The approach is to focus on the "big picture" view of the system, helping your
colleague step back and see things more clearly by looking at the whole
system. The focus is on the connections, relationships and interactions without
getting caught up in the detail and story.
Peg People
Why might this tool be useful?
The approach can raise the awareness of the (often invisible) systems at play which can entangle colleagues outside their conscious awareness. It can be useful if your colleague is expressing strong feelings about how a team, group, family or system is working or not working.
How do you use it?
Use the peg people to represent the system - these symbols can help your colleague stand back and view the system objectively.
- Ask your colleague to model a representation of their system using the peg people
- Keep asking questions from a systemic perspective
- What do you notice; feel; think? What can you do or take care of? What part do you play? How are others feeling? What will make a difference to the system?
- Work with what emerges
- Questions to spark forward-looking thinking may be: What changes can happen? How would you like the system to be different? Who isn’t currently represented here, and should be?
We hope you find this resource to be a support, and some fun to use!