, compassion, attentiveness Acceptance Acceptance Curiosity Curiosity Empathy Empathy

28. Creating a PLACE for the special children in our lives THE ATTITUDE: Playfulness Love Acceptance Curiosity Empathy Daniel A. Hughes Ph.D.

29. Happiness Happiness is a function of accepting what is. Werner Erhard Happiness is a function of accepting what is. Werner Erhard Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. Jim Rohn Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. Jim Rohn Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. Aristotle Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. Aristotle

30. Happiness Positive psychology can be delineating into three overlapping areas of research: Positive psychology can be delineating into three overlapping areas of research: 1.Research into the Pleasant Life or the "life of enjoyment" 1.Research into the Pleasant Life or the "life of enjoyment" 2.The study of the Good Life or the "life of engagement" 2.The study of the Good Life or the "life of engagement" 3.Inquiry into the Meaningful Life or "life of affiliation" 3.Inquiry into the Meaningful Life or "life of affiliation"

31. …AAAAH Gardiner & Hall 2006

33. finding peacefulness

34. Out of clutter, find simplicity From discord, find harmony In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity Albert Einstein, Three Rules of Work